𝐒𝐎𝐋 | ˢʷᵉᵉᵗ ᵖᵉᵃ

• T E N •

« Réquiem por un peso welter »

Today was supposed to be just like any other. Go to school, don't talk about anything too personal, go home, see what Jughead had to say, then play G&G with the gang. But, of course, that's not how today was going to go. It was never that easy in Riverdale.

It began at school. Clemintine felt as if she was being watched. The second she had to use the bathroom, she figured out why she had felt that way.

"Clemmie?" Josie's smooth voice called through the bathroom, ringing off the walls of each stall.

Clemintine closed her eyes as she sat there. Why was the bathroom always empty during these situations? "Yeah?" She called back, rolling her eyes and finishing her business.

With the flush of the toilet, Clemintine exited the stall, and washed her hands. Josie began to speak. "I wanted to talk to you about Sweet Pea."

The sink was harshly shut off. The girl with fading pink hair closed her eyes tightly, gripping the counter with such force, her knuckles were bright white, any harder and they could have broke. When her breathing became normal once again, she moved around Josie to dry her hands. "I'm not interested."

"Please, Clemmie, I need to ask you something." Josie pleaded, now blocking the exit.

"We have class, Josie, move-"

"I want Sweet Pea to me my boyfriend."

Clemintine took a step back. She struggled to keep her balance. It was the last thing she ever expected to hear from the singer. "So?" She felt the pang of jealousy, but now, it was only pain.

"I want your permission." Josie smiled lightly.

Clemintine felt as if she couldn't breathe. She didn't understand why she was feeling this way. "Do what you want." She pushed past Josie, now feeling sick.

Stupidly, Clemintine decided to finish her school day. She fought with herself to hide her tears, but every once in a while, one or two would fall onto her papers.

"Hey," Jackson crouched down beside his niece's desk. "go ahead and go home, schools almost over anyway."

Clemintine whispered a thank you, calmly packed up her things, then left the building.

She waited until she got in her car. The gates opened and the tears flowed. She knew that she should be happy for them. They seemed happy with each other, and it seemed like Sweet Pea had forgotten about her completely. Little did she know, that was far from the truth.

Clemintine composed herself. She started her car, wiped her tears away, and drove off to the tent city of Serpents.

Each tent was quiet. It was unusual. None of her Serpent friends had come to school, so where were they?

The girl carried on, searching for the only trailer left in the park, where Jughead stayed. She noticed a figure sitting in the lone armchair outside the trailer. Clemintine felt her heart lighten, as she assumed it was Jughead. "Hey, Jug." She smiled as she walked closer to the chair.

Her smile instantly dropped when she moved around it. Her eyes widened. Her jaw dropped, and a scream pierced the quiet air.

🐍

Jughead stood in the bunker with his friends. Checking the time, he turned to Fangs and Sweet Pea. "Sunny should be at the trailer soon, you guys need to go get her and bring her back here."

Without a word, the two nodded shortly, and headed to the park.

Once there, they got off their bikes, that's when they hear it. The ear-piercing scream that sent birds flying. Sweet Pea hit Fangs on the shoulder. "Sunny." Knowing she should be the only one there. The pair took off running into the woods.

"Sunny!" Sweet Pea reached the sobbing girl. In her shock, she had fallen to the ground. Sweet Pea immediately went to the ground, wrapping his arms around her, checking her body for any injuries. Fangs didn't need to ask what was wrong, because he was staring right at Fangs.

Joaquin sat on Jughead's makeshift throne, his body limp, his lips a bright blue, and a symbol branded onto his forehead.

Sweet Pea stroked Clemintine's soft hair, whispering to her gently, letting her know that she was safe. In that moment, he came to a realization. He had almost forgotten how much he loved her. He had been clouded so much by Josie's body, that he had forgotten about Clemintine's hurt, and she was still going through so much. He truly missed her. Her touch, her voice, even her smell. It came to be his favorite smell.

Fangs covered his mouth, having to step away. He called Jughead. Sweet Pea pulled away from Clemintine, standing up. The young girl reached up, grasping his hand before he could walk away and leave her with the dead body of her friend.

"Hey, hey, hey." He crouched, kissing her palm gently. "I'm just going to cover him up, okay?" Clemintine nodded, adverting her eyes to the ground. Once Joaquin was hidden behind a tarp, Sweet Pea helped Clemintine to sit on a chair, no longer facing the body.

Jughead soon arrived. Fangs stopped him before getting too close. "She hasn't said anything since we found her. Whenever we try to get something out of her, she just shakes."

Jughead nodded, sighing. He was afraid that she would become closed off again, just as she had when she returned from New York. He then walked with Fangs over to the tarp. He lifted the blue material, exposing the cold and lifeless boy. Jughead sighed once more. "Joaquin."

Clemintine let out a loud sob as she heard his name. Her best friend, who had dropped off the face of the planet months ago, was now dead.

Jughead covered the scene with one swift motion. "Sunny." He was careful as he approached her. "Are you okay?" She was the main priority. Joaquin would have to be second. The girl kept her eyes on the ground. Jughead took a seat on the chair beside Clemintine. "Did you find him like this? Was he alive? Did you see who hurt him?"

The girl began shaking. Sweet Pea was quick to pull her back into his arms. "I think we should stop." He told Jughead. "She'll say something when she's ready."

"Who do you think did it?" Fangs asked.

"Uh..." Jughead turned to the Serpent. "I don't know. The Gargoyle Gang or Hiram Lo-"

"No." Clemintine spoke shakily. All three were stunned. "I-it couldn't be us..."

The three shared worried and confused looks. "Us?" Jughead pressed.

"The Gargoyle Gang..." Clemintine spoke. She looked up but could only seem to keep her gaze on Sweet Pea. "They wouldn't have done this." She shakily turned her head to the tarp. "That symbol on his forehead."

"Sacrifice." Jughead answered, though there was no question. "I have to get to Archie. Bring Sunny."

Clemintine was taken to the bunker. Inside, Clemintine stared at Archie. "You were a sacrifice." She stepped closer. She hugged Archie. "I'm glad you're out." She pulled away when he said nothing. He had a look in his eyes. He was hiding something from her. "What's wrong?"

"Tell her, Arch." The other Serpents hung their heads. They all knew what was coming next.

"Tell me what?" She looked at them, panicked. What was wrong with her friend?

Archie ran a hand through his dirty red hair. "Joaquin was with me." Clemintine's brows furrowed. "In the detention center." Her face fell. It stung at Archie's heart. "Clemmie," He sighed. "don't be mad."

"He was with you?" Tears filled her eyes. "You didn't think to tell me that?" She began to yell. "All this time, all those visits." She pushed his chest harshly, sending him stumbling backwards, tears now freely flowed down her pale cheeks. "He's dead, Archie!" She pushed him again. "I didn't get to say goodbye! I haven't seen him in months, because he was locked. Up. With. You!" She pushed him four more times, each push harsher than the last.

Finally, Fangs interjected, putting distance between the two.

"Clemmie, I'm sorry."

"I hate you." She hissed, being pulled by Fangs and Sweet Pea out of the bunker.

Jughead looked at his friend, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She didn't mean it."

Archie nodded sadly. "I know." He turned his gaze to the ground.

chapter word count: 1398