Space Girl, show me the stars
You know the galaxies of my heart
Girl, are you a cancer?
'Cause you make me cry
When we kiss or dance in the sky
We're dancing in the sky

Amethyst grabbed a handful of fries as Cheryl rambled on about school, the cheer team and how her mother has been lying to her. Amethyst ate the fries before Cheryl turned back to her.

"You've been awfully quiet," she commented. "What's wrong?"

"It's Betty," she said. "Apparently she doesn't want to be my friend anymore and she used Archie to tell me that."

Cheryl frowned. "That doesn't sound right," she said. "Betty is a very independent person."

"I know," Amethyst sighed. "Which is why I think something's up with her. Surely she would've told me herself if she didn't want to be my friend. Not use my best friend to tell me that."

"She had a go at Veronica the other night as well," Cheryl said. "Apparently they aren't on speaking terms either."

Amethyst frowned in thought. "Weird...."

"So," Cheryl said brightly, leaning forward on the table slightly, "what was the real reason you arrived at the Lodge's all bloodied up?"

"I already told you. I fell down the—"

"The real reason," Cheryl butted in. "I know when you're lying, Amethyst. So tell me the truth. We are friends after all."

Amethyst heaved a deep sigh before meeting Cheryl's gaze, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I may or may not have joined the Serpents."

Cheryl rose an eyebrow. "And they bet you up for it?"

"N-no, not exactly," she said. "There were a few trials Juggy and I had to go through—"

"Jughead too?"

"Yeah, obviously," Amethyst said. "So, we had to look after their like mascot dog, then have the laws memorised, then take a knife out of a snake tank, and then get beaten up by the Serpents as the final trial."

"Is that why you have two scars on your hands?" Cheryl said.

Amethyst looked down at her hands where the two puncture marks from the snake's bite laid. "Yeah. I was bitten by the snake," she said.

"Huh," Cheryl said, before picking up a chip and eating it. "Show me your tattoo."

Amethyst frowned. "How'd you—"

"Some of the Serpents don't hide their tattoos, so I've seen it," She said.

"Well, it's on the side of my rib cage," Amethyst told her.

"Did I stutter?" Cheryl asked, eyebrow raised. "Show me your tattoo."

Amethyst sighed before turning on her side and lifting up her shirt. Cheryl hummed upon seeing the serpent tattoo before Amethyst put her shirt back down again.

"Did it hurt?" Cheryl asked.

"I'm sure it would've hurt much more than it actually did if my whole body didn't feel numb," Amethyst said, causing Cheryl to crack a smile. "I'm planning on getting more tattoos anyway, so we'll just wait and see."

Cheryl nodded and was about to say something when the smile dropped from her face as she looked at the person who entered the diner.

Amethyst turned around in her chair to see what caused Cheryl's smile to drop. A guy with dark curly hair turned around after he ordered something from Pop's and spotted Cheryl in an instant.

He grinned and leant against the counter. "Sharon!"

"Cheryl," Cheryl corrected, her face sour.

Amethyst looked between the two, wondering who the guy was before it suddenly clicked with her. She stared back at the guy with daggers as he walked over to them.

Amethyst abruptly stood up in her chair and pressed a hand on his chest so he couldn't advance towards them anymore.

"I suggest you fuck off if you want to live," she told him, her teeth clenched as she glared at him. "Although, you're already a piece of scum who doesn't deserve to live."

Nick rose his eyebrows as he glanced around Amethyst to look at Cheryl. "Do you want to tame your friend or.....?"

"I don't think I'm the one who needs to be tamed," Amethyst told him.

"What are you still doing in town, Nick?" Cheryl asked him.

Nick glanced at Amethyst before looking around her and at Cheryl. "Picking up some fuel for the trip home," he replied. "How are you?"

"How am I?" Cheryl repeated, standing up so that she was in front of him. Amethyst moved over so that she was still shielding Cheryl from him. "You roofied me. You tried to rape me."

Nick frowned. "I don't think that's what happened."

"Face the facts, dicksplash," Amethyst said, "You are below the lowest of lows and deserve to rot in hell."

"You're a Less Than Zero monster," Cheryl told him.

"At least I'm not a desperate tart from a truck-stop town, hon," Nick replied, "and a girl with serious daddy issues."

Amethyst rose an eyebrow up at him, not taking any offence to what he said.

"Let's not distort reality to cover your morning-after shame," Nick told Cheryl, his arms crossed over his chest. "You were high, half-naked and begging for it."

Amethyst clenched her teeth. "Listen here you wheezing bag of dick-tips, I—"

Cheryl placed her hand on Amethyst's arm to stop her. "Call your lawyer," she told Nick. "Seeing as you're such an unrepentant spore, I think I will be pressing charges after all."

Amethyst smirked in satisfactory.

Nick chuckled lightly, crossing his arms over his chest as he stepped closer to Amethyst, who, once again, placed her hand on his chest. "Watch it, Fuckface."

