𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter seven

✴︎°༄

THE YOUNGER SERPENTS lined up and Jughead stood at the end. Kiara played with her fingers nervously and tried not to scream and run away with Jughead. She knew he didn't really want to be a Serpent. She could tell there was a reason he was doing all this. She also knew the young man's heart was shattered into a million pieces, but temporarily taped together, because of the bitch move Betty had made earlier. Toni noticed the anxiety building up within Kiara and grasped her hand as a sign of comfort.

"He'll be okay," Toni whispered. Sweet Pea heard and turned his head toward them, meeting eyes with Kiara; she faked a confident smile.

They began punching Jughead as he stumbled through the two rows of young men. Kiara covered her mouth with her hand and turned away.

"Is that all you got?" Jughead breathlessly got out.
Kiara looked up, hoping Sweet Pea would simply shake his hand and welcome him into the gang.

Sweet Pea cracked his knuckles then slammed his fist into the side of Jughead's face, causing him to fall to the ground. Kiara felt sick to her stomach and realized she couldn't physically handle seeing this. She backed away from the group then crouched down on the ground, careful not to get the butt of her pants dirty.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and sobbed heavily into them. Seeing Sweet Pea punch her best friend triggered every memory of Pitbull and her parents laying a harsh, cruel hand on her. She heard someone walking up from behind her and, from the heaviness of the steps, she knew it wasn't Toni. She stood up and turned around, silently praying to see Jughead.

"Hey," Sweet Pea said softly. "You alright?"

"I just-" She started. "When you hit him- it's like I was back with Pitbull- and-"

"I'm sorry," He whispered. He reached out his hand and touched her cheek gently. She winced as if he had slapped her and she took a step back.

"I-" She gasped, shocked at what she just did. "I'm so sorry. I think I just need a break tonight, then this will all just wash over, and it'll all be okay again." He nodded then she ran past him and right up to Jughead.

***

Kiara had spent the night at Fangs' trailer, but of course not in the same bed as him. Infact, she convinced him to let her use the pull out sofa instead of the bed. She had recovered from the following night's minor panic attack and Sweet Pea was all over her again. He had her pinned against the lockers and her legs were wrapped around his torso. He was holding her up and she was holding his face as their lips connected. At any other school they'd be shamed and seen as disgusting, but this was Southside High. It was either Jingle-Jangle, a make out session, or sticking with your gang for protection.

"I missed you last night," Sweet Pea mumbled between kisses. "I'm sorry for what I put you through."

"None of that was your fault, Sweets," She replied. "You've been nothing but good to me, don't blame yourself because I have to deal with trauma."

"Just know that," He whispered as he made his way to her neck, "I'm always here for you."

"Same goes for you, tough guy," She smiled and lifted his chin and kissed him.

Suddenly the doors were slammed open and in stomped the mayor, Sheriff Keller, many deputies, and several drug-sniffing kanines.

"What the hell?" Sweet Pea muttered.
"Run," Kiara commanded. "Run!"

Sweet Pea let her stand and he ran as fast as he could, not letting go of Kiara's hand. They dodged other students and made it halfway down the hall until Sweet Pea was tackled to the floor by a deputy, causing Kiara to fall too.

"Run, Kiara, you can still make it," Sweet Pea muttered before the man forced him onto his feet. Kiara stood up and was instantly shoved against a locker by another deputy. Sweet Pea was being handcuffed right beside her and pounded his fist on the metal in anger.

"It'll be okay," Kiara whispered and placed her hand over his fist. He released his tight fist and instead held her hand gently.

The deputy pulled there hands apart, cuffed them, and shoved them toward the main doors.

"What the hell?" Tom all but screamed. "Get your hands off her, that's my daughter!" The deputy threw his hands in the air and backed away. Tom unlocked her chains and she threw her arms around his neck.
"Dad, I'm so sorry!"

"It'll be okay, hun."

They broke apart and Tom told the other deputy to go. Tom gripped Sweet Pea's bicep and led him and Kiara to his car in the parking lot.

"I have to take you in," He said to Sweet Pea, "but I'm willing to let my daughter stay with you. If you try anything I won't hesitate to throw your ass in jail, clear?"

Sweet Pea swallowed his nerves. "Yes sir."

The two teens sat in the back as Tom drove to the station.

"Did you know this was gonna happen?" Sweet Pea whispered.

"Of course not!" She replied and placed a hand on his cheek comfortingly. "Don't worry, we're gonna get out of this. We've done nothing illegal."