Underneath ¤ Jughead Jones [2]

twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY, MISTAKES AND DARKNESS

"Okay, you've got this, Jug. You've got this, right?" 

Jughead rolled his eyes at the girl's anxious behavior, the scorching heat had decided her outfit, replacing her usual attire with shorts and a tank top, the girl's hair in a bun, serpent jacket on her shoulders. She glanced at the boy, playing with her hands as the boy let out a short chuckle, though his own nerves were sky-rocketing. "Relax, Laur, we're gonna be fine." 

"Okay, yeah, you'll be fine, let's just hope the police doesn't find out." Lauren stated with a nod as she glanced at the crowd that had somehow been informed of the event and they obviously weren't expecting such a large turnout. 

Jughead exhaled, pursing his lips. "Yeah, that would be bad." 

"Very bad." Lauren agreed, as Tallboy approached the two cars that sat side by side, making Lauren nod as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and took long strides towards her Serpent friends, frowning at Mason's face. "Why the long face, Long?"

Mason raised his brows at her, the corner of his lips lifted and he shook his head before he glanced at Betty who replicated his features. "Nothing I can't handle." 

"Hey, she'll explain everything to you, eventually, give her some time, she has good intentions." Lauren smiled at him, speaking softly as she looked at the cooper girl herself. 

"She's an enigma, Lauren." Mason huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, clenching his jaw.

"That she is, Mas." 

Finally, the two men shook each other's hand, both rather roughly and face hardened before walking away as Cheryl replaced Toni in between the two cars, flag in her hand as the race started with both dashing away as Cheryl's red flag raised in the air and applause sounded and people followed the car for a few steps, cheering as the race started. 

Lauren stood next to Kevin some of the attractive boys around, he let out a dramatic exhale, head shaking a little. "Man, now I know why you were so eager to join the Serpents, Laur. The guys are hot." 

"Um, I have a boyfriend, Kevin." Lauren informed, laughing. 

"That doesn't mean we don't want something good to look at." Kevin winked, voice straight as Lauren let out a small chuckle, one more time as she drank her iced water, feeling a layer of sweat gather on her forehead. 

As time went by faster, something felt extremely wrong and only a few of the people around were aware of it. And though Lauren was sure that nobody else could sense the nervousness that flooded the atmosphere so as she was joined by the rest of her Northside friends, Veronica sharing an anxious look with her. "Am I the only one who feels weird about this whole thing, Laur?"

Kevin gave her a look of confusion shaking his head as he took a sip of his soda and Lauren nodded in agreement, huffing as she folded her arms over her chest. "No, I feel it too. Something's off."