XX

Even though, at first, I had been taken aback by the overwhelming chattiness that Veronica had displayed, I found myself taking a liking to both her and Betty.

The two girls, plus Jelly and myself, spent a couple hours sifting through Riverdale's trendiest discount stores. I found myself a cute pair of ripped-up jeans and a few summery tee dresses. My style was completely different to Veronica's and Betty's though, seeing as Veronica favoured stylish, knee-length dresses and Betty plain, collared cardigans and shirts.

Nevertheless, we had a blast of a day. After our shopping spree, we stopped at Pops' quaint diner for lunch and then decided to go for a walk along Sweet Water River. The longer I was with Betty and Veronica, the more I grew accustomed to the feeling that here, in Riverdale, I actually had a chance at making friends! It was something that I liked the idea of - a lot.

It was late afternoon when I dropped Veronica and Betty in front of Riverdale's spritely gauzed hotel before heading the car back towards the SouthSide.

It was amazing how silent the ride home was. Even though I loved the peaceful stillness of beautiful days like this, I would've been more than willing to listen to another of Veronica's random rants. Again ... the results of having absolutely no friends.

I smiled as I pulled the car up next to our family trailer.

"So, what did you think?" Jelly queried as she hopped out of the vehicle, dragging her shopping bags out with her.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I switched off the engine and pulled the key out from the ignition. "It was ... great!"

Jelly giggled. "And Betty and Veronica?"

"They're so nice," I chuckled as I slammed my driver's door shut. The abrupt noise that it made caused me to jump a little in surprise. Stepping away from the banged-up car, I muttered, "I'm actually afraid that one day someone's gonna shut the door a little too hard and this whole thing is going to shatter into pieces."

Jelly started laughing. "Relax, Kenz, that ol' bugger's days aren't numbered yet."

I cracked a wide smile as I turned around and followed a chattering Jelly back into the trailer.

As Jelly elbowed the door open and called out for Dad and Jughead, I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and paused.

Just around the far corner of a nearby camper was Dad, slumped over the handle-bars of a motorcycle. He was half-yelling, half-slurring at his so-called 'friend', Tall Boy, who was standing with his arms crossed nearby.

I glanced back towards Jelly who was dropping the shopping bags onto the table.

"Dad and Jug aren't here yet," she shrugged. "So, while they're out from underfoot, how about we do some baking or something?"

I bit my lip as I looked back over towards Dad. "Hey, um, that sounds great ... W-will you give me just one sec?"

Jelly nodded and hummed happily to herself as she began digging through the cupboards in search of some flour and a mixing bowl.

Stepping out of the trailer, I quickly shut the door behind me before scampering down the short, metallic steps that led to the ground. Keeping a steady pace, I strode briskly over to Dad and Tall Boy.

"What's going on?" I demanded, thrusting my hands into my pockets and gazing intently at Tall Boy.

Tall Boy, upon seeing me, let out an exaggerated groan. "Your Dad's gotten himself into a drunken fit, that's what!" he exclaimed, letting a stream of brown spit eject from his mouth and onto the ground. "He couldn't even drive back from the bar so I had to bring him here before he started any more fights with the Ghoulies."

"T-the Ghoulies?" I queried, confused.

Tall Boy rolled his eyes. "I can definitely tell that you're not from around these parts," he scoffed. "Yes, the Ghoulies! They're some petty gang that live on the opposite end of the SouthSide to us Serpents. They're crims, druggies and flat-out idiots. We Serpents tend to avoid them like they're the plague or something. But, would your drunken mess of a father listen to me when I told him not to go wandering off in their territory? Nooo. And look at him now. He brought this on himself."

For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. Should I thank Tall Boy for saving my Dad's ass or rebuff him for the disrespectful way he was talking? I shook my head to clear the cobwebs as I stepped forward and grabbed one of Dad's arms. I draped it over my neck and grasped his waist as I pulled him off the bike. As Dad's leg slid limply over the leather-padded seat and slumped to the ground, I nearly toppled under the weight of his unstable body.

"C'mon Dad, let's get you back to the trailer," I murmured, completely ignoring Tall Boy as I brushed past him.

"Yeah, well thanks for nothing," Tall Boy hissed angrily as he stared after the two of us.

I rolled my eyes as I pressed on. What a big, good-for-nothing baby!

I yelled out for Jelly to come and help me and together, the two of us got Dad back into his own bed. Jelly washed his face with a cold, wet cloth and I went in search of a bucket that could be used once Dad fully woke up and decided to empty out the contents of his gurgling stomach.

Once Jelly and I had made Dad comfortable, I stepped back and hung around in the bedroom doorway, watching as Jelly sat loyally by her father's side.

As I had time to think over the day's past events, a surge of anger sparked within me. Where was Jughead when his father needed his help and cooperation? Where was Jughead when his sister had to look after a drunken man alone? Where was Jughead when an urgent situation, such as this, arose?

"I'm going to get him!" I suddenly spoke up, something cold and sharp snapping within me.

"Who?" Jelly raised her eyebrows as she glanced up at me. Before I could reply, she was struck with a realisation and leaped to her feet, a pleading look lingering in her eyes. "No. Kenzie. Don't."

I didn't listen, though. I just turned around and marched straight back out of that trailer, each step I took pounding with rage and each muscle I moved shaking with fury.

I did not deserve the crappy treatment I was receiving from Jughead's hands. It wasn't my fault that my mother ripped me away from everything I had ever known. It wasn't my fault that I wasn't allowed to contact my family. It wasn't my fault that, as I sat, alone and miserable in my bustling city school, that I wasn't apart of my siblings' lives.

There was only one person who could be blamed for all of that and it wasn't me ... It was Mum.

Sooner than I had expected, the Whyte Wyrm loomed into view, looking even more intimidating and scarier than the last time I was there. A touch of fear threatened to overtake my senses, but the disgust and anger that I was experiencing snuffed out that timid flame.

BAM.

I slammed open the maroon coloured door and stormed inside. A handful of excited youths were gathered around the pool table that was in the middle of the room, cheering on various competitors as they participated in a highly-energised game. Among the wild, unruly group of teens was Jughead, a pool stick in one hand and a ginger beer bottle in the other.

As soon as I had made my loud entrance, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over at me, the chatter and laughter dying on their lips.

It was too late to back out now. My stony eyes landed on Jughead's figure. Glaring angrily at him, I shoved my way through the gathering crowd towards him.

"What are you doing here?" Jughead demanded as I approached him.

Before I could form a reply, I saw a slight movement out of the corner of my eye and glanced over in that general direction.

I froze.

For there, sprawled lazily across a nearby wheelie chair, a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips and a unmistakable gleam reflecting in his watchful, brown eyes was none other than Sweet Pea!

Gif: Mackenzie as she walks into the bar.

* 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 been brave enough to storm into the Whyte Wyrm in front of all those Serpents to find Jughead or would you have waited back at the trailer with Jelly for him to come home?