Riverdale: "Vixens"

Snakes and Ladders

"Serious, Juggie. I don't care if they're your favorite pair, I'm getting you a new favorite pair. Don't go looking at the price tags either, you can get anything you want." You say, looking through the hiking boots for no reason in particular.

He must have found a pair while you were off looking at sweaters because he came back with a box and a huge smile on his face.
He told you he wanted to surprise you with them at the checkout so he kept the box closed while he was helping you pick out some little things.

They were really nice shoes, stylish, dependable, and not overly expensive although you would have bought them no matter what just to see his wonderful smile.
He put them on while the two of you were snacking in the food court, they were definitely made for him.

"Thanks again, Tan." He tried not to blush as he ate his tacos.

"Anytime, Jug. So.." You smile, wiping your hands with a napkin. "How's the family? Your mom and Jellybean?"

"Doing alright, you know JB." He smirked.

"And FP?" You ask slowly, unwrapping another taco.

"Well.." He thought for a moment before shrugging. "You know."

"Yeah.." You shrug back.

"How 'bout yours?" He asked. "How old is Holden now?"

"He'll be four sooner than I'd like." You laugh. "Mom got a lot better while I was gone and Dad.. Well, he's doing pretty well, I just I worry that me not being there is going to be hard on him. We don't always see eye to eye but they're my parents.. We love each other, but the distance can get to you."

You didnt feel bad telling these things to Jughead, he knows your family just as well as you do and the same goes for him.
Your father's were friends in their youth, something happened to make them distant but they still talk business every once in a while.

Your dad owns a few expensive companies and he makes back every penny he put's into them, he's always been very smart with money and very trustworthy, but before he was everything he is today, he was a serpent with FP.
Your dad got out because of FP's soft spot but not without its cost, he still gives money to the serpents every few years, just enough to get them by according to FP and never enough to cause concern in father's bank accounts.

You actually have a custom fit, hornet blue, serpent jacket with "Fitz" embroidered on the collar, but you never really had use for it.
Your dad told you if you were ever in a tight spot, or in Southside to keep it with you.

It wasn't exactly smart to go flaunting your technical serpent title around town, but if you were ever stuck in s
Southside at night for some godforsaken reason, the name on your jacket might just save your life.
Jughead had the same coin, they know him and he's not to be hurt by them, but much like yourself he doesnt exactly socialize there.

"You still have room for shakes?" You ask as the two of you get in your car, you send a text to Cheryl letting her know you'll be at Pop's.

"I'm literally always hungry." He admitted as you drove.

"Honestly, me too." You say, laughing with him.

You pulled into the diner, spotting Cheryl's car around the side of the building as you locked yours up and walked in with Jug.

"Wow.." You smile with a light sigh. "Hasn't changed a bit."

"I'll go order and maybe start you a tab." Juggie joked as he left you to joing Cheryl at the bigger corner booth.

"Big seat for three of us, Chery."

"Sherry?" She smiled.

"If you dont like it-"

"I love it, Tannerkins." She admitted as Jug returned with two strawberry milkshakes and one vanilla.

"Since when do you like strawberry, Jug?" You ask.

"I don't know, I like any shake now. I got two fries for the table." He shrugged.

"So how was shopping?" Cheryl asked, attempting polite conversation.

"Show her your stuff, Jug."

He hesitated a little before showing her the shoes on his feet along with the new beanie and sweater you had bought him just cause.

"Did you pick everything out?" She asked to no one particular.

"I picked the shoes. She picked up the other stuff while I was still looking." He shrugged, dipping a fry in his shake as they arrived at the table.

You did the same, showing pictures of some outfits you tried on to Cheryl as you ate and sipped your shakes.

Betty and Archie walked in, Betty looking a little less peppy than usual as they made their way to our booth.
Cheryl was silent, you could tell she was trying her best to play nice with your friends and you couldn't have asked for more.

"No Veronica?" You asked, not caring one way or the other but you asked for Betty.

"She won't tell me."

"I'll talk to her sometime, but I can't make promises, Bitty Betty."

She nods happily at your suggestion as she and Archie go order a couple shakes on your bill.

The thought of talking to Veronica about everything made you want to go home and just hide from everyone's problems, especially seeing as Veronica Lodge should no longer be your problem.
What had happened in the past is in the past and should probably stay there, but for Betty Cooper's sake you guessed you could handle once more Storm Veronica.

Cheryl stayed quiet, if it weren't for the smile on her face and her thumb grazing your knee every once in a while you'd think she was somewhere else entirely as you caught up with your friends.

You were sharing stories, such as learning how to ride a bike with Jughead and helping him put bandaids on his knees and elbows before convincing him to get back on.
You remembered a party of some sort of get together that your mother had planned when you were maybe six or seven, she invited Betty's mom and at some point you and Bits had snuck off to eat cup cakes from the kitchen.
Your mother found you and couldn't even be upset at the adorable site of you and Betty, with frosting covered cheeks and guilty-puppy eyes.

"I remember that!" Betty giggled.

"Well it's getting kind of late. I should probably head home." Archie mumbled as he stood from the booth.

"Sure." Jughead smirked. "Tell Veronica I said hi."

Archie blushed a little before waving at us all and leaving, apparently to go meet with Veronica.

"Wait, is that the time?" Betty asked checkimg her watch and phone. "I should probably get going too. Jug you need a ride?"

"Sure." He shrugged with a smirk.

You hug them both goodbye and say your goodnights as you make your way to pay your bill.

"Did you want to stay tonight?" You say finally getting some interaction from the quiet cheerleader.

"Sure." She smiled. "I had a lot of fun tonight."

"You didn't say much. You okay?" You asked as you held hands and walked her to her car.

"Yeah, I just.. Didn't know something nice to say." She admitted with a small frown.

"You did great then." You decided with a bright smile, pulling her into a hug. "Thanks, Cher. It means a lot that you're trying so hard, but you don't have to hang out with them if you don't want to-"

"I do.." She decided. "I just don't know how."

"I'll see you at my house?" You ask as she gets in the driver's seat.

"Yes ma'am."