𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄.

“Oh no, no! You don’t look scary, I just feel bad.” Emily stated simply. She took a moment to peek her head out past the counter to see if it had gotten on anyone else and it hadn’t. “I actually have theirs finished, and I’ll get yours in a second.” She mused. With that, Emily turned back around and grabbed her rag and wiped up the counter before putting the coffees down for the impatient girls behind the “scary” looking girl. She smiled fakely at the group and rolled her eyes when she turned back around to grab the mop and bucket. Luckily there wasn’t anyone else waiting. It was the middle of the afternoon and her manager typically only had her behind the counter and there were times it was a little stressful being the only cashier and barista. 

“I’ve never seen you here before.” Emily began as she decided to make small talk with the other girl while she mopped up the spill. “Are you new to the town?” She asked curiously. 

Watching the girls grab their coffees, Chloe herself gave them an overly-joyful smile and waved them away. “Bye sisters!” She giggled at her own joke, turning her attention back to the girl behind the counter and fiddling with her tongue ring absently as she spoke.

     “I suppose you could say new. Only been here a little while - plus, I don’t usually get my caffeine fix in the form of coffee.” She shrugged, trying to pinpoint just how long she’d been in Savannah. Then she was brought back to the reason she was here, and she visibly tensed before quickly changing the subject. “I’m Chloe, by the way.”

“which is all the more fun. the more you get close to getting caught. that is the real rush.” he said with a shrug even if he knew there had been things he’d done that if he was caught he’d be done for good. no more serpents. his dark eyes set on the girl and he gave her a curious look. “can’t stop you from showing up, can i? it’s not like it’s any of our parties. just some guy that’s around here who likes to have a good time.” and lucky for pea, those were the parties where he got the most booze. 

“that is something you need to talk to ol’ byrdie about. she pretty much runs things there. i just got lucky because im always there and it was shit i was doing already.” sometimes the serpents weren’t all that bad, letting the younger ones get jobs so they could eat at night was one of the ways they looked out for each other. but pea never met someone who wasn’t a serpent and wanted to work at the wrym. “uh, yeah there are a couple garages, one just a few blocks from here actually. i was able to pick up a new piece for my bike there the other day.” 

“I suppose, that game of cat and mouse is fun, as long as the mouse gets away.” Jail definitely wasn’t fun, but for Chloe it was almost a getaway. At least one full night away from everyone. No phone, no step-douche, free food, and a bed? Sometimes it was better than being home. “Even if you tried, I’d probably show up just to piss you off.”

Brooke found herself in Forsyth Park aimlessly walking around. Typically, she walked herself around with a purpose, but today there was nothing going on and she liked it that way. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and she was happy to have some time to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Her peace and serenity were interrupted by some freak talking to her. Brooke immediately scoffed and looked the other girl up and down. Clearly Southside trash. “Uhm not anymore.” She stated simply with a roll of her eyes. She’d never seen the other girl around before, she was probably new. Great, just great. 

Chloe was obviously amused. It wasn’t her first time interacting with . . . her type. Actually, if she hadn’t looked over and caught the glimpse of the long blonde hair, she would’ve thought she was back in Arcadia, being harassed by the one and only Victoria Chase. She laughed, rolling her eyes and getting up off of the swing.

“maybe the shit you can get arrested for is what they need. to be tough and not thinking that it’s always as easy as sneaking bubblegum in your pockets.” he said with a shrug. he knew were she was going though and nodded. “besides, there isn’t anything good out this week. it’d just be a waste of a ride there. but there is probably a few parties going on tonight we can crash. that’s probably what we are going to end up doing anyway.” welcome or not, id booze were involved then pea was on it.

“job searching sucks. i will agree with that.” he said as his body did a slow sway not even lifting his extremely long legs off the ground. “lucky i get my hours at the wrym. if i don’t go to a party later then that is where i’ll be.” serpent life wasn’t always thrilling. 

