(this was submitted to me anonymously; I did NOT make it and cannot take credit for it, but was granted permission to post here.)
Those Certain Detestable Acts.
Riverdale came from Greendale. That’s something everyone learns in seventh grade civics. After the Trials in 1692, the Order of Innocents—the Brotherhood of Hunters—settled across the Sweetwater to keep watch on the town of Greendale. There they stayed, centuries before Riverdale was ever founded, to wait for the witches to re-emerge. It’s an old legend, now. A story.
Riverdale hasn’t felt like home for Betty for a long, long time. Ever since she left for college, it’s been somewhere she had to visit, rather than somewhere she wanted to. Her friends are long gone - not that she can really consider them friends anymore - and her family is… Well they’re the Coopers. Enough said.
Begrudgingly home for the Christmas holidays, with the first time off work she’s had all year, Betty decides to treat herself to a stay at a local Inn to give herself some respite from Cooper holiday dynamics.
It’s a great plan - unfortunately a mix up with the bookings, means she’s unexpectedly having to share a room with someone she never thought she’d see again.
His eyes met hers across the table with an intensity she hadn’t seen before. He grabbed hold of her hand. She didn’t see him move but suddenly he was standing in front of her, pulling her off the chair before cupping her face in his hands.
‘This is a bad idea.’ He said quietly.
‘I don’t care.’ She replied, closing the gap between them.
‘We should..’ Jughead trailed off before refocussing. ‘Think. We should think about this.’
Betty shook her head very slightly. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve done enough thinking.’
The teacher handed Sage back last week’s test just as the lunch bell rang. On the top of the page, in bright red, a C- scribbled.
She smiled. Not a D. She thought pleased with herself, shoving the paper into her rucksack.
Although she wasn’t raking in the A’s or B’s quite yet, she was steadily doing considerably better on all her recent quizzes and tests. Not that it mattered. If FP was scarce before, he was virtually non-existent now.
There had been no resolution between them and the fire behind her anger were just embers at this point. Behind it all, she truly missed FP. How the Jones men always seemed to get the best of her emotions.
She strolled to the cafeteria, still thinking about FP and settling between Toni and Joaquin. Sweet Pea was missing from their usual table.
“Where’s Pea?” she asked Toni, looking around.
“Tall Boy needed him today so he ditched.”
Sage huffed. “Wish I could ditch,” she murmured wistfully.
“Speaking of wanting to ditch,” Joaquin spoke suddenly. “I have to go to Northside’s Homecoming dance tonight with Kevin.”
“Oh really?” mused Toni.
“Got my suit and tie already,” Joaquin responded. “Kevin is beside himself with excitement.”
“You’ll have fun,” Sage said. “At least one of us willtonight.”
“I think it’s nice that life has been rather boring lately,” Toni commented, taking a bite of apple with a loud crunch.
Sage snorted. “Speak for yourself. I’m about ready to die I’m so bored. Thank God, my grades are starting to improve, not that FP is around to let me off the hook anytime soon.”
“How’s tutoring going?” Toni asked as Joaquin redirected his attention to his phone, talking to Kevin, no doubt.
“I honestly don’t know what is worse. All the scut I’ve been doing around the Wyrm, thanks to that jerkwad Mustang or all the tutoring,” she groaned softly.
Toni smiled sympathetically. “It won’t last forever. Anymore updates with Mustang?”
Sage shook her head. “Absolutely nothing. Everything has been painfully dull with nothing new to report. He’s still an ass and he’s still running the show now that FP is working so much for Andrew’s.”
Joaquin pocketed his phone as he stood up, breaking up their conversation. “I’ve got to go ditch too and calm Kevin down. He’s already freaking out about getting there early. Dance is at 7:00 and he wants to be there by 6:00.” He shook his head with a roll of his eyes, but they were soft and playful.
“Have fun,” Sage giggled.
“Have a blast,” echoed Toni with a grin.
He pushed his raven hair back off his face with one more dashing smile and looked around casually before slipping out the side exit.
“I’d pay money to see Joaquin at Homecoming with Kevin,” Toni commented.
“He’ll end up having fun. What’s the worst that could happen?” Sage wondered out loud.
Jughead’s words from the previous week played on repeat and echoed around in her head as Sage made her nightly stroll. Her tutoring was done, homework completed and bar completely swept, scrubbed and mopped.
