#podsquadgoals

“Right… well, I kind of wanted to talk to you” he looked nervous.

“What about?” you ask.

He looked to the floor, too guilty to meet your eye. “What you said to me at Pop’s. About me breaking...”

You interrupt before he could finish, bringing your hand up in a halting motion. This was your shot at a fresh start. All you had to do was wipe the slate clean. “You know what? Don’t even worry about it. I just said that in the moment because I was hurt.” He looked unconvinced so you added, “I used to have the biggest crush on you and I guess I was just disappointed in how it turned out. But I mean it. It’s water under the bridge, really.”

He looked a bit surprised at your response but he did his best not to question it. “In that case, want to go to the bonfire with me this weekend?” he asked. Every year the seniors host a party to celebrate their last year at Southside High. You raised your eyebrows questioningly at him. So, he added, “as friends of course.”

You pursed your lips and thought about it for a minute before saying, “I was gonna go alone, but knowing at least one person has its advantages. I’ll see you there.” You didn’t have very many friends to go with in the first place so this offer was definitely welcomed.

He smiled and said, “Okay, see you there.”

Tonight was the back to school bonfire party. Everyone who was anyone came to this party. You were a little cautious going in given your last experience at a party. Not only were you bored out of your mind, but what happened afterwards wasn’t really something you wanted to relive.  

Upon arriving you groaned in realization that it was way too early. There were a few people still setting up. It was embarrassing and not a very good first senior year impression.

“Hey, Y/n right?” asked a surprised Toni.

“Umm, yeah.” That was weird. You didn’t even know that Toni knew who you were considering you’ve never spoken before.

She smirked, “You do know that the party doesn’t actually start for another two hours?” She gestures towards the empty space. “ Nobody ever shows up on time.”

Well that’s just great, you thought. “Yeah of course.” What now? Maybe this was a bad idea.

A redhead perks up next to Toni. “And who might this be?” she asked a little too cheerfully.

Toni introduces the two of you. She slides her arm around the redhead’s waist and looks to you. “This is my girlfriend Cheryl.” Hmm. You give her a once over. So this is the girl Toni came out of the closet to be with. Even you had to admit she was gorgeous. “Cheryl, this is Y/n.”

Cheryl extended her hand for you to shake. Her long red fingernails stood out to you against her pale complexion. You took it wondering how high maintenance this girl must be.

You shook your thoughts away and shyly smiled, “Nice to meet you.”

“Y/n? Where do I know that name from?” she asks Toni.  

Toni tilts her head slightly and says, “As in Sweet Pea’s friend, Y/n,” through her tight lipped smile.

“Oh,” said Cheryl. “Ohhhhh,” she added when realization struck her. Toni poked her side and Cheryl cleared her throat. “I mean, weren’t you two supposed to come together?” she asks.

You wondered if Cheryl was always this odd or if something else was going on. Either way, you brushed it off. “I told him I’d just meet him here.”

They both smiled strangely at you, “Okay well since you are already here, want to help set up?” asked Toni. “Sweet Pea bailed, again, on helping set up but he should be here soon.”

You nodded and followed after them.

After helping setup, there was still time before the guests arrived. Toni and Cheryl seemed nice enough but you were wondering when Sweet Pea would show up, or even Fangs for that matter. You knew him better than you knew Toni.

You checked the time on your phone and you wished you had gotten his number. At least that way you would have been able to let him know you were there already.

When you looked up Cheryl was staring at you with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Y/n you must absolutely let me do your makeup.” She carefully took in your choice in clothing. “And maybe even a quick visit to my emergency clothes stash I keep in my car.“ Clearly she was not impressed.

You didn’t even have a chance to answer as she dragged you with her to fix you up.

By the time she finished the party had already started. You could hear the music blasting as well as people chatting with each other.

As she put the finishing touches of lipstick on you, you heard the familiar deep voice of Sweet Pea. “Cheryl have you seen Y/n? Toni said she was already here?”

You turned around and it took him a second to realize it was you standing next to Cheryl. She had really outdone herself with the smokey eyeshadow paired with bright red lips and not to mention the really tight clothes. You appreciated that they showed off the better parts of your body. She even managed to make time to curl the ends of your hair.

The combination of your whole look left him speechless for a second. His mouth was hanging open when Cheryl asked, “Well? How does she look?”

As if snapped out of a trance, he blinks back and shakes his head. “Umm, yeah. She looks…” he looked you up and down again making you feel a little self conscious, “wow.” Since when is Sweet Pea in a habit of being unable to form thoughts, you wondered. He’s done it so often with you that it’s starting to look like a pattern.

Cheryl frowns “Just wow? I’ve just transformed Cinderella from rags” she looked to you, “no offense” and back to Sweet Pea, “to her beautiful ball gown and all you have to say is wow?”

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes and Cheryl took off muttering something about her having tried.

Her departure left you two in a weird, almost awkward kind of silence. “Okay. Now that it’s just us,” you say, “tell me the truth. How bad is it?” Since there was no mirror out here, you didn’t know how you looked. For all you knew Cheryl could have made you look like a clown. If that was the case, Sweet Pea had a powerful amount of self control for not laughing.

“What? No, you actually do look amazing. I hardly recognized you” he said but you didn’t quite buy it. “Here, let me…” he says as he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of you. He then handed it to you so you could see for yourself. Even you were amazed at the sight. It really didn’t look like you. You looked like someone who was confident and bold. Both of which you most certainly were not.

“Wow...” you breathed out.

He smirked, “You know, that’s exactly what I said.”

You push him with your shoulder and he barely even moved. You don’t even know why you bothered. “So, are we going to join this party or just admire Cheryl’s work? Last I checked, Cinderella didn’t just sit around checking herself out, she got to dance with a prince.” You kind of regretted that last bit. You don’t exactly need him thinking he has a shot with you tonight.

But he just smiled and said, “I’m no prince Charming, but I can still show you how to have fun.”

His words made you nervous because you didn’t exactly know how to take them. But he did end up keeping his word about you two only being there as friends.

You hung out with his whole posse which included Fangs, Toni, Cheryl and a few others that you didn’t remember the names of. He actually had a much bigger group of friends than you thought. It looked like this year really was going to be different after all.

By the end of the night you had a couple of drinks in you which you were thankful that Sweet Pea stayed mostly sober to make sure you didn’t drink too much. He even offered to take you home afterwards.

That night, you saw a whole different side to Sweet Pea. The one you had always known him to have but rarely showed it. He acted like a true gentleman. He even walked you all the way to your front door.

Your cheeks were flushed with alcohol as you smiled up at him. “This was the first party I actually enjoyed. Thank you.”

“Glad I could be of service to you” he bowed to you and you giggled.

“I hope we can continue to be friends” you said.

He nodded. “I’d like that”

You reach up on your tippy toes and kissed his cheek, “Good night Sweet Pea” you ran inside and your heart was beating so fast.

Then a wave of worry ran through you. This time you weren't worried about Sweet Pea being the one to break the ‘just friends’ rule, it was you.

Ever since Sweet Pea apologized he had been trying to make it up to you, you could just tell he still felt guilty over that one night. You appreciated his efforts and you slowly started to become closer but you still couldn't trust him with your heart. You two were better off just as friends anyway.

On one particular night you and Sweet Pea were going to meet the rest of the gang at the Whyte Wyrm for drinks and pool. He was supposed to pick you up at 7 but he showed up almost an hour early.

“Ready to go?” he asked when you opened up your front door.

You huff, “Do I look ready? You’re early and I still have to do my makeup.” You don’t even ask him into your home, you just walk off to your bedroom to finish up getting ready, leaving him to close the front door and follow you.

It had only been about seven minutes when Sweet Pea started groaning in boredom as he sat on your bed. At first you ignored him but the more he did it, it made you roll your eyes at his lack of patience. “Nobody told you to come early” you say not looking up from the mirror.

Sweet Pea would never admit it outloud but the truth was that he showed up early in hopes of spending more time with you. But instead you were just trying out makeup techniques that Cheryl and Toni have taught you.

“Seriously, it doesn't matter how you look. We’re only going to the Wyrm. I think you look fine as you are” he said in order to get you to hurry up.

You snicker, “Duh, it’s not about you! I’m dressing up and taking my time so I can look good. So I can love and admire myself. It’s not like I’m trying to impress you,” he looked taken aback so you added, “or anybody else. This is for me.” You didn’t know why you decided to add in that last part. Maybe it was the slight look of hurt he had.

He didn’t say anything after that. You sighed and asked, “Has it ever occured to you that women want to feel as beautiful as the compliments they get. A compliment can be flattering, but it doesn’t mean much if we don’t believe it ourselves.”

