diamond //sweet pea//

//twenty-five//

The pain was radiating all over. Dallas wasn't sure if it was from getting tossed around the previous night, or if it was sleeping on a pool table. Either way she was sore. She wanted that Northside house more than ever.

"Are you sure youre ready to go back to school?" Cindy asked, resting her hand on Dallas' shoulder.

"If Jughead can go back, then I can go back mom," Dallas explained.

"Alright. Please be careful. Things are dangerous still."

"I know mom. I'm going with Sweets and Toni. I'm hoping Cassidy made it back into town," Dallas said swinging her bag onto her shoulder.

Cassidy had been dragged out of Riverdale by her parents as soon as the riots went into full swing. Dallas didn't even know she had left until the day after the brawl with the Ghoulies. She had stayed safe, thats all Dallas was concerned about.

"Please don't leave this building until I see that tall boy of yours. I need to know you'll be safe," Cindy pleaded.

"I've got her Ms. Wiley. Don't worry," Sweet Pea said sweeping up behind Dallas, pressing his lips to her temple.

"Thank you. And please, just call me Cindy," she smiled, looking a little less stressed.

"You two ready?" Toni asked.

"Yeah, who knows how much longer we'll be there anyways," Dallas grumbled, a crumpled letter I her bag reminding her that they were being thrown out of Riverdale High.

The trio walked out into the morning air, the landscape barren and ashy. It was less of a community and more of a ghost town. Not to mention that the clear absence of so many of their friends loomed over them. Fangs was, thankfully, alive. Jughead was meeting them there, thankfully he had survived as well. Fallon was with Fangs and Cassidy had been taken over county lines.

They marched up the steps to the high school, heading straight to meet Jughead. He was waiting for them in their normal classroom. It hit hard seeing the room so empty. There'd usually be a dozen plus Serpent teenagers in the room, and all that was left them four.

"So this is how it ends, huh? Not with a whimper, but with a memo from Weatherbee," Jughead asked, holding the same memo Dallas had in her bag.

"Riverdale is now suddenly overcrowded," Dallas scoffed.

"So, starting next week, all former Southside High students will be bussed to Seaside High- which is two hours away," Toni continued.

"Meaning, he blames us for trashing the school during griot night," Sweet Pea added.

Dallas glanced up at him but he didn't even flinch.

"Well, to be fair, Sweet Pea, you did. You too Dallas," Jughead spoke slowly.

Sweet Pea sighed, "Whats our play, Jones? Do we have one?"

"I don't know anymore guys. I can't keep fighting for a gang that doesn't exist," Jughead said defeated.

"Well, what about us? Or any of the other Serpents at the Wyrm," Dallas spoke up.

"What Serpents at the Wyrm?" he asked cautiously.

____________________________

"Fallon, hey..."

Fallon perked up at the sound of Brooks' voice. He looked like he did the first day she had met him, just days ago. His ripped jacket had been replaced with a clean one. Rich people.

"Hi..." she whispered, a faint smile gracing her lips.

He motioned for her to follow him. She checked to make sure Fangs was still asleep before joining him in the hospital hallway.