Unholy

10

"There she is!" Fangs cheers when I remove my helmet. Sweet Pea hangs it on the handle and gets off the bike only to sit back down but backward so that he is facing me.

"Is that Sweet Pea's flannel?" Toni asks when she and Cheryl come to chat with us. Betty, Archie, Veronica, and Kevin are here too. They all look better than they did Saturday. Betty has a bruise on her forehead, Fangs has bruised and busted knuckles, Archie's eyebrow is split, Jughead's nose has a gash across it, Toni has a black eye, and Cheryl is flawless of course. Sweet Pea has no visual flaws on his face but I haven't seen under his shirt and I know he didn't come out unscathed. 

"He told me to wear it on the way here because of the wind." I defend. "Ooooh's" flit around the group and I hide my face in my hands. "I'm out of here guys," I say once the teasing doesn't stop. I stalk off to find Reggie talking to Josie at his locker. When he sees me coming, he pushes her out of the way and wraps me in a big hug.

"Hey, baby." He greets. He kisses my lips when he pulls back. I see Josie's face fall before turning angry. She walks up behind Reggie and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Who's flannel is that?" She asks, demanding an answer with her tone.

"None of your business." I clap back.

"Josie, chill. Heather, who's is it?" Reggie asks me calmly.

"It doesn't matter, babe." I touch his chest softly and he takes my hand, kissing my fingers.

"Who's do you think it is?" Josie asks Reggie with a pointed look. Reggie looks back at me and Josie gestures behind me. His eyes trail up and I turn around to see the group at the motorcycles walk in.

"A fucking serpent?"  Reggie looks at me angry once again.

"It was just to keep me warm on the way over here." I defend but he isn't listening. He stomps over to the serpents and grabs Jughead by his collar.

"Why the fuck is my girl wearing a snake's shirt?" He spits at Jug and the others look at Sweet Pea as he steps up to push Reggie off.

"Back off, Mantle."

"I bet it's yours, isn't it fag?" Reggie points at Sweet Pea with venom in his voice. I wince.

"Watch it. I'll put that finger down your throat." Sweet Pea threatens.

"Why does she have it on?" Reggie asks him.

"Because I was looking out for her. Who do you think took care of her this weekend after the fight?" Sweet Pea asks him.

"You went all the way to Thornhill to take care of her? I'm surprised Mrs. Blossom let a snake on her porch, except Bratz Doll over here." Reggie jokes. Toni almost decks him right there but Cheryl holds her.

"No, she stayed at my house." I wince as the words leave Sweet Pea's mouth. The hall is silent and I can almost see the smoke coming out of Reggie's ears.

"She what?" Reggie growls.

"She. Stayed. At. My.  House. Wow, you bulldogs really aren't that bright, are you?" That is enough to have Reggie lunging at Sweet Pea. I have never seen so much fighting between two people my entire life. 

"Stop! For fuck sakes, stop!" I scream yanking on Reggie as hard as I can. All eyes are on me this time and I hold my breath. "Yes, I was at Sweet Pea's this weekend because he stitched me up and watched after me. Nothing happened.  We still bicker like children and we still have a mutual distaste for one another. It was strictly for serpent business that he did that." I tell Reggie and he looks at the other serpents for confirmation. They don't say anything but everyone starts to clear out. I pull Reggie back to the side of the hallway. Josie is still watching everything.