"How was your date?" Kev asks as we get settled in the Blue and Gold with Betty. 

    "Amazing actually," I admit, "I had so much fun. I can see something happening with him." 

   "Have you talked to Jughead about it?" Betty asks.

  "Nope," I tell her, "I mean he knows that I'm flirting with Sweet Pea but not anything above that." 

  "Why aren't you telling him?" Betty asks.

 "I don't want to ruin my friendship with him too!" I exclaim, "I mean damn, we are on thin ice with our friendship. Like we hardly talk anymore. I don't want that to be ruined because I want something new.... Enough about me. Kev how was wrestling?"

  "I kicked Archie's ass," He tells us.

  "Yes!" I exclaim, "I am so proud."

  "It felt so good," He says, "It's like, yeah, Archie, you have the physique of a 1970s porn star, but that doesn't mean you can wrestle."

"Speaking of porn stars-" Betty says then looks at me, "can I tell you something?"

"Yes," I say trying to be civil.

"Chic's a cam boy," She says.

"Long Lost Cooper has A dark side I like it," I say.

"Did you get lost down a webcam rabbit hole last night?" Kev asks her.

"It's fascinating," She says, "I brought Chic home to help my mom without knowing who he was, and now to find out he's actually multiple people, performing online. How do I broach that with him? Do I broach that with him?"

"Wait you watched your brother do porn?" I ask, "or you watched porn in general? I'm confused."

"I-" She starts. A loud knock on the door stops her. We all look over to see Jughead in the doorway.

 "Hey, am I interrupting?" He asks.

 "Yeah, kinda" Kev says.

"No," Betty says.

"Doesn't matter you're gonna be here regardless," I say.

"I just wanted to run some stuff by you, but I can come back," Jug says looking at us carefully. 

"No, no, no, it's fine," Kev says. I wave to him as he leaves and I move behind my desk and get to writing.

 "By the way, I'm really digging Kevin's new gossip column," Jughead says as he sits on my desk.

 "Readers love it. And I needed to fill the extra space when you-" Betty says.

"I'm actually working on a story right now," He says, "Here... When I interviewed Toni's grandfather for history class, he had some pretty intense things to say about General Pickens. But then I did some follow-up research. General Pickens was hired by Barnabas Blossom to remove the Uktena tribe by force. Betty, he killed 400 innocent men, women and children."

"Oh, my God! That's horrible," She squeals.

"You mean a white man mudering innocent people for land and wealth," I mock, "shocking. And people celebrating that because we white wash history. Unheard off."

"Exactly, and adding salt to the wound, the last remnants of the tribe, the Serpents, are being squeezed out of existence," Jug says, " Toni's grandfather lives in a trailer the size of a broom closet. And Hiram Lodge is honoring this murderer instead of trying to make amends. I think it's a story we need to tell."

"Are you gonna try to get a quote from Hiram Lodge?" Betty asks.

"He would get his arms and legs rip offed," I warn, "Hiram isn't gonna be to happy with some kids screwing around with his advertisement- I mean pickens day."

"You really think its an ad?" Jug asks. I nod.

"Think about it," I tell him, "people are upset that Southside closes. To kind of promote unity and peace he makes a celebration for everyone. Putting His and Fred's names over everything to promote Sodale, having the serpents work security to keep us from pulling anything and collectively calming everyone."

"Thats actually genius," Betty says, "and you believe that?"

"This town was founded on shady deals Betty and it thrives on them too," I say, "but hey what do I know. I'm only a teenager."

"I'm gonna look into that," Jug says, "oh and I meant to say it before. I've been enjoying your articles N/n."

"Ah yes," I say, "because I've been carrying the Blue and Gold!"

"I take a break once," She says.

"And leave your photographer to do the articles!" I hiss, "whatever. I have this article to work on."

"About?" Jug asks.

"Riverdale Highs winter activities," I say, "very exciting. But its what Weatherbee wants.... Now get to your article. Betty has editing work."

"Yeah I have to get everything ready for the paper," She says, "someone still owes me another article."

"Fuck off Betty!" I yell, "or my article will be exposing your dictatorship of a club ya cunt."

******

    "Look at how nice you look," I tell Sweet Pea as I point to the canvas. Its amazing. I worked so damn hard on it.

    "Its great," Sweet Pea says, "it looks fantastic. You're a great artist."

   "Why thank you," I say, "I've worked on it for years. I'm actually planning on going to art school."

   "You should," He says, "you have serious talent."

