Young, Dumb And Broke

4.

"So, what do you two think of the Beast?"

"He Stinks."

"And barks all the time." Emilee adds in as the three of them walk to their class.

"He also has no boundaries..." She adds.

"Every new recruit has to take care of Hot Dog. It's tradition. By the way, this is our third Hot dog." She giggles.

"Oh, Hot Dog the Third. This is getting borderline ridiculous."

"Kind of like Forsyth the third?" They all laugh and walk into the meeting room.

School lets out and Jughead and Emilee make their way back home. Currently just the two of them. Emilee sits in the chair Jughead on the couch. With a list of rules in her hands Emilee looks at Jug.

"Alright lets do this." He starts reciting Serpent laws.

"A Serpant never shows cowardice."

"A Serpent, No If a Serpent's killed or imprisoned their family will be taken care of."

"Serpents..." Jughead sighs. Emilee starts to get frusterated.

"You need to take this serious Jug." She crosses her legs.

"Emilee I am taking this serious. Okay I am. I swear to God that I am. Just first the beast, and now these laws." Hot dog looks up from his spot beside Emilee his head on her lap and then lays it back down. She scratches between his ears and his tail starts wagging.

"Why the change of heart, anyway? Why go from conscientious objector to full fledged member?"

He smiles. "Because of something Toni said, my dad was the only person that was keeping idiots like Sweet Pea in line."

Emilee tosses a pillow at Jughead and he laughs. "but seriously, someone needs to step up. To keep an all out war from erupting. So I am taking this Serious Em."

"Okay then, start from the top."

*** ~ ***

Emilee stands beside sweet pea, he has an arm draped around her shoulder while she has an arm around his waist. They watch as tall boy Quizzes Jughead.

"What is the fourth law?!"

"No Serpent is left for dead!"

"What is the fifth law?!"

"A serpent never betrays it's own!!"

"What is the sixth law?!"

"In unity there is Strength!"

Everyone together repeats "IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH!" including emilee.

"You know the laws. Now it is time for the next trial." Tall boy moves to the side revealing a snake. Emilee gasps and Sweet Pea pulls her closer kissing the side of her forehead.

"Don't worry it isn't poisonous." She sighs with relief he whispers in her ear.

"Retrieve the knife."

"What?" Jughead says with concern.

Emilee watches with the others as her beloved cousin rolls up his sleeve, and showing no fear he walks up to the tank, and retrieves the knife inside. Everyone cheers for him. Jughead did get bit, but even then, he only winced and showed no fear.

The four of them sit at the bar to celebrate. Jughead wraps his hand. "A Rattlesnake Toni! A rattlesnake bit me." Emilee laughs at Jugheads dramatics.