Her heart and her mind were at war with each other. Her mind desperately wanted to stay stubborn and angry at FP for the sake of being stubborn but her heart told her that Jughead was right. It was doing her no good. FP had always wanted the best for her and she couldn’t fault him for that.
He was only human and he too, like her, had his demons. Could she really judge him so harshly?
It was time to make amends.
As she walked in the entrance of Sunnyside Trailer park she noticed the blinding red, blue and white lights up ahead… at FP’s trailer.
Her feet frozen to the ground as she counted five police cars parked outside of the trailer. The lights were on in the trailer and the commotion of the police tearing through the trailer could be heard from where she stood.
“Shit,” she breathed.
***
The news was everywhere even days later.
FP was arrested and had confessed to the murder of Jason Blossom.
There weren’t many words to describe the sense of disappointment and absolute dread that filled Sage from the moment she heard the news. The Whyte Wyrm remained a somber and desolate place as many of the Serpents had been brought in for interrogations. Nothing felt safe. Worst of all, Sage couldn’t untangle the knots in her stomach.
He had killed Jason. It didn’t seem possible.
Did Mustang know? Is that what he was talking about that night in the hallway? Did he know?
What would happen next?
Where was Jughead? More importantly, how was Jughead? She could only imagine.
She spent a lot of time hiding away in her room, anxiety gripping her like an iron vice. Uncertainty didn’t sit well and now the only person she had truly considered family, was ripped from her. Life was so unfair.
She could hear Mustang downstairs talking with Tall Boy and she felt her stomach churn with anger. As if they had FP’s best interest at heart.
She swallowed down the lump in her through, grabbing her phone and locking her door before going downstairs. She felt Tall Boy’s eyes on her and the hair on her neck stood on end. She gritted her teeth till her jaw ached, throwing both him and Mustang the nastiest look she could muster before intentionally slamming the door shut.
She did the only thing she thought would make her feel less helpless.
She headed to the prison to go see FP.
A/N: Just a filler chapter for the most part!For the full story, visit the link below.
Also, If you’re looking for a great fic, I’d HIGHLY recommend anything by @southsidewrites! Especially Pretty Lies (Link: Pretty Liesbysouthsidewrites). I’ve been binging for the last few days!
The weather shifted with a permanent chill in the air, as the leaves browned and furled into themselves. And despite his promise, Sage hadn’t heard from Jughead in weeks. But there was more than enough to keep her occupied. Things had been fairly dull on the Southside, but just on the opposite side of town, the Northside was making up for it.
Finally, a formal funeral was held for Jason Blossom. Although Sage only had a brief interaction with him, she caught herself thinking of him often that day and wished him peace as he was finally laid to rest.
Aside from the funeral, his ex-girlfriend, who overnight became the main suspect in his open murder investigation, had gone missing. Search parties scattered about Evergreen Forest to find the new suspect.
The town was divided yet again. Some publicly begged her to come home safely, while others wanted blood for blood. That is until the missing girl’s parents announced she was pregnant with the Blossom boy’s baby.
It seemed so peculiar to Sage that two young people, whose lives had only just begun, could cause so much division and chaos. Even though it wasn’t happening on her turf, the news, gossip, and speculation exploded everywhere.
As if that wasn’t enough to keep Sage busy, she felt troubled and consumed by the surprise she found in FP’s trailer. There was a gnawing dread in her gut, feeding off all the unanswered questions in her head. Why did FP have Jason’s jacket? What did he mean when he called it insurance? How was the waitress fit into this? Did FP have something to do with the missing girl?
There seemed to be no answers, only more questions that lead her down a rabbit hole of confusion. She needed to confide in someone. She was driving herself crazy.
Sweet Pea and Sage sat together at the bar. Toni recently picked up hours working behind the bar with Hog Eye and when it wasn’t busy, they liked to keep her company and occasionally benefit from a few free drinks.
“Where’s Joaquin been?” Toni asked as she poured a beer for a wiry woman nearby named Byrdie. She slid it over to her and turned her attention back to the group.
”You haven’t heard?“ Sweet Pea feigned surprise. "He’s been with his new boy toy, Kevin.”
“Kevin?”
“The sheriff’s kid from the drive-in, remember?”
