Sweets [Sweet Pea]

XVII

Cindy woke up the next morning to get ready to run her errands with her dad. She slipped on a matching set: a gingham patterned wrap crop top, which tied perfectly in the middle of her chest, along with some matching shorts with a ruffled hem. Cindy did her makeup and tied her hair into a bun, pulling out some pieces to frame her face. She picked up a pair of ankle strap heels and placed them near the front door. She was about to make breakfast when she heard a loud knock on the door. Cindy opened it to reveal Sweet Pea, accompanied by a takeout bag from Pop's. Sweet Pea made his way without Cindy's permission. She stood up against the door and looked at Sweet Pea who had placed the food on the table.

"Look at you," he said as she slightly checked out the girl. Cindy felt herself blushing and she quickly looked down.

"Yeah, I've got some plans with my dad today," Cindy said. "What's all this?"

"Breakfast" Sweet Pea answered. He looked at Cindy, then back to the empty seat. The girl smiled and made her way over. The two ate their food as they talked about the summer.

"Yeah, we usually have this huge party the night before at the Wyrm. It's usually all the Serpents who attend Southside High. Toni somehow gets the bar shut down for all of us" Sweet Pea explained to the brunette who sipped on her vanilla milkshake. "You should totally come" he added.

"I'll go if you go," Cindy said as a playful smile settled on her lips.

"Well then, I'll definitely be there" the Serpent assured. Sweet Pea felt his liking for Cindy grow, but he couldn't tell what it was. He quickly got out of his seat. "I better get going," he said as he walked towards the door. Cindy followed him and the two were face to face.

"Thanks for being so nice," Cindy said as she looked up at the Serpent. Sweet Pea laughed at her comment.

"Me? Nice?" the raven-haired boy asked sarcastically. The two laughed as they realized how untrue the statement was.

"You're sweet then," the girl said through giggles. She made her way over to the Serpent, wrapping her arms around his waist as she rested her face on his chest. Sweet Pea placed his head on top of hers, receiving the sweet smell from her. "Coconuts," he thought to himself. The girl pulled away and released her hair from the bun, letting it run free. Sweet Pea gave her a small smile. and he suddenly stepped towards her, unsure of his actions. Cindy looked up at him as he placed his hand on the side of her face, caressing it with his thumb.

The engine of a car quickly made the two step away. Cindy scrambled up the small set of stairs as she ran inside, putting on her heels. Cindy grabbed her small white bag and her phone before locking up the trailer. Cindy spun around to find her dad in his truck. Sweet Pea still stood outside of her trailer.

"See you later, Sweets," the girl said as she made her way over to the truck and slipped inside. FP looked at his daughter and back at Sweet Pea before he drove out of the trailer park. Sweet Pea left to his trailer, desperate to talk to Toni, and he did.

"I think you've got a crush," Toni said as she raised her eyebrows at Sweet Pea. A bottle of beer was in his hands.

"No I don't" he whined, taking a swig from the bottle. Toni shook her head. "Wait till Fangs finds out. He's going to have a lot of fun" Toni added. Sweet Pea facepalmed himself.

"I need to do something about it," he said as he looked at Toni with a desperate look on his face.

"Either get with her or get over it," Toni said with a simple shrug of her shoulders. Sweet Pea processed his thoughts, and the two Serpents continued their talk

-

FP and Cindy arrived at a mechanic shop. Cindy stepped out and took a glimpse at her surrounding. There were a million sounds in her ears as FP led her inside. An array of workers were around, some fiddling with cars, others simply chatting. FP made his way over to one of them who was working on a car, his body under it. FP kicked his foot, and out came a boy no older than twenty, revealed a muscle shirt and a multitude of grease stains. His skin revealed a couple of tattoos, and his hair was simply sitting along his forehead. He quickly ran a hand through it before taking a rag between his hands.

"Hey FP," he said as he gave him a nod. His gaze quickly diverted over to the girl. "Who's this?" he asked.

"Tony, this is Cindy, my daughter. Cindy, this is Tony" FP introduced. Tony extended his hand as he said, "Tony Padilla." Cindy softly pushed his hand away, as she refused to shake hands with him due to the grease.

"Cindy Castellanos" the brunette stated. Tony quickly looked at the girl before making eye contact with FP.

"What do you need help with?" Tony asked as he crossed his arms.

"Cindy needs a car, and who better than the guy who is obsessed with his car," FP said as he gave the boy a nudge. Tony grinned.

"Totally. I'm willing to help" he said as he looked back at Cindy. "What do you have in mind?" he asked Cindy.

"I was thinking maybe a car like yours" FP interrupted. Tony propped himself up against the car as pondered about it.

"I think I know of a place," he said as he looked at the two. "You've got money for it, right?"

"Plenty," Cindy said smugly. Tony quickly ran into a room within the shop. The boy came out again, only a lot more cleaned up. He wore an all-black outfit, the leather jacket catching Cindy's eye. The boy got ahead of the two, and to Cindy's dismay, there was no mention of the Serpents on the back of it.

Cindy and FP followed Tony out to the back as they were met with a multitude of vintage-looking cars. Tony walked up to a black Mustang. "1968 Ford Mustang" he reiterated.

"I'll take it," Cindy said as her hand glided over the car. Cindy walked around it and the car appeared to be flawless. The interior had leather seats, something Cindy liked.

"It's 16k," Tony said as he looked at Cindy. FP looked at Cindy, since he was shocked at the price.

"I will call mom," Cindy said, knowing that FP was going to tell her so. And Cindy did call her mom, who asked for a multitude of photos. She faceted the girl and talked to Tony. In the end, Jennifer gave Cindy permission, and Tony drove the girl out to the nearest bank, where she pulled out the necessary money.

Tony and Cindy rode back to the shop in his car. Tony cleared his throat, which slightly startled Cindy.

"You're not from here," he said.

"No, I'm from California," Cindy said.

"Nice" Tony replied. Cindy pondered about her question of his jacket, wondering why he wasn't a Serpent.

"Are you a Southside Serpent?" she asked, and Tony quickly looked at her.

"Are you?" he asked, and Cindy took his words as a no.

"I'm not. It's better that way. We attract business from both sides of Riverdale, so its great." Cindy looked out the window as she took in her surroundings.

"You're really good for someone who hasn't picked sides," Cindy said. "I keep hearing that everyone seems to be really divided here."

"That's how things are here," Tony said, whose eyes were on the road in front of him. "So, if you need someone who's very unbiased to talk to, I'm here," he said as the two approached the shop.

"Thanks," Cindy said. The two remained inside the parked car as Cindy handed him the enveloped containing the cash. In return, Tony handed her his phone.

"Give me your number," he said. Cindy looked over at Tony, a confused look on her face.

"Are you really-" Cindy started as she got cut off by Tony.

"No, I want your number so we can be friends. I thought you knew I was gay" he said. Cindy was shocked, and she quickly typed in her number.

"I guess this friendship is off to a great start." 

- 

A/N 

We love Tony 😤💞

I'll be updating the last two chapters since I kind of piled my ideas (oof)