Serpents ✔️

Chapter 4

What makes a place feel like home? It's is warmth and familiarity? Some idealised, make-believe version of the American dream? Is it love and acceptance? Or is it simple safety? Or it's non of those things. And it's a place where the captain of the football team is murdered. Or maybe it's just a forgotten closet under a well trod staircase, where it's just you and the mice and the spiders.

"Ella wake up girl" my dad barges in my room. I groan pulling the covers over my head "El I mean it get up. Jugheads here" I take the covers off and run into the bathroom to change. I then walk out to see my brother sat on the couch
"Jughead?"
"Hey El"
"Sorry about the mess. I haven't had time to clear up" I look at all the empty bottles and old food left lying around
"Are you moving back home?" I sit next to him on the couch
"No I came to see if dad would consider working for Fred Andrews again"
"He fired me Jug. What kind of man would I be if I went back hat in hand?"
"Well for starters. A man with a job. Trying to fix his family" Jughead looks at me "I'm guessing El pays the rent? And where do you think she's getting the money for that?"
"Jughead don't"
"Can you please just go see Mr Andrews? He's willing to give you another chance"
"Oh he's willing huh?" Dad starts to raise his voice
"Dad stop"
"Well that's generous of him and all the crap he pulled on me"
"Dad. Jughead has got a point. Why turn this down?"
"Just to be fired again. No I don't think so" he yells and walks over to the kitchen and sits down
"Mom and Jellybean could come home. I could come home. It's not to late" there's a knock on the door. I get up and open it
"Hey Princess want a ride?"
"Sure" I grab my bag and walk out the door
"What's going on in there? I could feel the tension from out here"
"Jughead asked my dad to work with Andrews again" Sweet Pea scoffs. 

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I walk back into my trailer after Sweet Pea drops me off. The floors clean and all the trash has gone
"Hey dad" I call out and see him emerge with a smile on his face
"Come on we're going to Pops" I put my bag down and follow him out. We get on his motorcycle and drive over to Pops where we meet Mr Andrews, Archie and Jughead. We sit in a booth together, me in the middle of Archie and Jughead.

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"We spent the whole summer fixing up that old VW bus"
"Yep"
"You remember what we called it Fred?"
"The shaggin wagon" they both yell
"That was before your dad had game Archie. Senior year, he started a band and then the girls were all over him"
"We were awful" Fred laughs making the rest of us laugh with him
"Jug do you still write?" Dad asks. It's silent
"Yeah he does he's working on the school paper with Betty"
"Betty ooo" he drums on the table I can see Jughead getting annoyed
"Dad knock it off"
"Is that you're girlfriend or are you more like El and Sweet Pea?"
"Dad" I raise my voice annoyed.
"Oh come on I'm not stupid I know what you and Sweet Pea get up to"
"Dad stop" I say just as my phone rings. I pick up my phone "yeah, what now? Seriously? Ok I'll be there soon" I put the phone down "I gotta go. Some Serpents really don't know when they've had enough to drink. I gotta help Tall Boy clean up. See you guys again soon. I'll see you later dad" I get up Archie also getting up to let me out.

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I get home to see my dad and Jughead on the couch
"Jesus dad drunk again?" I sigh watching Jughead take off dads shoes
"I'm going to stay if that's alright" Jughead  looks at me
"Yeah. I'll sort a bed out"
"No he can have mine I'll sleep here. Just make sure your both at school on time"
"Yeah yeah"
"I spoke to mum. Sounds like she's finally sorting her life out and Jellybean now wants to go by JB. She thinks it sounds cooler" Jughead try's talking to our dad
"Jug"
"She's ten years old and listens to pink floyd on vinyl"
"Jug"
"I don't think she could get any cooler"
"Jug dads asleep" he looks over at dad a little upset "sorry. I know you wanted to have a chat with him but this is what it's usually like"
"El how have you done this for so long?" Not knowing how to answer him I just smile and shrug. I walk into my bedroom leaving Jug on the couch. I get dressed and get into bed.