     “You’re saying it isn’t always that easy? The pigs must watch you guys like hawks.” Chloe chuckled, joking of course. She’s been to jail a couple times, but always seemed to find a way to get out by morning - hence the tickets and warrants in her name. “Parties? Please tell me I can come with, I need to fucking let loose for once. Feels like I haven’t had a break in months.”

     “I was gonna ask y’all about that, actually, but I figure you guys probably don’t hire non-Serpents to work at your bar, huh?” Not that she’d necessarily be opposed to becoming one, they seemed like a fun group which was exactly the kind of thing she needed. Plus, the extra protection wouldn’t hurt. “D’you know of any auto shops around here? Like, I’m talkin’ southside. Fuck those affluent northie bitches.” She teased, though she knew very well the tension between the north and southside.

“come on, petty crimes get boring even for serpents like me. kind of looks lame as we do it too.” he said mostly holding up the pride knowing he didn’t have to pull the stunt of sneaking into a drive in. maybe pea was letting the words of being called no good thugs get to him more than others. but he didn’t know what else to. he wasn’t ever the more playful of the serpents as much as his friends still acting like children not far away.

“i mean do you really think it’s as much of a rush being called out for not being able to scrape up for a ticket? we can do much worse.” he added before reaching out for the cigarette and placing it between his lips only to dig out his lighter and give his lungs the burning satisfaction he craved through the day. “thanks… so what are you doing out here then?” pea’s brain tried many times to remember if he’d ever heard the girl’s name before. kim? no… he couldn’t remember. 

He had a point, petty crime did get boring after a while, but even Chloe craved the rush of sneaking into somewhere she didn’t need to be. Hell, if she still had her truck she would have offered to sneak them in that way - but she left her baby back in the Bay. Never to be seen again.

     “I suppose. But you don’t wanna start the youngins out with shit they can actually get arrested for. Gotta . . . wean them into the crime. Start with the petty shit we used to do when we were young - assuming you also broke into shit when you were a kid.” An unfair assumption. Not everyone was a criminal like Chloe Price. “I came here to breathe, honestly. Job searching is hard as fuck and that damn trailer . . . I can’t fucking stand it sometimes. But, I didn’t come here to bore you with my bullshit. Got any fun plans for tonight or are you on babysitter duty?”

he’d been sitting at the swings for an hour? he lost count after a while but the inability to keep time in his head was distracted when a familiar face joined him, even if they didn’t really ask. sweet pea narrowed his eyes. “often? oh yeah, this is my swingset, the only and only place i find inner peace.” he said rolling his eyes as he watched a couple of the younger serpents standing at the top of the playground set acting like the fools they were, about to push themselves off. the thought actually seemed entertaining if one broke an arm. 

“i’d rather not be here but it was killer’s turn to pick what we do today and none of those lugheads have enough to get drive-in tickets.” he was obviously not amused as he wore a scowl and a tone that was as cold as the bite in the air. 

Rolling her eyes playfully, the punk blew her smoke in the opposite direction, looking out at the young snakes on the playground. That alone gave her a feeling of . . . nostalgia. And betrayal. Not that anyone here had betrayed her, but she couldn’t help but be taken back to her and Max; playing pirates on an old playground somewhere in Arcadia Bay. Chloe remembered jumping from the playground and breaking her elbow, the phantom pain lingered for a moment before she snapped herself from her dwelling.

     “So? Just sneak in, sourpuss. I thought the drive-in was Serpent Territory anyways.” Ah, but Chloe still hasn’t processed that the Serpents weren’t nearly as rebellious and criminal as she was. “Come on, wipe that scowl off yer face and enjoy a nice, menthol-y newport with me?” She dug in her pocket again, offering up a cigarette with a raised brow.

To keep her sane, in a way.

She had tried to keep to herself around here, but her social battery was just BUZZING to be used, so she figured a little friendly conversation at the local park wouldn’t hurt. Stepping off the board and bringing it over to a swingset, she sat down, pulling a cigarette from her jacket’s pocket and lighting it.