XX

BBRRIINNGG.

C'mon, Jelly, pick up, pick up! I inwardly urged as I pressed my phone against my ear.

Nothing.

I sighed as a wave of recollections washed over me. The day had been absolutely hectic.

After watching Jason's funeral procession from some distance away, I had met up with Veronica and Betty at Pops. We sauntered around the shops, steering clear of the town square when, in turn, we all bumped into Archie at the park. As childish as it may seem, the four of us went back to his place to binge watch the High School Musical series in an effort to erase the tragedy from all of our minds. Even though Zac Efron was killing it on screen, the diversion from the present didn't last very long.

It was nearing dusk when, after a dinner of pizza and marsh-mellows, Veronica gathered up her bags and stepped into her family's limousine that was waiting out the front for her. Betty, who lived right next door to Archie, pulled her woollen sweater around her shoulders and trudged over to her house. Apparently her parents were really strict and had set her with a eight o'clock curfew on week-days so she practically had to leave.

I didn't mean to stay at Archie's. In fact, I was just about to leave with Betty when Archie asked if he could play me one of the songs he'd written during last term's music class. Hesitantly I agreed and made myself at home on his couch, listening and smiling as he strummed his guitar. I had to admit, he had a fantastic voice. I wouldn't be surprised if he struck a record deal with some famous studio one day.

We talked for hours, losing all track of time. Archie told me all about the problems he was having with his dad and how he had to choose between his two passions, football and music, and what his plans for next year were. I told him all about Jug and how concerned I was about him and how surprised I was to come back and see how different things were. When I finally roused myself and glanced down towards my phone, I realised, with a jolt of shock, that it was past ten at night! I had numerous text messages and missed calls from both Jelly and Dad. I felt so bad.

Hurriedly, I bid Archie a good night and stood up to leave.

"Wait. Can I drive you back home? It's dark out and there is a murderer on the loose, you know," Archie offered teasingly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. I was completely lost in the deep brown of his chocolate-coloured eyes. What was it about Archie that made me feel so special? Was it his dimpled cheeks, his sparkling eyes, his passive approach to everything in life, his cheerfulness, his positivity, his friendliness? I had no idea but, in that moment, I totally forgot all about my problems with Dad, Sweet Pea, Jug, and the Southside in general. Then, I remembered. I was a Southsider and nothing could change that, no matter how nice Archie was to me.

"Uh ..." snapping out of my reverie, I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. I took one look at the inky black outside of the window and quickly agreed to Archie's proposal, knowing that I hated both the dark and the thought of being the killer's next victim. "I hate to be a pain but - er - yes please, that'd be great."

Archie grinned. "Cool. I wasn't gonna let you leave alone anyways. Wait, I'll grab my keys and then we can go. I'll be back in one sec."

When he left the room, I tucked my arms around my waist and wondered around slowly, looking at the framed pictures gracing the cabinet stands nearby. There was one photo of Archie as a little boy, laughing and giggling as he held up a lollipop. A tall, full-bearded man and a smiling, red-headed woman, whom I presumed to be his parents, were standing behind him. I smiled as I stooped down and focused on it more intently. Archie looked so cute when he was a kid ...

Wait. What am I thinking? Archie is just a friend! Snap out of it Mackenzie! Now! I scolded myself.

A sudden clattering of noise caught my attention and I turned around just as Archie tumbled back into the room. "I've got them!" he chuckled as he waved the keys in the air. "Let's go."

The ride back to the Southside was surprisingly quiet. It seemed that we'd both ran out of things to talk about.

A few moments later, Archie dropped me off at the corner of the Whyte Wyrm that intersected with the trailer park. After exchanging some last-minute words, he told me to have a good night and then took off.

I watched his car spin out of the parking lot and rumble down the road. Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I bit down my lower lip, trying to fight the smile that was threatening to break out across my face.

Okay. I had to admit it. Archie was not only really hot and really cute, all in one, but he was also kind, gentle, sweet and caring. He was boyfriend material through and through.

Hang on. Who am I kidding? I literally just met him today! I've never had a boyfriend before; let alone been on a real date! I have zero experience when it comes to hotties like Archie! Most guys are just too scared of me or think I'm a total basket-case ... I closed my eyes and heaved a deep breath. My eyes quickly darted over my surroundings until they landed on the flickering neon sign that hung above the doorway of the Whyte Wyrm. Okay, Kenzie, shut-up! Just shut-up! Ring Jelly and tell her that you're okay and that you're just gonna grab one drink and have a quick scour around for Jug, who probably isn't home. Don't think about anything else. It's not that hard.