  "If I can even get in," I groan, "or even afford it.... All I know is that I like art. And I spend a lot of time drawing, and painting, and taking pictures.... It makes me happy.. I could be in any situation and it soothes me... Do you have something like that??"

 "Serpents," He says, "and well.... god this is dorky. I play piano... We had this little digital key board at my house... It was ancient... But I learned how to play on it. I just enjoy immersing my self in the music.. God I must sound like such a dork."

"No I totally get it," I say, "its actually kinda cute."

"I wasn't aiming for you to see me as cute," He says. I run my fingers through his hair and smirk.

"I see you as much more than that," I admit, "like you're pretty sexy."

"Sexy eh?" He asks.

"Yep," I say, "very much so actually." He smirks them grabs my waist and pulls me towards him. Picking me up and sitting me on the table behind me to balance our height. His soft lips crash deepen the kiss. My hands running through his messy hair.

"Jesus christ," I hear some scoff. I pull away from Sweet Pea and we both look behind him to see Jughead watching the scene. "Sorry for interrupting the porno in the art room."

 "Sorry," I mumble.

 "Fuck it," Jug hisses, "it didn't matter anyways. You can go back to making out with shit for brains over here."

"Watch your mouth," Sweet Pea says angrily.

"Make me," Jug hisses. I slid off the table and step between them.

"Fucking stop!" I groan, "what do you want Jughead?"

"My article," Jug says, "caused some damage. So I talked to Toni's grandpa. Serpents are protesting tomorrow. We're talking about it tonight at the Whyte Worm."

"Fine we'll be there," I say.

"Whatever," He says as he stomps out.

"The fucks up with him?" Sweet Pea asks. I just shrug.

 ******

    "Ah yes wrestling," I say to Veronica as she sits down in the stands beside me, "how very sporty."

  "Betty making you write another sports thing?" Veronica asks.

  "Yes and I'm going to fucking kill myself," I groan, "there is literally no need to know how wrestling tryouts went. I swear she's doing this so I am only around her is short burst so I don't kill her."

  "Probably," Veronica says.

  "Gather around, boys. We're gonna change things up a bit," The couch says, "First up on the mat is Andrews, who is going up against Clayton." 

  "What?" Veronica asks, "I thought they couldn't fight because weight system thingy? Archie ranted about it."

  "I have no clue don't ask me," I tell her. Archie and Chuck get into the center then the whistle blow and they start to wrestle which looked a lot like gay ass foreplay and I'm so confused. Archie.

"That's right, Archie," Veronica cheers. "Get him."

"Kick his ass Archibald!" I scream.

"One," The couch says, "Two three!"

"Yeah!" I cheer loudly, "ARCHIBALD THE GOOD!"

*****

  "Ready?" I ask Sweet Pea. 

  "Yep," Sweet Pea says.  He steals a quick kiss then we layer the tape over our mouths. I raise my sign as we Jughead signals for us to move. We march as Veronica sings with Toni leading us for once. 

"Toni? Jughead? Y/n? What the hell is going on?" Veronica asks harshly. The tape preventing me from a witty or bitch response so I just flip her off.

"We're here representing the dead and the silenced," Toni announces over the megaphone like a damn queen, "Pickens Day is a lie. General Pickens slaughtered the Uktena tribe, my grandfather's family. And this land, the land that we're standing on, the land that will soon give way to a new Southside, was stolen from them. And we can't bring them back, but we can and we must honor them." Hiram runs up to the microphone.

"Hey, folks, hi," Hiram says calmly, "Uh I think we can all be proud to live in a Riverdale where young people stand up for justice. Where a young woman can defend the honor and legacy of her grandfather. And where we can celebrate the living legacy of the Uktena, who contribute to the rich tapestry that is Riverdale, that is the Southside and that will be SoDale. So let's hear a round of applause for that, am I right?" Applause erupts around the crowd.  "That's right. What do you say, people?"  

"No," Toni's grandfather says to Jughead as he rips the tape off and starts to jump up. I peel off the tape and look to Hiram.

"Man oh man," I mumble, "I'm going to make this asshole suffer." I toss my sign onto the stage. "Lets go." I grab his hand  wave Toni to follow me out. They weren't going to take us seriously. And I wasn't going to let her sit up there anymore. She looked like she wanted to cry. She doesn't move so I finally take her hand to and pull her away from the eyes of the pressing crowd.

 Leaving, not yet knowing the start of a civil war was just around the corner. Ending Riverdale as we know it.