𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 ↠ sweet pea [2]

|| TWENTY ||

Lauryn spent most days following helping Veronica set up the speakeasy. Though it was tedious, polishing tables and setting up displays, it helped to get her mind off of all that was going on. 

The only thing she couldn't stand was the fact that Josie found it to be the perfect place as well, fiddling around with her microphone and singing song after song. Lauryn tried her best to ignore the new chanteuse, as Veronica was under enough pressure. 

The speakeasy was almost ready for its grand opening, and the teenagers were more than proud of themselves for the job they'd done.

Waiting for the final delivery of glasses and straws, Veronica and Lauryn sat at the bar while Reggie finished pinning up some curtains on the stage.

"Veronica, this is going to be amazing," Lauryn smiled, looking around. "You've really gone above and beyond."

"Well, I couldn't have done it without the likes of you."

Lauryn scoffed, shaking her head. "And to think, one year ago you thought I was some vicious gang-banger."

Veronica laughed. "Maybe if you didn't have such impeccable style. But, seriously, thank you for all your help, Lauryn. Don't think that this will go unpaid--"

"What?" Lauryn cut her off. "No, no, this was a gift. I wouldn't have made it through the summer without all the hours you gave me upstairs."

"Call it your seasonal bonus."

The phone rang, and Reggie leapt up the stairs. Lauryn frowned at Veronica, who tilted her head. "It's probably Josie and Kevin."

Lauryn rolled her eyes discreetly, sighing under her breath. "Any news on Archie?"

Veronica shook her head solemnly. "Not yet. I'm still trying to work it out with Mrs Andrews and Attorney McCoy. There's gotta be a loophole."

"I'm sure you'll find it," Lauryn assured her, squeezing her hand. "You're Veronica Lodge. I've not seen you fail one single thing you've done."

Veronica got up to shift a plant pot slightly to the right. "I just want everything to be perfect."

"Are you kidding? It already is," Lauryn replied, and she giggled at how Veronica was using her foot to shift the pot left and right. "Relax, Ver. I'm sure Archie's going to have better things to look at than a plant."

"Oh, my God!" Kevin exclaimed as he and Josie made their way down the stairs behind Reggie, utterly in awe at the finished product. They had seen the place during development, but never expected it to be this grand. "I died and went to Kander and Ebb heaven."

Josie instantly noticed Lauryn across the room, glaring at her before grinning at Veronica. "Veronica!"

"Welcome to La Bonne Nuit!" Veronica simpered.

The teenagers sat down at the table nearest to the bar to discuss business plans, and though Lauryn felt out of place, she couldn't give Josie the satisfaction of her leaving.

"I've hired some Serpents from the Whyte Wyrm to serve drinks," Veronica said. "Mocktails only. La Bonne Nuit is not in the business of corrupting minors."

"Not yet," Reggie pitched in jokingly.

"Right," Josie responded. "Sweet Pea mentioned that he and Toni missed serving drinks over there. I'm sure they'll love this."

"That's funny," Lauryn cut in, leaning on the table as she tried not to clench her fists. "Because Sweet Pea never bartender at the Wyrm."

Josie let out a dry laugh, which almost sounded like a whimper as the silence in the room grew louder than the ambient music playing.