You look at him through the mirror on your vanity and you two make eye contact. “You’re right. I never thought about it in that way. I’m sorry.”

You just smile and say, “Stick with me and you’ll learn a lot.”

And he did. There was never a non-teaching moment with you and Sweet Pea. You were actually quite proud of him. He has come a long way since last year but he still had so much to learn.

There’s a guy, whom is also a senior, and he started to take a liking to you. He was nice, cute and super smart. You’ve had so many classes with him over the years but you rarely talked. So when he asked you out it took you by surprise.

You agreed to let him take you out on a date. But as soon as he left, your thoughts turned to Sweet Pea. What would you tell him? Could you even tell him?

In the end, you decided to hide it from him since you weren’t sure how he’d take it. Plus, was it even necessary to tell him if things didn’t work out? You didn’t know what to do so you went to Cheryl who was the most impartial choice considering she wasn’t one of Sweet Pea’s best friends.

He eventually found out a couple of days later through Fangs, who heard it from Toni. Toni only knew because Cheryl told her, which if you were being honest with yourself was bound to happen.

“He doesn’t look like your type. Do you even like him?” he pressed.

You thought about it for a second because the truth was you didn’t know. How could you when you barely knew him. “He’s smart and super nice” was all you could really say about it deciding to ignore his comment about your type, whatever it was.

He cleared his throat and raised his brows in question, “Okay, but are you physically attracted to him?”

You narrowed your eyes at him trying to understand why he would even ask that. Sure this kid wasn’t as tall or built or anywhere near as attractive as Sweet Pea, but he had other things going for him. “He’s... cute.”

Sweet Pea scoffs, “See, even you don’t think he’s good looking.”

You groan in frustration, “Damn it Sweet Pea. Not everything is about looks. When I had a crush on you, it was way before all of this” you gesture to him. “Besides, I happen to like smart, that way I don’t have to dumb down everything I say.”

He flinched back at your words.

You felt terrible. You didn’t mean it that way. Sure Sweet Pea wasn’t the smartest cookie around but you didn’t mean to hurt him.

“Whatever, you do you” he said before walking off.

At first he was mad about the whole thing but he quickly got over it. Later on you two talked and he said he thought you two were friends and that this was something you’d be able to tell him. You apologized for keeping it from him and that was that.

He forgave you partly because he couldn’t stay mad at you for long and partly because he knew it was his own fault. Maybe if he had never made things awkward between the two of you this wouldn’t be happening. So, he was as supportive as he could be given the circumstances even though it still hurt to see another guy make you smile and laugh.

Over the next month or so you knew your relationship with this other guy was going nowhere so you both decided to end it on good terms. However, you stayed in contact since you two studied really well together.

Everyone in the gang seemed to be relieved in your choice, especially Sweet Pea, though he hid it very well.

“It’s for the best anyway. Dating would only serve as a distraction with it being so close to the end of senior year. I need to focus on finals anyway.” At least that’s what you told yourself.

Another thing that was coming up was prom. You had longed to be asked. You only had one senior prom and you wanted it to be memorable.

Your serpent friends had long ago decided on going to their very own anti-prom. As much fun as that sounded, it wasn’t what you wanted and Sweet Pea picked up on it. One day he even caught you looking at prom dresses on your phone.

Sweet Pea was conflicted. He had never attended a school function in his life yet what he wanted the most was to take you to prom. He confessed this to Toni and Cheryl wanting their input on the situation. They knew he liked you and they were so excited for the possibilities this could bring.

Especially Toni, she wanted Sweet Pea to be happy and she knew you could be it for him. She saw how he lit up whenever you entered the room, she recognized the feeling. It was the same way she lit up whenever her girlfriend Cheryl came into the room.

They all helped Sweet Pea come up with the best last minute promposal. One suited just for you.

Unfortunately, he waited too long to ask you.

When he saw you at school that day he was so excited for your reaction. He just hoped you would let him take you. He knew you would think of it as a pity ask but he was actually looking forward to it.

When you walked up to him with a huge smile on your face he asked, “What’s got you in such a good mood today?”

You had mentioned to your study buddy that no one had asked you and prom was only two days away so he had the brilliant idea of going together as friends.

You all but shrieked out “I just got asked to prom!” His heart dropped but you didn’t seem to notice over your excitement. “I have to find Toni to tell her I can’t go to her anti-prom.” You left Sweet Pea standing there feeling defeated. This could have been his chance to show you how much he really cared for you. He didn’t think he’s ever get that chance again.

Since Sweet Pea had already purchased two tickets for prom he didn’t know what to do with them. He tried giving them to Toni and Cheryl but Cheryl told him to go anyway. That they should all go since you would probably have more fun if all her friends were there with her too.

Toni was still hosting an anti-prom but she decided to push the time back in order to make an appearance at the actual prom with the rest of her friends. She mostly did it because Cheryl was dying to see you and Sweet Pea finally get together. After all, anything could happen at prom.

You rolled into prom with your date and you were so giddy. This is what you have been dreaming about since you were a kid, watching movies where teens have the perfect proms. The only thing missing was being here with someone you loved.

You sighed and your thoughts were suddenly on Sweet Pea but you shook them away quickly. He didn’t ask you even though he knew you desperately wanted to go. Had he asked you out of pity, you would have still said yes. No matter how hard you tried to bury your feelings for him, it was nearly impossible for you to shake them. Coming to prom with Sweet Pea would have been the dream but it didn’t work out that way.

Soon you and your date were dancing but then you saw your friends enter the gym. You were so excited to see them that you practically jumped with giddy and dragged your date with you to greet them.

“Oh my god! You guys came!” You hugged the girls first and then Fangs, “You clean up nice,” you said as you playfully slapped his cheek.

“Only for you” he flirts and winks at you. You roll your eyes but chuckled anyway.

Now you were face to face with Sweet Pea. You gave him a side hug as to not make it seem as awkward as it felt. You noticed his tie was a bit crooked and your hands were itching to fix it but you thought it would look inappropriate in front of your date so you held back.

“You look beautiful Y/n” he said.

You blushed. “Thanks.” You tried steering the focus off of you when you said, “I distinctly remember you once saying you would never be caught dead in a suit and tie.”

He doesn’t laugh, he only says, “Guess I grew up” he smiled meekly.

You smiled back, “Yeah I guess you did.” Your date coughed and you said, “Well I’ll see you guys out there.”

As you danced with your date Sweet Pea only grew sadder. He wondered why he even came. What did he expect was going to happen? That you would see him in his tux and you’d leave your date for him? No, of course not. It was pathetic for him to even think it.

Seeing as how Toni, Cheryl and Fangs ditched him for the anti-prom, he decided he needed some fresh air. Outside where there was no adult supervision, he lighted a cigarette and inhaled the familiar taste of smoke and nicotine.  

He continued taking drags of his cigarette that he didn’t realize he wasn’t alone. “Can I try it?” you asked remembering that you had once asked him that very question. He jumped back a little, you had startled him.

“It’s bitter and not at all tasty” he warned but handed it to you anyway.

You smirked, took a long drag and calmly blew out the smoke that filled your lungs. This time you didn’t cough.“You get used to it” you mimic what he once told you.  

You weren’t a smoker but since hanging out with the serpents at the Wyrm all the time you had to get used to the clouds of smoke so Toni and Cheryl stepped up to help.

He smirked back, impressed. You returned his cigarette to him and he once again took a long drag before asking. “What happened to your date?”

You groan in displeasure. “Turns out he only brought me so he could lose his virginity before he goes off to college in the fall” you shrug as if it’s no big deal. But Sweet Pea knew better.

“I’m sorry Y/n”

“Ugh, why are guys such assholes? No offense.” He didn’t take offence since he knew that used to be him. If you hadn’t confessed your feelings to him last year and changed his whole perspective on life, he probably would have done the exact same thing to another girl tonight.

He blew out more smoke, “I mean you aren’t wrong, but as you have pointed out to me in the past, girls can be assholes too.” He looked at you challengingly.

You smile because you knew he had actually been listening to you. It's kind of surprising really. You have spent the better part of senior year teaching him how to be better person; not just in the way he presented himself but also in the way he thinks. He has also become much more open minded.

Seeing as how the whole dream prom thing was ruined you asked, “Want to leave?”

“Anti-prom?” he asked.

“Anti-prom.”

By the time you two had gotten there the party was in full swing. Cheryl was slightly drunk and so happy to see you there. You told her what happened and she gasped, “What an asshole. Did you at least get your dream prom slow dance?”

