Resilience | Sweet Pea.

20 - Initiation.

A few days later, I wake up in Veronica's bed, we'd had a sleepover due to a late-night binge of a show we'd been watching. The night before, in between episodes, I'd told her of my plans to join the serpents and to my surprise, she accepted it. She'd told me she'd expected it from the day she'd met me and promised to let me tell Archie myself.

"Morning." She says, handing me a cup of coffee. "Thought you'd enjoy this."

"Thank you, Ronnie." I laugh, she sits in bed with me, her own warm beverage in hand.

"So, what're your plans for today?" She asks.

"I'm going to Sweet pea's for a bit, then I'm going to talk to Jughead about joining the serpents." I say.

"So, you're really doing this?" She asks.

"I am." I say, looking at her. "In unity there is strength, Ronnie. I need that strength."

"I understand. I support you." She says.

"Thank you." I say, leaning into her.

"So..." She says. "Sweet pea, huh? How's that going?"

"It's going good... We've alllllllmost been together a month already." I say.

"A month, wow? Where does the time go?" Veronica giggles.

"I know... I don't know how I haven't screwed it up yet." I laugh.

"Well... From what I've seen, the two of you are so sickeningly sweet, maple syrup would throw up." She laughs.

"Shut up, we are not." I laugh.

"Will we get to properly meet him soon?" She asks.

"Maybe..." I say.

"You're worried about Archie starting shit with him, aren't you?" Veronica asks.

"My boyfriend and my brother despise each other. I'm surprised Archie didn't go fishing for that fucking gun after I told him Sweet pea had asked me to be his girlfriend." I sigh.

"Do you want me to talk to Archie about it?" Veronica offers.

"No, no. I can figure it out." I sigh. "Somehow."

"You got this." Veronica giggles. "So... Now on to more scandalous questions?"

"Oh god, what?" I sigh.

"Have you and Sweet pea..." Veronica trails off. "Yaknow? Had s-"

I cut her off by almost choking on my coffee, spitting it back into the cup. "Veronica! Why would you even ask that?"

"I'm your friend!" She defends herself. "The only other boyfriend you've ever had was Jughead, so we both know you're a virgin! I was just curio-"

"Do we have to talk about my virginity? I'd rather run myself over!" I say.

"At least tell me! Have you?" She asks.

"No, we haven't. He knows I'm a.... Yeah. Uh... We've... done stuff I guess but not... Oh my god why am I even telling you this?!" I groan.

"Because believe it or not, it's good to talk about these things with someone Nova! Especially someone you trust." Veronica says, giving me an eyeroll.

"Well I hate it." I say.

"Well you're not going to talk about it with Jughead or Archie, are you?" She laughs.

"I could tell Betty!" I say. "I mean I don't wanna talk about this with anyone but-"

"I know part of you wants to talk to me about it!" Veronica says, I sigh.