Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Eighteen

          Katherine Lodge leans against her locker, hands shoved deep into her pockets. She chickened our on speaking to Jughead yesterday — today she would push herself. Especially knowing what she knew now. She could speak to him; let him know her father didn't go after the Register, instead Hal Cooper had all but begged her father to buy it. Hal needed the money — for what, Kat had no idea. Jug wouldn't want to push, not on something that could hurt or upset Betty. He'd want Betty to figure it out herself. And then there was the matter of Jughead's article. As much as she appreciated Jug's journalistic nature, and as much as she distrusted her father, she did worry for her family's safety — something that didn't cross Jughead's mind, probably. If his 'take-down' piece in any way damaged Hiram Lodge's integrity, Katherine — along with her mother and sister — could be put in real danger. Of course that was worst case scenario, but this was Riverdale.

She pushes herself from the locker, walking calmly towards the Blue and Gold office. She'd apologise, confront him and —hopefully — deter him from his article, though she knew the latter was unlikely. Kat holds her breath, pausing a step before the slightly ajar door.
"Are you still going after Hiram Lodge?" Kat pauses catching Archie Andrews distinctive voice, she turns on her heels and leans against the bulletin board, listening in to the conversation.
"That depends," Jughead replies, smugly, "Who's asking — you, Veronica, the Arch-Fiend himself?"
"Jug, there's going to be a special election to replace Josie's mom," Archie pauses momentarily, "Hiram Lodge wants my dad to run."
"What, why?"
"Who knows, but I'm with Veronica, so that means I'm with the Lodges," He sighs, "But my dad — I can't let him get in any deeper with them."
"So, tell him he shouldn't run."
"Veronica would kill me if I did, ditto the Lodges," Archie huffs, "Maybe I could give you something. Maybe you could write about it, and that would make my dad hit pause."

Kat pushes herself off the wall. Had she heard that right? She swallows. Archie was putting himself in danger, yet again, and if her father found out... she pushes the thought out of her mind. For years, Kat had seen what happened to those who dared to cross Hiram Lodge, not many were left in tact.

Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath. Taking a moment to compose herself before knocking on the door. A face as though she hadn't heard Archie betray her father.
"Jug," She calls, announcing her presence, "Can we talk?"
The boys stand awkwardly, like deers caught in headlights.
"Do you mind, Arch?" She puts on a pleasant smile, leaning against the paper covered desk.
Archie says nothing, only nodding and scooting out of the room, probably headed straight to Veronica.
Another deep breath, Kat perches on a student desk, across from Jughead. He looks tired, fed up. She didn't have to ask why, she already knew.
"I owe you an apology," She breaks the silence, pulling at a loose thread on her jacket, "You were right."
"Katherine Lodge admitting she's wrong?" A smug look creeps across his face, "Am I being Punk'd?"
She chuckles, throwing a crumpled piece of paper at him, "Piss off."
"Sweet Pea and Fangs caught me up on everything," Jug smiles, "You made quite the impression."
"You're not mad?"
"No," A feeling of relief rushes over Kat, "I know you're just looking out for us."
Kat smiles, both parties feeling comfortable with the current silence.
"Side note," She pushes herself from the desk, changing the topic, "You kissed my sister?"
Jughead's face reddens as he searches for his words.
"Veronica told me everything," She chuckles.
"Right," He huffs, still full of embarrassment, "Of course she did."
"Betty doesn't know," Kat furrows her brows. They both knew what she was talking about, even if they hadn't talked about it since, "Does she?"
He draws out a breath; "No."
"You can't tell her," Kat says a little too quickly, "Not now, not after the lake house."
"I know."
"Promise me, Jug."

          Jughead Jones leans against his bike, waving off Kat as she climbs into the black Mercedes Bens. They'd spent the last 3 hours speaking, talking over their issues, their worries. Difficult as it was, she forced herself to bring up Jug's article, and though he disagreed with her point, he understood why she felt scared of the repercussions. For the first time in what felt like months, Kat had her friend back — her Jughead. She hadn't realised just how much she missed him, or how much it had pained her. The worst thing about Jug and Kat was how similar the two were. They were both stubborn as a mule, neither wanted to admit they were wrong. Their emotions often got the better of them, especially when it involved someone they cared deeply about; only worsened when it concerned each other. Had it been anybody else, they would've made up weeks ago, but not these two.