The hidden truth

Chapter 73 - In Unity there is Strength

At the end of our protest we moved towards our classes but I moved towards Sweetpea, one we had the same class together and two I had his jacket which as much as I wanted one, it was way too big for me.

"Here" i said sliding it off and handing it back to him and slipping on my plain one, something that made me sad to not be known   with the serpents or apart of them, something I knew I wanted more than anything.

"Thanks" He said carrying it and pulling his phone to talk to this girl that had been on his mind over the last couple of weeks, Toni told me that he really liked her but she believed he was trying to push his feelings for me onto another girl, what feelings for me?

"I need to tell you something, it's been on my mind" I said to him while I stopped, summer started tomorrow and I was over this cat and mouse game, he should know even if he didn't like me back and he liked this girl. I wanted to make my feeling aware and in the open. He stopped and looked at me in my eyes and never left it, making me feel slightly uncomfortable. "I like you Sweetpea, a lot and I know there is a girl that your with and I'm more than happy for you but I wanted to let you know that I really do like you and think your amazing" I said to him within one breath which he just looked at me with his mouth slightly open reminding me of a fish in water.

Then he did the unthinkable.

He walked away, not saying a word and left me there. I had declared my feelings for him and told him the secret that ate away at me all the time and he had left me there, I felt the tears begin and I felt them start until I felt someone hug me. I turned to see Toni and Cheryl hugging my back.

"I'm proud of you girl! You finally did it. He's a jerk for doing that but you did it" Toni said as she hugged me tighter and Cheryl offered me a kind smile before staring to talk.

"Your worth more than someone who walks away when you express your love for them. Come on your with us anyway, we had the same class which is why we heard your drama" she said as they pulled me towards my lesson, I composed myself and made myself look normal as I had always done. I had ignored the broken pieces within me and i let them fall silently breaking away. I had tried to let another man in someone I was scared of, I didn't want to be controlled the same way I was before but he did something worse than a rejection. He just left.

I listened to my teacher and ignored the world around me and my problems, Sweetpea didn't come to any of his classes today and Jose was a no show also but I didn't care. I heard that Fangs was getting out of hospital and my mood brightened a little, he was one of my best friends and I heard that Kevin wasn't running in the woods anymore which also gave me a lot of delight.

I loved those two like brothers and it made me laugh how close they were also, Fangs was bi so a small part of me really wants them to get together but it wasn't something I was pushing. I was over the relationship thing and I was just ready to get the day over with.

Once my lessons were over I walked with Toni and Cheryl to the Riverbank where dad had set up a small camp like thing for us. We started here so I guess it makes sense to be here once again and that's when I saw Fogarty with Sweetpea. I ignored everything that had happened today and ran to Fangs.

"Hey your alive!" I said to him with a laugh which he returned when he looked at me.

"Well I had to say thank you to the princess, now I can say I was shot though" he said as he pulled me into a hug which I noticed bothered Sweetpea a lot. He seemed mad that Fangs was touching me.

I watched as the other serpents gathered and had a good time before I saw dad get on stage.

" listen up! We were made here so many years ago and it only makes sense that we're back here once again! But I'm retiring for real this time! Jughead come up here" he said by gesturing my brother up which made me smile, he was going to pass it down. "But he's going to look after you! He was willing to die for you and I know he won't let you die out so Jughead, son I'm passing the mantle to you. You know what you have to do" he said as he stepped down and Toni passed him a bag, I was oddly confused by this but decided to ignore it.

"All I can say is I love you dad" Jughead said as he pulled a red jacket out of the bag and reached for Cheryl's hand which she gladly accepted and took off her old jacket, he slipped the new one onto her and everyone was cheering and Toni was having a little melt down at her girlfriend which made me smile that they were so happy but only made me think of earlier today. Cheryl moved her hair and stepped down when Jughead pulled out another jacket.

"A few months ago, we found a girl or she found us. She was a serpent by blood and always will be but she was taken from us and it's only made her stronger! I'm more than happy to welcome her to the serpents today because she didnt need to do what I did to prove myself I almost died for us but she protected us and made a wall of protection around us against Hiram! She is my sister. Lorna will you come up her and join your family" Jughead said as he reached his hand out for me and my world stopped, I moved towards him and I could feel Fangs push me to go faster and I stood on the stage as Jughead handed me my jacket and smile erupted into my face.

I was a serpent.

I pulled the jacket on and smiled down at everyone.

"Lorna threatened and dealt with not one but six of our enemies all alone and came out alive! She's the Brains we need, so Lorna. Be my right hand women?" Jughead said with a laugh causing everyone else to laugh with him and I felt unprepared for the job but I accepted anyway.

"Of course" I replied as I felt the whole crowd of serpents erupt into cheers as the Jones twins sat at the top as their leaders.