Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Six

          Katherine Lodge knocks heavily on the beaten trailer door. More often that not, Kat found herself at Sunnyside Trailer Park. Although she was pushed out of the Core Four, as Kat would joke, she felt as though her relationship with Jughead grew each day. Like her, Jughead was an outsider. Maybe that was why Veronica seemed to have some weird thing against Jughead; he and Kat were too similar.
Kat knocks again, harder this time. It was unlike Jughead to take so long to answer the door.
Betty Cooper stands on the other side of the doorway, smiling, "Kat?"
She stands awkwardly, the two hadn't spoken since Betty's freak-out, definitely not since she'd hooked up with Jug. Did she know? Surely not, she was happy. Were they back together?
"Hey, Betty," Kat attempts not to sound too awkward, "I don't want to impose. Just... can you tell Jug that his dad should be out by the end of the week."
Betty looks visibly shocked, but happy; "Yeah, sure."
Kat shifts from foot to foot, "Yeah... just let him know for me."
Betty nods, smiling still, and closes the door. Did that just happen? Kat stands awkwardly at Jughead's trailer door, slightly shocked at Betty Cooper's presence. It hadn't taken them long to make up — which only made Kat feel worse.

"Wow, I actually feel awkward for you," That irritatingly familiar voice beams from behind her.
Kat turns on her heals to face him, "What do you want, Sweet Pea?"
"To thank you," Kat tilts her head to the side, "You lied to the police for us — even after we cornered you."
"Like I said," she shrugs, "I know what it's like to be painted as the villain in every story."
"Still. You didn't have to do that," Sweet Pea walks by her side as they head towards the trailer park exit, "In fact, anyone else would let us get dragged to jail. I guess, I misjudged you."
"Misjudged me?" Kat faces him, raising an eyebrow slightly, "Is that an apology, Sweets?"
He chuckles slightly, a sound Kat never expected to come from the Serpent, "Don't push it, Lodge."
They continue to walk in a comfortable silence until they reach the gates.
"I had to sell my soul to Lodge Industries, but FP should be out by the end of the week." Kat smiles.
"Wait," Sweet Pea loosely grips her wrist, spinning her to face him, "You're serious?"
Kat nods, "I said I'd get him out."
She stands still, looking impatiently at the ridiculously tall serpent.
"What?" He laughs, slightly confused.
"Just waiting for your next offhanded comment," Kat tilts her head, "This is usually where you spit 'fuck you, Northsider' or 'you're not a Serpent' at me."
Sweet Pea recoils slightly, "I'm sorry for being an ass."
"You definitely were an ass." Kat adjusts her denim jacket, slightly irritated. How dare he do a complete 180 on his attitude towards her.
"Look, do you wanna just..." He looks to the floor sheepishly, "Grab a drink; smooth it over."
"Grab a drink... with you?" She raises eyebrows at him, "I think I'll pass."
Who the hell did he think he was? Mr. Arrogant Ass himself thinking he can make all the jabs at me, with no consequences.
Katherine holds her composure; "It was nice seeing you, Sweet Pea. Could you let the others know about FP."
She smiles, as her father had always taught her, and nods her head slightly, before ducking out of the run down trailer park.

*

          Betty Cooper sits silently on the chaise lounge across from Kats bed. Apparently, Katherine had been next on Betty's Apology Tour. Kat hadn't been home even an hour before Betty had called, desperately pleading to explain herself. Kat had begrudgingly agreed.

It wasn't that Kat didn't want to hear her out — She did, she definitely did — but the guilt of Jughead clawed at her back like her own personal demon. Other than the out of character outburst, Betty Cooper had been nothing but nice to Kat, a constant ray of sunshine in such a dull town. So the thought of hurting her ached.

          "So, let me get this straight. You've been talking to the Black Hood, and he's been blackmailing you — the Black Hood made you say all those things?" Kat sits beside her, perplexed.
"I'll never forgive myself for what I said you you and V," Betty swallows, guilt washing over her, "I'm so sorry, Kat."
Kat sighs, pulling Betty into a tight hug.
Though they weren't as close as 'B & V', Kat had always considered Betty a somewhat close friend, no matter how much she told herself Betty tolerated her for Veronica's sake. Which only made Betty's freak out so much worse. Kat had been there to comfort her through Archie and Veronica's relationship, Polly's pregnancy shock and her 'darkness' — as Betty would call it.
"I would've done the same, B," Kat squeezes her tighter, "Especially if they'd threatened Ronnie."
"He wants one more thing," Betty sighs, leaning her head on Kats shoulder, "He wants me to find the Sugarman."
Betty carefully fills Kat in with the details; the Ghoulies, Cheryl's father, Cheryl's Grandmother. The plan.