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"Tell me, Mackenzie," Sweet Pea whispered, the rich, deep notes of his voice floating to my ears. "Why have you come back here? What is it that you really want?"

I was so startled by the turn of events that, for a moment, my brain refused to function and I had no words with which to respond. My mouth, unable to cooperate, opened and closed like a helpless, dead fish and my eyes were as wide and unblinking as a matching set of saucers.

Sweet Pea's taller figure was towering over my own. His strong, calloused hands were gripping my upper arms and both his knees were wedged between either side of my legs. His deep, brown eyes were focused intently on my face and the hot breaths of air escaping his mouth fanned against my chin and lower lip. He had pushed me right up against the wall bordering the far corner of the neon-coloured bar and his skin was brushing mine, sending volts of electricity tingling throughout my body.

His close proximity was starting to get to me. I didn't like how close he was. I didn't like how I could feel his body heat practically radiating into my skin. I didn't like how vulnerable I was feeling. I didn't like that I liked it.

I didn't like how he made me feel.

"W-what are you doing?" I spluttered, abruptly breaking through the tension surrounding us. "What the hell are you even talking about? Let me go! Get off me!"

But the harder I tried to break free from his iron grasp, the tighter he held me and the closer he became.

Sweet Pea shook his head as he set his lips into a long, firm line. "You never learn, do you buttercup?"

I froze amidst the desperate struggle for escape. "W-what did you just call me?" I gaped at him.

He narrowed his eyes at me as he spoke again, "Are you trying to look for trouble, love? Because every which way I turn, that's exactly what you're doing! Firstly, you start hanging out with those Northsider brats. Then you come home in that red-head's car! Next, you spy on your own father? What is up with you?"

"Well, it sounds like you're the one whose been spying!" I yelled, my words dripping with harsh sarcasm. "Don't you dare question what I do or don't do. It's none of your freakin business! I can be friends with whoever I like! And, by the way, FP's my father! I think I have a right to know what goes on behind the scenes, okay, even if that does mean that he breaks the law and takes bribes and meets random ladies in the middle of the night! So, don't you come storming in here pretending like you know everything about me because you don't! Well, off you pop, pretty boy. I have a feeling your girlfriend might be needing you ... in her bedroom. Excuse me!"

Shoving my way past Sweet Pea, whose face was a mask of disbelieving shock, I stumbled towards the nearby counter where the amused bartender waited and watched, my drink in his hand.

"And I'll take that!" I scowled at him as I swiped the small glass off him. Tipping my head back, I downed the bitter liquid in one gulp. Coughing, I slammed the glass down so hard that it shattered.

The bartender looked taken aback as he glanced between me and the broken pile of glass.

"What? You have something to say?" I demanded as I glared up at him. That guy was really starting to get on my nerves.

Spinning around, I set my face towards the front door, completely ignoring Sweet Pea who was staring, wide-eyed, at me. However, before I could make a good exit and slam the door shut behind me, he quickly jumped into action.

Catching the bottom of the door beneath his boot, Sweet Pea swung it back open and started after me as I stalked, downcast, across the parking lot.

"Hold up!" he cried out as he reached me.

Frowning, I glanced over my shoulder at him. "What do you want, loser?"

Sweet Pea, his breath coming out in rapid succession, skidded to a halt right in front of me. For a moment, he didn't say anything, he just gazed into my bright, hazel eyes. Then, he stated dryly, "I think you might want this."

I looked down towards his outstretched hand, inhaling sharply as I did so. "Y-you have my phone?" I muttered disbelievingly as I slowly reached out and took it. "W-why didn't you - er - just ..."

"Take it?" Sweet Pea guffawed. "As hard as this may seem for you to believe, buttercup, I'm not a thief. In fact, I'm not much of anything, really. I'm just a boy who lives on the wrong side of the tracks who has nothing and nobody. But you do have that, Mackenzie, you have it all. You have a rich, city mum, a kind-hearted father, a brother, a sister, a home. Geez. Don't take it for granted."

I bit down on my lip as I lowered my eyes in shame. It was true. Compared to many others, I was a pretty lucky kid and what had I done? Gone after Dad, chased Jughead away, taken out my anger on Sweet Pea ... I had basically blown up everything in my path. I was such an idiot.

"Kenz, look at me."

