Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Five

          Katherine Lodge leans against the exit door of the station. Quietly waiting for Sheriff Keller to comply with her request. She adjusts her khaki cropped leather jacket, fidgeting as the minutes pass.
Five minutes; that was all it took to have the Serpents released. She stands smug as the first group of Serpents push their way to the exit, nodding at her as they leave. Then another, and another.
Katherine stays by the exit until every last Serpent is released, and when the last snake leaves the station, she heads back towards Sheriff Keller's office. She knocks on the door. Holding her breath, she places a piece of paper on the desk; "The list of names. All there."

          Her phone rings for the fifth time, this time she forces herself to answer.
"Hey," the familiar, bubbly voice chirps, "I just wanted to thank you. I hope you don't mind, Jug gave me your number."
"Hey, Topaz." Kat smiles, slightly.
"One sec," Kat hears a commotion on the other side of the line, and Toni is replaced by a familiar male voice, "Thanks for getting us out so fast. It's Fangs, by the way."
Kat laughs, "I gave my word that I'd get you out."
"You never told us you were a Lodge," Fangs coughs, "Right now, I'm so glad you are."
Kat hears Toni grab the phone back, "Jug and I are heading to Pops, care to join?"
"I don't know," Kat sighs.
"Well, we're outside so decide quick." Toni laughs.
Kat sighs, deflated, "I'm actually still at the station."
"Oh." Topaz sighs.
"You didn't get too much shit, did you?" Kat closes her eyes, "I'm sorry, it took longer than usual to get you guys out. McCoy has a vendetta against the Serpents."
"Kat, why are you apologising," Topaz laughs, "You got us out."
Katherine sighs; "I'm sorry you have to deal with this shit."
She half felt bad for refusing to meet them, but as Sweet Pea had said, she wasn't a Serpent.

          With the St. Clair deal falling through, the Lodge's needed an image that attracted investors, not repel them. Their eldest daughter hanging with the Southside Serpents, the notorious Riverdale gang, would do nothing but drive away potential partners. Jughead was one thing, but the rest of the Serpents, that possibly pushed it too far. She decided there and then, this was the last time she would help the Serpents.

*

          Reggie Mantle stands silent, something Kat definitely wasn't used to. He presses his lips together, silent as a mouse, completely lost in his own concentration. Kat gulps as she perches at the edge of his bed. Was he going to judge her — blame her? She tries to push the thought away.

Reggie was the first person, outside of her family, that she'd trusted enough to tell them about Nick St. Clair. Now, sitting on the bed before him, she felt as though it had been a bad idea. He was going to judge her. Tell her it was her fault — she should have pushed him off, punched him or just left. Maybe she had been overly flirty with Nick that night, maybe she had sent the wrong impression. No, she grits her teeth, you are the victim.

She takes another deep breath, hugging her knees tightly.
"I am going to kill him," Is the first thing Reggie says. He sits beside her, pulling her into an tight embrace.
"There's nothing you can do, Reg," Kat holds back a sob, "Besides, my father cut ties — I'll never have to see him again."
Reggie stares into her eyes, knowing when not to say anything. He wouldn't push Kat any further, he knew that.
"I'm so stupid," Kat allows the tears to flow, "I'm so fucking stupid."
He squeezes her tighter, rubbing her arm.
"No," She coughs, "I knew what he was capable, and I still allowed it to happen."
"Kat," He breaks his silence, "It's not your fault that asshole took advantage."
Katherine leans into his chest, trying to stifle her sobs as he holds her closer.
Even though Reggie could be a dick, he truly was a good friend. He cared, even though he pretended not to. He played into the dickhead, jock persona, but in reality he was so much more.