The Serpent Queen

Chapter Twenty Five

My morning classes went by really quick and aside from a few glares here and there, I had almost no problems. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I kept up with the work load thrown at me but I was happy once it was time for a break and I could sit in the student lounge with some of the other Serpents.

I was currently sat on Sweet Peas lap, opposite Fangs, Toni, and Kicks with Jughead on one side of me and a Northside boy on the other side who I vaguely recognised from somewhere.

'I don't think we've properly met' I heard Veronicas voice and groaned 'Veronica Lodge' she greeted Toni, hand out to shake.

'And I'm Josie McCoy, formerly of the Pussycats' a voice behind me said 'Now just Josie'

'You're the Mayors daughter' I stated but she blushed instead of answering me.

'I'm Kevin' the boy next to me greeted and I saw Fangs perk up, 'What's your name?'

'Fogarty. Or you can call me Fangs' he smirked 'Your last names Keller, right?'

'How did you know that?'

'Joaquin and I used to hang out. He talked about you all the time' Fangs explained.

'It wasn't all the time' I corrected 'More like obsessively' I laughed.

'You're Crystal, right?' Kevin asked.

'Yeah, last I checked' I confirmed.

'Joaquin told me you were the Serpent Queen?' he asked hesitantly.

'Yeah, basically means these doofus' have to obey me' I grinned.

'Is this your boyfriend?' Josie asked, motioning to Sweet Pea.

All the Serpents, myself included, burst out laughing at the mere idea of Sweet Pea and I together while the two of us looked at each other in disgust.

'Guessing that's a no by your reaction?' she asked nervously.

'Crystal is actually in a relationship with my father' Jughead announced causing all the Northsiders to look at me in surprise.

'We all got our preferences' I shrugged.

Before anything more could be said, the Principal came in and demanded that we all followed him. He led us to the entrance hall where the school seal had a very poorly drawn snake over it and half the football team looking at us in triumph.

'Which of you defaced our school seal with this graffiti?' the Principal asked.

'None of s. We tag our own symbol better than this' I replied.

'This is what they do, Principal Weatherbee. They tag their turf' the head Bulldog said and I recognised him as the one Sweet Pea fought months ago, the one who called me sweetheart.

'My God Reggie, could you be any more transparent?' Veronica tried to defend us but I knew it would be useless.

'Effective immediately: no gang behaviour of any kind will be tolerated in my school' Weatherbee decided, 'As of this moment, no more Serpent jackets. All tattoos are gonna be covered. Possession of any gang related paraphernalia will lead to immediate suspension'

As he told us this, we all began to argue and protest, I had to hold Sweet Pea back to stop him pouncing on the Northside kid even though I really wanted to punch his smug face.

'Are we clear?'

'Yes sir' I agreed 'I would just like to add though that your Bulldogs also can be said to be wearing 'gang related' jackets which threaten us in a new environment where you're supposed to protect us'

'That's crap' the Bulldog told us.

'Really? Because I'm feeling pretty intimidated right now' I commented.

'Enough! No gang paraphernalia, the Bulldogs are no threat to you' Principal Weatherbee ended the conversation and walked away.

'Come on' I muttered to the Serpents, dragging them away.