You shook your head trying not to look disappointed. She had this evil smirk that quite frankly scared you. “Cheryl... you better not try anything. I’m serious.”

But there was nothing you could do. You just had to wait and see what she was up to.

About an hour later, Toni came up to you and told you that Sweet Pea was looking for you on the dance floor. You thought it was odd but you went in search for him anyway.

When you found him, you both said, “You looking for me?” at the same time. You both looked confused but laughed. This couldn’t be a coincidence could it?

Okay. That was weird. “Cheryl told me you were looking for me” he said.

Realization hit you. This was a set-up. You turn to see Toni and Cheryl spying on you two. They notice you looking at them and they attempt (and fail) to hide.

Before you can say anything, a slow song started. You sighed but went for it anyway. “Since they clearly went through all this trouble to get me my slow dance, would you? Dance with me?”

“It would be an honor” he said as he pulled you close and set his hands on your hips. You felt butterflies swirling around in your stomach as you placed your hands on his shoulders.

This couldn’t have felt more right and you were glad with how things ended up. Despite everything, here you were with Sweet Pea of all people. Granted with a little help from Toni and Cheryl.

You two swayed softly to the music in perfect silence. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the dream prom you wanted.” It warmed your heart that he cared.

“It’s still the best prom I could have hoped for. I have real friends who showed up just for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the night,” you paused and looked him in the eye, “than here with you.”

The night came to an end and Sweet Pea took you home, walking you up to your door again. The only thing that could make this night even more perfect would be with a kiss. You weren’t too sure if you were going to get it though.

You so desperately wanted him to kiss you and so did he but Sweet Pea couldn’t afford to put your friendship in jeopardy over a kiss that may not even be worth it. He knew you were over your crush on him, he had made sure of that long ago. But, he never got over his crush on you.

You were the quiet girl always in the background. He didn’t know how he should act around you but he always made sure to be nice to you no matter what. When he started dating Toni, he thought he knew what love was, and when she broke his heart he was devastated. It hurt and he thought he lost the ability to love forever.

That is until he saw you again at that party. His crush on you slowly started creeping back up but he squashed it down and immediately regretted it.

Sweet Pea could see you just as lost in your thoughts as he was. “What are you thinking?” he asked.

“Hm? Oh, I was just thinking that this night could have gone better if I had just asked the person whom I really wanted to go to prom with, instead of waiting for him to ask me.”

A flash of hurt crossed his face. He thought maybe there was someone else you liked and didn’t tell him. He bet you’ve told Toni and Cheryl though.

You giggle and lightly swat his arm, “I’m talking about you, you idiot.”

He gave you a very confused expression, “You wanted to go to prom, with me? Why?” It didn’t make sense to him. You didn’t even like him in a romantic way. Or did you?

You tried to play it off knowing that you’ve revealed more than you had intended. “You’re my best friend. You know that right?” He hesitated but nodded anyway. “I just knew you’d have made my night perfect from beginning to end. You know me better than anyone.”

Sweet Pea looked like his mind was whirling with so many thoughts and as much as you craved that kiss, you just stood on your tippy toes and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Sweet Pea.”

Even long after you went inside he stood there on your porch running through all the what if scenarios he could think of. What if he had asked you to prom first? What if you still had a crush on him? What if he told you how he really felt about you? What if he had never treated you badly that night over a year ago? What if? What if? What if?

Finals came and went but you hadn’t seen much of Sweet Pea lately. Either you were too busy studying or he had Serpent business to attend to. You two hadn’t had a moment alone since prom night and you were itching to have a conversation alone with him.

The next time you were able to see him was at your high school graduation ceremony. He looked as handsome as ever in his button up shirt and tie. You didn’t have much time to talk since the boys and girls were separated.

You got lucky in being seated right next to Toni during the ceremony. At least you could share this experience with a friend. It was exciting yet it didn’t feel quite real.

In the middle of the ceremony, your thoughts were interrupted when Toni spoke. “You know he’s in love you right?”

Someone, in love with you? That was the most laughable thing you’ve ever heard. “Who?” you asked, not really expecting a serious answer.

“Sweet Pea.”

The blood drained from your face as you paled beside Toni turning to look at her.

“Look, ever since senior year started he hasn’t shut up about you. He’s fallen hard for you and I see the way you two look at each other when you think nobody’s looking.” You stayed silent, not really knowing how to respond.  

“All I’m saying is, don’t string him along because you are unsure of what you want.”

This revelation was too much. You didn’t know what to think of it. How did you not see it?

“Oh and by the way,” she spoke up again, “he never got the opportunity, but he was going to ask you to prom because he knew how much it meant to you.”

That was the last straw. Your heart hurt knowing that you had continuously did or said things that hurt him. Yet, he stayed beside you because he loved you.

You were so deep in thought that you hadn’t realized the ceremony was over. Toni had to drag you to where the gang agreed to meet up. She immediately left your side when she spotted Cheryl taking pictures of Sweet Pea, Fangs and a few others. They embraced each other in such a loving way, it made you a bit jealous for what they had. Especially knowing that could have easily been you and Sweet Pea.

Fangs embraced you in a tight hug and spun you around. “Never thought I’d see the day where I’d graduate. I thought for sure I’d be a goner. Thanks for helping me apply for college and all those grants to help pay for it.”

“Just as long as you continue your education is enough for me.” He let go and turned to hug Toni.

“We did it.” Sweet Pea said from beside you. He looked reluctant to hug you but you went for it anyway. You hugged him tightly around his waist and he returned your hug, squeezing you just as hard

You all took pictures with each other. First some serious ones where you were all smiles then goofy ones where Fangs got on Sweet Pea’s back or where Cheryl carried Toni bridal style.

After the pictures you went to see your family and agreed to meet up with them later at the graduation party.

The party was loud and so many were drunk already. It took you awhile to find your friends and when you did they strongly encouraged you to take a couple of shots with them. You welcomed the liquid courage as you were about to do something totally insane.

You found yourself outside alone gazing at the stars. Despite being nervous, you also felt a sense of calm wash over you. Just a feeling that everything was going to work out.

“Y/n, what are you doing out here?” You heard the familiar voice of just the person you were waiting for. Sweet Pea.

“I was actually waiting for you” your voice sounding a lot more confident than you felt.

That surely got his attention. “I’m here now. What’s up?” he asked cautiously.

“Why didn’t you tell me about prom?” you asked vaguely.

A look of confusion crossed his face. “What didn’t I tell you about?”

“That you were going to ask me.” You stepped closer to him, your stare never wavering from his. “You know, even though we didn’t go together, we still ended the night together.” You paused and pulled yourself even closer to him.

You were so close you could feel his pounding heart through his chest. He hadn’t moved away from you so you took that as a green light to continue.

“There is only one thing that could have made that night more perfect and I should have asked for it then but I’ll ask it now” you said. He already knew what you were going to say but he was frozen in shock as to what was happening. You were a mere inch from him and you could feel his hot breath fan your face. “Sweet Pea,” you managed to say barely above a whisper, “kiss me.”

He brought his hands up to cup your face and you leaned into them, practically begging him to get on with it. He slowly brought his mouth down to meet yours and as soon as your lips met, it felt like magic all over again.

It started out slow but quickly gained momentum as the kiss grew heated. Sweet Pea’s hands left your face and traveled down to your back, pulling you as close to him as he could get you.

The flash of a camera interrupted your kiss and you two pulled apart. Standing by the door was Cheryl who shook the polaroid picture in her hand. “Oh my god, finally. I was beginning to think you two were never going to get together.” She walked away without another word, probably to go show Toni the picture she took of you.

You aren’t sure what to say after that kiss but Sweet Pea beats you to it. “Everyday, you say something new that makes me fall in love with you all over again. Whether it be something totally enlightening or just a smart ass remark, I love it... and I love you.”

And there it was. Those three words you never thought you’d hear him say. Your smile reaches your very soul as a testament to how happy you felt in that moment. “I love you too, Sweet Pea.”

"Hey," As soon as you walked out of the small space between buildings a boy spotted you and walked closer. "You alright?" You didn't know if you wanted to answer the boy and maybe get some help or run off in the opposite way and hide for the second time tonight.  "Hey," He said again, carefully reaching for you. "You're hurt, need any help?" You backed away and hit the edge of the building, hurting yourself even more in the process and almost stumbling because of how tired you actually were. "I can help you with those injuries, even let you stay the night if you need." He started as he held you by your shoulders, making sure you wouldn't fall. "I saw you run from those people. Your parents?" You nodded and agreed with yourself that this boy really wasn't planning to hurt you.

