Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Eleven

Caia followed Jughead into his trailer and she the door behind her just as Jughead took a seat behind his typewriter.

"Hey," She began, taking a few small steps towards the table. "Thanks for that."

"Yeah, no problem, Caia. Don't mention it," he replied, somewhat ignoring Caia's presence as he reloaded a piece of paper into the typewriter. When she didn't leave, he looked up to meet her gaze. "Why are you still here?" He demanded. "Shouldn't you be with Reggie or something?"

Caia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, I didn't come here just to be yelled at by Sweet Pea for not being in your stupid Gryphons and Gargoyles Party," she shot back. "Which, by the way, I'm not even sure why you're playing, because I know Betty told you the same story she told me."

Jughead rolled his eyes. He was not about to explain his reasoning to Caia, who, if he was being honest, would never get it. "It's complicated, Caia, and I'm busy," he replied instead, motioning to his typewriter and the stack of papers in front of him. "So can we get on with this?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Caia agreed, deciding to leave the G and G debacle alone. She pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. Clearing her throat, she began. "Okay, so I was trying to discretely ask my mom about the Midnight Club like Betty asked, but I discovered something even more alarming in the process." Jughead just stared at her, motioning her to go on. "I don't even think my mom knows who she went to high school with," Caia informed.

Jughead furrowed his eyebrows and cocked his head. "What?" He questioned, clearly confused.

"I ask her who her friends were in high school, and all she talks about is my dad and the Serpants, which she didn't even join until halfway through her junior year," Caia explained. "She was very vague when I asked her about before then, and brushed me off when I asked her what Archie's dad's name was. It was like she didn't even know, and for some reason she didn't want me to find out about it." Caia stared at Jughead, hoping he would say something helpful for her predicament.

Jughead looked unimpressed. "Caia, I'm sure she was just annoyed or something. Are you sure you're not overreacting about this?" He accused pointedly.

"Well, that's what I thought too, at first," Caia continued. "But then, this creepy ass kid she invited to stay at our house straight up like threatens me in the hallway, telling me I shouldn't ask so many questions." Jughead, who had gone back to staring at his type writer quickly glanced over, alarmed.

"Wait, what kid?" He questioned.

Caia shrugged and leaned back in her chair. "I don't know, some kid named Noah. I think he's in the Serpents. Still in high school, and somehow he knew my mom and she offered to let him stay at our house." She paused and lifted her eyebrows for effect. "Super creepy, by the way."

Jughead was deep in thought. Finally, he looked up and broke the silence. "You said his name was Noah?" He inquired.

"Yeah, that's what he told me," Caia confirmed.

Jughead ran his hand over his face before speaking. "Well, I don't know any Serpents named Noah," he informed.

Caia perked up, immediately becoming alarmed. "Oh," she replied. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I think so, but I'll check around," Jughead responded. He paused, staring at Caia and biting his lip in contemplation, before speaking again. "That is a little sketchy, Caia, but I'm sure it's okay. Just be careful, and make sure to keep me updated, all right?"

Caia nodded in agreement. "Yeah, sure, I will. I told Reggie too, so I'll be okay if anything happens." Jughead nodded in relief. Caia slid her chair back and stood up. "I'll let you go know. Thanks for listening."