A Serpent Can't Shed Its Skin

Ch.5

Toni Topaz dragged Jughead Jones through Southside High with me very close behind because I really didn't want to be left all alone in an unfamiliar school.

''So where are the big bad blood gangs?'' I immediately asked Toni.

Toni and Jughead both stopped walking and stared at me like I had lost my mind, but I knew I hadn't.

''Why do you need to know where the ''blood'' gangs are? Who even are you?? There was only suppose to be one of you for the tour, Forsythe Pendelton Jones the 3rd is this your little sister or something??'' Toni says smirking and crossing her arms over her chest clearly in amusement. 

''No I am not his little sister!! And his name is Jughead!!'' I screeched getting right up in her face almost like I was going to punch her, but Toni just laughs a real genuine laugh.

''Whoever you are, I like you, you are feisty, and you will definitely need to be to survive around here'' Toni says as we continue to walk as if my strange outburst didn't just happen.

''She doesn't actually go here, and she was just leaving'' Jughead says trying to steer me to the exit of the school but I stay glued to my spot on the linoleum floor with my arms crossed defensively over my chest too.

''No I wasn't just leaving, I have decided to stay here and go to this school for good'' I say still death glaring at Jughead.

''Remember what you promised me outside Sam? You will be late to Riverdale High anyways, and that's just unacceptable!''Jughead says whipping out his overprotective older brother voice again, and saying the name of the enemy school as loud as he possibly could so not only did everyone stop talking, and stare at us but he made sure if I ever did decide to go here, I would be a social outcast until I graduated.

''I hate you!!'' I screamed so loud and shoving him really hard just as that very tall, attractive boy from the Friday night football game with the long, dark black hair falling over his face, and who always had his arms crossed defensively over his chest, and a bad black eye, with that withering scowl that I have really grown to love, came stomping up to where we were all standing.

''Hey Toni, who are your little friend's?'' He asked, his voice was very deep and raspy almost from disuse and distrust, I recognized his natural defenses immediately because I had them too.

''Hi Sweet Pea, this is Jughead Jones, FP Jones's son, and I'm still not sure who this little runt is'' Toni says still smirking and gesturing to me.

''We are the exact same size!!'' I screamed again, getting really angry for no reason, and trying to jump her again but Jughead and even Sweet Pea tried to hold me back.

''You are a runt but a very feisty one'' Sweet Pea says with almost admiration in his voice.

''I'm Sam'' I say simply kind of looking all the way up at him in lust, which was very hard to do considering he was so tall.

''Hi Sam, where did you come from??'' Sweet Pea asked looking all the way down at me, and moving some stray dark hair that had somehow fallen into his eyes.

''I'm from the Northside but I know I belong here, and would like to join the Southside Serpents, however you do that'' I say completely serious and crossing my arms defensively over my chest which Sweet Pea immediately noticed because he was doing the exact same thing.

Toni, Jughead, and even Sweet Pea all burst out laughing.

''You can't join the Southside Serpents princess, it's not in your blood like it is in every single one of ours including Jughead's so run along, and go back to your picture perfect Northside palace, and forget any of this ever happened'' Sweet Pea says, every single one of his defenses was up, and I didn't like it, at all, which didn't really make any sense considering I just met him.

''I am not going back to the lame Northside, I am going to join the Southside Serpents, and nobody can stop me!!'' I say well aware that I sound like a petulant child but I couldn't seem to stop myself.

''Actually we are all in the Southside Serpents, and we can all stop you, and will never ever tell you what the initiation process is, for boy's or girl's'' Sweet Pea says still sounding angry for some reason.

''So there are separate initiation process's for boy's and girl's?  Interesting but I will get in!!'' I vow, always one for standing my ground.

''Look runt, unless you can prove your loyalty or your bloodline right this second, I suggest you get out of this school right now, and run far far away'' Sweet Pea says with his withering scowl again.

''Why do you want to join the Southside Serpents so badly anyways??'' Toni says looking at me in confusion.

''I don't know, I can't explain it, I just feel like it is exactly where I belong'' I say sighing very deeply, and not looking so tough anymore.

For the briefest moment Sweet Pea's expression softens but when I look at him the softness disappears and in it's place is one of the coldest, darkest death glares I have ever seen, it almost makes me shutter.

My cellphone then rings, and I groan loudly when I realize who it is.

''Hello'' I say whispering and making a face at the phone.

''WHERE ARE YOU??'' My mother screams so loud that I know Toni, Jughead, and Sweet Pea can even hear.

''I'm at school just like you forced me to be'' I say.

''No you aren't I called the school, and you haven't even been there once this morning, so where are you?? If you are in the Southside Samantha I promise you will not like the consequences!!'' My mother still screamed from the the other end of the phone, she was really fuming.

''No I'm not on the Southside, I'm exactly where I'm suppose to be, goodbye mother, see you when I get home!'' I say hanging up on her so fast that I winced.

''Was that your mommy?'' Sweet Pea says smirking, I didn't understand why he hated me so much.

''Yes it was my mommy, and I have to go'' I say, quickly waving goodbye to Sweet Pea, Toni, and Jughead, and slithering out of Southside High so fast but not before looking back, and seeing Malachai giving me that same shark toothed grin, and Sweet Pea giving me that withering scowl, I sighed deeply, shook my head, and kept slithering.