The hidden truth

Chapter 40 - Normal? Not a chance

A snake bite?, wonder why I would have said that.

I spent the lesson listening to the teacher and talking to the serpents, they seemed rather excited that I was back but I was distracted by my dads reaction to the names 'Penny Peabody' and 'Malachai Peabody' although, they weren't married or even a couple for what I know but they wanted it to seem real especially if I had a different last name to the couple. He must have known them which sent a shiver down my spine and scared every cell of my being, this meant id be easy to track and easy to manipulate if they were close to my father or the serpents. 

I walked out of the class with Jughead and the serpents on my tail talking about southsider/serpent business, something I would normally be all over and wanted to know every detail of but that was the least of my worries, my fathers face was stuck in my mind and the thought circled my mind like a predator to their prey before finally pouncing and sinking their teeth in, We walked to the outside of the building when I was dad walk towards the door and he saw us. 

"We're talking about this after school, your coming to the wrym and telling me everything. no details spared or even hidden, everything out in the open from now on, we need to know Pumpkin and I wont rest until I know what happened and what sick part in this the snake charmer has to play in this"He said as I saw his face, one of disgust, with me? had I already made him hate me? 

"Whats up? something happen dad?" Jughead asked as I walked back and moved further past him and behind Toni and Sweetpea, this was the moment I was waiting for. When they finally realised they had made a mistake bringing me into their life. 

"The snake charmer has something to do with your sisters disappearance all those years ago along with Malachai" He spat which made me want to hide from the hostility of the situation unfolding before me, what was going to happen? All of these questions made me panic and they made it harder for me to breath, the serpents turned to me with Pity and Confusion. 

"Is that true?"Toni asked as she turned to me more, I felt my chest tighten and suddenly I couldn't breath, this topic was always a panic attack inspirer to me. It was why me and Adeline avoided it, the conversation of Malachai and Penny being involved in all my life struggles. Sweetpea came towards me with his hands up and he looked me in the eyes. 

"Breath, it's okay. We can talk about it later but for now, think you can nod?" Sweetpea said as he took my hand and squeezed, I looked towards them and nodded slowly, Penny and Malachai were behind the whole thing. I didn't know why they wanted me away from the serpents or why they wanted me to forget a life I was too young to remember. 

I let out a breath and looked towards my father who stood in front of me with a weak and sad smile, he came up to me and hugged me,placing his chin on my head and enclosing me in his arms. In this moment, I felt safe and protected. "Hey, we're just mad they took you, you're going to have to tell us what happened so we can go about fixing it. We can take it I promise" He said soothingly and I nodded and he broke the hug and smiled before walking away leaving me stood with two males with a face of pity and My brother and Toni with faces filled with anger, I hoped they'd leave it till later. Giving me time to calm down and figure out how to tell them this.

"come on, lets go get food. We can talk about it later" Sweetpea said, I hadn't realised that he hadn't let go off my hand until I felt him pull me to the canteen where the thought of food made me feel physically sick. Jughead saw Betty and she came towards us and looked at mine and sweetpeas hands and rose an eye brow and I brushed it off, Kevin saw me and came running. I wish I was joking but he literally came running up to me and hugged me and started babbling about something that I couldn't keep up with, what the hell Kevin, speak English. 

Sweetpea grabbed me food, never once letting of my hand. He mixed the trey with food for us both and pulled us to a table that we could all fit onto with the bulldogs staring us down as the serpent tables were around us and Archie, veronica and Betty came and sat with us, Sweetpea finally let go of my hand after he had given it a final reassuring squeeze, he passed me a bottle of water and half a sandwich since my apatite was gone with the memories that resurfaced with the idea of my personal hell and torture. 

"What's got everyone so down?" Veronica said with a sweet smile as if it was meant to lighten the mood, toni looked up and sighed. she looked at me and I shrugged. "Surely, it should be a good day since we have our girl back and she's ready for her family?" Veronica questioned as she looked towards me as if that was a big welcome back speech. 

"Serpent stuff" Jughead replied with as he kissed Betty's forehead and looked towards my direction, he was sparing my feelings which I appreciated a large amount. 

"Speaking of, Is LJ joining any time soon?" Archie asked which had us all turn heads, he hated the serpents. I remember his reaction when Jughead joined so why was he wanting to know about me joining? "Its a blood thing right?, you're a serpent by blood so you'll be a big deal to have and I don't think FP will let you out of his sight since he's only just got you back" he said looking up at us with a raised brow, I watched as Kevin spoke to that Bulldog he had been crushing on, he was head over heels for him and he couldn't even dine it."

"Hey Toni, can I see you're Schedule?" The first words I had spoken since this whole ordeal had started, I might aswell try at normal and have a friend throughout my dive to the deepest pits of hell, she nodded and pulled it out of her bag, I saw we had next period together and then she had classes but I knew I didn't. It was my old timetable but the name change. 

"Shame, I only have one more lesson and then my lessons are over" I said as I looked at her, she sighed and she knew she wouldn't be the one to take me to the wrym and give me a pep talk which I could see was her intentions.

"I have nothing next or after that, I'll wait for you" Sweetpea said with a smile and I looked towards him and nodded, that sounded good since I needed a partner to take me to the wrym since I didn't know where I was going and the serpent did.

"Sounds Good Sweetpea" I said with a smile before looking at everyone and they looked between us with coy smiles and smirks which made me eyes roll, I looked over the tables to see Reggie and His bulldogs looking at the table. More specifically me. 

I watched them get up and come our way and I knew this would end badly, they walked up to us and Kevin quickly followed behind. This would be awkward for him, his crush Vs his best friend, poor boy.

"So the rumours are true?, Your back Jones" Reggie said as he looked me in the eyes and I smiled back as I looked over his bulldogs, so intimated that he brought back up this time? I thought to myself. 

"Guess so" I answered back unintentional in a bored tone showing my excitement for this conversation.