Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Seventeen

Katherine Lodge stayed with her sister that night, and would do for as long as she needed. Veronica was shaken. She wouldn't admit it, not to anyone but her sister. Veronica, much like Sweet Pea, had built up this hard exterior; she was an 'Ice Princess', she wasn't one to fuck with. But here, jolting awake from nightmares, Ronnie was far from her facade. Kat knew what she was going through; the sleepless nights, the countless nightmares. She couldn't help but wish she'd sought help from Ronnie all those weeks ago, instead of facing it alone. But Katherine couldn't do that — not to Jughead, not to Sweet Pea. If Veronica knew what they were, who the Serpents really were, she'd never allow her sister near them. And if she knew of Jughead's role... Kat pushes the thought from her mind. Jughead.
As far as the group was aware, she and Jughead were on rocky grounds, but no one knew exactly why — no matter how much Veronica or Betty pushed. She wished it could all go back to normal. Kat tried to push passed it, but animosity still hung in the air. She missed him, like crazy.

          Kathrine ducks out of the Mercedes, books and bag in hand, she nods at Sebastian. Following the escapade of the weekend, Hiram Lodge had ordered Bash to chauffeur the twins to and from school. As if that would make them anymore safe. She shares a small smile with the twenty something year old, carefully closing the door behind her. Kat couldn't hate him, he was only doing his job. No matter how annoying it was. Bash wasn't the problem, it was her father.
"By the way," Veronica paints a smile, trying to hold the unbothered front. This was the most Kat had seen her smile since the incident, "Jughead and I kissed."
"What?" Kat coughs, standing dumbfounded. Did she hear that right? Jug and her sister?
Veronica chuckles, looping her arm through Kats, "It's no big deal."
"When? Why?"
"At the lodge," She smiles as if it was obvious, "In attempts to ease tensions."
"Tensions?" Kat furrows her brows, walking side by side with her sister. Tensions. Her heart sinks. Did that have anything to do with her?
"Betty and Archie kissed during the Black Hood fiasco," Veronica tries to look unbothered, but it's so clear that it bugged her, "It was a 'heat of the moment' thing, and Archie and I were broken up."
Kat sighs, almost in relief. Betty doesn't know? Kat had all but forgotten their own hook up, of course that was more than a kiss — way more. How would Betty react?
"What is it?" Veronica huffs, nudging her sister's ribs.
"Did Jughead mention me?"
"He didn't spill why you two aren't speaking, if that's what's bothering you," Veronica's tone is dismissive. Like her sister, Ronnie hated not knowing.
"We're not not speaking," Kat hums, "I was actually going to try and speak to him today."
"Good," She nods, her typical Veronica nod.

          The school day flies by relatively quickly. Kat focuses on being there for her sister, just in case. But Veronica, as usual, isn't one to ask for help. Kat was more that likely just being overprotective, but they were twins. What did Veronica expect? Throughout the day, she very rarely leaves Ronnie's side.

In fifth period — the only time Kat is away from her sister — she sits quietly, staring out of the window. Her mind focusing elsewhere. So much so, she barely notices the scribbled note crumpled on her desk; 'Everything okay?'
Kat shifts her focus to the Serpent occupying the desk beside her. She smiles softly at him, nodding. Kat had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts, she'd forgotten she shared the class with Pea. She tilts her head. He looks tired, as if he hadn't slept since they were last together.
Are you okay? She mouths.
He shrugs in reply, scribbling at a torn piece of paper. He pauses momentarily, before sliding the note onto her desk.
'Jug freaked when heard about the Riverdale Register. He called a late night meeting.'
Kat reads the note carefully, scrunching her brows as she does.
'Riverdale Register?' She scribbles back, tossing the note onto the Serpent's lap.
'Lodge Industries bought the Register... you didn't know?'
Kat stares at the torn piece of paper, fiddling with her pen. Once again, she didn't know. Kat has been so preoccupied with her sister, she hadn't taken any notice of what was happening around her. When did her father even buy the Register, and why? She sighs, pushing her back into the uncomfortable chair. Was this her fault? No. If her father found out about Sunnyside, her home life would be a mess; he would've confronted her. This had to be because of Jughead's article.
'Need to talk,' Kat scribbles, 'Pops at 4?'