Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Seven

Katherine Lodge lays across her burgundy chaise lounge, staring at her glistening chandelier as she listens to Topaz drone on.
"You are coming, right?" Toni's bubbly voice blared through the phone.
"No, I wouldn't want to intrude."
"You're the reason he's out of jail, Lodge," Kat could all but feel Topaz roll her eyes, "You have to come."
"Toni—"
Toni sighs loudly, obviously irritated by Kat's reluctance, "If your sister and her Northside Jackass are coming, then you have to come."
Kat stays silent momentarily.
"Either way, I need your help setting up before I lose it with Fangs." Toni continues, "I'm outside."
Kat rolls her eyes, throwing on her scuffed Dr. Martin boots. If she had to sit on yet another motorcycle, this time she would be prepared. She mutters her goodbyes to her parents and concierge before ducking out of the Pembroke.

          Toni smiles from her bike, already holding a helmet out for her. Though she didn't exactly know Topaz that well, she definitely enjoyed her company. Kat half-skips half-runs to the motorcycle, throwing her jacket over her shoulders.
"You're a life saver," Topaz jokes as Kat pushes the helmet on, "I was so close to killing Fangs."
Kat laughs in response, climbing onto the back of the decadent, snake-covered bike and holding onto Topaz.
"Hold on tight." She instructs, revving the bike.
Toni Topaz was a much better driver than Sweet Pea — smoother, safer and faster. Kat felt so much more comfortable riding with Topaz.

Less than ten minutes later, the two arrive outside of the Whyte Wyrm, an annoyed Fangs stands by the entrance.
"Where'd you go?" Fangs says, visibly irritated.
Topaz only gestures to Kat before pushing her way into the bar, a scowl breaching her face.
"What did you do?" Kat laughs nervously at Fangs, who shrugs in return.
She laughs again, following the route Topaz had taken previously.
After worming her way through the crowd of people attempting to set up for FP's retirement party, Kat finally reaches the bar. Topaz takes a shot of alcohol, offering Kat one, and then shorting another.
"So," Kat folds her arms on the bar in front of her, "What did he do?"
"Incessant nattering, not following direction, generally being an annoying ass; take your pick."
"And what makes you think I'll be any less annoying?"
"I'd goad you to try," She tilts her head, a daring smile on her face, "But I actually like your company."
Toni's smile drops.
"Hey, so you have a stage," Betty Cooper chirps as she approaches the bar, so focussed that she doesn't even notice Kat, "Would you be open to me bringing a karaoke machine?"
"For FP's retirement," Topaz looks at Kat, smirking slightly, then back to Betty, "Sure, why not."
"Also, Toni, one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you, beyond the party planning is..." Betty takes a deep breath, "I've been walking the razor's edge since Jughead joined the Serpents. All I've been thinking is as soon as FP gets out home, everything will get better, because he'll be there to protect Jughead and make sure he doesn't get hurt."
"Yeah, I'm following you. With FP out of the picture—"
"That's my whole point, I do worry," Betty cuts Topaz off, who shoots a look at Kat, "So, I wanna keep an eye on Jughead myself."
"So, what, you wanna join the Serpents?" Topaz laughs slightly as she raises an eyebrow at Nancy Drew.
"More Serpent-adjacent." Betty continues, "But, yeah, part of his world — this world."
A harsh laugh erupts from a table across from the bar, to which Topaz hits back; "Shut it, Byrdie."
"Sorry, Sweet Valley Girl. If you wanna join the Serpents, you have to do The Serpent Dance."
"Excuse me?" Betty speaks, only seeming more like a fish out of water.
"The Serpent Dance, it's some outdated sexist Serpent tradition," Topaz tries not to sound irritated, "I tried to get it outlawed, but misogyny dies hard."
Betty raises an eyebrow at her.
"You don't want to know." Topaz almost grits her teeth.
"Yeah, I do." Betty pushes, "I wanna know everything."
Topaz rolls her eyes slightly, "Go talk to Byrdie then."
Kat tries to suppress a laugh as Betty leaves, but Toni's irritated face was far too much.
"So, not Fangs — Betty," Kat clicks on, laughing slightly, "She's only trying to help, Topaz. She's going through some crazy shit."
Deadpan, Toni looks at Kat; "She wants to be a Serpent."
"Serpent-adjacent," Kat corrects her, causing Toni to scowl even more so, "Do you really think, Betty — of all people — would get on stage and perform The Serpent Dance?"
Topaz laughs at the thought, pouring herself and Kat another drink; "It would be a sight to see you do it though."
Kat laughs hitting back the drink — was she flirting or taking a jab, Kat couldn't tell, nor did she really care.
"So," Kat smiles, the liquor burning her throat, God, did that take her back to her nights in NYC, "What do you need help with?"
"Just a few banners and signs," Topaz sighs, leaning on the liquor shelf, "I just couldn't deal with Nancy Drew's shit on my own."
"Betty's great," Kat defends her, "But, I can see why you would find her too much."
Toni rolls her eyes playfully, slipping under the bar hatch.
"Does she know?" Topaz grabs Kat's hand, directing her to a box of decorations, "About you and Jug?"
"No," Kat blinks, a confused expression washing over her face, "How did you..?"
"I spend a lot of time with Jug, Kat," Topaz tilts her head as if to say 'oh sweet summer child'. She chuckles to herself, "Believe me, I know plenty of things I shouldn't."
Kat looks at the floor, embarrassed. Why did Jug tell Topaz something so intimate?
"Nice thing you pulled with the cops, by the way." Topaz teases, throwing a bag of bunting at her.
Great, Kat sighs to herself, Topaz really did know plenty of shit she shouldn't. Kat keeps quiet, ripping open the bag of bunting and studying it — they were the Southside Serpents, why were they hanging bunting? She smiles slightly.