He held on to you as you two made your way through the South side and into the trailer park. You introduced yourself after the boy told you his name. Sweet Pea. You weren't sure if it was a joke or a nickname, but you heard other strange names coming from the South side of town so you didn't ask about it. After a short walk you stopped at an older trailer with chipped paint and a patched up window. "We're here." He said as he let go of you to grab his keys and let the two of you in.Walking into the trailer, you kept standing in the living room at first, until you were offered a seat on the couch so Sweet Pea could look at your injuries. 

While physically you were pretty okay besides some bruises and a small cut on your cheek, mentally you were far from okay and the boy noticed immediately. He carefully asked if you were willing to tell him what was wrong so he could maybe help in any way and you again weren't sure what to do. Tell him everything or politely decline his offer? You thought about it for a moment and decided that you did really need to share all of your problems with someone, and sharing it with a stranger you probably wouldn't see anymore anyways sounded like a good plan right now.

You started talking about your parents and their behavior around you, and how they treated you when they had been drinking. It didn't take long before you were a crying mess and you were offered some tissues and a secret. At least that was what Sweet Pea called it.He got up after you calmed down a bit and grabbed a piece of paper. Sitting down again he picked up a pen and started doodling something but you had no clue what it was. He also added what looked like his phone number."When you want to talk, call or text me." He started as he pointed the pen at the digits. "When you need actual help, draw this and think of me." You had no idea what he meant by it, maybe it was a way to calm down? He saw the confusion on your face and smiled. "It'll explain itself when you try it. But only when it's really necessary, okay?"

You spent the rest of the night talking and watching TV, Sweet Pea did his best to make sure you were as comfortable as possible, which you were, sort of. But you just couldn't get the doodle on the piece of paper out of your head. He said it would explain itself but you really wanted to know."Hey, Sweet Pea?" You asked as you turned to face him and he turned towards you in response. "I know you said the thing on the paper would explain itself when I need it, but I think I'd be way more comfortable drawing the thing if I knew what it did." You admitted carefully and got a smile in return. "Alright, I'll tell you." He said as he sat up and held out a hand in a warning gesture. "Just to be clear, this is gonna sound extremely weird." 

"The drawing on the paper is a summoning sign." You indeed thought that sounds weird. "You draw that whenever you need and I'll show up." You still hadn't replied, just listened and were trying to process what he just said. "Okay look, I'll just show you. Try to relax." There was no way you were going to be totally relaxed when you had so many thought and questions going around in your mind, but you tried your best anyways and when he asked if you were good you just nodded. "Look here." Sweet Pea held his hand up and pointed to his hair before looking down and brushing his hair back with his fingers and ruffling it a bit. When he lowered his hand again, two small horns had appeared on his head, right on the hairline and the whites of his eyes had turned completely black. He again pointed towards his head, this time at his horns and spoke. "Demon, see?" You jumped back in surprise but couldn't keep your eyes off him. There was no way this was fake, right? You saw it happen right in front of you. Sweet Pea saw you thinking and spoke as he got up. "Why don't you just test it?" He offered you another piece of paper and a pen. "Just draw that sign when I'm outside and I'll join you right here, yeah?"  

You looked at the paper in your hand, then back at the sign that was on the other piece and nodded. "Yeah." Sweet Pea flashed you a friendly smile and a nod before he walked outside and closed the door behind him, which you took as a sign to start drawing. Carefully you copied the design that laid in front of you and hesitated at the last stroke before giving in and completing the summoning sign. A black puff of smoke took you off guard and while it dissolved, Sweet Pea appeared from it, complete with the small horns and black colored eyes. "Believe it now?" You were speechless for a moment, trying to understand it all. So there were other things than humans?  Sweet Pea realized you weren't going to say much and was fine with just explaining things while you listened to his every word and felt better with every sentence he finished.

Eventually the sun started rising again and you woke up from the light shining into the room. Hearing noise in the kitchen you decided to go take a look and found Sweet Pea, this time looking completely human again, making some coffee. "Morning, want some too?" He asked holding up his mug and you nodded. After some coffee and a moment to wake up properly you decided it was time to go home, making sure you brought the piece of paper with the summoning sign and phone number on it home with you. Weeks passed and you had been texting back and forth with Sweet Pea on night you'd hear your parents yelling at each other from downstairs. You were glad there hadn't been a too bad night in a while and you finally got some sort of peace in your room, at least that was until tonight. Your dad came home late and drunk while you were in the kitchen preparing a midnight snack and your mother was watching something on TV, half asleep and left you alone for the most part. There was immediate yelling, this time about something on TV your dad disagreed with and made a huge deal about, to which your mother started yelling at him for waking her up by yelling about something as unimportant as a TV program. You wanted to leave right then, but while you tried to sneak your way upstairs the yelling quickly moved to you and why you were taking food upstairs and other nonsense that had never been a problem before. The yelling got worse and worse and when you tried to walk up the stairs to escape your dad grabbed your arm to keep you downstairs which caused you to drop your plate. It shattered into pieces and food was everywhere. The crashing made your dad loosen his grip and gave you a chance to break free from his grasp and sprint up the stairs, locking yourself in your room and checking your alarm clock. It was almost 3am now.

Crying, you reached for your phone but stopped halfway when you saw Sweet Pea's piece of paper and grabbing that instead. With shaking hands you managed to find an empty paper scrap and a marker, putting it to the paper you took some deep breaths to steady your hands and started copying the sign again, your hands getting more and more shaky with every line you put down. By the time you had reached the last line you were full on sobbing again and barely managed to connect the last two lines. The second you finished the sign you dropped the marker and collapsed back on your bed, sobbing into the pillows and not even realizing Sweet Pea had appeared until he sat down next to you and put a hand on your shoulder. You turned around to face him and patted the space next to you. "Just a hug." You managed to say between sobs and held your arms open for him to pull you up to sit with him an wrapped his arms around you, letting you cry into his chest until you calmed down.

Your parents hadn't stopped screaming and yelling but they hadn't come upstairs. Not that you minded that, you thought it was great they left you alone. Sweet Pea hadn't let go of you yet and by now you managed to speak full sentences again so you explained to him why you summoned him and what happened. To keep you distracted from everything you two talked about everything and nothing and when you were your happy self again Sweet Pea thought his work was done and mentioned to leave again but you declined and while trying to keep yourself from constantly yawning, asked him to stay a while longer.

“Not bad all things considered” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“Good, well I’m glad to see you’re okay.”

Something like surprise flashed across his face but quickly went away.

Since hanging out with the Serpents, Sweet Pea’s academic track record hasn’t been the best. You were afraid of being ditched and left to do the project on your own.

However that was not the case. He showed up to class everyday, on time and even met up with you a couple of times outside of school to work on it.

It all seemed to be going fine and you were even considering that he might like you back. How else would you explain why he didn't ditch and leave you to do the project on your own. Maybe he would have if he had been partnered up with anyone else.

Seeing as it was the end of the school year, you went in search for Sweet Pea to ask if he maybe wanted to hang out over the summer break.

It couldn't hurt to ask right? What's the worst that can happen?

You were shocked to see Sweet Pea lip locking with his longtime friend Toni Topaz (before the fishnets and pink hair).

It hurt to see but he didn’t owe you anything, you two weren't even friends. And that was just the beginning of the longest most miserable summer break ever.

In small towns, everyone knows everyone and there are only so many places you can go to in town. So, it's a given that you'll bump into your classmates eventually. That includes Sweet Pea and Toni.

But they just seemed to be taunting you, everywhere you went, you saw the lovey dovey couple which made you a bit jealous but then guilty for feeling jealous.

Eventually you had to bury your feelings since it was clear nothing would ever happen between you two.

Sophomore year:

Towards the end of summer you stopped seeing the couple everywhere. At first you just thought that you had simply learned to block them out but when school started back up again things were different.

Pea was still so obviously in love with Toni but she didn’t seem to reciprocate it as loudly as she had during the summer. To everyone else, they were going as strong as ever, but only you saw that Toni seemed distracted and not all there.

Eventually the truth came out. Toni broke up with Sweet Pea and came out as bisexual. That wasn't the issue though. It was that she started hanging out with some northsider named Cheryl right after.

That was Sweet Pea’s first and last relationship. Toni had undoubtedly broken Sweet Pea’s heart.

You could tell that Pea had put in all he had into the relationship but it didn’t work in his favor. You knew his heart had been broken but he brushed it off as if he didn't care.

What was worse is that they remained friends and Pea had to hear all out how sensational Cheryl was. That must of stung.

