Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

For some reason, the rest of the boys in the gang decided it was not a good idea for Caia to come along on the drug busts at the street corners. Caia had to scoff at this. First they wanted her help, but as soon as it turned physical, they didn't trust her enough to hold her own. Her banishment from these activities turned out to be a good thing, however. Like Caia had said before, taking the law into your own hands in Riverdale never seemed to be a good idea. The Serpents had ruined a real drug bust with their activities.

Meanwhile, her focus had been on rebuilding trust with Reggie. That hadn't let anyone know that they had rekindled their relationship, whatever that was. While they were mostly getting along, Caia had neglected to tell Reggie about her slight alcohol addiction, that she had managed to cut down a bit, or her smoking problem, which was, notably, still in full force.

"I, for one, think they should rename Riverdale Gotham City," Caia exclaimed. "All this crime and drugs and you'd think we were living in Law and Order."

Reggie snorted from his place next to Caia on her couch. Although they sat side by side, there was noticeably more space in between them then there had been before his fling with Veronica. Reggie was painfully aware of this, and his eyes skirted to the empty space that separated him and Caia.

"Hey- uh, you wanna cuddle?" Reggie inquired, pretty awkwardly, as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

Caia softly laughed. "Smooth, Reg," she joked. "Guess you got so used to girls just melting under your gaze that you lost all your game," she giggled.

Reggie rolled his eyes at Caia's joke. "Shut up and get over here," he exclaimed, pulling Caia close to him. Caia giggles even more as she laid her head on Reggie's chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Reggie began laughing as well.

The laughter soon died down and there was a moment of silence as Caia and Reggie laid still. "How's your face?" Reggie questioned. "And the cuts."

Instinctively, Caia reached up and felt the slightly raised scar on her neck. "It's okay," she informed quietly. Reggie craned his neck down, trying to read and see Caia's expression.

"The real question is- are you okay?" Reggie continued. "I mean, your dad got out of prison and immediately attempted to kill you."

Caia sighed. "Trust me, I know," she admitted. "I just feel like I'm going to be running from him my whole life. I can't keep relying on people to save me at the last second, like the other night." Caia's eyes dropped toward the floor as she contemplated her situation.

A few seconds later, Reggie grabbed Caia's hand. He pushed them both up so they were sitting again. Reggie situated himself so that he was looking into Caia's eyes.

"Hey," he called softly. "You're not gonna be running from him all your life. If he keeps doing this, someday he's gonna go to jail for a long, long time. Besides," he shrugged. "You can always rely on me."

*

For some reaon, Caia decided to go against all semblance of good judgement she possessed and showed up at Archie's new gym where the serpents were gathering for a new plan to take down Ghoulies. In reality, Caia knew the reason she was risking her neck. One of Archie's friends from juvy, Maddog, had family in an apartment complex that had been overtaken by drug dealing Ghoulies. Caia wouldn't stand for that.

Caia sat on the edge of the boxing ring, looking over Maddog's shoulder at a map of the complex Jughead had set on the table. She was trying to get a good look of it, when she was called away by Fangs.

"Hey, Caia," he called. "Come over here." Caia jumped down from her seat and made her way over. "This is Baby Teeth," Fangs introduced.

Caia gave the boy a nod in recognition. "Hey," She greeted. "I'm Caia."