#the southside serpents
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
“I think it’s nice that life has been rather boring lately,” Toni commented, taking a bite of
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!
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19441756?view_full_work=true
Also, If you’re looking for a great fic, I’d HIGHLY recommend anything by @southsidewrites! Especially Pretty Lies (Link: Pretty Liesby
The instructions given were straightforward.
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
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
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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https://archiveofourown.org/works/19441756/chapters/47066869
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Jordan and Drew are some of the most underrated and underappreciated actors on Riverdale. Period. Yes, Sweet Pea and Fangs are incredibly small roles compared to those such as Archie and Jughead, but despite the short amount of screen time they’ve had, they have made a huge impact and have acquired an incredibly large fanbase. I mean, do you see the amount of Sweet Pea and Fangs content going around on here!?! It’s crazy, especially when you consider the fact that they’ve probably had less than 20 minutes of screen time combined! They deserve SO MUCH MORE credit than they get and I’ll be devastated if they’re not in season 3 (and yes, despite the last episode, I have my own theories regarding Fangs “not making it” and I truly feel as though both of them have the potential to be in season 3, especially after seeing this interview).
All my babies wanted was a good education and you gave them this? WTF Riverdale….WTF.
I haven’t even watched the new episode of Riverdale yet but I made the mistake of logging onto Tumblr and now I know what happens at the end and I’m literally just sitting in my room crying and praying to God that we have another Fred Andrews esque miracle.
