ੈ✩‧₊˚ —

If there was one thing people knew about Anastasiya Black, it was that she didn't trust easily. Her trust had to be earned, and she always made sure it was known.

She wasn't always so closed off, she used to trust people after they'd smile at her. But things changed.
She changed.

Now she always made sure to keep one step ahead of her enemies. Enemies a girl her age shouldn't have.

Penny Peabody was one of those enemies. The woman was sly, dirty, and always had her nose where it didn't belong, and Ana didn't trust her one bit.

So when she'd gotten word that her cousin had visited the woman, she found herself storming into his trailer unannounced, the door smacking off the wall with force.

"Are you fucking crazy?" She stormed into the room, crossing her arms over her chest, clenching her fits tightly. "What?" He stood up, mirroring her stance.

"You went to see Penny?" She yelled, throwing her hands up in disappointment. "What is it to you?" Confusion took over his face.

"The snake charmer is not someone you want to get into bed with." Jughead scoffed. "Funny, she said the same thing about you. Black Mamba." The way he spoke the last words left a pit in her chest. "Don't call me that." She clenched her jaw.

She hadn't expected Penny to bring her up, but she shouldn't be surprised. Hearing that nickname brought back unwanted memories for the girl. Memories she prayed to forget.

"I don't understand why you're so upset! I needed legal advice!" He said. "Then use Google for fuck sake! Once you get involved with Penny there's no going back." She sighed. "I'm just trying to look out for you."

"I get that, Ana. I do. But this is my fight." She shook her head. "You're my family. If it's your fight, it's my fight." Jughead softly sighed, before giving her a soft smile.

"I'll take care of Penny, you just worry about getting FP out." She mumbled. "I really missed you, Ani." He confessed. "Likewise, Jug."

ੈ✩‧₊˚ —

The next day, Jughead, Ana and Betty found themselves in the courtroom, FP and his lawyer sat in front of them as Cheryl took the stand.

Ana's leg bounced as she bit inside of her cheek. This court date could be the best or the worst thing that could happen.

FP had raised Ana as if she was his own. And in her eyes, she was. When her mother died, and Samuel was too focused on grieving than being a father, FP and Gladys took her under their wing. Gladys always treated her like her niece, but FP treated her like a daughter. She was a Jones by blood. And to Riverdale's eyes, she was FP Jones' eldest child.

She squeezed her cousin's hand as the judge began talking. "Ms. Blossom, you may proceed with your statement." Jughead sucked in a breath.

"Your Honour, I speak for myself and my mother when I say... We forgive FP Jones for the part he played in covering up my brother's murder."

Ana's eyebrow rose at the girl's statement. How had they convinced Cheryl to do this? She wondered. She knew the Blossoms weren't very forgiving people.

"And we humbly ask the court for leniency. FP's guilt has been blown out of proportion to satiate what my father's suicide denied us. Closure." Cheryl said, a sad expression on her face.

"As much as I sympathise, I can't ignore the quality of Mr. Jones' crimes. There were no extenuating circumstances."

Ana and Jughead made eye contact, their eyes going wide at the judge's statement. The girl watched her Uncle's head fall, sadness filling her.

She then looked over at Betty, who had a determined look on her usually calm face. She then raised an eyebrow in Cheryl's direction, making Ana quickly connect the dots in her head.

Well played, Betty Cooper. She thought, turning her attention back to Cheryl.

"My father threatened him." Cheryl rushed out. "I overheard them talking in Daddy's study. Daddy said he'd hurt Jughead and Anastasiya if FP didn't comply."

Ana had to admit, that even she believed what Cheryl was saying. Damn, that girl could lie.

The judge's attention shifted towards FP, who nodded at Cheryl's statement. "Is that extenuating enough?"

"In light of these revelations, I suggest that we take a step back, and reevaluate certain aspects of the case. At which time, we will revisit sentencing." Ana let out a breath.

"Adjourned."

Relief filled the blonde girl. She felt her shoulders relax with the judge's words. This was good, this could mean FP could get out. He could come home. Jughead and Ana quickly stood, smiles taking over their faces.

"Is that a win?" FP asked them. "It's a delay, so, yeah." He pulled both of them into his arms, the three of them holding on tightly, afraid to let each other go.

As they left the courthouse, Ana tugged FP's jacket back over her shoulders, having not worn it while in the room.

Betty pulled a face as she did so, but Ana wasn't in the mood to argue with her, so she kept quiet. Jughead shot her a thankful nod, getting one in return.