"Phew!" I let out a long, pent-up breath as I dialled Jelly's number on my phone. When it reached the message box, however, I just rolled my eyes and stuffed the device into my back pocket as I started for the run-down building situated in front of me.

"That's not enough money and you know it! We were promised more!"

I stopped stock-still when I heard a rough, gravelly voice echoing out from behind the other side of the pub. What the ...

This sounded sketchy.

Chancing a hasty look around, I double-checked to make sure no one was watching before quietly slipping along the back wall of the building towards the noise.

"That's all I have. Hiram will give you your pay in full if you carry out your part of the plan. We had a deal, remember?" a hushed feminine tone resounded.

"Your kidding me right? I'm pretty sure he promised us more than this for our first payment!"

I was mere steps away from the corner of the boarded wall but, upon hearing the last statement, I froze. No. That can't be. That can't be him! He - he's supposed to be in bed, n-not here ...

"Just do your job, FP, and let me worry about the rest."

Slowly, cautiously, and with baited breath, I poked my head around the side of the building and nearly let out a yell of horror.

Behind a line of picketed fences lining the border of the Whyte Wyrm was Dad, deep in conversation with a dark-haired, brown-eyed woman, whose features seemed strangely familiar. I shook my head in disbelief as I watched the lady dig deep into her large, leather purse. She pulled out a thick, white envelope before pressing it into Dad's hands.

"Keep this out of sight or Hiram will have your head," she spoke softly.

Dad nodded as he pocketed the envelope that, no doubt, had a big wad of cash in it.

Swallowing hard, I drew back and pressed myself up against the wall. This was how Dad provided for Jelly and Jug? Instead of getting a respectable job, he stooped to bribing? Doing dirty business for wealthy landowners who didn't want to receive the blame if things backfired?

I pressed the back of my hand against my mouth to stop any unexpected sounds from escaping it before pushing myself away from the wall. The more time I spent with Dad, the more I realised how little I really knew him.

My chest heaving for air, I stumbled blindly into the pub and slumped down on one of the bar-stools littering the counter.

"What can I get for you?" the bald, pierced bartender demanded as he eyed me warily.

I slapped my palm down on the table-top. "Anything strong will do," I sighed. "I don't even care."

The bartender rolled his eyes as he turned away. "Fine. A shot of tequila coming up."

As he rummaged around in the cupboard behind him, I swivelled around in my seat and glanced around the room. Asides from a boy snoring in a far corner and a girl slumped over a chair nearby, the pub was completely empty. I furrowed my brow. All the times that I had been here the place had been chockablock. Seeing it so quiet was strangely weird and eerie.

BBAAAAMM.

At the sound of the front door being slammed open, I jumped and whirled around to face the intruder.

"Can you keep it ..." I started shouting before realising who it was.

Sweet Pea.

As I fumbled around for a lame-as apology, he strode towards me, his steps brisk and his features tight with determination.

He came to a halt right next to me and, as I gazed into his eyes, I could tell that he was angry, very angry.

"W-what's going on...?" was all I managed to get out before he reached forward and seized both my upper arms.

I let out a gasp of surprise as he spun me around and pinned me up against the near wall, placing both arms by either side of my head. As my gaze skimmed across his broad chest, I got a glimpse of a black mark on the underside of his left arm. Upon closer inspection, I realised what it was: a tattoo of a spitting viper!

Gulping with fear, I lifted my head and looked up into his face. He was so close I could feel his breath fanning my chin and lower lip. Tussles of his thick, ebony hair swept across his forehead and his distinctive cheekbones were clearly outlined in the little light flickering across the dusky area. His deep brown eyes bore straight into my own; his gaze so intense it almost felt as if he could read the thoughts that were running wildly through my mind.

"Tell me, Mackenzie," he 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?"

Gif: Mackenzie as she walks through town with Veronica and Betty.

*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: If you had a choice in the matter, would you have left Archie's house when Betty and Veronica did or stayed on for a few more hours? Psstt. What do you think of the hot red-head so far? Sweet Pea or Archie?