Public Knowledge (Sweet Pea x Reader)

The Poor Decision

"No one can tell me the answer." Ms. Richardson asked, pacing up and down the rows of the history class. "We've been studying Reconstruction for how long and no one can tell me how this affected political parties? This is ridiculous."

Your stomach twisted as you flipped through your notes searching for any kind of hint to the answer.

"Mr. Chisholm? An answer?" your teacher rounded on one of the Bulldogs closest to her who looked up from where he'd been doodling something in his notebook.

"No ma'am," he shook his head, looking back down to avoid her gaze. She shook her head, turning on the next student.

"Mr. Fogarty?"

Fangs Fogarty looked up at the teacher blankly, looking far more like a deer in the headlights than a dangerous Southside Serpent. He shook his head.

"Should have known," Ms. Richardson snapped. Next to him, you watched as Sweet Pea's hands ball into fists and his jaw set.

"We just need a second to think," you blurted.

"Excuse me?" The teacher's attention whipped around on you, and it was if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water on your head. You opened and shut your mouth. You were sure your body was shaking. It felt like it was shaking. Like the 24 pairs of eyes that had turned to look at you were crushing you under the weight of their stare. "Oh, no, Ms. Y/L/N, I'd like you to repeat it please."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Richardson, I—I—I just—"

"Repeat. It."

"I said we need time to think. And look in our notes."

"If you need time to look in your notes in order to answer basic questions about material we've been studying for the past few weeks, then you can spend your lunch with me today." Ms. Richardson stated firmly. Your cheeks burned, and you looked away from her as she made her way back to the front of the classroom. You caught Sweet Pea's stare as the corner of his mouth quirked up before he shook his head and turned his attention to Fangs who was whispering something.

..............

The rest of class went by comparatively smoothly. At least there were no more incidents where you publicly stuck your foot in your mouth. Instead you sat in silent dread, letting the reality of what you'd done sink in.

You were in such deep shit if your parents ever found out.

It was this thought that kept your mind occupied even after the bell rang. It wasn't until Sarah poked you in the back that you shook yourself off and realized everyone was packing up. You started shoving your stuff into your bag as quickly as possible, in the process knocking your textbook down to the ground.

"Shit," you swore, leaning down to pick up the book. Before you could get there a hand already had it and was offering it to you.

You looked up at Sweet Pea who had that small smile on his face.

"Uh, thanks," you said, taking it from him.

"No problem," he said before turning around to walk out the door with his friends. You followed him with your eyes, accidentally catching Toni Topaz's gaze. Your head snapped back around as you finished pulling your books from your locker.

"Ummm, what just happened?" Sarah asked.

You looked up at her, almost forgetting she was there. You shook your head. "I have no idea."

"Did Sweet Pea–Riverdale High's own Wolverine— just pick up your book for you?"

"I..." you shrugged struggling to push down the strange feeling that felt too close to "offended" from bubbling up.

"This is a sign of the end times," Sarah joked.

It was harder to force yourself to laugh than it should have been. And you definitely shouldn't have let your gaze drift back to the retreating Southside Serpent's jacket.

..............

"Who was that?" Fogarty asked, looking over his shoulder and back at you before following Sweet Pea into the hallway.

"Y/N Y/L/N," Sweet Pea said, staring ahead, ignoring the look that Toni shot him.

"What's her deal?" Fangs continued.

"I don't know what that was in there, but she once got a bad grade in Simpkins' class and cried about it. In class. Poor little neurotic grade grubber couldn't handle it," Cheryl chimed in with her trademark lighthearted bitch tone.

"Shut it Cheryl," Sweet Pea growled.

"What is this?" Cheryl asked, perking up. "Our serpentine prince channeling his anger issues into defending a Northside nerd? Don't tell me you're interested in first movie Hermione Granger."

Sweet Pea curled his fingers up into a fist before flexing them out, focusing on keeping them straight so they wouldn't curl up again and do anything Toni would make him regret.

"Easy Cheryl," Toni stepped in, casting a confused glance at Sweet Pea. "He hasn't had his coffee today, so he's even more of a short fuse than normal."

Cheryl laughed. "Whatever."

The rest of her snark was cut off as Sweet Pea looked over his shoulder and towards you where you laughed with a friend coming out of the classroom door. He pushed the odd feeling that crept up in his chest down and turned back, following the rest of the Serpents.