𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 ↠ sweet pea [2]

|| THIRTY-EIGHT ||

For days, while she should've been in bed regaining her strength, Lauryn sat glued to the kitchen table with Sweet Pea trying to manage this huge bill that had fallen upon them. It was heaps more than they had assumed it would have come to. 

Fourteen thousand dollars was not easy money for two teenage, parentless Serpents to get their hands on, and so they were trying to think of every possible option to keep their heads above water.

Lauryn decided to return to work at Pop's when she was able-bodied again, and Sweet Pea was out almost every day in search of some kind of gig that would keep food on the table.

Of course, their friends didn't leave them to tackle the massive bill alone, but when the quarantine fell over the town, the usual business quieted down to a minimum, causing everyone to have to scrape the barrel.

Jughead and FP were still long gone, and no one knew even remotely where. The Serpents had to lean on each other, as well as themselves, just to survive. 

Times were tough, and no money was coming into Tent City. The Serpents were sinking, unable to feed their families or pay for basic needs. They desperately needed a way out of it, or they would soon die out.

Fangs, desperate to help his little sister, joined the drug trade. He ended up becoming a Fizzle Rock runner around town. He hadn't told Lauryn what he'd gotten into, though her suspicious grilling whenever he'd come by with cash causing him to lie was making him feel like a horrible brother.

"You should be in bed," Sweet Pea said when he found Lauryn sat on a chair with her legs crossed for warmth. She ignored him, so he took the spreadsheet from in front of her. "I mean it, Angel Face, you need to focus on getting better. Let me crunch the numbers."

She shook her head, her messy bun shaking upon it. "I'm fine. I just got paid. I need to figure this out..."

"No, you don't. I'll finish it off, okay? Please, go cuddle up with Courtney and I'll put the TV on for you." Sweet Pea caressed her thigh gently over the sweatpants she wore. She flinched, not expecting the sudden action.

Though, she was well aware Sweet Pea would never hurt her, not even close to what Rich was trying to do, the effect it left on her was catastrophic, leaving her jumpy and unwanting of affection unless she initiated it.

"Sorry," she let out a sigh, reluctantly dragging herself over to the couch where she then curled up under a blanket as Sweet Pea lowered the baby onto her. 

"No, I'm sorry," he said, slightly hurt, but knowing why she reacted that way, which he wouldn't confess was keeping him up at night. 

"Do you need anything?" he offered, sitting down next to his girls for a minute. Lauryn then shook her head, her hand patting Courtney's back lightly. "All right, I'll leave you alone."

He went to get up, but Lauryn reached out and desperately took hold of his wrist. "No, stay. Space is the last thing I want. I want you here with me."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. It was Sweet Pea. 

They shuffled around until all three of them were in place comfortably, and Sweet Pea tried to keep his hands above her waist. He leaned over her, kissing her on the cheek. He spotted the smile that lifted her cheek, watching as she closed her eyes contentedly. 

Later on, the whole family was asleep, and it was getting darker outside. The TV was on, its volume low, and only a lamp in the corner illuminated the trailer.

Sweet Pea's eyes opened as fast as darts as he heard footsteps on the wooden porch outside, and his protective instinct made him slip out of the warm blanket he was under and peer through the window.