Two Evils // Sweet Pea

Chapter Nineteen

The Lodge sisters sit silently in their father's office. His angry pacing causing Kat's heartbeat to quicken. She hadn't seen her father this angry in years.
"Jughead Jones is asking questions about the Chock'lit Shoppe," Hiram's voice is loud and intimidating, "Jughead Jones." He slams his hand on the mahogany desk.
"Papá," Katherine gulps, seeing her father this way, knowing what he was capable of, scared her.
"Did Pop Tate keep his mouth shut?" Their mother stands behind them, an unamused tone in her voice.
"More or less."
"Then Jughead has nothing," Hermione rests a hand on her hip.
"No, what he has is someone from our inner-circle feeding him information," Hiram says through barred teeth, "Now the only people that know we own Pop's are the four of us," He pauses looking directly at the twins, "And Archie Andrews."
Katherine takes a deep breath, trying not to look so guilty. She catches a glimpse of a very confused Veronica beside her.
"Yes, he's proven his loyalty," Hiram continues, "But whats to say he isn't feeding information to his best pal?"
Kat digs her nails into the palms of her hands. She hadn't thought this through, of course Archie would get the blame.
"What about the McCoys?" Kat tries to through her father off the scent, "They clearly have a vendetta against us."
"It was me," Veronica pipes up as Kat sits awkwardly in her leather chair, her father pacing before her, "Jughead was grilling me about the southside; asking incessant questions about SoDale and Southside High. I had to get him off the scent. So I distracted him with the smallest truth I could."
Kat watches as her father's face turn redder and redder, "Veronica, so help me—"
"That was quick thinking, Ronnie," Kat interrupts her father.
"What?"
"She's right," Hermione stands beside her daughters, "Veronica wisely threw the dog a bone, to keep him from digging a bigger, more controversial one."
"Yes," Veronica smiles sweetly, "Exactly."
Hermione nods her head, "Our daughter's gambit bought us the time we need for preemptive damage control."
"Plus, it doesn't sound like Jug is even bothering with that story," Kat adds.
Hiram takes a deep breath, exchanging looks with Hermione, "I hope you are right."

Had she actually let her sister take the fall for her? Of course, Veronica thought Archie was entirely behind it — it made sense. Why would Kat leak private information? Kat sighs, she should've thought this through. In one breath, she preached to Archie just how dangerous her father was, and in another, she commanded him to betray him.

          Katherine zips her knee-high leather boots, throwing her wool cape coat over her shoulders. She didn't regret it — screwing over her father. He deserved it. He deserved everything he got. She slips her gloves over her fingers, before grabbing her too-full handbag and unlocking the door.
"Where are you going?" Her father calls across the room.
"The hospital," She shrugs, slamming the door behind her before he can answer.

When she arrives in the lobby, she can see Fangs Fogarty outside, leaning against his beaten car. Kat says nothing as she strides passed Sebastian, ignoring whatever comment, question or demand he made. Once outside, she throws her arms around Fangs, whispering thank you as she squeezes him.

*

The drive to the hospital is silent. Neither of them knowing exactly what to say. Fangs wouldn't admit it, but Kat knew he blamed her for this — and who wouldn't. Sweet Pea was attacked on her father's orders... if she'd been careful, if she'd avoided the Serpents, this wouldn't have happened. The same logic she'd used at the Warehouse. Kat has been in harms way because of the Serpents, and now Pea was in harms way because of her.

She sighs staring out of the window, "I'm sorry this happened."
He stays silent as he drives, his mind obviously racing. Fangs Fogarty was Sweet Pea's best friend, and had been since diapers. In fact, they were more like brothers; similar in every way, except for Fogarty's welcoming nature. That's what worried her the most. Fangs had always been so happy-go-lucky, always seeing the best in people, but here and now, Kat felt like the most hated woman in Riverdale.
"I pushed him," Fangs eventually speaks, "He pined over you for weeks, and I finally convinced him to go for it."
Kat doesn't know how to respond; Fangs blamed himself as much as she blamed herself.
"Now, he's in hospital," He sighs, not taking his eyes off of the road.