Building Bridges

Chapter 10

Sitting across from Sweet Pea had never felt so intimidating before. Mary noted they have only had a handful of conversations in class, but he wasn't smiling now. Now, his dark eyes were set on her with a frown, "There was a fight today. Ghoulies and Serpents, about the new drugs." He began, voice deep and analyzing the way she shifted. "I-Is everyone o-o-okay?" Her own voice felt constrained in her throat, tight and worried. Fingers drummed on her jittering thigh, anxious. Sweet Pea dragged a hand through his black hair, "This time. But they were hopped up on something, Jingle Jangle." He paused, glancing around the house and leaning forward a hair, "Are you familiar with it?" His question made her still. Shaking her head, "Wh-why would I-I know a-about d-drugs?" Mary stammered out. Her heartfelt heavy in her chest as his eyes narrowed, "Because I know about your dad being a Ghoulie." The edge in his voice was enough for her to know what he was implying. That she might have information that the Serpents can use. That Fangs told the Serpents about Mary and her stepfather. And a cold sense of betrayal made her eyes water. Blinking fast and looking down, "I-I don't know w-w-what Fangs told y-you, but I-I stay out of that s-s-stuff." The hurt was hard to hide as she looked at her lap, trying not to cry in front of the bigger boy. Trying to hold it together because today was already wearing on her emotions. The stress and loneliness, and worry were enough to make her feel sick all day. And she felt ashamed that she didn't do anything that morning. Ashamed that she sat in class while they were plotting and fighting against each other because she thought that they were friends.
That Fangs and Kurtz would at least avoid all of the fighting and drugs because the trio had a good thing going. "It's a gang, Mary." Sweet Pea drew her attention once more. Watery blue eyes looked at his dark brown, "We're not just some club that Fangs can skirt around or ditch. He's in it for life." Even though Fangs wasn't fully a Serpent, Mary knew what he was saying. That the bed was made before she came along, and he was already lying in it. That it didn't matter what she thought or wanted, still, she whispered, "I-I just wanted u-us all t-t-to be friends." Naïve and childish, and broken. She wanted to keep pretending that everything was fine. That's what she was best at doing. Lying to herself. Sweet Pea sighed once more, "We're Serpents, they're Ghoulies. End of story." He paused once more, her heart constricting with his words, "It was never going to stick, Mary. You'll have to choose between them, sooner or later." And she nodded mutely, a tear descending without her consent.
For the next few hours, she stared at the space where Sweet Pea sat. The boy was gone now, saying his piece. Her mind was mulling over what was said, slowly processing what to do next. There was nothing though. She either chose or they did it for her. Was she a Ghoulie or a Serpent? Should she stay friends with Kurtz or Fangs? Or neither of them? Pulling out her Journal from her satchel, she looked back at the beginning. It was new when she moved to Riverdale. Something her therapist suggested in Georgia. Reading over how tired and empty she felt the first few pages, Mary wondered if she wanted to go back to that. Being quiet and hollow while Dawson controlled what he wanted. And she read on to when she met Fangs and Kurtz in English Class, nearly two months ago already. Their project was almost due now. And that they hung out a lot and laughed even more. Two months was all it took for her to grow attached to the first people that gave her positive attention. It was a reminder of how desperate she was for friends.
How could she choose between them?
Before she had a chance to think more about it, the door swung open and Dawson was there. With company. Kurtz and another man followed behind her stepfather. The man had wild black curls and wore a leather and chain jacket. Fingerless black gloves covered his palms as he ran his hand through the inky curls, "Who's this?" His grin like a predator as he eyed her on the couch. Tensely, she stood to head up to her room. This was very obviously going to end up being Ghoulie business and she wanted no part of it. Dawson drew his arm over her shoulder though, stopping her before she reached the stairs, "Margret, manners." His words made her stiffen as he turned her to face the other man. Glancing to Kurtz briefly, seeing that he was just as tense, "M-Margret Blake, s-sir." Her voice was barely over a whisper, but the man heard her. He reached out to her, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles with a mocking bow and sly grin, "Malachai; charmed."