"Sweetie, did no one tell you about the arrangement my parents made with your cobra-like mother?" He asked Cheryl. "You're not gonna be saying anything about that night to anyone. After all, there's a reason it's called hush money."

A loud slap echoed across the room. Amethyst glared at Nick as he held onto his cheek, a look of shock and horror crossing his face.

"You're going to regret that!" He warned her.

"I don't think I will," Amethyst spat out, glaring at him. "Now fuck off before that slap turns into something that will break your nose."

Nick glared at Amethyst before marching out of Pop's diner.

Amethyst took a deep breath before turning around to Cheryl, who was frowning at Amethyst.

"You didn't have to do that," she told her.

"I did," Amethyst replied. "And, honestly, it felt good. Needed to let my anger out on him anyway." Cheryl nodded and smiled lightly before looking down.

"I'm going to go talk to my mother about it, find out whether it's true or not before I press charges," Cheryl told her. "Nick may just be all talk."

"Do you want me to accompany you?" Amethyst asked.

Cheryl smiled lightly. "I think I can handle my mother by myself, Amethyst," she said. "In the meantime, I think you need to go help Jughead prepare for that race. It isn't going to be easy."

"You going?"

"Of course," Cheryl smiled. "After all, I was born for it."

•

Amethyst stood besides Jughead as the Ghoulies and Serpents arrived at where the race was going to take place. A smile suddenly covered her features as she noticed three people in particular arriving on their bikes, before she pulled Jughead in the direction of Demarcus, Toni and Louis.

"You're out!" Amethyst said brightly, grinning at Toni and Louis.

"Yeah, finally," Toni said, huffing. "It wasn't that horrible, but I really didn't feel comfortable peeing in front of all of these guys."

Louis lightly rolled his eyes. "No one was looking, Topaz," he said. "Even if they did, I'm sure they wouldn't mind—"

"Don't continue that sentence," Toni told him, before smiling at Jughead and Amethyst. "Anything I've missed? Especially between you two?" She rose her eyebrows teasingly.

Louis' smile wiped off his face.

Amethyst looked up at Jughead and he looked back at her. "Not really. No," he said, before turning to the other three. "We've been great. Like really great."

"Ew," Demarcus said, screwing up his face. "I didn't need to know that much."

Amethyst's eyes widened. "N-no. Not like that. Not in that way."

"Huh," Toni said, smirking slightly. "Who knows? Could've happened."

Amethyst and Jughead were silent as their faces heated up. Someone arrived in Archie's truck that caught Amethyst's attention, but she quickly turned away.

"Let's do this!" Tall Boy announced.

Jughead pulled Amethyst over towards Archie who was standing besides Reggie's car, waiting for Jughead. Amethyst squeezed Jughead's hand before he stepped forward and shook Malachai's hand.

"Race over Herk Harvey Bridge to Dead Man's Curve. First one back here wins," he told him. Malachai smirked before he went to his car.

Jughead sat in the driver's seat and Archie sat in the passenger as they waited to start. Amethyst rested her elbows on the window seal and bent down so she was face to face with Jughead.

"Good luck, Juggy," Amethyst smiled at him.

Jughead smiled back before he placed a hand on her chin and brought her lips to his. Amethyst felt content bubble in her stomach as their lips moved in sync with one another's. She then pulled away and smiled brightly at him.

"That gave me a lot of good luck. Thank you," Jughead told her.

Amethyst grinned back. "Glad to be of help," she told him, before looking over at Archie. "Good luck to you too, Arch."

"What? No kiss for me?" He teased.

Amethyst lightly rolled her eyes. "I'll give you a fist bump, which is pretty much the same thing."

Archie hummed and they fist bumped. Amethyst then walked away from the car and stood besides Veronica, Betty, Kevin and Reggie. Cheryl walked in between the car, placed her sunglasses on, raised the bandana in the air and then dropped it, instructing the two cars to set off.

Amethyst, Veronica and Betty all cheered and clapped for Jughead and Archie as they sped down the street and away from eyesight.

Amethyst then turned around to Betty. "Betty, I need to talk to you," she said. Betty looked up at her and sighed before following Amethyst over towards the side.

Amethyst crossed her arms over her chest. "Elizabeth?" She asked.

Betty slightly looked up at her. "Yes....?"

Amethyst rose an eyebrow. "Something you want to admit?" She asked. "Because I'm finding it hard to believe that you befriended me because you felt sorry for me and used Archie to tell me this."

Betty's mouth agaped slightly. "I didn't—" she took a deep breath. "I did."

"Which I totally believe you," Amethyst said sarcastically. "Now, tell me the truth or I'll ask Veronica and Archie, because I will find out one way or another."

Betty ran her hands over her face as she took a deep breath. "The Black Hood called me—"

"Wait, What?" Amethyst asked.

"Just, let me explain the story before you say anything," Betty told her. "So, the Black Hood called me and wanted me to do whatever he wanted and he used Polly's whereabouts as leverage. He told me to publish that article on my mom, ruin my friendship with Veronica and you because he wanted to be my only friend. I felt so upset about breaking my friendship with you that I asked Archie if he could do it, because I don't think I would've gone through with it if I had to."