Sage’s head shot up. “Oh really?”
“Yea, and if he’s not with his boyfriend, he’s with FP,” Sweet Pea added, bitterly. There was a note of jealousy in his voice.
Ah, and the plot thickens, thought Sage to herself, abandoning her math book.
“Whatcha working on Sage?” Sweet Pea asked, quickly changing the subject.
“Homework,” she answered, begrudgingly.
He peeked over her shoulder. “That one is wrong,” he pointed out.
She shot him a glare.
”What! Oh, and that one, that’s wrong too.“
She pursed her lips tightly and slid the sheet of paper over to him. He gave her his signature grin and plucked the pencil from her hand as he bent over the sheet, erasing furiously. Sage turned her attention back to Toni.
"Something’s definitely up,” Sage whispered to Toni.
“What do you mean?” she asked, leaning in.
“I don’t know. I had to go to meet FP and I saw something I don’t think I should have. Toni, he had Jason Blossom’s jacket in his closet.”
Toni’s eyes lit up, placing a bottle of whiskey down and leaning in close. “What?”
“It doesn’t make much sense. Blossom helped FP do a run for quick money, then he ends up dead. Now, his girlfriend winds up missing?” Sage licked her bottom lip.
“Not to mention pregnant,” interjected Toni.
“Remember the final night at the drive-in? There was a woman FP met that night.”
Toni leaned in, even more, eyes as wide as saucer plates, drinking up every word.
“What if she paid FP to kill Blossom?” Sage speculated in a hushed voice.
“But why?”
“Why would anyone want to kill a high school kid? I have no idea. But I know that it all has to be connected.” Her brow furrowed down. “Right?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. But I’ll keep my eyes and ears open around here for you.”
“Thanks,” Sage smiled as Sweet Pea slid her paper back over.
“Here,” he said. “Don’t tell anyone that I’m actually a math whiz.”
“Your secret is safe… until I need something, then I’m using it as blackmail.”
***
Things became even more complicated.
The missing girl had been found and had also gone public with her story, including how Jason had taken a job with the Serpents to make money so they could run away together. The police, the Blossoms, and the town, now turned their focus on the Serpents.
The assumption was an obvious one. If Jason was doing a job for the Serpents and it went sour, as often things revolving around the Serpents do, they clearly must have killed him. But where exactly did it go wrong? What was the motive?
Sage laid on her bed, trying to concentrate on a passage for her English literature class. Her eyes skimmed over the same paragraph again and again but she couldn’t seem to retain anything from the jumbled up letters. She was debating if she should keep trying or give up altogether when she heard two male voices arguing in hushed voices outside her door.
"What on God’s earth has FP done now?” the first voice said, clearly agitated.
“He told people it’s to keep tabs on everything, but the man’s losing it. Taking a job with Andrew’s Construction? After what Fred did to him?” the second voice gruffed.
“He’s been letting stuff slip through his fingers for some time now anyway.”
“At least he finally took care of that damn car.”
Sage tossed her English book off to the side and crept slowly and quietly over to the door so she could hear better.
“He didn’t though. Not on time anyways. His kid and Alice’s daughter found it first. They took pictures and ran off to Keller and that’s when FP torched the evidence, ” the first man rebutted.
The second man cursed loudly. “That damn drunk. His priorities are all wrong. This could really screw us over.”
There was silence for a few moments. Sage pressed her ear to the door. She realized she was holding her breath when her lung began to burn in protest.
“…Or it could end up helping us in the long run, if we play our cards right.” the second voice mused.
“FP could finally be out finally,” the first voice said thoughtfully.
“Speak of the devil, he’s calling me. I’ve got to go meet him. We’ll revisit this later. Meet me at the motel later.”
Sage waited till she was sure the footsteps were departing before flinging open her door. Still, on her hands and knees, she peered from around the door frame to try to catch a glimpse of the men. One was already out of sight but she definitely knew who the other was.
Drop off the box at Pop’s and be discreet. Under no circumstances, be seen, especially by the waitress.
Simple.
Sage waited until the last customer had left the restaurant. There always seemed to be a lull around this time. She cautiously peeked through one of the windows, as the waitress moved behind the counter. Sage found herself surprised that she recognized the woman as the one from a few nights ago at the Drive-In. She was the one who met FP behind the building.
