Helpline ((Jughead Jones)) 2

21

Toni and I had just discussed ideas for FP's retirement party that would be held at the White Wrym. We were thinking that we could get a band or, at least, someone to sing at the party. Of course, beng two teenage girls, the planning quickly became a gossip session about the recent events and the North and South side, and the Serpents. When the topic of the Serpents were brought up, Toni asked the one question that I didn't yet have an answer to.

"You planning on joining the Serpents, C?" She asked, cleaning one of the glasses behind the bar.

"I don't know. I already feel pretty accepted here, almost like i'm a Serpent already."

It was true. Despite the bad image the Northside press give the gang, they weren't as bad as I had imagined. Tall Boy was becoming more of an annoyance, but the younger Serpents, the ones at Southside High, were more than willing to let me hang out with them. Toni was my best friend, and Sweet Pea was like my older brother, and I knew he was someone that Jason would have liked.

Breaking me from my thoughts was a cackling laughter. Toni told the woman who was called Byrdie to shut it. It seemed that many of the Serpents either had very unique names or very strange last names. It felt like Toni and I were the only ones with actual names.

"Sorry, Lady Serpent. But you can't be in the club unless you do the dance. The Serpent Dance." She announced. I turned to face the, clearly intoxicated, woman, who was smiling and glancing at a woman who was dancing around a pole. It was far too provocative for what I was willing to do. I'd rather do the trials that Jughead did than expose myself in that kind of way to men twice my age, maybe even more.

"It's some outdated, sexist Serpent tradition. I tried to get it outlawed but misogyny dies hard. Besides, you're the rattle snake charming, Lady Serpent, it's not like they'll kick you out." I grinned at Toni, then told her I was heading home to Jug, before he sent the entire Serpent gang out looking for me.

I hadn't even walked through the door of the trailer when Jughead stormed out, a panicked and frustrated look on his face. He walked past me, grabbed my hand and pulled me with him to the bike. From the look on his face, I knew exactly who we were going to see.

"Snake bitch, we meet again." I grinned as we both took a seat opposite the woman that had trapped us both.

"I won't be held hostage by you. I did my one favour. I'm out." Jughead told her before she even had a chance to reply to me. We both knew what she had on us. We also knew just what trouble she would cause for us both. By sending one video, she would not only destroy mine and Jughead's lives, but also my families and his dads.

"No, no. You have debts to pay. And ours is an ongoing arrangement."

"You know what, Penny? I'm about to have a sit-down with Mayor McCoy. She's not really so big on the whole drug-dealing thing and I'm sure she would love to know who took over Clifford Blossom's operation." Jughead snarled back. He wanted to get out of this. He wanted to make sure she wouldn't bother him or his family again, or even the Serpents.

"You'd need proof to make an accusation like that stick. Like the video I have of you and your little whore and your little pal making that delivery. What do you think of that?" She asked. The moment the insult came out of her mouth, I was standing, ready to jump over the table and wipe that knowing smirk off her face. Jughead pulled me back down, then sending a look to Penny,

warning her to watch her back.

"First, never again refer to Cynthia as a 'whore', or else I don't give a crap about what happens to me, I will make sure you are sent down. Second, I think that an attack against me, against my father, or my girlfriend, is an attack against all of the Serpents. And not even some fuzzy surveillance footage of me delivering a crate is going to stop us from coming for you." The seriousness that echoed from each word Jughead spoke sent chills down my spine. Even f Penny didn't believe the threat, I knew that Jughead meant every word and would go to extreme lengths to ensure my safety, and the safety of every Serpent.