After that, his casual school appearances became less and less frequent.

You hadn’t seen him in such a long time that for a moment you wondered if he had ever been a real person or something out of your imagination.

Junior year:

When you saw him again, he had gotten taller, if that was even possible, and definitely had some new muscles that went really well with his new wardrobe.

He now donned the infamous Serpent leather jacket, meaning he was now an official member. He also showed off his new serpent tattoo right where everyone could see it on the left side of his neck.

His new bad boy look earned him some new attention from Southside High’s female population, which in turn gave him a player reputation. He rarely dated and definitely never established any real relationships with these girls. He became a person solely interested in sex.

It saddened you to see it all unfold, he went from being happy and in love to being a stereotypical bad boy player all because Toni (his best friend) broke his heart.

Granted she probably never meant to break it but the truth of the matter was that she did.

You wondered if you were the only one who noticed this. Sweet Pea was obviously still hurting, but what could you do? You hadn't spoken to him in over year and a half.

Then one day at a party you were both at, you didn’t seem to be enjoying yourself much, your friends ditched you and you were left alone on the back porch with a drink in hand. You were alone until Sweet Pea stepped out to have a smoke.

You could instantly tell he was a bit buzzed by the way spoke, “Hey! Y/n, right?” you knew he was joking but since it has been so long it seemed appropriate.

You nod, “Hey Sweet Pea”.

He walked over to stand beside you, “How’ve you been? Haven’t seen you in what feels like forever”.

“Well I’ve always been here” you mumble under your breath.

“Hmm?” he asked.

“Just been around, you know, still studying hard” you faked a smile.

“Yeah” he said as he lit a cigarette. He took a really long drag and upon exhaling he added, “you were always good at that”.  

You rolled your eyes at his comment. Of course he would only remember you as the smart girl, nothing more.

“Can I try it” you asked.

“What this?” he gestured to the cigarette carefully placed in between his fingers. You nod “Sure, I guess” he answered as he handed it to you.

You hold it awkwardly and you’re suddenly self conscious, he’s looking at you, like really looking this time. He licks his lips as you place the cigarette in between yours.

You slowly inhale and you feel the hot smoke fill your lungs and quickly exhale it. You cough at the bitter taste stuck in your throat.

Sweet Pea laughed, “You get used to it”.

You took a sip of your drink trying to rid yourself of the aftertaste it left. You definitely did not see the appeal.

After a couple of quiet seconds he speaks. “So what are you doing out here by yourself?”

You gesture to the loud house behind you, “Not really my scene”.

“Want to leave?”

You studied his face and he didn’t seem to be harboring any ill intentions. The opportunity presented itself and you were not about to let it pass you. “Actually, yeah!”

He sent you a wicked grin. “Let’s go then” he takes one last drag of his cigarette before dropping it and putting it out with the toe of his boot.

He led you towards side of the house and let you through the opening of a wooden fence.

“I don’t live too far from here” he said.

You didn’t really know what to say or do, all that escaped your mouth was a weak, “Okay”.

You both stayed silent for a while. The night time breeze rolled through making you shiver.

“You cold?” he asked.

“I’m fine” but he took off his Serpent jacket and placed it over your shoulders anyway. “Thanks”.

He smiled proudly, “No problem”.

It wasn’t long until you got to his place. He walked up, unlocked the front door and turned on the lightswitch before gesturing you to go in first.

You walked in and you weren’t sure what to expect from this, surely he knew you weren’t that kind of girl. Right?

“Please have a seat.” He walked into his small kitchen and shouted, “Uh, you want something to drink?” he asked seeming unsure of himself.

You cleared your throat, “Water is fine”.

You took a seat on the couch and played with the hem of your skirt while you waited for him to join you.

He handed you a glass of water and you took a couple of drinks to help clear your throat of nervousness.

He took the seat right next to you and the closeness made you even more nervous.

Sweet Pea broke the silence with a laugh. “This feels so surreal”.

Confused you asked, “Why?”

“It’s just that… I mean…” he found it difficult to formulate his thoughts. “Who would have thought we’d be where we are today; Me as a Serpent and you making your way out of Riverdale through college.” He paused for a second before he added, “Seriously, not many get to leave and you might be one of the only ones that do.”

It took you by surprise that he knew how well you were doing in school.

“It just seems like just yesterday we were all kids.”

“Yeah,” you said, “but that’s life. We have to move forward no matter what”.

He stopped and thought about it for a second, “You're right”. He quickly changed the subject, “Do you remember sixth grade camp?”

You smiled recalling what he was referring to. “You mean when you and Fangs pretended to slip down the small hill so that nobody would see that I ripped my pants? Yeah, I remember”.

“You knew it was on purpose?”

You laughed, “I did. I guess I never thanked you for that.” You set the water cup on the coffee table and faced him. “So, here it is. Thank you Sweet Pea for literally saving my ass from being humiliated.” You both have the biggest smiles on your faces.

“Don’t mention it.”

The way he looked at you filled your stomach with butterflies. It has been way too long since you had an actual conversation with him. So laughing with him was definitely a plus.

“You know what you said earlier about me being able to get out of Riverdale?”

“What about it?”

“What if I didn’t want to get out?” you study his reaction.

He furrowed his eyebrows, “Why not? Is there something keeping you here?”

This was it. This was your chance to tell Sweet Pea that you liked him. It was now or never. “More like a someone.”

The way you looked at him made him realize that you were talking about him. He never really thought about you in that way before but now you were here in front of him he knew what he was missing out on.

He looked you up and down, “We’re definitely not kids anymore.”

You chuckle nervously, “You keep saying that.”

He kept glancing at your lips and you wondered if he was going to kiss you. Was this really happening? Did he finally notice you?

“You look beautiful tonight” he whispered.

“As opposed to when?” you both chuckle and smile like idiots.

“Can I kiss you?” Wait… did he really just ask? He seemed more the type to just go for it and hope for the best.

Sweet Pea was still smiling when you nodded. Your heartbeat pounded in your chest as he reached up and placed his hand under your chin. Then he tilted his head slightly and leaned in very slowly. You shut your eyes in anticipation.

When his lips finally connected with yours it was a soft chaste kiss. It was everything you ever expected in a kiss with him, gentle yet magical.

He pulled away and dropped his hand from your chin to gauge your reaction. When you opened your eyes again he was looking to you to say something but you couldn't even formulate thoughts let alone words.

He chuckled, “Was that your first kiss?”

“No, but I wish it was” you blush at your own words. You hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

“That’s cute” after he said that, his whole face changed as if he just realized something.

Without warning he leans back in to kiss you again. It starts off slow and patient and you feel him place a hand on your knee. Then he picked up the pace and the kisses became fast and sloppy.

You felt his hand slowly inching up higher and higher up your thigh. Once he got to the hem of your skirt you stopped his hand with yours before he could go anything further.

“Sweet Pea” you looked at him pleadingly. You hoped he’d understand why it couldn’t go any further.

Sweet Pea exhaled sounding exasperated.  “Y/n, isn’t this why you came over?”

It hurt that he even had to ask that. “No, I came to get away from the party.” You paused and added, “And to talk, with you.” Your heart was sinking fast as you realized he was treating you like any other girl he probably brings home.

He let out a humorless laugh, “Come on, I won’t tell anyone. I won’t taint your good girl rep.”

With that you slap him, hard.

“What the hell?” he cupped his cheek, clearly shocked at what you had done.

You stood up and threw his Serpent jacket at him, which you had still been wearing. “Just because one girl broke your heart doesn't give you the right to treat the rest of us like trash” you yelled.

He was still in shock, not really knowing what to say. Plus he didn't even know you could yell like that.

“I will not be another notch on your bedpost. I actually have some self respect.” You flew out the door without another word. To say that you were disappointed in Sweet Pea was an understatement.

That night you walked all the way home, well aware that he was not too far behind to make sure you made it home safely.

You saw him occasionally at school that year but he never made eye contact with you.

The next time you spoke to him was at Pop’s the summer before senior year.

You usually read in the park, the sounds of birds chirping on a warm summer day perfectly set the tone for the story you were reading, but today was too hot. So, you came into the diner and chose a booth in the far back where no one would bother you.

While you were there you ordered a milkshake and fries. You ate and drank while you read your favorite book for the millionth time.

The bell signaled that someone had entered but you paid no attention since you weren’t waiting for anyone. You were so immersed in your book that you didn’t notice someone trying to get your attention. When you looked up from your book you saw Sweet Pea staring at you.

You jumped back in surprise. “Jesus Christ! How long have you been sitting there?”

