𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter eighteen

✴︎°༄

The school day was almost over, just one more class to go. Sweet Pea took Kiara to the men's locker room to get her gauze changed.

"Shit, I left something in your locker," He mumbled then kissed her forehead. "Sit tight, I'll be right back." He ran off.

"Kiara Russo."

She whipped her head around to see none other than Reggie Mantle.

"That is your name, isn't it?" He smirked.

"What do you want? Why are you being such an ass?" Kiara asked.

"We were almost together before that summer, Kiara, don't you remember?"

"Sorry if I didn't want to be in a relationship after New York," She replied sarcastically.

"That's not true though, you got with Andrews like two months later."

"I wasn't thinking clearly, Reggie, don't you see that?" She exclaimed. "All I could think about was what happened and Archie was the one person that could make me forget about it for even a second. I'm sorry, it had nothing to do with you, if things had gone differently in New York, we'd probably be dating or at least close friends."

"So why can't we date now? Wouldn't that help you? Let's pretend you never went to New York," He said and sat down beside her.

"Reggie-"

"I know, I've been a total ass to you but that's just cause I was angry- I still am. So angry at your parents, the police, Archie, hell that Serpent guy too. I- I'm sorry."

"I- I'm with Sweet Pea, Reg."

"He doesn't deserve you, Kiara!" He replied. "I know, I don't either, but I'm not gonna be dealing drugs and running with-"

The door opened and Sweet Pea walked in with the supplies. He saw Reggie and his eyes grew wide with anger. Reggie stood up, threw his hands up in the air, and backed away.

"Stay the hell away from her," Sweet Pea said through gritted teeth. "Do you have a death wish? I swear, get close to her again-"

"He didn't hurt me," Kiara stepped in. She stood between them and put her hand on Sweet Pea's chest. "We were just talking."

He nodded, "sit down, let's get that changed."

She sat and he took off the bandage.

"My god!" Reggie gasped. "Are- Are you okay?" Her wound was swelling and quite red. "Is it- supposed to look like that?"

"No," Sweet Pea replied.

He took out the disinfectant cloth and wiped it over her bruised skin. She hissed and gripped the bench she was seated on.

"Bro, that's not right, should I call someone?" Reggie asked. His words were laced with fear and there was a worried look on his usually smug face.

"It's okay, Reg," Kiara managed to let out. "I'm fine, the stitches are just struggling."

***

"I can't believe you guys don't even see it! Weatherbee is profiling us! Telling us what to wear?" Jughead exclaimed. The group was back at the Whyte Wyrm; Sweet Pea was enveloped in the arcade game and Kiara was sipping a questionable drink. "What's next? Brain implants controlling what we think?"

"Jughead, you sound like a crazy conspiracy nut!" Toni laughed in response. "A school closed down!"

"A crappy school!" Sweet Pea added.

"Yeah, and now we're at a better one. The computer lab and textbooks..."

"And toilets that flush."

"Getting transferred to Riverdale High is the best thing that could have happened."

"Maybe ever."

"So, if I have to take off my jacket, 8:30 to 3:00, Monday through Friday Hey, I'm down with that."

Jughead sighed in defeat.

***

Sweet Pea and Kiara were walking back to her house and talking. They stopped when they saw a fancy limo pull up a few yards away from them and a man step out of the back.

"Oh my god," Kiara gasped. She froze. She felt like throwing up. "Th-That's him, S-Sweet Pea!" His eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his chest and tried not to scream.

"Just take deep breathes, it'll be okay," He whispered. "Hold tight."

He let go and took a few steps closer to the man in the suit. Kiara turned the opposite direction but listened closely.

"Can I help you?" Sweet Pea asked. He tried his best not to sound like he wanted to murder the guy right then and there, but it was hard considering how much he wanted to do so.

"No, you can continue on your way, young man," Mr.Russo smirked. "I'm simply picking up my daughter to take her out to eat before bringing her home."

"You're gonna turn around and get the hell outta my sight right the fuck now!" Sweet Pea hissed through gritted teeth.

"I have a few documents in my hand here," He held up a folder, "that will clarify everything. Nothing ever happened in New York, and Kiara Keller is, and always has been, Kiara Russo."

"Don't you dare take one step closer or I swear to god I will kill you!"

"She has twenty-four-hours. If she's not back home I will take legal action against the Kellers."

***

"Don't get me wrong, you look amazing, but this turtle-neck hides a very hot feature," Kiara smirked. They were seated on a couch in the student lounge; away from the group of Northsiders and waiting for Toni, Fangs, and Jug to arrive. Kiara's legs were separated over his thighs and his hands were on her lower back.

"Trust me, I would not be wearing this if it wasn't for that lame-ass principal's new rule," He replied. "But he won't notice if you pull it down for just a moment."

She smiled and tugged the fabric away from his neck and pressed her lips against his tattoo.

"Ugh, get a room!" They heard someone from the other side of the room say.

By the time Jughead arrived, Toni and Fangs had already been there for a few minutes. When he walked in wearing the Serpent jacket, the smiles on the group of Southsiders dropped.

"Oh, hey guys! What's up?" Jughead smirked and walked to the vending machine.

"Take it off!" Regie commanded. Kiara, Sweet Pea, and the others stood up and walked toward Jug.

"Reggie, just leave him alone," Kiara stepped between them.

"Take off that jacket, Rat Boy."

"Oh, Reggie," Jughead sighed. "I don't think you know what this jacket means. Because you have no sense of honor. Or history, or loyalty."

"That's it," Reggie pushed past Kiara and punched Jughead, which quickly escalated. Every Bulldog and Serpent in the room (except for Toni who was annoyed and concerned) were punching and kicking each other. Kiara was trying to get Reggie off Jug, and in the process tore apart her already strained stitches.

She gasped in pain and clutched her stomach as she collapsed. The pain brought back the memory of the night she was shot and it was as if she was reliving the traumatic attack. She was back in the darkness of Fox Forest and the cold clutches of death were grasping at her from all directions. Her breath was weak and her muscles were frozen. Her vision blurred before her eyes shut.