Her curiosity peaked.
She secured the lid on the box, making sure it was on tight. “Sorry little guy,” she whispered to the creature inside as she hugged the box close to her chest and slowly crept to the entrance.
Another careful peek through the window.
The waitress’s back was still turned. Sage opened the door, careful not to jingle the bells and accidentally announce herself. Gently placing the box right in the walkway where the brunette would stumble on it, she slinked backward back out the front door. Once she was back outside of the diner, she broke out into a run until she was safely out of distance and smiled.
On a whim, she decided to take the long way back home passing through the old drive-in.
Curiosity seemed to be getting the best of her lately but she could afford the time. She purposely beelined to Jughead’s booth, hoping maybe, just maybe he would be there.
She stopped when she saw the graffiti spray-painted on the vinyl side now.
Jughead Jones wuzhere.
Complete with his signature crown hat.
He had moved on. Of course, he had. They were demolishing the place, there was no way he could stay. So where was he now?
She sighed loudly, louder than she needed to, raking her hands through her long hair, fighting the rush of disappointment that overwhelmed her.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, grateful for the distraction. It was a text from FP.
Sunnyside Trailer
She stared longingly at the booth one last time and then glanced back down at her phone. With a deep breath, she turned in the opposite direction to head to the trailer park.
What now? She wondered.
*** As she strolled, lost her in her own thoughts, a door slamming pulled her back to earth. Her attention shifted to the direction of the person that made the noise.
Her heart seized up in her chest. Her feet felt heavy as if they were superglued to the ground, keeping her from moving either forward or back.
Jughead now stood a few feet away, frozen in place as well.
Per usual, they seemed to be at a standstill.
She bit her lip hard, swallowing the lump in her throat as her arms crossed over her chest.
He didn’t move, his jaw clenching and his grip tightening around the bag he was clutching.
“Jughead,“ she whispered, all she could muster.
He shook his head fervently. "I can’t do this now, Sage. I just had to pick up a few things from the trailer and I’m meeting someone.” He took a micro-step forward, shifting his gaze past her.
“If not now, then when? Another year from now?” she insisted, the words bubbling out and over her lips before she could stop them.
“Sage, I just asked you for one thing. Don’t… don’t go down this road. Don’t become that!” He gestured to the trailer he once considered home, but she knew that he was referencing a who, not a what.
“Oh, Jughead, god! You know, someday, you’ll be faced with an… impossible choice. There’s really no right and there is no wrong. There’s just what you have to do.”
His lips curled in a frown and his eyebrows knitted together.
She balled her fist, feeling her nails tear in the flesh of her palms, tears pricking her eyes as she gritted her teeth until her jaw protested. “I’m not like you, Jughead. I’m not brave or good at being alone. I always had you looking out for me, but that was it. And admit it, you couldn’t take care of me with everything that was going on with you and your mom and dad. I was bringing you down too. I couldn’t be another thing that stressed you out. I didn’t know where I was going to sleep, or where my next meal was coming from. I was always hungry and cold and just…” she inhaled shakily, lip trembling, “…so, so tired of lying about it to everyone.“
He melted some, his posture becoming more lacked as his shoulders softened. He took a small step forward toward her, closing the gap between them.
She smiled waterily, blinking back tears that she willed not to fall. "And now, I have a room that’s all mine. Nothing gets stolen or taken away, and I have food that’s hot and sometimes, even good for me. It’s not moldy or bland, or gross or out of a trash can. I have friends, real friends, good friends, who care about me. And god, I know, FP is not the father you wished he was. He has failed you again and again in ways I can’t understand. He has been a shitty father to you, but he… oh, he is the closest thing I think I have ever had. And that’s something, Jug.”
She dropped her head down, a tiny sob escaping her as her shoulders slumped further. “Please, can’t you understand? Even for a second? I’m okay. I’m more than okay. And I’m surviving finally. And the only thing it cost, was you.”
He dropped his bag and rushed her, embracing her tightly. Her hands snaked around to his back, reciprocating the tight hug.
He exhaled long, his eyes falling shut. “You never told me how bad… I wish I could have… I didn’t know….” he trailed off.
They broke apart. She swiped her fingers under her eyes to wipe away any evidence of tears and straightened up. His Adam’s apple dancing along his throat as he swallowed thickly.
