𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲

Chapter 13

Braveheart walked into her dad's trailer, a small frown spread across her face. It still smelt slightly of alcohol but she tried to ignored it. She glanced around to see her father sat at the table, filling in a crossword on the newspaper. She made her way over and looked down at him.

"Why am I here, dad?" She asked with slight annoyance in her tone. He jumped slightly, not even realizing she was there, and looked up at his daughter.

"I wanted to see if you were okay after the party." FP shrugged slightly. She nodded.

"Well, i'm fine. Can I leave?" She asked looking to FP. He sighed and looked up at her.

"No. Sit down, Brave." He muttered putting the pen he was holding down. He looked at her as she sat in the seat across from him. She raised an eyebrow in slight confusion, resting her hands on the table.

"Why did you originally join the Serpents?" Her father asked rather quickly. She shrugged slightly and looked down at the table then back at him. She leaned back in the chair.

"I didn't have a reason. I just wanted to. It's part of who I am. Part of my family." Braveheart answered. She never really had a reason for it. Well, she did but she didn't really like to think about the reason.

"Why am I finding that so hard to believe?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest leaning forward slightly. She shrugged and let out a sigh.

"I don't know." She replied, shrugging once again. He sighed and glanced towards her bag. Her laptop was sticking out slightly.

"Do you think your old man could have a look at your story?" He asked looking genuinely curious. She let out a small sigh and pushed the chair backwards. She grabbed her bag and pulled out the laptop. Then, opened the lid and typed in her password quickly. He smiled at that. FP was quite proud of Braveheart. He didn't show it but he really was. She opened the document and turned the PC towards him.

"There. It's only the first draft thought so it's not amazing." She muttered. He nodded slightly and leaned against the table beginning to read the story.

Braveheart was nervously tapping her foot against the floor as her dad read the book. She never really had people read it. Only Esme had seen the story. But even then she didn't really let her see it. FP was holding a small smile on his face. He chuckled. This made her more nervous.

"Your humor in this is really good. It's all really good, Brave." He grinned. Her eyes went wide and a grin grew across her face.

"Seriously?" She asked not quite believing her father. He nodded and chuckled.

"I really like Than's humor." He smiled. "Doesn't that name meaning something?" He asked tilting his head. She nodded.

"Death, brilliant. Hence why that's the name of the killer. He is brilliant and brings death upon humans." She quickly said smiling. He chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"It's amazing, Brave. What drew you to the topic of a killer?" He asked curiosity clear in his voice. She shrugged and leant back in the chair again.

"I've always loved them. Do you remember me reading that book on the Axeman of New Orleans?" She asked and he chuckled nodding and smiling.

"You were six years old and it was dark out but you weren't scared. Then when you heard a noise outside you started crying and Jughead had to comfort you all night." He smiled reminiscing on the memory. She nodded chuckling.

"But even after that night, she continued to read about it." The familiar voice of Jughead joined the conversation. Braveheart glanced towards her brother, a small smile appearing on her face.

"And I still do read about all those serial killers." She smiled up at Jug. He nodded.

"Have you had any last night calls of Braveheart crying?" FP asked looking to Jughead. "She hasn't called you being scared, has she?" He asked obviously joking. He knew his daughter was stronger than that. Jughead chuckled and shook his head.

"No. Thankfully not." He chuckled glancing towards Braveheart, who looked offended. She rolled her eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked raising an eyebrow. He shrugged but still held a grin.

"Nothing, Brave." He grinned mischievously. She rolled her eyes and got to her feet.

"Right. I've to head to school. I'm helping Betty out later so I need to get my stupid homework done." Braveheart shrugged grabbing the laptop. She closed the lid and slipped it back into her bag, zipping it up.

"I'll see you there." Jughead smiled. She nodded and made her way out of the trailer.

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Braveheart sat on the bottom of the ladder after finishing helping Betty decorate. Betty turned to see Jughead walking in with a box of fairy lights. The decorations for homecoming were already really nice and coming along well. Braveheart looked to her brother.

"Hey, you!" Jughead said to Betty, a small smile on his face. "Why didn't you tell me about the dinner?" Jughead asked glancing towards Braveheart. She looked just as confused and shrugged slightly putting her hands up in defense.

"What?" Betty asked sounding confused and shocked. Braveheart got to her feet and walked towards the pair.

"Your mom practically tackled me in the hallway to invite my dad, Brave and I over before the dance." Jughead explained clearing up the situation. Betty had an uncertain look on her face.

"Did you not know?" Braveheart asked instantly picking up on it.

"No, no no of course. I've, just, you know, got so many... ahem." Betty began but Braveheart quickly cut her off.

"Your just busy with the decorations?" Braveheart asked with slight confusion. Betty nodded.

"Yeah." She nodded. Jughead smiled slightly and shuffled the box.

"I'm a little terrified by the social experiment of it all, but I think it's good for our families to get to know each other." Jughead smiled down at the slightly shorter girl.

"They already know me plenty." Braveheart muttered glancing between the two. Betty chuckled slightly at her comment.

"My mom hasn't seen you in forever, Brave." Betty pointed out. Braveheart nodded and took her beanie, sorting out her hair, before placing back on.

"I know." Braveheart whispered taking the box from Jug. She walked off over to a table of decorations leaving the two to talk. She noticed Reggie standing on the other side of the room staring at Braveheart. She tried to ignore him but couldn't help it. She walked over adjusting her beanie and pulling her shirt down slightly.

"Quit the staring, Mantle." She practically demanded. He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"You aren't Cheryl, Brave. But you're begging to sound a lot like her. Trying to demand a bulldog." He said crossing his arms over his chest. She scoffed and glared at the taller boy.

"Yeah yeah. I'm not going to ever be like that bitch Cheryl. I'm not into the whole twincest thing." Braveheart crossed her arms over her chest. Her comment made him chuckle.

"Are we just going to ignore what happened between us?" He asked looking down at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Yes. We are. That shouldn't have happened." She shrugged beginning to turn around. He grabbed her arms before she could.

"I can't just forget it." He confessed. She rolled her eyes and pulled her arm out of his grip.

"You're going to have to try." She shrugged before leaving him behind.

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