[In The Way Of] Life and Death • Sweet Pea [1]

The Blackboard Jungle

"Am I a hypocrite?" I asked out loud to Sweet Pea, whose chest the back of my head was laid against as my legs were spread out in front of me right beside his. He was sat upright against my headboard and his arm was underneath mine, wrapped around body, as he occasionally drew patterns into my skin where my shirt was lifted.

We had agreed to be friends- or at least attempt to be. Him sneaking into my room now and then had become almost a daily thing for us. It was weird the way our relationship progressed. I still couldn't fathom the fact we once hated each other and now just his presence could bring me comfort.

"No." He answered shortly. The sound of his head shifting could be heard and I knew that he was now looking down at me. "Why do you ask?"

I fidgeted with my fingers before answering his question, "It's just-" I stopped, trying to find the right words to say, "I blamed the Southside for everything. I rolled my eyes at the word Serpent. I thought I was somehow.. better than you guys. And come to find out I was born from one." I bit my lip while I shook my head.

"Maybe it's a good thing your dad didn't tell you your mom is a Serpent." Sweet Pea suggested causing me to lift my head upwards, looking at him curiously. "This life would've ruined you, princess." He admitted causing me to laugh shortly but not in a humorous manor.

"Yeah, maybe." I agreed looking away for a moment before turning back to him, "But I would've met you sooner." I whispered making him crack a smile, looking away.

If I've learned anything from hanging with Sweet Pea these past few days it's that no matter how close we got each day, he still wanted me to believe this exterior of rebellion he had put up. If something I said would make him smile, he would hide it. And I didn't know why.

We laid in a comfortable silence, enjoying the other's companionship, while I played with the cold metal rings on his fingers. His fingers began to bend in the slightest, linking with mine.

"It's getting late." Sweet Pea mumbled, staring down at our hands. I looked up towards him with a frown. "I should probably get going."

I wanted to tell him to stay a little longer but I decided against it. I nodded slowly, unlinking our fingers. "Okay." I sat up causing his arm to fall loosely from around my body. I almost immediately missed the warmth of his body but I knew it had to end sometime.

I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh as I followed him over to my window. "You know, maybe I should just start leaving a ladder for you out here." I chuckled causing him to smirk.

"Maybe you should." He licked his lips, staring at mine before he turned his head away. "Goodnight Princess."

...

"What's going on?" I approached Veronica and Archie with a confused look. They had set up a table with fake flowers and papers clipped to clipboards spread out with small bowls of candy. "What's all this?" I furrowed my eyebrows as I flicked the plastic petals.

"You didn't hear?" Archie asked me with a confused look. I gave him a 'duh' look before rolling my eyes playfully.

"Obviously not." I crossed my arms, waiting for a response.

"Southside High School has been shut down as of this morning. They say it's dangerous and is going to be quarantined so students are being transferred to other schools in the district, including this one." Veronica informed me making my eyes widen as my mind immediately thought to Sweet Pea, "We decided to receive these exiles as if they were our own flesh and blood." She smiled warmly with pride, glancing at Archie.

"So you're going to appeal to gangsters with.. these?" I rose my eyebrows lifting the small bowls of candy and artificial plants.

Veronica's head tilted while she squinted her eyes, opening her mouth to say something but we were interrupted by the sound of the gateway doors being opened.