My Serpent's Keeper [J.J]

Bitter Sweet

        Cleo was with Sweet Pea and Toni out front, she handed Sweets a pile of money that he stuffed into his backpack. "Bring it by the Wyrm after school. Make sure it gets into the safe and no skimming off the top." she told him "Will do." he saluted "Come on, we better go before people think we're up to something." Toni said glancing around at the passing students "We're always up to something." Cleo smirked.

Cleo grabbed what she needed form her locker and went to the student lounge looking for Jughead "I already invited Archie, but I want you guys to be there, as well. Usually, these kinds of events, baptisms, confirmations are family-only, but since it's all about me and you guys are my chosen family, I pulled a few strings and reserved you a pew." she heard Veronica say, the whole gang was there. "I might burst into flames if I step inside a church." Cleo joked as she sat on the arm of the couch next to Jughead. He smiled and placed a hand on her leg "Lucky you weren't invited then." Veronica gave a tight-lipped smile, Cleo narrowed her eyes.

        Jughead squeezed Cleo's leg in comfort, he knew that his Northside friends tolerated Cleo for his sake but they still didn't treat her right. "What is the dress code?" Kevin asked trying to push past the awkward "Catholic chic. So, dresses for the girls, veils optional. And coats and ties for the boys." Veronica told them "Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper, please report to the principal's office. Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper to the principal's office." Principal Weatherbee's voice droned over the speaker. Cleo looked to Jughead confused "Want me to come with you?" she asked, she knew the police had already tried shaking down Sunny Side trailer park for the culprit of the Pickens day vandalism and he was worried they were going to try and lay the blame on Jughead. "No, I'll see you after class." he stood and pressed a kiss to her lips before walking out with Betty.

     Cleo looked to the group of Northsiders all watching her "I'll leave you to your plans then." she knew she wasn't wanted there "Um, congratulations, Veronica." she gave a tightlipped smile before walking out. Veronica looked down at Archie, they knew they were hard on her even though the southside girl really did try to be nice to them. They still didn't trust her though, knowing what she does at night.

-

   "I'm so sorry, Betty. I don't care if they harass me at home or school, but you...you don't deserve this heat." Jughead slumped in a chair in the newsroom. They had just been told by Principal Weatherbee that Hiram Lodge was suing the Blue and Gold and it was to be shut down immediately. "Who's harassing you at home?" Betty asked worried "Sheriff Keller. He has no proof, but he suspects one or more of the Serpents, probably me, decapitated the statue of General Pickens." Jughead sighed "And...did you?" Betty asked, she didn't know what he was capable of anymore, since he went full Serpent he's become a different person. 

    "Betty, how...why would I decapitate a bronze statue?" Jughead asked "Maybe the same reason you wrote that article. To avenge Toni's grandfather. Or maybe to impress your Serpent girlfriend?" Betty looked him over. Jughead furrowed his brows "What?" Betty tilted her head "Or maybe Cleo did it and you're just covering for her." Jughead scoffed and shook his head "You guys really need to stop pinning every bad thing that happens in Riverdale on Cleo and the Serpents. Each and every time you've blamed them for something, what happens? That's right, it turned out not to be them, it turns out to be some psycho Northsider with money to spare." Jughead ranted, getting sick and tired of the hatred between the North and South.

"Jug, she punched a cop and went to jail, she started a fight with Archie and the Bulldogs, she flooded the locker room and threatened Cheryl! Do you really know her? Or are you just blinded by her performance in the bedroom?" Betty asked boldly. Jughead stopped and looked to Betty both hurt and disgusted. "How can you say that?" he asked, did Betty really think so little of him now that there was a snake on his back.