Safety Net- SP 2 ✔️

Chaper 18- When A Stranger Calls Pt1

"Archibald Fred Andrews" I yell walking into my house and slamming the door "I have a bone to pick with you" I continue to shout as I walk into the kitchen. Archie and dad are at the kitchen table, dad sighs and rubs his face
"Archie what did you do to your sister? you know she only calls you by your full name when she's mad"
"He is out to get my boyfriend" I point at Archie
"I'm not out to get anyone. Dad look I did what Weatherbee asked. I wrote an apology letter and posted a new video apologising some more"
"Huh didn't seem like it when I was bailing the Serpents out of jail Archie. Oh by the way next time Dilton decides to stab himself and blame it on a Serpent you tell him to come and see me because I'll do more that stab him"
"Aurora Rose Andrews I did not raise you to be a violent person"
"Sorry dad, I'm just angry"
"Archie this red circle business, it's over right?" we both look at Archie and he nods his head "I'm happy to hear it. I've been missing my son"
"Yeah and I miss my brother. I know you obviously don't get on with my boyfriend, but please just try to be civil"
"Ok fine, I'll try"
"Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm meeting Sweet Pea, Toni and Fangs at the Wyrm. Just came home to shout at you and get changed" I say as I turn around from the kitchen to run up the stairs to get changed (photo at the top)

At the Whyrm Sweet Pea and a guy named Tall Boy are playing pool while I'm sat with Toni and Fangs watching them
"I think this Northsider is lost" I hear Sweet Pea say. I look over to where Pea is looking to see Jughead wearing a Serpent jacket
"I'm not. I'm over being half a Serpent" Jug replies as Pea stands up and walks over to me, putting an arm over my shoulder
"Wow you'll do anything to protect your Northside buddies. Rory is more of a Serpent than you've been" Pea comments making me feel kinda proud that I'm excepted by these guys
"My father was a Serpent. He led you. I wanna stand with you guys" Pea kisses my temple as he goes to put chalk on his cue to carry on the game "Tall Boy was the one who gave me this jacket, it's time I finally start wearing it" Jug raises his voice a little looking at everyone in the bar
"So, now you want to be a Serpent huh? Let's see if you survive the initiation first" Tall Boy walks over to Jughead to stand right in his face before going back to play Pool. Jughead looks a little uncomfortable, he then walks out of the Wyrm
"What does he need to do?" I ask looking at Fang's and Toni
"First he will look after 'the beast' also known as hot dog out pet dog" Toni laughs
"Yeah then it's the laws and the snake" Fangs carries on
"And finally it's the gauntlet" Toni finishes
"The what?" I frown
"The gauntlet, all Serpents of that age stand on 2 lines and take punch the person walking down the 2 lines. Then the leader of that age will take the final punch" Sweet Pea says bending down to aim he cue stick
"And who is the leader of Jugs age"
"Who do you think" Fangs nods his head slightly to Pea "haven't you noticed how literally none of the younger Serpents have spoken to you?" I nod my head slightly at Fangs "we have a rule? Not really a law, but we never steal another Serpents partner. Especially the leaders"
"And you my gorgeous beauty, you are Sweet Pea's girl, that means your an honorary Serpent" Toni says
"But I've haven't done anything to deserve being a Serpent" I say rather confused
"You've done more that you realise. Last night is a perfect example. You picked us over the Bulldogs, your own brother because you know what's right and wrong" Fangs smiles at me
"That's right baby, your a Serpent. We need to get you a jacket" Pea walks over to us now without a cue stick in his hand and he wraps me up in his arms
"Well if I'm to be an honorary Serpent I'd at least like to do some of the initiations. Like learn the laws"
"Of course baby girl, then you can do the Serpent dance for me in private" Pea whispers the last part in my ear then kisses my neck.

Later that day I'm at Jughead's trailer with Toni and Jug as we are both learning the Serpent laws. I manage to pick them up a lot quicker that Jug is
"A Serpent never shows cowardice. Err if a Serpent is killed of imprisoned their family is taken care of. Serpents uhh"Jughead stops, probably forgetting the next laws
"Come on focus" Toni says looking annoyed "you need to take this seriously, like Rory did. She remembered them after like 40 minutes" Toni says
"I am guys I swear to god I am it's just, first the beast now these laws"
"Why the change of heart anyway? Why go from conscientious objector to full fledged member?" Toni says as Jughead gets up to lean on the kitchen counter top "I know Rory has kinda been thinking about this and being a Serpent since we all met, but you were adamant that you would be a Serpent"
"Because of something you said" Jug looks at Toni and walks back over "my dad was the only one keeping idiots like Sweet Pea in line"
"Watch it" I grumble a little, but he's right. Sweet Pea can be very hot headed and sometimes doesn't think
"Sorry Rory, but someone needs to step up. To keep an all out war from erupting. I am taking this seriously Toni" Toni smiles at Jug
"So from the top Jughead" Jug sighs and we continue to help Jug with the laws.

That evening it's time for Jugs 2nd part of his intuition. Tall Boy already checked that I knew the laws earlier and of course I did
"What is the fourth law?" Tall Boy shouts in Jughead's face. Sweet Pea, Toni, Fangs and I are all stood in front of a pool table hiding the snake in a tank from Jughead
"No Serpent left for dead" Jug shouts back in Tall Boy's face
"What is the Fifth law?"
"A Serpent never betrays his own" while they are shouting the laws the other Serpents are making a commotion by yelling and talking
"And what is the sixth law?" Tall Boy yells
"In unity there is strength" this is the law that all Serpents and I repeat. I still haven't got a Serpent jacket and I don't mind to be honest. As long as I'm excepted here with these guys, that's all that matters to
"You know the laws" finally it's quiet, except for the music playing "now it's time for the next trial" we all move from the pool table revealing the snake "retrieve the knife" Tall Boy says. Jug looks scared, he looks over at Toni who slightly nods her head. Jug nervously walks over and puts his hand in causing the snake to bite him, but he manages to take the knife out.

Once he finishes that part of the initiation I sit with Toni and Jughead. I have a drink in my hand while Fangs and Pea go and play another round of pool. I swear this boy is obsessed with pool
"A rattlesnake Toni. A rattlesnake bit me and drew blood" Toni rolls her eyes
"One that had it's venom gland removed ok?the important thing is that you showed no fear, you grabbed the knife and"
"You remembered the laws" I cut Toni off giggling
"Exactly, your almost a Serpent now Juggie" Jug looks at Toni who immediately looks like she didn't mean to say that... awkward.