Restrained - A Sweet Pea x Reader Fanfiction

5

I ran out of the classroom the second the lunch bell ran, heading for the cafeteria. I walked through the double doors as other students funneled past me. There were two groups of people, separated by four tables and a fence. The serpents were in the fenced area and another group sat on the far side. I stumbled as the Ghoulie from security earlier shouldered past me and headed for the far group. Everyone's eyes moved to stare at me, fresh meat, no doubt wondering which group I would sit with. Because once you chose one, there was no going back. Another person stopped next to me. "You better not go sit with the serpents." Jughead warned, not even looking at me. I set my jaw and challenged, "Try to stop me, I dare you." I walked towards the fenced area and turned back to see Jug sitting at the middle tables alone. I walked into the serpents' territory, greeted by the grinning faces of Fangs, Toni, and Sweet Pea. The second I walked through the doorway, all the other serpents raised their eyebrows as if they expected me to back down at the last minute. They'd soon learn that wasn't how I rolled. "Everyone!" Sweet Pea commanded as the head of every serpent turned towards him. "This is Y/n Jones. Effective immediately, she is an honorary serpent and if anyone lays a hand on her, they deal with us." Toni and Fangs walked over to flank him with their arms crossed in front of their chests. "Got it?" Everyone cautiously nodded and returned to their conversations. I sat down on the table, putting my feet up on the bench. Toni took a seat next to me while Fangs and Sweet Pea stood in front of us. "so, what does it take to become a full serpent?" I asked, intrigued. Fangs laughed, throwing his head back. "Well what did you do, Fogharty?" I inquired.

"There are typically three initiation tests, but they're for the guys only." Fangs answered.

Guys only? "Well what do the girls do?"

"The serpent dance." Toni sighed.

"What's that?" I turned my head to face her.

"A super outdated sexist pole dance. I tried to get rid of it for years to no avail." Toni rolled her eyes.

"Okay, well I'm not doing that." I crossed my left leg over my right as Sweet Pea and Fangs exchanged glances. "So again, what do the guys do?"

"There are three steps. The first is the beast." Sweet Pea leaned against the fence. "The second is to pledge the laws and take the prize that comes with success. Meaning, you have to take a knife from a snake." I raised my eye brows. "The final one is the gauntlet."

"Well consider my interest peaked. What does the gauntlet entail?" I ran my tongue across my teeth and twirled my hair seductively.

Sweet Pea shifted his weight uncomfortably and the three serpents conversed with their eyes once more. Looking back at me, Sweet Pea asked, "Why do you want to be a serpent anyway?"

I was taken by surprise; I hadn't anticipated that question. Why did I want to be a serpent? "I guess... It was something my brother and my dad forbade me to do so I want to do it because I'm essentially free of them now. And because the only people who have even tolerated talking to me for more than three minutes are serpents. I think they're cool people and I'd like to have more things in common with them." I made eye contact with Toni, Fangs, and Sweet Pea in turn. They each smiled, but there was something deeper with Sweet Pea's. There was an emotion flickering behind his eyes that I couldn't quite pinpoint. I searched them for a minute before realising I was staring and everybody else was staring at me staring at him.

He decided to break the silence and asked, "Want a ride to the Wyrm after school?"

"Yeah, thanks. That'd be great." I averted my eyes to the floor. I looked back up at him and said, "But only if you don't go as fast as last time."

"No promises." He laughed and winked a second before the bell signalling the end of lunch went. Toni and Fangs exchanged glances as Sweet Pea winked and I bet could've guessed what they were thinking. Toni and I hopped off the table and I walked beside Sweet Pea out of the cafeteria. "Hey what class do you have right now?"

"English, I think."

"Me too!"

Sweet Pea smiled as he said, "We'll save you a seat, but it looks like there's someone who wants to talk to you." He nodded behind him and I risked a glance over my shoulder.

"Fuck." I cursed and apologized for leaving. Sweet Pea blew me a kiss as I walked away and I imitated catching it, rolling it into a ball, and chucking it into the nearest trash can. Even though I've only known him for two days, it felt like we've been friends for forever. He waved the finger at me and I laughed as I turned around, face to face with my brother.

"What is it you want?"

"You really need to stop. If you knew the things they've done-"

"God, I don't care about what they've done, Jughead! They're good people who just happen to be victims of circumstance!"

I turned around to go, but he said, "I heard your discussion at lunch. You want to know what the gauntlet is?" It's where they beat you. And if you survive, you become a serpent."

"If I survive?" I laughed, rolling my eyes.

"This is serious, Y/n!" People have died during this gauntlet. I won't let you throw your life out the window for this!"

"Well I'd hate to be in your shoes right now because I will and I don't want or need your approval. And seriously, you need to get some new kicks." I turned on my heel, speed-walking to catch up to my new somewhat friends. If Jughead didn't like what I wanted to do with my life, he could suck it. Because he no longer got a say.