Helpline ((Jughead Jones)) 2

11

I had just walked into the cafeteria with Jughead , when we saw all the Serpents crowding around a laptop.

"I'm guessing we're not watching funny cat videos." Jughead stated as we neared them. Both Jug and I were becoming better friends with the Serpents. The longer we spent with them, the more used to them we were and the more friendly they became.

Sweet Pea turned the laptop towards us, showing us Archie Andrews with a crowd of people behind him. It wasn't hard to work out that they were the other Bulldogs, Riverdale's very own jocks. They all wore red masks, matching that worn by the Black Hood.

"Some sick-in-the-head Northsider posted a video, and we were just talking." Sweet Pea began.

"About what?" I asked, not liking the way the group were looking at each other.

"Fogarty wants to earn his Serpent stripes. I say bring us that Northsider's head, you're in." I squeezed Jughead's hand. Yes, we were friends with the Southside Serpents, but our loyalty was to Betty, Veronica, Archie and Kevin first. Mine was also to my sister. As much as I loved Jughead, if she was in danger, I'd drop everything in a heartbeat, and he knew that. Family comes first.

"I'm down with that," replied Fogarty. But to Jughead, Archie Andrews was family. After all the times him and his dad had helped him out, he wasn't about to let his new 'friends' hurt Archie.

"No. All right, I know this guy. He's a milquetoast. He's a football player. It's kind of a lame target is all i'm saying. You wanna prove something? Why don't you go after the Black Hood?"

"Why would we do that?" The rest of the Serpents mirrored Sweet Pea's expression. None of them thought it would benefit them to fight the Black Hood. Then again, no one sat around that table had any reason to go after the Killer. "He's targeting Northsiders, who do nothing but blame the Southside for everything wrong with this town. We're sick of it. Black Hood's doing our work for us. He's a hero." I had met Sweet Pea's kind before. Fuelled by hate. Yes, their hate for the Northside was understandable, as the Southside was blamed for everything that went wrong at anytime, and the Serpents were the main scapegoats of Riverdale. But sooner or later, the Black Hood would target something or someone that the Serpents were close to or with. Eventually, the fight the Northsiders were facing, would become a Southside fight as well.

I was sat at my laptop, typing up an English essay, while Jug was doing homework of his own. He chose to do research about famous serial killers, as if that would help him solve the mystery of the Black Hood.

"So, what are you reading?" Toni asked him as she entered the room. Jug kept his head down, listening to whatever music was playing through his headphones. This had been his position for 20 minutes.

"You'll have to shout louder, T." I laughed. Toni walked to the front of his desk and shouted his name, causing him to leap off the chair to stand and pulling his headphones off his head.

"T asked what you were reading." I stated, not looking up from my laptop. I was 2 paragraphs away from finishing the first essay I had to write at this school, and something told me that not only would I be one of the only students to do the assignment, but I'd also be one of the highest achievers.

Jug turned the book towards Toni, letting her read the name.

"It's decent, though I prefer Robert Graysmith's definitive books on the subject." Toni told him. I looked up from my rapid typing to the pair, adding that I had told him to get that book, but he was sure 'Beware the Zodiac' would suffice.

"If serial killers are your jam, might I suggest Ted Bundy, Albert Fish, Aileen Wuornos." Toni seemed as well read as Jug and I.

"They don't fit the profile." I added, still focused on typing away at my laptop. "Unlike most serial killers, our guy wears a mask." Jughead had been taking notes ever since he sat down.

The following day, I was up and dressed before Jughead even emerged from the bed we had been sharing. Every night I stayed at the trailer, he would cuddle close to me. If, at school, we hadn't really gotten a chance to speak properly, I knew that at the end of the day, I would be able to cuddle close to him and listen to his heart beat.

"Why are you up so early?" A voice asked as two strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me to a chest. I felt the beheaded mop that was Jughead's morning hairstyle, and felt his warm breath on my shoulder. Silently, I handed him a cup of coffee, which he took and set back on the counter, putting both his hands on my hips once more.

"I was going to go to the library. I asked Ms. Paroo to set aside all the books on cryptograms and ciphers. I thought it might help us on where to start when Toni comes over." I felt him nod. I turned around in his arms and wrapped mine around his shoulders. Pulling him down, I pressed my lips to his in a tender, sweet kiss.

"Now, I'll see you at school. Don't decipher that thing without me." Then I left Jughead to make himself breakfast as I headed to the library. If Toni and Jughead were intent on cracking this code, then I would do everything I could to help them.