Resilience | Sweet Pea.

9 - Beware.

"Focus, Daniels, Focus!" I hear in the distance, as I run the cross-country track.

I was on my last lap, 5 out of 5. I don't know why the coach is telling me to focus. I'm the fastest in the team by far. As I reach the finish line I pick up my bottle of water and almost spraying it into my mouth.

It'd been 2 weeks since Retro night, Jughead had transferred to southside high- since he was in 'foster care' now. (aka making a deal with his southside foster family and actually living in the FP's trailer) Some Riverdale high students, Moose and Midge, were shot the day after Retro night and of course Archie is absolutely convinced it was the same guy who shot Fred.

I was still barely speaking to Archie after the stunt he'd pulled at Retro night. Since that night, I hadn't heard a word from Sweet pea. I hated it. I feel like Archie ruined the friendship- or whatever it was- I had with Sweet pea which hurts.

"Nova, how's your dad?" One of the girls on the team, Lexi, asks.

"Better, why?" I ask.

"Just wondering. I know some of the other girls are kinda mean to you, I wanted you to know I'm not one of them." She says with a small, innocent smile.

"Thanks, Lexi." I say.

"Nova!" Archie calls to me. I ignore him.

"Ugh." I sigh, heading towards my bag.

"Is that Archie Andrews?! He's so cute." She giggles, Lexi's sweet, but she's a year younger than us all, I shiver as she compliments Archie. "I'd die if he spoke to me."

"Yeah well he's been an asshole recently. I gotta go, Lexi. Sorry." I say picking up my bag and walking away.

"You can't stay mad at me forever Nov." Archie calls after me.

"I can actually, since you don't seem to realize or even care why I'm fucking mad." I say.

"Nova please." Archie calls, I stop and turn to him.

"Fine, what?" I ask.

"Mrs. Cooper printed this in the Register today." Archie says, handing me the page of a newspaper.

'This is The Black Hood. I am the man who shot the adulterer at Pop's. I killed the child predator in Greendale. I shot the drug and sex addicted teenagers at Lover's Lane. Riverdale is not innocent. It's a town of hypocrites, degenerates, and criminals. My wrath is the price of your lies, your secrets, your sins. I will not stop. I cannot be stopped. I am the wolf. You are the flock. This is the bloodletting. You will hear from me again.'

"You're kidding... So, you were right." I say.

"So please, please be careful and if anything happens, you call me." Archie begs.

"Arch, I know you care but seriously. I could break someone's nose in 10 seconds and have distance on 'em in 10 more." I say.

"Can you outrun a bullet?" He asks.

"You really think the Black Hood is gonna give me a sec to call you if I'm in trouble? 'Oh, you're trying to murder me, can you give me like a minute I need to call my little brother to save me, cool' Yeah, not gonna happen Arch." I say.

"Okay 1. I'm not that much younger than you, and 2. I just don't want you to get hurt." Archie says

"I get it." I say, beginning to walk away again.

"When are you going to forgive me, Nova?!" He calls after me.

"Do I have to fucking spell it out for you, meat head?!" I yell, turning back to him.