“Long enough,” he tried not to laugh but failed. “Remind me not to get into a staring match with you. Tell me, do you even blink when you read?”

You did not find him to be at all humorous. The last time you you two had spoken, things didn’t end well but by the look on Sweet Pea’s face one couldn’t tell simply by looking at you.

He gave you a playful smile, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

You sighed and went back to your book, pretending to read it. But let’s face it, it was just a way of distracting yourself from having to make eye contact. “What do you want Sweet Pea?”

His face got serious, “I want to apologize.” You looked up from your book and met his stare but remained silent. “You were right, and I’m sorry about the way I handled things.”

He looked down at his hands in shame. You had never seen him look so vulnerable but you couldn’t bring yourself to speak.

You made a fool of yourself by confessing your feelings to the one person everyone warns you not to fall in love with, the ‘bad boy’. But despite his reputation, you knew about the broken hearted boy underneath the leather and sin.

“You know at first, I was angry about what you said. I thought to myself, ‘Who does she think she is?’ But the more time that passed I finally came to terms with the fact that Toni did break my heart and I hadn’t moved on. She clearly did.”

He looked pained but he went on, “That night I kissed you, I’m sorry I ruined it by being a dick. I panicked.”

You looked confused, why would he panic? That just didn’t make any sense at all.

He chuckled at your confused features, “The way you looked at me, it stirred something in me which I thought I would never feel again.”

Your heartbeat picked up suddenly. You were afraid of where he was going with this. You just stared at him until he continued.

“Happy,” he looked at you expectantly but knew you still weren’t going to say anything, “In that moment, where it was just us with no pressures to be someone we’re not, I felt happy.”

You gasped and you could have sworn you felt your heart skip a beat but then you remembered how humiliated you felt, how humiliated he made you feel. “Then why did you treat me like every other girl you’ve had sex with?” You spoke so low you were afraid he didn’t hear it.

It hurt to finally get those words out. You had pictured how this moment would go down in your head for months now and each time it ended with you lashing out at Sweet Pea and none with a lone tear making its way down your cheek.

“I couldn’t ever let anyone make me feel that vulnerable again. It was just too painful” he said.

You wiped the tear from your face. “Well then,” you said and stood while packing up your belongings, “you can thank you pride for breaking my heart.” You walked out of the diner without another word.

A/n: Don’t be alarmed for we still have to get through senior year! Part 2 coming soon!

Even from where she stood across the field; the dual sounds of the cheering crowd and the marching band’s halftime numbers drowning out any attempt she might make at calling out, there in that cluster of blue and gold as her fellow River Vixens stretched and bounced in place, preparing themselves for the next set of cheers they would deliver- she recognized it. His beauty, that is.

But it didn't hide the tiredness about him. The slight shadows under his dark eyes, the way he slouched over in his seat just a bit, like the weight of the world rested upon his shoulders. He looked exhausted, and an air of melancholy hung thick around him. It worried her, made her fidget with the desire to toss the sparkly poms she clung to upon the ground and cross enemy lines, just so that she could ask if he was alright.

Nervously, she fluttered her hands back and forth; the subsequent shake of the sparkly attention-grabbers the only thing she could hear. Because, as she had been looking him over, she had missed the moment he turned his head. She had missed the moment where he began staring right back at her. That deep, soul-searching, nearly fathomless gaze that could leave her mesmerized, even from fifty yards away.

Just like it had that day, so many months before.

June

It was supposed to be the best summer she and experienced, yet at least. Her parents would be out of town for most of it, popping in occasionally on weekends, but otherwise leaving her to her own devices. She'd have their home to herself, free to do as she pleased. Which only sent butterflies to fluttering when she thought of all the alone time she could spend with her redheaded boyfriend.

Archie Andrews was her very first boyfriend, having asked her out about halfway through their freshman year at Riverdale. She had always been enamored with the soft-hearted ginger, ever since she had come to the sweet little town a few years prior. She wasn't the only one, she knew, so it was utterly surprising when Archie had asked her the question one afternoon, did she want to have dinner with him at Pop's? She didn't think she'd ever answered a question so quickly, or easily.

The rest was history.

With her parents gone, they had excitedly talked about the possibilities summer could hold.

Sure, Archie would be plenty busy with working over the summer months, finally being old enough to help out with his father's construction business, and then there was his annual trip with Jughead that she fully supported. But there would be plenty of time for them, and with each being more than ready to take that next step in their relationship, they made their plans and were practically giddy about sticking to them.

Which was why it was odd, she decided, that Archie seemed to be unable to answer his phone.

The previous two days had been nothing but text messages, which was strange in itself. Archie liked texting her, but not as much as he did actually speaking to her. There was just something about her voice, he said. Still, she had understood his hectic schedule and had proposed waiting until Saturday evening for him to come over. With a thrilling anticipation surging through her blood, she had made sure everything was prepped and ready for that evening.

Legs shaved, check. Spotless bedroom, minus the addition of new candles, check. Cute but utterly enticing lingerie that still had the tags on, check.

All that was left was confirming with her boyfriend and double checking that he would enjoy having spaghetti that night since she was cooking.

But she just couldn't get him on the phone.

Shrugging it off, she snatched up her keys and tousled the soft strands of her hair, preparing herself to drive to the grocery store and pick up anything needed for the evening. She had half a mind to buy strawberries, just to see the boy blush. The breeze rippled in through rolled down windows, further mussing her silky strands as she drove, lips mouthing the words of a song.

In a spur of the moment decision, having come to a stoplight that rested at the corner of the street she knew could take her to Andrew's Construction, she paused and made a right. After all, if she couldn't get Archie on the phone, what better way to remind him of their evening than showing up as a surprise? It had been nearly a week since they had last seen each other, she just knew his smile would split his face nearly open upon seeing her pull up.

Only...it was her that was in for the surprise.

A few blocks from the main trailer offices, she took notice of a light blue car, the paint peeling in just a few places. It was terribly parked, as if the person inside had been thoroughly distracted upon doing so. Her nose wrinkled and she huffed in annoyance when she realized it was still even partially in the lane, idling a bit shakily as little puffs of smoke took to the air, pouring from the exhaust.

She could just make out two silhouettes in the car, each one leaned closely toward the other, bodies flush from the chest up and mouths interlocked in what appeared to be a heated session of kissing. Her lips curved into a smirk as she shook her head, completely understanding the urge but still annoyed that she couldn't simply drive on. Checking the opposite lane of traffic, she signaled to move over and eased the passenger side window down, fully prepared to call out to the couple and advise them to make use of the turn off into the trees a mile back down the road.

Her words died tragically in her throat as she peered into the little car, as did her amused expression.

That shock of red hair was easily recognizable, and so were the large hands buried into honey brown strands of hair. The newly muscled build was also familiar, she had spent hours just last week tracing over it with her curious fingers.

Her mouth ran dry as she watched, seemingly unable to look away, while the couple crouched over in the cramped little car remained oblivious. Her ears were ringing slightly, the sound of both that and the blood pulsing through her veins in panicked agitation making it impossible to hear the music pouring from her speakers. A knot had grown in her throat, constricting the passage until she felt as if she couldn't even swallow, much less speak or breathe. Her eyes stung horribly, a film of heartbreaking moisture clouding them, and finally spilling over as she watched the female of the duo toss her leg over the redhead's lap, straddling him.

It was only when she actually recognized the woman that she finally managed to react, quickly stomping on the accelerator and thanking more than one deity that she had chosen to drive her father's vehicle instead of her own. The tires threw dirt and rock onto the tiny car as the truck rocketed down the lane, no doubt startling the occupants.

She didn't care to look backward, to see what the secret couple had done as she sped away.

Dashing away the tears that had spilt over with quick fingers, she simply accelerated more, hoping that maybe the faster she drove, the easier it would be to leave it all, and Archie Asshole Andrews, behind.

She ran.

With little thought really, to where she was going.

She had abandoned the truck in the driveway and had rushed inside, ignoring every picture of the red headed heartbreaker on her walls as she tore the dress from her body and shimmied into a pair of running shorts and a lightweight shirt instead. With her key tucked into the band that circled her wrist, she had left her phone and everything else behind.

Including any sense of direction, apparently, as she had long ago crossed over the railroad tracks and found herself running through the heart of the Southside.

She should have felt uncomfortable, perhaps even the slightest inking of fear.

After all, despite her genuine distaste for it, she was not naive to the tension that simmered between those of the North and South sides of the tracks. She had never understood it, how people could judge each other over something as simple as geography. To her, each person was a human being, deserving of respect and happiness.

So perhaps she was naive in such a sense after all.