"So, what are your plans tonight?" She asked them both, but she was mostly talking to her cousin.

"Not much-" Jughead shot his girlfriend a bewildered look before interrupting her. "We're holding an event at Pops, so it doesn't close down." Ana nodded, a small smile on her lips. "That's nice."

"You should come!" Jughead exclaimed, jumping at the chance to spend more time with his cousin. "Bring the girls with you, I haven't seen them in so long." Ana chuckled at his words.

"I'll be there. They've missed you." She once again ignored the look on Betty's face.

Jughead hadn't seen Katie or Harper since he was 14. The three girls were big sisters to him, and he was happy he could revive that relationship.

He was glad he'd found himself a family on the Northside. He wouldn't change it for anything. He had a beautiful girlfriend whom he adored, and he had friends he knew he could rely on.

But when Anastasiya had knocked on his trailer door a week days ago, he realised that they're had been people missing from his found family.

He knew that his friends probably wouldn't take well to Ana, Katie and Harper being back in his life. But part of him didn't care. He'd missed the girls being in his life, and he'd do whatever he could to make sure that nothing separated them again.

His friends and Betty would have to deal with that.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ —

"Blackmail? You just keep on shocking me, Betty Cooper." Ana hummed as she walked up to the counter where she'd just seen Betty hand Cheryl a flash drive. Betty let out a fake laugh, leaning into Jughead's side.

"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the serpent tree." Betty rose a brow, her jaw ticking slightly at her words. "Ana," Jughead warned calmly. "Relax, I'm just bonding with your girlfriend." She smiled, shooting a wink in Betty's direction, a threatening look in her eyes.

Betty shuddered under Ana's gaze. Betty liked to think she wasn't scared of much, but the look in Ana's eyes was enough to make her freeze.

Ana didn't look threatening. Her chest-length hair and her doe-eyes made her look innocent to a normal eye. But if you looked close enough, you'd see the girl she truly was.

She was a venomous snake, one who picked out their prey with an innocent look in their eyes. She was a snake who only allowed certain people to get close. And anyone who tried that wasn't someone she trusted, they'd get bitten with her venom.

Betty didn't want to meet that girl.

"Where are your friends?" Jughead asked. On cue, the Pops bell rang, and two laughing girls walked in with two boys with their arms crossed following behind them.

Jughead smiled at the sight of Katie and Harper. They'd changed since he'd last seen them, but at the same time, they were still the 14-year-old girls they once were.

Katie's hair was now lighter and flowed down to her waist. She was taller and had more confidence in her step.

Harper was still the short girl she'd been the last he'd seen her. But he took notice that she was letting her natural hair loose and that she had a nose ring.

"Jughead Jones." The two spoke in sync, rushing to hug the boy they hadn't seen in years.

He wrapped his arms around them, tucking both of them into his sides. He let out a sigh. All he needed was his dad to be released and then he'd finally have everyone he loved in his life.

He used to count his mother and sister on that list, but after a while of no contact, he gave up wishing that he'd see them again.

Ana noticed Betty's jealous stare, making her let out a chuckle before turning to the girl. "Relax. They're his sisters." Betty's shoulders relaxed slightly at her words, but Ana could still see that Betty had her guard up.

She then made her way over to Sweetpea and Fangs, greeting them with hugs.

Fangs hugged her quickly before going to join Katie and Harper with Jughead, introducing himself with a smile. Fangs was the social butterfly of the group. He was always down to making new friends.

Sweetpea looked around the diner, cutting his eyes as he did so, checking for any threats. Ana sighed, placing a hand on his arm to gain his attention.

He was always tense, looking around for any signs of threat. He did it no matter where they were. He had been extremely paranoid since last year. The reason caused her chest to hurt.

"Pea." His eyes diverted to her, his cautious eyes locking onto her worried ones. "Hey." She said, a smile taking over her face. He smiled back, his worry decreasing. "None of that tonight. We're safe, now let's have a nice time with our friends." He nodded. They walked away from the door and went to find a seat.

Jughead watched them with curious eyes. He'd spotted the tall cautious boy when he walked in. He noticed the way his eyes dotted around the diner as if searching for signs of danger. He guessed it was because he was a Serpent surrounded by Northsiders.

Pops was on the edge of town. The building was kind of what separated the North and South sides, which was why it was welcome to all. He knew the Serpents tended to come either late at night or early in the morning. So he understood the boys need to check for threats.

But what he also noticed was the way Ana spoke to him, her eyes soft and her smile wide. He noticed that the boy's shoulders immediately relaxed at her touch, a soft smile taking over his face.