“Okay, I’ll try,” he vowed, finally speaking. “I will.”
It was enough.
He took a step back, picking up his forsaken backpack. He looked torn. “I’m sorry, I really have to go. I’m meeting Betty at school and I’m already really late. We’ll talk soon.”
She nodded softly, feeling better and worse simultaneously. “Okay.”
He gave a tight smile and a small wave and hurried off. She waited till he was gone and made sure she composed herself before walking up to FP’s trailer.
He was waiting for her.
Leaning casually against the door frame, his arms were folded over his chest, one leg crossed in front of the other.
“For a girl who rarely shows any type of emotion, that was quite the performance,” he commented, with a tilt of his head.
She squared her shoulders up, walking up the steps. “It’s fine. I’m fine,” she bristled.
"Hmm, come inside for a minute.”
She shut the door behind her and waited as FP went to the fridge and pulled out a beer, cracking it open on the countertop. Her eyes wandered to the empty bottles that littered the countertops.
“I got a call almost immediately after you made the drop to my friend. She got the message loud and clear. So now, you’re gonna go to Pop’s for a milkshake and she’s going to give you a takeout bag.”
“Okay,” she acknowledged slowly, her attention drawn to an open closet. It wasn’t the closet itself but what was in the closet. A blue and yellow varsity jacket with the name embroidered on the sleeve ‘Jason’.
He followed her gaze, then reached out and shut the closet door with a sharp click of the lock. “Tomorrow, 3:00 PM. Bring it right to Tall Boy, no stops,” he said, firmly.
“Why do you have Jason’s jacket?” she inquired, the words accidentally slipping out.
He was silent for a few moments. “Insurance,” he finally said.
FP’s answer confused her. What did that mean? They both stared at each other. FP wasn’t going to say anything more about it, and she knew better than to ask.
Sage broke the silence first. “Tomorrow, 3:00 PM. Got it.” She turned and reached for the door handle.
“Also,” he said, clearing his throat. “I heard what you said to Jughead about me. I don’t deserve it, but I do appreciate it. God knows that boy has been through a lot.”
She didn’t respond.
“I’m going to try,” he echoed his son’s words from before. He looked uncharacteristically embarrassed and ashamed for a moment. “I’m going to clean up my act and get my family back, I promise.”
She bit her lip as she turned and opened the door, her back turned to him.
"Sage?”
“Yea?” her back was still turned.
“Thank you.”
***
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Betty shook herself from her thoughts and turned her head to the left to see Jughead, bathed in the red and blue lights of the squad cars, approaching her with a furrowed brow. He pulled her into a hug when she didn’t answer, his arms surrounding her in warmth. She let his scent envelop her, calming her scattered thoughts and fully bringing reality back into focus.
“Yeah, just… I don’t… I’m sorry, Juggie…” she whispered, hugging him to her even tighter.
“Hey whoa, Betts,” Jughead lifted her chin so she would meet his eyes, “what could you possibly be sorry for?”
“I don’t know, Jug. I think I’m just frustrated. I don’t want this to be the rest of our lives, you know? Always one step behind them with no clues to go on, constantly looking over our shoulders and being paranoid that someone is watching us. I miss our little boy so much and we’re still no closer to having him back home and–” she choked, tears spilling from her eyes.
“Baby, stop- breathe. I promised you we’d catch them, and we will. We aren’t completely without leads; we just have to hold on a little longer, okay? Can you do that for me, Betts?” Jughead asked, searching her eyes as he caressed her cheek.
“Yeah…” Betty replied. She pressed her forehead to Jughead’s chest, the feel of his hands rubbing her back soothing her. “Yeah, I can do that, Jug. I’m just so exhausted… And between watching Ethel flay Mr. Svenson in living color and the suffocating feeling I’ve had over me these last few years, I just lose my head sometimes, ya know?”
“We all go a little mad sometimes, Betts,” he quoted softly, brushing his hand through her hair.
“Really, Juggie? Hitchcock references at a time like this?” Betty scoffed, pulling back to swat his arm lightly as he chuckled under his breath. He buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath, centering himself.
“You know me, Betts. Pop culture references are how I deal with traumatic events.”
