A Serpent Can't Shed Its Skin

Ch.4

The rest of the weekend dragged by extremely slowly once I realized my parents were serious about grounding me completely from the big, bad outside world. I got so ahead on my homework and classes that I probably could graduate from college next week. By Saturday night I was so bored I even tried to reason with my parents that the Southside Serpents weren't actually that bad, but they refused to listen to me.

I went downstairs to find both my parents tangled up like teenagers on the couch watching some sappy Nicholas Sparks movie, and basically just being completely gross and inappropriate. I then blocked the TV, and said in my sugary sweet best-daughter-ever voice.

''Dearest mother and father I was wondering if I could go to Pop's tonight to hang out with Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica?''

''No, remember Samantha you are grounded'' My mother said making absolutely no effort to move or de-tangle herself from my father.

''I know that but I'm not even sure why I'm grounded in the first place. I was talking to the Southside Serpents, who aren't even that bad by the way, it wasn't like I had asked them to join their gang and get in bloody fist fights'' I said knowing I was just digging myself deeper into the hole but somehow I couldn't stop myself.

My mother shot up so fast I thought I saw her head snap in half. ''Not that bad?? Not that bad??? They are a drug dealing, fist fighting, rock and roll playing band of hoodlums from the wrong side of the tracks!! They are completely dangerous, and I forever forbid you from even setting forward on the Southside!!'' My mother said as she put her perfectly manicured nails on her slim hips, and glared at me like I was doing all those things too, just because I talked to them for the first time ever on Friday night.

''The wrong side of the tracks?? Just because you have never done anything dangerous or cool in your entire dreary stupid miserable lives doesn't mean you can mess up mine!!!'' I screamed so loud and ran upstairs and slammed my bedroom door like a child knowing I had just upped my sentence to the rest of my life.

My parents left me alone for the rest of the night, and even the rest of the weekend, and we didn't speak at all, not when I woke up at 7a.m sharp to escort Jughead (not like he actually needed an escort, he could take care of himself) to his first ever day at Southside High School.

I put on a very short leather black skirt, a tight black tank top, fishnet stockings, combat boosts, my faded secret black leather jacket that neither one of my parents know I have, and a red bandana in my long frizzy wild brown hair.

I then race out the door so fast without breakfast that both my parents don't even have time to blink, much less glance at my outfit.

I then race to the end of the neighborhood where Jughead is waiting for me with his motorcycle to take us both to Southside High.

''Hello Juggie!!'' I greet him smiling so brightly he actually winces.

''I can not believe your parent's let you leave the house like that, especially since you're grounded'' Jughead said shaking his head, and starting up the engine as we start flying and weaving through the much more packed than Friday night streets of Riverdale.

''They didn't and I can't believe Betty lets me ride on her boyfriend's motorcycle as much as I do'' I say smiling evilly again.

''She doesn't, at all. We always fight about it, even though I keep telling her you are basically my little sister, speaking of which you are just going to escort me into the building. You may not, under any circumstances talk to, look at, or even breath the same air as these Southside High students. You may also not stay for very long. You will get to your own school on time, is that clear?'' Jughead said his voice oozing with older brother over-protectiveness.

I just rolled my brown eyes and mock-saluted him ''Aye Aye boss!! You are crystal clear!'' I said laughing again but my laugh died immediately in my throat as we pulled up to the massive and very rundown building known as Southside High. I gulped involuntarily and almost fell off of Jughead's motorcycle.

''You okay there big and bad gang member?'' Jughead says crossing his arms dominantly over his chest, and raising one dark eyebrow.

I nodded and together we walked through the paint peeled double front doors.

We both then walk through the metal detectors. Jughead takes twice as long as me, and gets stopped because of his stupid pins on his signature beanie, I just roll my eyes again, and really take full stock of the graffiti art on the wall, the Jingle-Jangle consumption by the stairs, and the already four full-fledged fist fights breaking out by the cafeteria.

''This is my kind of school!!'' I say opening my arms out like I'm about to give the whole drug ridden school a friendly hug. I was masking my fear behind a flimsy veil of false excitement and my signature evil smirk, but I think Jughead saw right through it, he always does.

''Yeah until the gangs jump you and steal all of your lunch money because you don't join any of their blood gangs and aren't conforming to the high school food chain'' Jughead says so low under his breath I almost can't hear him.

''I told you Jughead I'm not afraid of any gangs, I actually want to join the Southside Serpents remember?'' I say eyeing the Ghoulies warily as Malachai immediately notices me and smiles a very creepy shark toothed grin.

''And I told you Sam the only way you will ever get into the Southside Serpents is if it's in your blood just like it's in mine'' Jughead says just as a girl exactly my size ( that doesn't happen very often) with a black tank top like mine, a gray bandana in her wavy red dyed hair, and a short skirt under a waist wrapped plaid shirt comes waltzing up to us to take Jughead far far away to give him the full animatronic Disney tour of Southside High.

''I'm Toni Topaz'' she states crossing her actually semi muscular arms over her chest just as I cross my extremely skinny arms over mine. I knew this girl and me were going to get along just fine.