Serpents ✔️

Chapter 17

"Ella we're having a retirement party for dad later"
"Cool but who will take over from dad?"
"Tall Boy I guess"
"Great so we're gonna end up joining up with the Ghoulies" I sigh
"No we won't. The others would never allow it"

"Earth to Ella"
"Sorry T what we're you saying?" I look over at Toni who's behind the bar
"Betty was on about bringing in a karaoke machine for your dads retirement part"
"Yeah sounds good"
"Also can I ask you girls something?"
"Sure what's up" I take a sip of my drink facing Betty
"I've been walking the razors edge since Jughead joined the Serpents and I've been thinking as soon as FP gets home everything will be better because he'll be there to protect Jughead and make sure he doesn't get hurt. I know he has you guys but it just scares me"
"Yeah I get it I've grown up around here I've lived this life forever but Jug he hasn't" I sigh looking at my drink, the smell of it making me have a headache
"I just worry so I want to keep an eye on him myself" I look up and raise my eyebrows "make sure that as deep into these snake infested waters as he goes he doesn't do something that will you know put him in danger"
"So what? You wanna be a Serpent" I smirk
"Let's say Serpent adjacent but yeah a part of his world, of this world" Byrdie starts laughing behind us
"Can it Byrdie" I turn around to face her sat at a table on her own
"Sorry sweet valley high you wanna join the club you gotta do the dance. The Serpent dance"
"The Serpent dance?"
"It's some outdated sexist Serpent tradition. El and I did it to join the Serpents. I tried to get it outlawed" Toni says annoyed
"But misogyny dies hard" I say before drinking the rest of my drink scrunching my face up at the taste
"Trust us Betty you don't wanna know"
"Yes, yes I do I wanna know everything"
"Oh no Jugs gonna kill you"
"Erm and you because if she really wants to go through with it your helping"
"Fine just get me another drink T. I don't wanna be sober for this. But this time give me a rum and coke. For some reason whiskey isn't sitting right with me tonight"

________________________________
"So little miss ponytail wants to do the Serpent dance" I'm lying on Pea's bare chest in bed
"I tried telling her what it's like"
"I enjoyed the show when you did yours" I can hear the smirk on his face
"But it wasn't just in front of you. It was in front of Fangs, Toni, Jagger, Tall Boy, Serpents who have seen me grow up"
"Why are you so concerned? You told her what it is and she still wants to do it so that's on her"
"I know but I don't think she realises once she's a Serpent there's no going back. She's gotta have our backs"
"I think she knows that babe"
"Also my brother is going to kill me. I taught he's girlfriend the Serpent dance"
"I bet he'll enjoy it"
"Yeah I highly doubt that. Honestly she'll probably freak out and won't end up doing it anyway" we lie there in comfortable silence as Sweet Pea starts to rub over my Serpent tattoo on my thigh
"You know we have time before we've got to get ready. How about you give me a privet dance" I lift up my head and see that smirk, the smirk I love so much
"Maybe I will" I get on top of him straddle his waist and start to kiss him
"God I love you" he breaths out as I move down his jaw. I look back at him
"I love you too" I smile and we attach our lips once again.

________________________________
"Hey Juggje"
"Hey Princess is everything sorted?"
"Yep we are ready to go as soon as dad arrives"
"Ok cool. I'm going to go and speak to Archie real quick" Jughead leaves the pool table I'm sat on
"Are we just forgetting what Archie and his cronies did?"
"No of course not babe but I think he was in a bad place at that time. You don't have to be friends with him, I sure as hell aren't but keep the peace for Jughead"
"Your lucky I love you" he kisses my forehead and continues to play pool on the other table that I'm not sat on I turn my head to see Alice Cooper and Betty walk in. I jump off the table and walk over to them
"Wow Alice you look amazing"
"Tell me about it unfortunately I couldn't convince this one to dress appropriately"
"Well all I can say is welcome back even if it's just for the night" I smile and turn around to go back to the pool table "I never expected to say this but Alice Cooper scrubs up well" music starts playing so I move over to Sweet Pea who puts his arm around me. We watch as Archie and that Veronica girl start singing, might I add it being extremely cringey. Then Veronica runs off the stage causing everyone to boo and hiss. I slap Sweet Pea gently and give him a look as if to say stop, then I see Betty getting up on stage "oh good" I whisper to myself.

After she's finished her dance, which was ver awkward to watch, Dad comes up on stage and hands Betty his Serpent jacket
"Lets give Betty a round of applause and lets show some of that Serpent hospitality we're known for" we all clap "you know I've been in and out of the Serpents since younger than my kids and it's been a wild ride. Good times, bad times but through it all the Serpents stuck by my side while most other people turned their backs on me, my own family included. Now the letter of the law says I can't be here in the Serpent den that I cant associate with my friends, my real family. My blood. But I've been thinking about that" I look at Pea confused "it'll be a cold day in hell before a snake let's a pig tell him what to do" Pea smiles and starts clapping and I follow suit "the Northside wants me out of this gang? Well they better bring a coffin because FP Jones ain't retiring" everyone continues to clap and cheer. Dad walks of the stage and I go over to hug him
"What made you stay?" I ask
"No reason Princess" he then walks over to Jugead and whispers something to him, Jugead looks shocked
"Baby do you wanna go" Sweat Pea wraps his arms around me then leans in to my ear and whispers "everyone's here so we can be a loud as we want" I roll my eyes and laugh taking his hand and walking out of the Wyrm.