Half

Chapter 13:

After slow dancing with my brother and laughing with him at the silly and stupid jokes he made, we both crashed out on the bed and of course, he pulled me close to him. Cuddling at night with my brother was something that became a nightly ritual, and upon asking Sweet Pea why he does, he responds with.

"I'm the strongest person who can keep you safe." Even after the Black Hood strikings were over.

I lied awake, not being able to sleep. I laid on my back and stared at the cieling, and grazed around the room, until my eyes set on a photo of my dad, Pea and I shortly before we moved together as a family for the first time. It was before Pea and I grew so close, and we barely spoken to each other. I smiled at the memories, when Pea would watch me apply makeup, and when I pretended to be a random hooker he found at the grocery store. Lastly, when he held me after we found out dad was killed, how he made me feel like everything would be okay in the end. I smile, and look over to my sleeping brother, and run my fingers through his soft hair.

"I know you're asleep Pea, but thank you for all that you have done for me." I kissed his forehead and got up to get some water or something to snack on, as I couldn't fall asleep.

The dining section of the trailer was empty, and I opened the fridge and found some onion rings from Pop's. I sat at the table and snacked on some. When I heard footsteps getting closer, I got more tense, as I sat up straighter, still holding the cold, crisp ring to my mouth. The figure turned the corner and I let out a deep sigh, seeing Jughead stand there with a confused expression on his face.

"Peanut? Why are you up?"

"I couldn't sleep. Had too much on my mind. Why are you up?"

"I was working on my novel."

"Oh." 

I looked down and started to eat more of the small rings and looked up as I saw Jughead pull the chair across from me out, as he sat down, placing his laptop on the table in between us. 

"Even though the Black Hood was captured, something tells me this town won't be perfect. I can feel it."

"That may be the case, but right now the only drama I have to worry about is with Betty, Veronica and Reg-," my eyes went wide, realizing Reggie's name slipped out.

"Reggie? What has he done?"

"I'll show you, just don't tell Pea, alright?"

"Okay."

I got up and quietly walked into my bedroom and retrieved my phone from my bedside table and closing the door behind me. I opened my phone and went to my photos, to show Jughead the screenshot of the text messages Reggie sent me, I hesistantly held my phone out to show it to Jughead, who eagerly grabbed my phone. I straightened out my shirt and sat back down. Watching Jughead's face going from curious to furious in a matter of .5 seconds.

"What the hell? That bastard. He just doesn't learn."

"I know, I might be in need of some personal bodygards at this point."

"You got five, and three of them live in this house." I smiled a small smile at him.

"Thanks Juggie, that means a lot." 

"You're a Serpent now, what's the most important law?"

"No Serpent is left behind."

"Good, and we will make sure you're not left behind."

"Thanks Jug. I feel like a weight was lifted from my shoulders."

"No need, just don't let someone as stupid as Reggie Mantle or Veronica Lodge ruin your days. You got the lead in the school musical, you have good grades and a pretty badass brother, you've got a lot of things people will kill for."