Underneath ¤ Jughead Jones [2]

twenty-one

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE, HOMECOMING

"I have an announcement to make," Jughead started with a smile, eyes gleaming as his arm wrapped around Lauren's shoulders as she replicated his happiness. "My dad's getting out." 

The couple stood in front of most Serpents at the Whyte Wyrm, they had already announced it to their group of friends with instructions to Veronica and Archie regarding the information they have about the Black hood. The Serpents applauded and cheered with the same smiles, this made Lauren realize that she had never really seen the Serpents happy. 

As the claps died down, Jughead raised his hand and continued. "And when he does. I'll bring him up to speed about our plans with Mayor McCoy."

"That's brilliant." Tallboy stated sarcastically, slamming his glass onto the table.

"Do you have a problem Tallboy?" Lauren quipped, eyebrows raised. 

Tallboy looked surprised but angry that the girl had said something against him, he narrowed his eyes at the couple. "His old man? No. I got no problem with him. But your boy here, wants us to sit down with the Mayor."  

"I do. He's right." Jughead nodded, looking at everyone, he shrugged. "I think we can bring the Southside back. But it's gonna take work and it's going to take compromise." 

"Bring the Southside back." Tallboy chuckled humorlessly. "You've been here all of five minutes." 

"Tallboy, I am sick of you acting like a little bitch. Whispering behind my back that I'm half a Serpent. Or that I don't belong here." Jughead snapped at him, looking around at everyone. "Why don't we put it to a vote? If you guys think what I'm doing is wrong, I'll step aside." 

Lauren looked around stepping up as her friends started to gather, Mason and Toni now by her side. "All those who stand with Jughead and think that Tallboy should shut the hell up.." 

Raising her own hand, Lauren watched as most of the Serpent's raised their arms to stand with the boy who gave Tallboy a knowing smile causing him to walk away angrily. Lauren smiled appreciatively at the Serpents before taking Jughead's hand and kissing it. 

"I just wanna say that just because Tallboy disagrees with everything we do and wants to be in control what happens around here, doesn't mean you have to stand by him. You all have a voice and you all should use it. We all want Southside to be restored because we don't like the way Riverdale treats us, as if we're some thugs! So let's do it the right way and get the respect back that the Ghoulies and people like Tallboy took away from us." Lauren voiced loudly, every Serpents attention on her as they watched her in awe. She stood proud and happy but she also stood her ground, voice firm as the Serpents around her yelled in agreement. 

Mason beamed at her, nodding his head while giving her a thumbs up as the couple finally walked out of the bar, ready to get F.P back.

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