Safety Net- SP 2 ✔️

Chapter 15- Nighthawks Pt1

Since dad was shot at Pops, it's become deserted. No one steps foot in the place that we all once called a second home. Dad was able to come out of hospital a few days after waking up. I wake up to the smell of burning so I run down stairs panicking, but then realise that Archie is trying to cook
"What the hell are you doing Archie? Trying to burn the house down?" I laugh taking the burnt sausages off the hob as Archie deals with the burnt toast
"Ahem" I turn around to see dad up "do we need a fire extinguisher?"
"What are you doing up?" Archie asks "I was going to bring you breakfast"
"I appreciate it, but I gotta get to moving around sometime"
"Right Archie move, I'll sort breakfast" Archie's phone then starts ringing
"Crap, I got to take this, I gotta go. I'll see you guys later" dad and I watch as Archie leaves the kitchen
"Are you going to FP's hearing coming up?"
"Yeah, it's Jugs dad, plus he's a Serpent so I need to Support my friends"
"Why don't you ask your boyfriend to come over for tea tonight?"
"Oh I don't know, is that a good idea?"
"Just ask him"
"Ok I'll ask".

I text Sweet Pea on my lunch break at school asking him to have tea with Archie, dad and I tonight
"It's another win for the bad guys. No one was there, his entire staff except Rory have quit" Jughead explains to Archie, Veronica, Betty and I "he's not sure how long he'll be able to keep the doors open. Maybe not even a week"
"It's because of what happened to our dad. People are freaking out" Archie sighs
"Yeah and I haven't quit because to be honest I don't want to go back there any time soon"
"Wait I'm sorry, am I hearing acceptance?" Betty says looking at my brother and I "I'm not letting 1 psychopath with a gun dictate what happens to our place. Jug you went crazy trying to save the drive in"
"I can't take on my more social issues right now. My hands are full"
"With your dad of course and he should be your priority. I'll take point on helping Pop Tate"
"I'll help to Betty"  Veronica says quickly "anything to get me away from my parents, I'm in"
"Another B and V team up" I sigh kinda annoyed that it's always them together not us 3, but hey I've never really been super close with Betty, not till recently I guess
"Of course we will need your help though Rory"  Veronica says looking at me, I'm grateful that Veronica is trying to include me.

Later on it's time for Sweet Pea to come over for tea. The door bell goes signalling me that his here
"Ok be nice you guys"
"Of course" dad kisses my forehead and I take a deep breath hoping that this night will go perfect fine. I open up the door to see Sweet Pea in some jeans and a shirt
"Hey"
"Hi, don't you scrub up well" I comment taking his hand and pulling him into the house. I guide him to the kitchen where dad is plating up the food
"Mr Andrews it's nice to officially meet you, I'm Sweet Pea" Pea holds out his hand to dad who immediately takes it
"Call me Fred. It's good to meet you son" dad smiles shaking Pea's hand
"Sweet Pea" Archie nods his head a little
"Archie, good to see you again"I can tell that Archie and Pea are just trying to be civil, which I respect
"So whose hungry" dad claps his hands trying to take away some of the tension in the room.
Surprisingly the night goes well, Archie is on his best behaviour and even better dad seems to like Sweet Pea.

The next day we have cheer practice. I'm currently on the floor stretching
"Humpty and Dumpty. Just in time to meet our newest recruit" Cheryl says as Veronica and Betty walk through the door
"In addition to my duties as a Pussycat, and I just want to say I'm so excited to work on my moves and be a team player, as long as I'm in the front" Josie aims the last part more towards me, I roll my eyes
"Wait Cheryl does that mean your taking the Vixens back from me?" Veronica asks with her hands on her hips
"Yeah, also sorry Josie but your not taking my spot" I stand up and cross my arms
"Veronica, seriously, we're they ever truly yours?" Cheryl says kind condescendingly
"Cheryl, we were wondering if maybe the Vixens would help at an event to save Pops" Betty looks around nervously as Veronica stands with her arms now crossed over her a chest
"Oh Betty, I did not emerge from the frozen depths of Sweetwater River nor the flames of Thornhill to allow my Vixens to sling milkshakes at some death cursed diner. The answer is a double cherry on the top no"
"Huh that's funny because I didn't risk my life to save yours and also emerge from the depths of Sweetwater River for you to act, well like this. My dad was shot Cher, yes it's scary to go to that diner and yes I don't particularly want to go back there just yet, but I also don't want Pops to go out of business"
"I'm sorry Aurora, but it's bad enough that one of my Vixens works there and I've been able to move past that, my answer is still no"

After school I'm sat at home watching Archie pace back and forth across the living room while dad and I are sat on the couch
"First you get shot, then Miss Grundy is murdered, all within a matter of days. What if some crazy person is going after the people I care about? What is Aurora, Veronica, Betty or even Jughead are next?"
"Arch aren't you stretching a little? who would have a grudge against you that bad that they would be going after the people you care for?"
"You think I'm nuts? dad?"
"No, neither of us do, but I think your scared. Understandably so. The truth is, we don't know anything about what happened to Miss Grundy"
"She's dead. She was killed, right across Sweetwater River"
"We know Arch, it's just we don't know if what happened to her and dad are actually related"
"Don't you guys want to know who did this? who's doing this?"
"Of course we do Archie, but...."
"No just stop" Archie cuts me off and sits down with a huff.
That night I'm woken up by a commotion outside. I put on a dressing gown and walk downstairs to see the door wide open. Archie and Reggie are on the floor
"What the hell are you doing?" I whisper yell at them
"I came to deliver some goods and your brother here just attacked me" Reggie says making me angry
"Archibald Frederick Andrews I swear to god you best not be taking drugs, and you" I now point to Reggie "you best not have been selling drugs when we were together or I'll be the one kicking your ass next"
"Boy Andrews, you've lost it"
"Your the one wearing this hood"
"It's called a prank, didn't expect you to attack me"
"Some prank Reg when you know our dad was shot by someone wearing the same fucking hood. Just go home Reggie"