DESPERADO | SWEET PEA [2]

23

Later on, Izzy arrived at Sunnyside Trailer Park on her Motorcycle. Just as she turned her bike off, Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Jughead approached her, "Someone's sending us a message, Izzy," Sweet Pea informed the girl, looking nervous.

"What's wrong?" She asked him concerned as she got up from her bike, "What's the message?"

"Come on," Jughead told her and Izzy immediately followed them over to the couch in the middle of the trailer park.

Fangs, Sweet Pea, and Jughead stood five feet away from the couch covered with blue tarp and wouldn't go any closer, causing Izzy to frown in concern, "What is it?" She asked them concerned.

"See for yourself," Fangs replied quietly, causing Izzy to become even more puzzled.

Slowly, she walked over to the tarp. She took a deep breath before lifting it, revealing Joaquin's dead body. His eyes were still open and he had blue lips, along with the sacrificial symbol carved into his forehead.

Izzy sighed out, refusing to let herself cry at the sight of her former friend's dead body, "Joaquin," She said quietly, glancing over at her friends as she placed the blue tarp back over his body.

"Who do you think did it?" Sweet Pea questioned her, walking closer to her as he went to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

He sighed in defeat as Izzy walked past not just him, but also Fangs and Jughead, "Uh..." She trailed off, her back facing the three as she tried her hardest to hold back her tears, "I honestly don't know. The Gargoyle Gang or Hiram..." She trailed off, letting a small sob as the tear finally began to fall down her cheeks, "It could be anyone."

"That symbol on his forehead..." Fangs trailed off and Jughead spoke up, knowing Izzy wouldn't since she was trying her hardest to choke back a sob, even though she wouldn't admit it out loud.

"Sacrifice," He stated quietly just before his eyes widened in realization, "I have to get to Archie."

Without another word said, Jughead rushed off and climbed onto his motorcycle, speeding off.

Fangs and Sweet Pea immediately turned to Izzy, who still refused to turn to them as she continued to silently cry. They shared a glance with each other before walking over to her, "Izzy," Fangs called out as Sweet Pea grabbed her by the shoulder, forcing her to turn to them.

When she finally turned to them, her eyes were filled with tears, "He's actually gone," She cried, "I shouldn't even care! He's betrayed us."

"He was still our friend, Iz," Sweet Pea reminded her as Fangs pulled Izzy closer to him and gave her the hug she deeply needed.

She cried into Fangs' chest for a long moment before lifting her head up to turn to Sweet Pea, who awkwardly stood, "What are you doing just standing there, Sweet Pea?" She complained, causing Sweet Pea to frown in confusion, "Join the hug!"

Sweet Pea smiled slightly before walking forward, wrapping his arms around both Fangs and Izzy. No matter what was going on between Sweet Pea and Izzy, they were best friends first, which meant they would still always be there for each other in their time of need.

The trio remained like that for a long while until Izzy got a text from Betty, telling her about the information she had just learned. Alice was in the kitchen, making popcorn when Izzy and Betty entered the kitchen, Betty holding out a piece of paper, "What do you have to say for yourself, Mom?" Betty asked her mother.

Alice sighed out, walking over to Betty and Izzy, "You have shaken every tree today, Elizabeth. I'm sure there's nothing left to say." She complained to her daughter.