He quickly connected the dots in his head. That was Sweetpea! Woah, he'd changed.

Jughead knew of the boy from when he'd hung out with the girls at a younger age. But their friendship with Jughead and their friendship with the serpents was separate, due to FP's wishes.

Ana would show him photos of Sweetpea when they were younger, going on rambles about her best friend. But Jughead hadn't realised that the tall boy in front of him was the boy who would once put flowers in his cousin's hair.

His curiosity was piqued.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ —

The young serpents were about to leave Pops when Jughead grabbed Ana's arm. "You dick." She chuckled. "You scared me."

Jughead noticed that Sweetpea had come to stand behind Ana. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Jughead warningly.

Yet again, his curiosity was piqued. Did Ana have a boyfriend? Or did something happen for him to be so protective?

"Sorry, Ani. My friends wanted to meet you." She pulled a face, not believing his words. "Okay fine. I want you to meet them." He rubbed the back of his neck. "That sounds more believable."

She turned to her friends, shooting Sweetpea a look, making his gaze at Jughead relax slightly. "You head on without me, I have a shift at the wyrm anyway."

Katie and Harper nodded hesitantly, hugging their friend before hopping on their motorcycles and driving away. Fangs was a little more hesitant, but after sharing a look with Sweetpea, he hopped on his bike and followed behind the girls.

Sweetpea remained where he stood, gaining an eye roll from the blonde girl. "I'll meet you at the wrym." She told him, her voice firm.

"I'll wait here." His voice was just as firm.

Jughead watched them with curiosity. He knew his cousin could handle herself. No doubt about it. But Sweetpea clearly wasn't leaving her alone.

"You're not my bodyguard." Jughead could see that she was getting frustrated. "Go, Sweetpea." Her voice softened.

Sweetpea walked closer to Ana, his voice dropping into a mumble. Jughead could only make out the last part of his sentence. "I'm not letting anything happen again."

Again? Jughead thought.

"Fine. I won't be long." Sweetpea seemed satisfied with her answer, leaning on his bike as Jughead and Ana made their way back inside the building. Jughead decided not to question Ana about Sweetpea, as it wasn't his place.

They made their way to Jughead's table. Ana and Betty shared a glance, but no words were spoken.

Ana's eyes locked with Archie's, whose eyes widened at the sight of her. They hadn't seen each other since they were children.

"It's nice to see you, Archie." It was a blatant lie, they both knew that, but he smiled anyway. "You too, Anastasiya." She nodded.

Ana took in the appearance of a girl she didn't recognise. She had shoulder-length raven hair, smoky eyes and a pearl necklace around her neck. She seemed rich, Ana noticed.

But the way the girl was sat, and the fierce look in her eyes made her think that whoever this was was sat at the wrong table.

"Anastasiya." She mustered up her best smile, holding out her hand for the girl. Shocking Ana, the girl shook her hand with no hesitation. Normally a look of disgust or fear came first, but this girl's smile was genuine. "Veronica." The girl introduced, looking Ana up and down, the smile never leaving her face.

"You must be the infamous cousin Jughead doesn't shut up about." Ana's smile became more genuine at the girl's words. "Does he now?" Jughead's cheeks heated up. "All the time." Archie joined in, a chuckle leaving his lips.

"You're exactly what I expected." Ana raised a brow. "Is that a compliment?" Veronica laughed. "Definitely," Ana smirked. "Then I'm flattered."

Veronica grabbed a napkin from next to her, before pulling out a pen from her handbag. She quickly scribbled something down on the napkin before handing it to the blonde girl in front of her.

"And this is?" She asked. "My number." Betty's face was full of pure shock and Ana couldn't hide her laughter.

"Well, I'll definitely use it. You Northsiders have fun."

Ana walked out of the diner with a smirk on her face. She expected to hate Jughead's friends, as most of the Northside tended to believe that the Southside should be burnt down. Archie was slightly the exception. Ana didn't hate him because he was a Northsider, she knew Fred hadn't raised him to hate them. She hated Archie because he was a dick.

And there was also Betty, who Ana had her issues with, but they were long forgotten about. Ana hated Alice more than she did her daughter.

But the girl had expected Veronica to be like them. But the raven haired girl fascinated her. Maybe a new friend wouldn't be so bad.

LUCE SPEAKS //

okayyyy long chapter !!

btw i'm not a betty hater guys, betty's just wary about ana.

idk what to put so enjoy 🙏🏼🙏🏼