Finally, as conscious thought seemed to return and her mind suppressed the horrifying images of sighting her once-boyfriend (because they were SO over now) and their music teacher getting all hot and steamy in her car; her feet slowed from a run to a walk, and she raised her head, her eyes widening slightly as she took in her surroundings.

She had managed to run all the way to the southern end of thirty-second street, far enough that she could see the glow of bar lights and the faint shapes of trailer homes further beyond. Currently, she stood in front of a tiny bakery that had already closed up for the evening, as the sun was steadily sinking along the horizon, splashing the skyline with hues of purple and pink that were swallowed by the thunderheads that were rolling in from the west.

Her chest heaved slightly, her lungs seeming to catch on to the fact that she was no longer running like her life depended on it, and they could recoup the oxygen they so desperately needed. She bent over at the waist a little, pressing her palms to her knees as she greedily swallowed air, fighting against the need to plant her ass upon the pavement and just sit for a while. After all, she had a decent trip to make back home.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

Like the chaotic mass of emotion that sat churning in her gut, squeezing her heart in a way that she could equate to near physical pain, and tightened her throat until it ached; the storm that had been brewing in the night sky finally unleashed itself, opening the heavens so that torrents of rain could pour down to the mortal souls scurrying below.

She was drenched within the first five minutes, her already fitted-workout gear becoming indecently skintight as it stretched across both ass and chest. Her hair hung in limp, sodden strands, clumping together in some places as more than one lock of it stuck together. The massive droplets made teasing trails down the bare skin of her arms, legs, and stomach; the cool temperature clashing with the heat from her run, causing her skin to prickle and shiver. Her head dropped back on her shoulders, eyes fluttering closed as inky lashes dusted the tops of her cheeks, and her lips parted in what anyone would assume to be a frustrated scream.

Instead, she laughed.

She laughed until her chest twinged and her stomach ached, until her jaw was almost sore from remaining in the amused expression. She laughed until the sound transformed, losing its carefree amusement and turning to one that bordered the line of hysteria. The sound was haunting, losing all traces of goodness, replaced instead by the echo of emotion untouched. She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks, mixing with the rain in a way that made it almost unnoticeable. She laughed until the tears were real, until she was no longer laughing at all, until the sound choked off into a desperate sob as she backed into the bakery’s stable, brick walls and sunk down.

There she buried her face into her legs after tucking them into her chest, propping her folded arms atop her knees.

It could have been minutes, possibly even hours, that she sat there on that lonely, quiet street with no other company, save the rain and booming thunder. Her tears had long ago ceased, her eyes running dry, no longer able to spare her heart any moisture. The downpour had shifted, changing from sheets of rain that one could hardly see through, to a gentle rain that pitter-pattered across the sheet metal awning she had managed to huddle beneath. She watched, blank eyes peering out through soaked strands of hair, as a single car plundered its way down the road, narrowly missing a pothole that had grown in the center of the street. She could have sat there for minutes, possibly even hours, more…had it not been for him.

She heard them before she saw them; a group of leather-clad teenagers that had only just exited a diner down the street, the paint faded and more than one light in the sign that displayed its name burnt out.

They were a group of five or six, perhaps, each one a little more rambunctious than the last as they turned toward her, plodding down the sidewalk across from hers, their destination more than likely the neon lights that sat a hundred or so yards further down the street, given the emblem she managed to catch a peek of as one girl, her hair an alluring mixture of pinks, turned to a stocky-statured boy.

Biting her lip, she curled tighter around her knees, hoping to make herself seem even smaller than she actually was. Perhaps, if she was lucky, she could even sink into the shadows and go unspotted; they seemed to be enjoying themselves, their laughter echoing off the worn buildings, so there was little reason for them to look in her direction. The last thing she wanted was to find herself caught up in some sort of confrontation, despite the fact that she had little issue with them and wasn’t looking to make any new ones.

Gazing out stealthily from the gaps between dripping locks once more, she felt the tension drain from her limbs as she watched them pass her general area, continuing on toward their endpoint without even catching a glimpse of her. She breathed out a sigh, squeezing her eyes closed as she shuddered in place, a mixture of adrenaline and the chill in the air from the storm leaving her nearly shivering.

What she had failed to notice however, was the lone figure that had broken off from the group, ambling toward her side of the road in a lazy, unhurried pace.

“You look lost,” Someone spoke lowly, their distaste apparent in their tone. “Princess.”

His voice was mocking, tainted with his derision and the sneer that twisted his lips; it didn’t make it any less attractive.

It sounded like sin and sex, wrapped up with a red velvet ribbon, and it only grew more potent as it rumbled softly when the pet name rolled off his tongue, accompanied by the low growl in his chest. It made her want to squirm, heat blooming to life in the pit of her stomach, a tingle racing toward her thighs. She froze in place there on the wet concrete, not because she was frightened but because the reaction she experienced to his voice alone was, in its own way, frightening.

She had never reacted like that to Archie’s voice.

When she tipped her head up, finally daring to look at the boy whose voice set her blood on fire, she couldn’t stop the small gasp from escaping her parted lips.

He was, to put it simply, gorgeous.

His hair was damp from the gentle rain, the raven colored strands tousled haphazardly, like all he did in the morning was run his fingers through it a few times. His eyebrows were just as dark, arching expressively, and his eyelashes were every bit as inky. They framed dark eyes, their color more than likely a deep, sinfully rich brown; though it was hard to tell in the darkness, they looked instead like shadow pits, endless and beckoning. His nose was sloped smoothly, his jawline chiseled from the hands of above, and his cheeks were filled just the slightest bit, rounding out the apple of them. His teeth gleamed in the night, and his lips…his lips made her want to do things.

As she lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes once more, she caught the way they softened at the edges, the change just barely noticeable as they swept back and forth across her face rapidly. The sneer fell from his lips, pressing itself into a firm line that reminded her of cautious concern rather than his earlier contempt. He took a single step closer, one that was slow and deliberate, almost as if he believed her to be a startled animal that might bolt at any second. His eyes trailed her face again, centering on her cheeks, and it was then that she understood.

She must look a mess!

Between the running and the rain, not to mention her outright ugly sobbing only a handful of minutes before; her mascara had bled into the corners of her eyes, trekking down in smudged trails over the outer edge of her cheeks. Her eyes had to be irritated and red, quite possibly even swollen, just enough to make it entirely obvious that she had been bawling to her heart’s content.

Quickly, she lifted her hands, swiping beneath her eyes in a futile attempt to look at least halfway put together as she broke their gaze, needing to escape the heat the was only building with every passing, silent moment.

“I-I’m not,” She croaked out, wincing at the sound of her voice, before sucking in a deep breath. “Lost, I mean. I just…I just needed-“

Thunder rumbled across the sky once more, the wind picking up as a new wave to the storm threatened all below it.

She shuddered hard then, gripping her arms so tightly around herself, her nails bit into the soft skin. She needed to get home, but the thought of walking through the rain made her shake even harder, the reaction made worse as a cooler breeze blew through the empty street.

Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of her face, nearly making her squeak in surprise. It was large, bigger than she had expected, and she could faintly judge the array of callouses that had no doubt roughened it from hours of labor and tinkering with mechanical parts. He had just a little grease smudged over his knuckles, and a tattoo wrapped around his thumb that begged to be examined much closer. She followed the outstretched hand with her eyes, her gaze caressing up and over the strong arm encased in shining leather, to the face peering down at her; a picture of forced nonchalance that guarded the slight hint of vulnerability he felt over offering it to her.

It was only after she had placed her much smaller hand into his, allowing him to tug her up from her seated position, catching her with his free arm around the waist when her muscles cramped and protested; that she realized something very important.

She didn’t even hesitate.

Those around him were talking loudly, creating a dull uproar as they laughed and snuck swallows from multiple flasks that had been hidden within the dark inner pockets of leather jackets, purposefully ignoring the disapproving glares aimed their way from time to time. His glare only deepened as football players, grouped in uniforms of black and red alongside blue and gold, began to pour back out onto the football field that had been lit up for the Friday night game. It was the season opener, one of two showdown games between the Northside of Riverdale and the Southside, bound to end in more than one bloody nose and black eye.

He hadn’t wanted to come.

The reason why stood across fifty or so yards of green turf, dressed in nothing but a short little skirt and a top that teased a peek at her navel. The cheerleading uniform was mostly blue with hints of gold, and if his eyes strayed that way one more time, he might just scratch them out. Visions of what she would look like decked out in black and red filtered through his mind on repeat, torturing him in a way that left the black denim of his jeans much too tight across the front, and his heart aching in a way he still refused to fully address.