Betty stood off to the side of the porch, shivering as she watched the crime scene techs and federal agents flooding the old farmhouse.
The images of Svenson’s murder were still playing behind her eyelids every time she closed them and she just wanted to get as far from this place as possible, never to see it again.
She honestly hoped someone would just do the world a favor and burn it to ash. Too much misery and horror happened at this place, monstrosities that would stick with her forever.
The whole scene reminded her too much of the day the feds had swarmed her house in Greendale - the one place that was supposed to be her safe haven - because those psychos defiled it.
She let out a staggering breath, closing her eyes tightly and silently praying that this would all be over when she opened them again.
Unfortunately, she knew that was wishful thinking on her part. There was only one way to finish this and she knew she had to be ready to see this through to the end, no matter what. She had lived in fear long enough, running wasn’t going to be an option anymore.
“You okay, Betts?”
——————————————-
Coming Soon To AO3
Y'all, it only took me a year and three months to get this chapter completed and in the finishing stages but it’s finally almost done and will be posted within the week! I hate that it took so long but I lost my mojo for a bit (getting cancer can do that to you) but I’m glad that the conclusion is finally happening. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Jughead’s head was already pounding as he made his way through the packed club to Betty’s regular section.
After their discussion earlier in the week, Jughead realized just how much the distance between him and Betty was starting to take a toll on both of them. Her suspicions coupled with his guilt caused him to skip his most recent feeding session so he was a bit on edge, which did not help matters much.
He’d even spent the last few days dodging Sweet Pea’s calls, not wanting to deal with his bullshit on top of everything else.
As he sat in his usual spot, Jughead looked around the club that was packed to the gills with humans and vamps, all dressed up for the annual Halloween bash. He tried to get her attention a few times, hoping to find a moment to sneak Betty off to explain his strange behavior but every time he tried, she’d say she had to run drinks and tell him they could talk on her break.
So, he waited, watching her flutter around the room in the naughty nurse’s outfit that all the waitresses seemed to be wearing tonight. The moment he saw her in it, he almost ripped the article off her body and taken her right there in their living room.
He smiled as he watched her walking up to the bar in her bright red heels, chatting with another waitress while waiting for her drinks. He was just about to call her over again when he felt it, a groan escaping his lips.
A few hours later, they were sitting for dinner when Joaquin started making idol small talk.
“So, Betty. I didn’t know you were a Serpent. I definitely would remember seeing you around.”
“Oh, I’m not. What would make you say that I am?”
“With that giant snake on your thigh, I just figured that must be the case,“ Joaquin said, taking a bite of his pizza.
“Oh. Right. Nope. Not a Serpent. I woke up on my eighteenth birthday with this giant green monstrosity and I’ve been trying to figure it out ever since.”
My heavy pack slides down my arm as I march down the street and away from Pop’s. The air is getting colder as summer fades into fall and I’m going to need someplace to sleep that has a real roof over it, and I’m going to need it soon.
But that’s not where my mind is focused. My own comfort isn’t as important as the truth, and there are too many lies hanging over our quiet town of Riverdale. Thinking of creature comforts is a distraction I do not have time for. I’ve stumbled into open beds before, and I will again. Something will come along, and until it does, I’ll make due with Pop’s waning generosity.
I can’t leave my stuff at Pop’s while I’m not there. Too many sticky fingers. Like I said, Pop’s generosity. Leads to less than stellar people finding employment there when no one else will have them. Normally my pack doesn’t bother me. It’s my lifeline, my whole world stuffed in one oversized bag. Now though, now it’s a liability. Too recognizable, too heavy for where I’m going.
Whatever is happening in Riverdale is bigger than me. It’s bigger than Jason Blossom getting shot in his pretty face. It’s bigger than the mess my own father has gotten into. Keller’s dad is useless, too busy chasing his own tail at the request of the town’s rich and powerful to actually get to the bottom of some crime.
I’d been hoping to get a look at his files, whatever of them that Keller had managed to get put together, but Kevin had quashed that dream when he relayed that their home had been ransacked. Important information was stolen, things that prying eyes like my own would love to get ahold of. It leaves me wondering who might be the one, or ones, who were brazen enough to break into a police officer’s home. My father’s cronies, for one. That’s the easy answer. With everything else going on though, well, the answer is a lot more murky.