Grinding my teeth together, I slowly lifted my gaze, surprised by the sudden tenderness showing in Sweet Pea's voice.

"I'm sorry ... for before. Riverdale's changed since you left and you don't know it, not anymore. I'm worried about you and your safety, given that you are wandered the streets at this unearthly hour. Listen, I know you've had trouble with Jughead," Sweet Pea just kept on talking like I wasn't in the middle of rethinking my life decisions. "But he's just scared and lonely. I think you should give him another chance ..."

"Wait!" I raised my hand, instantly silencing him. I was disappointed to see a suspicious, guarded look filter into his eyes so I quickly continued with, "I - I think I should apologise too for, you know, being such a bitch ... to you. You didn't deserve that. You were only being nice. I - I feel so guilty. I - um - don't know what to say ..." my voice trailed off and I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next.

Sweet Pea walked closer towards me, a light gait in his steps and a knowing smirk on his lips. "What do you want me to do?" he teased. "Grant you the grace of forgiveness? Forget it. It was nothing. I didn't even think about it again ... til just now. C'mon, love, your family's gonna be worried. Let me take you home. I'll be there and gone before you know it."

I hesitated, not wanting to impose on Sweet Pea's kindness and make myself look like more of a fool than I already was. "Uh ..."

"Oh, c'mon!" Sweet Pea lunged forward and snatched up my hand in his. Dragging a reluctant and protesting me across the car-lot, he headed towards the sleek frame of his motorcycle that was sitting in the gathering shadows of the night.

"I - I don't like motorbikes!" I yelped.

"Who doesn't like them?" Sweet Pea huffed as he picked up his helmet and settled it cosily on my head. "Relax. This is gonna be hella fun."

"Please, please don't go fast and scare the crap out of me," I begged as he lifted one of his long legs over the padded seat and started up the engine. "I - I don't wanna fall off."

"You won't if you hold on tight enough," he chuckled softly as he tilted his head to one side and beckoned for me to join him. "C'mon, buttercup."

Grunting in annoyance, I swatted his hand away as I carefully pulled myself up onto the soft, leather seat. I allowed my legs to dangle on either side of the bike as I awkwardly wiped my hands on my pants. I didn't know where to put them. Panicked thoughts raced through my mind at lightning speed.

Should I make the first move by wrapping my arms around Sweet Pea's waist? Or what if he doesn't like that? Should I hold his shoulders instead? Nah. That'd be too weird. I'm weird. This bike's weird. What the hell am I doing on another one anyway? Riding with Toni was bad enough. Oh my god. What if I actually fall off?

"Hold on tight, buttercup," Sweet Pea droned in his deep, melodious voice. "Don't want ya hurting yourself."

As he kicked up the bike stand and began backing out of the parking lot, my breath hitched in my throat and I quickly leaned forward and gripped Sweet Pea around the waist.

I could feel his muscles tensing up beneath my touch. Had I done something wrong? Was I taking it too far? I was just about to let him go when he said, "Make yourself at home, why don't you?"

Blushing furiously, I tried to draw my arms back but I was stopped mid-movement by his hand closing gently around my wrist.

I froze.

"Keep them there," he whispered.

It was just three words, but those three words danced and jumped around in my mind, leaving me hot and sweaty, breathless and speechless. My heart was pounding, my head was swimming and my stomach was turning over and over.

It was a feeling I couldn't quite describe ... but I knew that it was a feeling that I loved.

As we took off, silently and rapidly, down the dark, rutty road leading towards the caravan park, I gazed up towards the inky black sky dotted with twinkling stars and an ivory-white moon that threw shadows across our path and smiled.

Gif: Mackenzie as she talks to Sweet Pea. (I am sooo sorry about the late update. Thanks for being so patient, everyone. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter; thought I'd include a cute Sweet Pea x Mackenzie moment here, hehe, hope you all liked it).

*PLEASE REMEMBER to give this chapter a vote if you enjoyed and I'd love to hear any feedback from my readers; so pepper me with questions. If you're confused, I'll try and clarify it for you. If you want more information on a certain point, I'll do my best not to give you spoilers. If you just wanna chat 'bout random stuff, then I'm in*

Q: Would you have reacted to Sweet Pea's outburst in a similar way to Mackenzie's? Or would you have shrunk into a shell and started crying? Or would you have done neither of these but something else?

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