Sweet Pea groaned beneath his breath, fighting against the urge to smash his fist into the shiny metal of the bleachers and peel out of the parking lot.

“Yo,” A low voice, tinged with amusement muttered in his ear, just as a fist made contact with his shoulder, jostling him in place. “You’ve got an admirer, one o’clock. She hasn’t even blinked in five minutes.”

His head snapped up before he gave himself permission.

She stood there, wringing her hands together around sparkling pompoms, her lip caught tightly between her teeth. The organ in his chest jumped, thudding rapidly against his rib-cage as his eyes remained glued to the sight. Her lip would be plump, flushed a pink that bordered red after she had worried with it, he knew. He also knew, from long afternoons spent in nothing but their skin with hours upon hours of observation, that she hadn’t been getting much sleep. That she didn’t seem to be doing any better than he was.

And despite how fucked up it was, he found himself thankful.

June

He didn’t know what the fuck he was doing.

She had just looked so small and broken, kneeling there at his feet, her hair hanging in limp locks and her clothes plastered to her skin; without even pausing to consider the possible consequences, he had thrust his hand down, palm open and waiting. He had regretted it almost instantly, berating himself over the fact that he had even thought about helping the unnamed beauty. And she was, a beauty that is, even he couldn’t deny that.

The rain had made her hair hang down even further, falling in strands that held just the slightest of curl to them, the color of which was lighter than his own, he could tell. Her skin appeared flawless, just a smattering of freckles placed randomly across the bridge of her nose and the apples of her cheeks. Her eyes were dark, but clear. Perhaps a deep blue or green, maybe even a lighter hue of brown, the shadows made it hard to tell.

Sweet Pea ripped his eyes from where they had gotten caught within her gaze, his entire body stiffening, his jaw tight as his fingers itched to curl inward. He didn’t know what he was thinking, holding his hand out. She was a Northsider girl, there wasn’t a chance in hell that she would just-

Her smaller hand slipped seamlessly into his, fingers curling around his palm, squeezing with a light pressure that made something stir within his chest.

Dark eyes snapped to her, finding the way her bottom lip was caught between teeth, stilling the smile that threatened to curl them upward as she peered back at him. There was something in her eyes, a trust that part of him wanted to admonish her for, but the sudden flutter in his stomach made him swallow the words as he gave a gentle tug, just enough to help lift her from her cramped position on the pavement.

He hadn’t expected her to crash into his chest, though he really should have.

There was no telling exactly how long she had been sitting there, huddled in the same position, and he had little doubt that her muscles had tired of being locked into place for such an extended period of time.

He caught her before she could tumble back to the ground, his free arm slipping around her waist and pulling her until she was pressed against his chest, his hand cupping her hip tightly to reassure himself that she wouldn’t collapse. Their clasped hands had rearranged themselves, fingers lacing together in the sudden flurry of motion, palms pressed tightly together as he kept her hand anchored against his chest for further balance. He could feel her breath through the damp material that served as his shirt, little puffs of air that burrowed through the threads and caressed his skin in a way that made his grip tighten. Peering down at her, he took notice of their height differences, an amused smirk curling his lips upward when her nose bumped lightly against his sternum.

“Let’s get you out of here, Princess.”

He was back to glaring as he peered down into a laundry basket, eyeing the perfectly folded and freshly laundered clothes his aunt had no doubt completed earlier that morning. He’d bet every dollar in his wallet that she had stocked the refrigerator with tubberware as well, each one full of home cooked goodness that he would devour over the next three or four days. It was quiet in the trailer that he called his own, and he could feel his nerves frayed with every moment that went by as she didn’t speak, choosing instead to pass delicate fingers over the spines of books he had wedged into a short bookcase.

“Want to tell me why you were sitting on the side of the road, looking like a lost little girl in the rain?”

Sweet Pea’s words were gruff, spoken in a tone that sounded like it was crossed between curiosity and his own annoyance over the desire to know, not only why she had been traipsing around the Southside looking like Northside bait, but what she might be thinking as she allowed her eyes to drift over the home he had made. Still, his hands dug through the clothes, the smell of perfumed detergent wafting toward them. He watched from the corner of his eye as she bit her lip, the sight causing him to shift from one foot to the other, dragging his eyes away from her pink lips that were far more tempting than he’d like to admit, to the shirt in his hands that would no doubt swallow her whole.

“I saw my boyfriend…” The words escaped without her permission, he could tell by the grimace on her face. “With someone else.”

Before he could help it, a snort escaped him and his eyes rolled heavenward. Of course it had something to do with some piece of shit, marshmallow Northsider.

Why had he even thought something different?

Sighing deeply, he yanked the worn (but extremely comfortable) shirt from the bottom of the pile. “That’s just-“

“It was our music teacher.”

He choked on air, his head whipping to the side, peering down at her with wide eyes. Her own eyes had flown open in surprise, as if she couldn’t believe she had divulged such a secret, and with so little known about one or the other.

Sweet Pea’s eyes darted around her face, taking in the lingering hint of betrayal, but finding himself caught up in the flames that were slowly growing brighter in her eyes. Anger. It was an emotion he knew, all too well. He had a hundred different reasons to be angry, but he could tell this was her first brush with true anger. The kind that burned, that fed a fiery fury that had flickered to life within her gut.

It made his own blood thrum excitedly in his veins, heating up to match the look in her eyes as his trademark smirk curled upon his lips.

He dropped the shirt in his hands just as she rushed him.  

Once again, he didn’t know what the fuck he was doing. But his fingers threaded through her hair with one hand, tipping her head back just as she arched up onto her toes, desperately meeting his lips with her own as he dipped down to press them against hers.

His other hand palmed her side, large enough to curl over her rib-cage, stroking its way down to settle into the soft dip between waist and hip. She gasped breathily against his lips, feeding his pride, and his lips twitched into another smirk before he parted them, daring to pull her plump, bottom lip between his. He bit down, just enough pressure to make it swell, and to feel her shudder in his arms. He tasted her; the lingering sweetness from a sports drink, something that reminded him of ripe berries, and the taste of fresh rain upon her lips. He groaned roughly when she let out a whimper, his fingers tightening in her hair and on her hip, the urge to lift her so that he could feast upon her lips and taste them thoroughly nearly overwhelming him.

When the need for air became too much, he pulled away reluctantly, a bolt of satisfaction racing along his spine as she whined in protest, urging her body closer to his, diminishing the space between them to something that could only be described as paper-thin. Her fingers gripped at his shoulder and just above his elbow, the pressure almost enough to bite through the leather that covered his body. Her head tipped upward to follow his as he pulled back only far enough so that they might breathe, giving her lip a teasing tug as he did so.

He was already watching her when her eyes fluttered open, pupils blown wide enough that the inky black of them ate away at the color, half-lidded and glazed over in pleasure. The surge of masculine pride only grew when she blinked, lips swollen and bright pink as she searched for words that had seemingly escaped her coherency.

“I…we…I don’t even know your name,” She breathed, the sound soft in his ears.

His lips tipped upward, the first genuine smile he had shown her all evening. “Sweet Pea.”

She grinned back at him, her lips curving around the name as she tried it out.

The sound of his name on her lips made something warm inside of him, and seconds later his lips were covering hers once more. He didn’t bother with bending down this time; instead he cupped the backs of her thighs with his big hands, giving her little warning before lifting her up in the air. She squealed against his lips, panting slightly as he chuckled, the sound tapering off into a growl when she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly, the new position leaving them each at the optimal level to grind into one another.

He shouldered his way through his bedroom doorway, lifting his leg to kick the door closed after them, before tossing her down on the mattress.

The fresh sheets billowed underneath her, and giggles fell prettily from her lips, though they choked off into a quiet moan as he shrugged the slick leather from his shoulders, the damp material of his shirt quickly following. Her eyes widened as they took him in; sweeping down over the planes of his chest, the lines of muscle along his stomach, the trim lines that cut across his abdomen and led to his hips, the dark trail of hair that dipped down into his jeans. The spark in his blood transformed into an inferno, heat rippling through his veins, making him stand tall and strong near the foot of the bed, even as he reached forward, long fingers wrapping in a gentle but firm grip around her ankles. Slowly, she reached down, never breaking eye contact with him as she reached for his hands, guiding them to the waist band of her skintight running shorts.

He didn’t know what the fuck he was doing.

It was only after, when he was too far gone and he was addicted to much more than her taste, when there was this feeling in his chest, any time that he looked at her, when her smile blinded him like sunshine on a clear, cloudless day; that he would realize something very important.

He never even hesitated.

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