*Archie*

"This isn't an alliance with the Ghoulies," Jughead said frantically as he paced across the room. "This is a hostile takeover."

I met up with Sage and Jughead at his trailer to discuss what Tall Boy was doing.

Jughead took a deep breath. "Oh God.... Who knows how long Tall Boy has been planning on betraying us. Maybe I stall, just until Sweet Pea and Toni get out. I just hope they'd rather go to war with the Ghoulies than start... "

"Jughead," I said.

"... Dealing Jingle Jangle," he finished.

"You joined the Serpents to keep the peace," I said.

Sage sighed. "I hate to say it, but Weasley here is right."

"Archie!" I snapped. She's definitely doing this on purpose.

"Whatever," she sighed with an eyeroll. "You joined the Serpents so that things don't go violent."

"My dad would never sit back and let this happen," Jughead spoke. "So, neither will I."

I sighed and looked down, Sage doing the same.

"So unless both of you got any better ideas...." Jughead said, and I realized something.

"Not me..." I said, sitting up. "But dude, what you just said."

Sage and Jughead looked at me weird before the look of realization hit them.

"Oh my god, there actually is intelligence under that red hair," Sage said, making me look at her, offended.

Rude.

***

*Sage*

"You can't be serious," FP groaned as he held to the phone in his hand.

We came to the prison to see FP and see what we can do about this.

"Hey, you can reprimand me for joining the Serpents later," Jughead said as I had my head leaned against the phone that was to his ear so I can listen. "But if we don't do something now, there will be no more Serpents. It'll just be the Ghoulies."

FP just smacks the glass with the phone, making us jump.

"Ghoulies dress like fops, but they're a nasty crew," he said into the phone from behind the glass. "Serpents have survived worse, though... Much worse..."

I took a deep breath and looked down.

"The only hitch is, it sounds like you're out-manned, which means you gotta avoid bloodshed at all costs," he said.

"I agree. 100%," Archie said.

"So out think em," FP said, looking from Archie, to me, then Jughead.

I grab the phone from Archie and put it to my ear. "What do you have in mind?" I said into the speaker.

"This is about territory," FP said as Archie leaned over to hear, making me back up a bit before sighing and letting him listen. "If there's one thing Ghoulies love, its their crazy souped-up retro cars and hearses. You catch my Riverdale drift, guys?"

We looked at him as he shifted a bit before speaking again, a little bit in a low voice.

"Challenge them to a street race, one on one," FP said. "But keep it on the DL. It's illegal, it'll get you locked up."

"Go on," Jughead nodded at him.

"Set the terms of the race," FP said. "Their guy wins, the Serpents roll over."

"And if we win, the Ghoulies back off," I said.

FP nodded. "Maybe you raise the stakes. And whoever wins controls Southside High."

"And we get rid of the Ghoulies," Jughead said. "And get rid of the Jingle Jangle, and get McCoy off our back."

"Exactly," FP said. "Archie can be your right hand, but I'm warning you two, be extremely careful. Ghoulies will play dirty, they always do. Jughead, if you're gonna be behind the wheel, you gotta keep it steady."

Jughead and Archie nodded at him.

"Now, before we end this, give me some time with Sage here, for a moment," He said.

They both nodded and got up, leaving the room.

I scooch over and smiled as I put the phone to my ear.

"Jeez, every time I see you, its like Lola's still around," he chuckled with a playful smirk. "You look taller, kiddo, you eating your greens?"

I laughed, knowing he was just being funny, holding back tears but accidentally letting one fall.

"Oh come on... What did I use to say about tears?" he said, a kind crooked smile on his face

"That snakes never cry," I chuckled. "I guess this one's unique... I've been crying a bit more than usual lately... Is that bad?"

He shook his head. "Nah... Its always been a tough world for you and your brother since that night... I don't blame you.... But I know you're tougher."

I nodded as I took a deep breath. "You shouldn't be in here... Things would be much easier if you were still here..."

"Don't worry... This isn't forever, pal," he said.

I smiled and nodded. "I'll be watching over Jughead... So will Sweet Pea... You have our word."

"I feel better hearing that from you. Ash and Lola always had my back," he said. "I know you'll have Jug's. Always did."

"You fought tooth and nail for us.... For me and my brother to stick together," I said. "I'm in your debt, you know that."

*Archie*

I frowned as I listened in.

"Sage sounds like she's close to your dad," I said.

Jughead looked over and sighed. "Sweet Pea and Sage feel like they owe my dad their lives after what happened, Sage more so. My dad was always like a second father to her, especially since......"

I frowned. "What happened?"

Jughead looked down and sighed. "Its not exactly something we like to remember in the Southside. Shortly after my mom left with Jelly Bean, there was a case involving some Serpents being found not guilty for a chain of robberies in the Northside. Sage and Sweet Pea's dad, Ashton Dawson, was one of the witnesses who took the stand. Sage and Sweet Pea were around the same age we were at the time, Sage about year younger," Jughead said.

I gulped, having a feeling where this was going.

"Some angry Northsiders decided to take justice into their own hands and attacked Southsiders involved in the case.... They ended up killing Ash and his wife, Lola, in their home... Sweet Pea and Sage managed to escape and get help. The guys were arrested but only one managed to get off with a slap on the wrist, apparently," Jughead scoffed.

I looked in shock as I looked back at Sage, who continued to talk with FP.

"Since Lola and Ash were my father's right and left hands in the Serpents, he didn't want to see a brother and sister separated again, and Serpent law already states if a Serpent is killed or imprisoned then their family will be taken care of.... So he practically sold his soul in order to keep them out of foster care and together, nearly cost him everything," Jughead said. "Though Sweet Pea and Sage weren't the same since, especially Sage. She tries to still see good in the Northside, just like her Mom.... Though lately she's been having doubts."

I frowned and looked down. "And I'm just adding fuel to the doubt," I sighed.

"You pointed a gun at her and her brother, then fought him," Jughead said. "You're lucky she hasn't broken a bone in your body at this point. Trust me, she's tougher than she seems."

I sighed and looked down.

"A Serpent family looked after them until Sweet Pea was old enough to stay in a trailer with Sage, but my dad checked in on them a lot," Jughead said. 

"Poor Sage," I sighed.

I owe her an apology...

~~~~~

Alright so that's the first ten chapters of this story, so you guys kind of get an idea of what you can sort of expect from here on out.

Hope you all are enjoying it so far Please leave some votes and comments, let me know if you want more out of this! 🌻

🎹 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Muse
"Supermassive Black Hole"

https://youtu.be/Xsp3_a-PMTw

♡~ sapphire.