Safety Net- SP 2 ✔️

Chapter 23- The Blackboard Jungle Pt2

Finally after a few classes it's time for lunch. I sit on Sweet Pea's lap
"Your wearing the ring I gave you"
"I never take it off" I kiss Pea
"Ok now I know why you are so grossed out when me and Veronica kiss" Archie comments making me giggle
"I don't think we've properly met. Veronica Lodge" she extends a hand to Toni
"From the park avenue Lodges" Jug says while eating a bag of chips
"Toni Topaz" Toni shakes Veronicas hand
"Oh. Like the purple coloured gem stone. Love it" V smiles
"And I'm Josie McCoy formerly of the pussycats" Josie introduces herself looking around at everyone nervously "now just Josie. And this is Kevin" Kevin looks at Fangs
"What's your name?" Kevin nods towards him
"Fogarty or you can call me Fangs. Your last names Keller right?" Fangs points to Kev with a twizler
"Yeah how did you know that?"
"Joaquin and I used to hang out. He used to talk about you all the time
"You guys" we all look at Principal Weatherbee shouting and pointing to the Serpents "yes you. Come with me. Now" I get up from Pea's lap and follow Weatherbee to the hall where Reggie is stood with his arms crossed looking smug
"Which of you defaced our schools seal with this graffiti?"
"This is what they do Principal Weatherbee. They tag their turf" Reggie says pretending to be innocent
"My god Reggie could you be anymore transparent?" Reggie nods not really understanding what Veronica is saying
"Effective immediately no gang behaviour of any kind will be tolerated in my school. As of this moment no more Serpent jackets"
"What?" Sweet Pea shouts
"Are you kidding?" Jugs says at the same time
"No more Serpent jackets and all tattoos are to be covered. Possession of any gang paraphernalia will lead to immediate suspension. Are we clear? that is all" Principal Weatherbee walks off
"Ok you see Aurora your better off without them. They will get you into trouble. I won't and I won't let your grades slip" I shake my head looking at Reggie disgusted. I take a step forward
"Ok I thought maybe after Christmas we could you know get on but maybe I was wrong"
"See what they're doing to you? They're turning you against me"
"No Reggie you did that all on your own. You and Josie. If you wanted to keep me maybe you should have thought about your behaviour. Come on, let's go" I grab Pea's hand and pull him away.

That evening I go to the Whyte Wyrm with Toni, Jug and Pea. Fangs had to go and do a job so he isn't here. Pea is playing an old school arcade game, Jug is pacing around while Toni and I are sat at a table drinking something strong
"I can't believe you guys don't even see it" Jug says annoyed "Weatherbee is profiling us, telling us what to wear. What's nexts brain implants controlling what we think?"
"Jug chill" I laugh
"Jughead you sound like conspiracy nut. A school closed down"
"A crappy school" Pea chimes in
"Yeah and now we're at a better one with a computer lab and textbooks"
"And toilets that flush" once again Pea says
"Getting transferred to Riverdale high is the best thing that could have happened"
"Maybe ever" Pea says again
"So if I have to take off my jacket 8:30 to 3 Monday to Friday, hey, I'm down with that"
"Jug I'm with you, it's not fair that he's being like this but you can't give him or anyone else more reason to dislike you guys. Anyway if these guys are ok with taking off their jackets then why aren't you?"
"Because it's the principle of thing Rory" Jug yells then walks off annoyed. I take a sip of my drink
"He's not planning anything stupid is he?" Toni asks
"I hope not"

Fangs, Toni, Sweet Pea and I are sat in the student lounge the next day
"Ughh stop" Pea moves my hand away from his neck as I play with the hem of the turtle neck
"I like it"
"I hate it"
"Come on it's not that bad"
"It's to tight" he pulls the fabric away from his neck
"I think it's kinda hot" I whisper in his ear
"Glad someone does" he grumbles
"Oh hey guys" we all turn to see Jughead wearing his jacket "what's up?" he walks over to the snack machine
"Take it off" Reggie says standing up and walking over to Jughead
"Oh no this isn't good" I whisper
"Take off that jacket rat boy"
"Reggie let's not name call. Let's just talk about this" I try to clam him down as I walk over to him slow. Fangs and Sweets stand up. Jug sighs and turns around to look at Reggie
"Oh Reggie I don't think you know what this jacket means because you have no sense of honour or history or loyalty" Reggie pushes Jug and a fight between the Serpents and Bulldogs break out.

I'm stood with Veronica and Wheatherbees in his office
"You all have a weeks detention for fighting" he says to Reggie, Fangs, Toni and Jughead "I made myself clear to you yesterday Mr Jones. Take off that jacket right now or your suspended"
"Please Jughead just..."
"Then I guess I'm suspended" Jughead interrupts was V is says and then walks out.

I walk into the student lounge with Jughead after convincing him to just not wear his Serpent jacket
"Oh my god" I laugh at what Pea is wearing
"What the hell guys?" Jug looks at them confused
"Wheatherbee gave them to us" Toni says "said he understands that not every southside student had the means to purchase Riverdale High acceptable clothing. He thinks this will help us fit in" Toni continues
"Weirdly I'm not mad at the uniform" I cock my head to the side
"Where's Fogarty?"
"He wouldn't wear the uniform so they got rid of him. Suspended him" Pea says
"So our choices are to conform or be cast out"
"Yeah" Toni sigh
"No, I'm sorry but this" I gesture to them "will not help anyone fit in. He's still singling you guys out. What was wrong with what you guys were wearing yesterday? No tattoos were on show and Toni was actually wearing my clothes so what the hell"
"Ok. Give me some time to figure this out" Jug says then walks off
"I love how your more worried about us Serpents than we are" Toni chuckles
"That's because my girl is one of us" Pea puts his arm over my shoulder and kisses my forehead.

The next day I'm called into a random room by Jughead
"Rory finally. Welcome to the inaugural meeting of the Swords and Serpents Club" Jug sits on a desk pealing an orange.
"Which is what exactly?" I ask raising my brows
"Like I told Fogarty to lure him back to dear old Riverdale. We are a gaming group, sanctioned by Mr Weatherbee himself. Where like minded students can meet and can concoct world building roll playing scenarios. In habitant fantastical heroes and dispatching mythological creatures" I chuckle shaking my head
"No but really" Toni says. Jughead puts down the orange
"It's a club. For us. A safe haven where we can be serpents during school hours under everyone's noses. We're not shedding our skins. We're lying low in the tall grass" everyone smiles with happiness.