Snakes always bite back.

+ + + + 

Everything had been loud ever since Nellie had returned to the trailer park. The people were staying outside, playing loud music and drinking beers. Every once in a while a celebratory shout echoed through the crowd. 

As she walked towards Sweet Pea's trailer, she encountered many happy and relieved faces. The ambiance was ecstatic as if the entire trailer park released a breath they were holding. Nellie didn't know the inhabitants well enough to ask what was going on, so instead she went to look for Sweet Pea. Surrounded by all the happy faces, it was hard not to adopt their happiness. 

With a grin on her face, she walked towards Sweet pea's trailer, her smile breaking further as she noticed Sweet Pea sitting on the steps of the stairs, surrounded by Toni and Fangs. He was laughing and drinking. His dark brooding eyes glistened with entertainment rather than anger. 

When he noticed her, his grin grew wider. He rose from his seat, not caring much about the reaction of his friends who shot each other a knowing look. Nellie smiled back at him as he approached her. 

"Well, what's the reason of this grant feast?" Nellie asked, looking around to see all the Serpents enjoying themselves. 

"Our eviction notice is gone," Sweet Pea beamed, shoving a beer bottle in Nellie's hands. His fingers lingered over her hand before he held up the bottle, ready to toast on the good news.

Nellie's eyes widened is surprise. "Really, how? That's amazing?" she let out, clinking her beer bottle against Sweet Pea's before taking a drink. 

"Hiram Lodge bought the park and was so ashamed by Jug's article he released us all from our back rents," Sweet Pea said, unaware of the change that Nellie's mood was under.

Her father had bought the trailer park where she lived in? Did he know that she was staying here? Her eyes lingered over the heads of the celebrating Serpents. Did someone know about her relation to Mr. Lodge and told him about her residence at Sweet Pea's?

Sweet Pea was unaware of her thoughts, too relieved he could stay in his trailer. He slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. The smell of his deodorant an beer mixed together. Nellie relished in his touch for a few seconds, forgetting this moment of happiness was actually created by the man who had never cared about her happiness at all. 

Sweet Pea pulled her to the side, to join him, Toni and Fangs as they celebrated the good news. Nellie however couldn't fully enjoy it, knowing that Hiram Lodge was behind it. She was happy for her friends but something inside her told her this was no good news at all. It only gave Hiram more power over the Southside, the Serpents and herself. 

As Fangs and Sweet Pea were talking about some girls from the Northside, Nellie's eyes caught F.P. lingering in the shadow of his own trailer. 

His gaze caught Nellie and he motioned for her to come over. 

She just excused herself, leaving Toni and Sweet Pea confused at the steps of his trailer. His eyes followed her as she darted between the party and headed straight to the Jones' trailer. Sweet pea frowned, watching as F.P. laid his arm around her shoulder and pulled Nellie inside his trailer. 

"What's that all about?" Toni asked. She too noticed the strange interaction between the Serpent King and Nellie.

Sweet Pea shrugged, pretending he did not care but his eyes told otherwise. "I have no idea,"

+ + + + + + +

Inside the Jones' trailer, it was remarkably silent compared to the abundance of noise outside. 

Nellie took a seat at the small table, watching F.P. heading towards the fridge to get two sodas. 

"Isn't Jughead home?" Nellie asked, looking for the familiar sulking boy inside the trailer. 

F.P. returned, placing the cans on the table "He's at the Lodge's cabin with his friends for the weekend," F.P. explained and sat down. 

"Oh," Nellie did not know what to reply to that. Apparently, Jughead was friends with Veronica, it appeared.

"I called him, let him know that Hiram bought the trailer park. Paid in full," F.P. continued. 

Nellie vacantly stared at the can in her hands, still unsure of how to reply. "He didn't seem all to happy about it," F.P. suddenly said

"Why not?" Nellie asked, finally raising her eyes towards the Serpent.

"Hiram Lodge is after something, Nellie. Your father is buying property in the Southside. He already owns the Drive-In and now the trailer park. He's up to something. We just don't know the extend of his SoDale project,"

Nellie nodded. "My father has some criminal connections, F.P. I don't know how but he's familiar with mobsters like Mr. Kowalski. Whatever he's planning, it's no good to the Southside."

"I know," F.P. replied, letting his head down. "Is that what you wanted to tell me about your father? That he himself might be a criminal mastermind?"

Nellie shook her head, "Not exactly. If I understand you correctly, the Southside is in danger. We don't know the plans of my father... He might hurt all of you."

F.P. threw her a knowing look. 

She took a deep breath and continued, "He hurt me," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. 

"We have to stop him from succeeding and I want to be a part of it," Nellie said, her voice a little sturdier.

F.P. leaned back in his seat, amusement displayed on his face. "You want in?" he asked, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Perhaps I should rephrase my intention," Nellie says, looking back at the condense of her can dropping closer to the surface of the table, "No matter what,

I want revenge," 

A/N

Hello dearest readers! First of all, thank you so much for all the support this book is getting. Whether it's votes, comments or reads, I really appreciate all of you checking out my work! 

Now, I do have a plot completely worked out, so don't worry, whatever I'm about to ask will not influence it immensely, but here's the question: 

Should Nellie join the Serpents or not? 

Let me know what you think in the comments!