Betty tuned silent, and Amethyst clicked her tongue in thought.

"You told Polly to move?" She asked.

Betty nodded. "He doesn't know where she is anymore so he can't hurt her."

Amethyst nodded. "And he didn't threaten Archie?"

"No. Which is why I told him about the phone calls as soon as they began," Betty said.

Amethyst sighed and nodded before she suddenly pulled Betty into a hug. Betty was surprised, who eyes widely slightly, before she smiled lightly and hugged her back.

Amethyst then pulled away from Betty and smiled lightly. "Next time, tell me. No matter what the Black Hood says. Just.....tell me."

Betty smiled and nodded. "I regret not telling you in the first place, but when he said I couldn't or he would hurt Polly, I knew I couldn't."

"That's okay," Amethyst smiled. "Have you had a phone call since—?"

"Yes," she replied. "He wanted me to find out who the Sugar-man was. The person creating the Jingle Jangle."

"Any leads?" She asked.

"Only one, and that's Cheryl."

"Have you talked to her?" Amethyst asked.

"Yes. She said she'll ask her mom."

Amethyst hummed. "Alright. Then let Cheryl ask her mom and report back to you. You tell the Black Hood or get the guy locked up and all is well for the drugs in Riverdale."

Betty smiled. "Sure is."

Someone came running in. "Everyone scatter! The cops are rounding up Ghoulies!" He yelled.

Everyone ran to their vehicles as fast as they could to get away. Demarcus and Amethyst made eye contact, and he nodded at her before leaving on his bike. Reggie's car suddenly arrived, and Amethyst quickly ran over to Jughead who seemed to be fuming.

"What's wrong?" Amethyst quickly asked.

"The cops were waiting just past the bridge for us! Someone called them!" He said, before noticing Tall Boy and walking up to him.

"You called the cops?" Tall Boy yelled at him. "You won't throw in with the Ghoulies but you will with cops? Where's the honour in that?"

"Calm down, Tall Boy!" Jughead warned him.

"Yeah, take a chill pill," Amethyst said.

"You think I knew Keller was gonna be there?" Jughead said.

"I called Keller," Archie butted in.

"What the hell, Archie?" Jughead yelled at him. "Did my dad tell you about this, too?"

"No, this was my idea to get rid of the Ghoulies and it worked! They get arrested for street racing and now they're off the chessboard!"

"For how long? One month? Three months?" Jughead asked him.

Amethyst shook her head at him. "You're naive, Archibald."

"And you know what they'll want on the other side?" Jughead said. "Your head on a stake! All of ours!"

Jughead grabbed Amethyst's hand and pulled her over towards his bike. Before Jughead got on, Amethyst grabbed both of his hands.

"Jughead, breathe, please," she told him.

"How can I? Archie betrayed me!" He snapped.

"Jughead, if you don't breathe, then we will have an accident when we get on that bike," she told him. "Take a deep breath, please, or you'll regret it."

Jughead looked into Amethyst's eyes and nodded before taking a few deep breaths. "Okay. All good?" She asked.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm all good," Jughead said. "Thank you for that, Buttercup."

Amethyst smiled. "Just making sure you live long enough to graduate."

Jughead lightly rolled his eyes before he got on his bike and Amethyst got on behind him, and he drove off.

•

Jughead and Amethyst walked into school the next day, and began to walk off towards their lockers before Toni walked up to them and began to talk to them about the previous days events.

"What are the other Serpents saying?" Jughead asked her.

"Some people give you props for challenging the Ghoulies to a race and beating them," Toni said. "Others hate that you cut a deal with Keller because it puts us in bed with the pigs."

"I didn't. That was Archie," Jughead told her.

"Yeah, I know that and you two know that, but some of them don't," Toni told him.

Amethyst arrived at her locker and began to put in the code.

"No, is this another raid?" Jughead asked Toni.

Amethyst looked to her side and watched as police officers walked into the hallway.

"Didn't you hear?" She asked. "They caught the Sugarman."

Amethyst watched as her English lit teacher, Robert Phillips was escorted out of South Side High by police. Amethyst frowned as she watched him go, shocked and overall displeased to find out that it was him dealing the drugs.

Amethyst sighed and then went to open her locker, only to find a piece of paper sitting at the bottom with "I'll be watching you" written on the front.

Amethyst felt her face pale as she stared at the note before scrunching it up in her hand and shoving it back into her bag. She grabbed her books and closed her locker's door behind her.

"You alright?" Jughead asked her.

Amethyst pulled on a tight smile and nodded. "Just a little shocked is all," she said and he nodded in understanding before they walked off towards their first class.

•
okay so last episode was fucking weird. Betty doing that weird pole dance made me feel uncomfortable, which was why I couldn't stop laughing the whole time. then varchie and bughead broke up which I'm pretty chill about cause I didn't ship them in the first place. and my actual ship (besides FP and Alice), Barchie is starting off and I honestly couldn't be happier :)))))