We all congregated outside school the next day, i had gone to get Clay after dropping of Nixie at nursery. I looked at Clay.
"You ready to do this?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." I smiled at him and we walked in together and nothing was different, it was a bit anti climatic.
"Well, that was anti climatic." Sweet Pea shrugged
"Clay what the hell?!" Justin and the others came up to us.
"Spoke to soon dude." Fangs hit his arm
"You're one of them, when did this happen?"
"This weekend, problem." Clay huffed
"They're criminals."
"Speak for your self I've got a clean record." I snip
"We're all criminals one way or another Justin, besides I fit in with them more than ever."
"Wow Clay."
"Look I'm sorry but we gotta go." Clay told them
"This is your doing." Justin stopped me
"Excuse me."
"Ever since he came back, he's been different and now he's one of you."
"First of we're not some disease infested people, vampires or zombies, we didn't turn him. Second of all It was Clays choice, he asked we never forced him and third. I was friends with Clay before you all even fully acknowledged him, when I left, we still kept in touch so here is what you can do Justin, you can kiss my ass."
"Burn." most of the serpents called.
"Your Parent's won't like this."
"Maybe not but I'm 18 and doing what I think is right, so..." he shrugged and we all left.
--3rd pov--
Amber dropped Clay at home at the end of the day planning to meet up later, when he got in the house, his parents and Justin were waiting.
"You snitched." he breathed knowing this was coming.
"Thank you Justin." Lainie" stated and Justin left the three alone. "Sit" she told him. Clay took off his jacket and dropped it over the chair .
"So it's true then. You've joined a gang, my own son has joined a gang."
"Mom." he sighed
"No, what on earth were you thinking, these are criminals. The have records and they're only here on bad luck."
"Not all of them are Criminals, mom. Amber isn't."
"So you got into this because of her then, you're trying to impress a girl?"
"No, Look. When I'm with them, I feel a sense of belonging, they don't judge you, they have a code and to be fair as long as you don't trouble them, they're harmless."
"That doesn't justify you join them."
"How about this then. I don't feel so fucked up around them, my head and my thoughts aren't everywhere I feel what Hannah should have felt. Safe. i have someone in my corner not questioning or pressuring me like you do sometimes even though I love you. I get you don't like me being a serpent, but you can't stop me. And if you loved me you would accept that I'm happy now that i'm with them." He stood up and left his parents sharing an exasperated look
----
Later on there was a knock at the Jensen house and Mrs Jensen answered it. It was Amber.
"Hi mrs Jensen."
"Amber." she curtly relied and Amber sensed the tone in her voice.
"You know don't you, that Clay joined the Serpents."
"Yes, I do."
"And your not happy which is understandable. Can I talk inside with you for a few minutes, please." Mrs Jensen sighed but let her in, Mr Jensen looked up.
"Hey Mr Jensen."
"Hello, Amber."
"I just wanted to say something if that's okay." he nodded and they all sat down
"I know the Serpent's have a reputation, and while some of us have a record not all of us do, we can stray off the path like anyone else but in the grand scheme of things there are far worse people out there than us. We're a family first we care for each other and have each others back's. For example when i left here a couple of years ago, I was pretty messed up, a lot of things had gone on, my life turned upside down. I ended up joining the serpents because with everything going on they made me feel stable. Over these past couple of years they have been my rock.
I know that we've become that for Clay too, he has other friends for sure but he seems to have the happiness of that when were were in elementary together. Even though at first he had sort of the same reaction as you're most likely having he came to see that at heart were just one big supportive unit. And hey like I said not everyone of us is criminals, we have lawyers, doctors, our former king is now a sheriff back in my old town, Serpents can help you get through most if not all things, I know for a fact they're helping my parents put me through college to become an architect, my parents are Serpents and their what could be considered pillars of the community, or they were till they moved. So while I get you're less than pleased with you son joining us, please understand that it's not a bad thing Clay's is a good person, you raised him right. I know that for a fact." Amber stood up and was about to leave when Clay came down.
"Amber." she turned back and smiled
"It's okay if you can't make it. I'll tell the others."
"No." they all looked to Mrs Jensen
"You can go with Amber but you need to be back home by 11 and no later, and no getting into trouble."
"Thanks Mom." Mrs Jensen sighed but nodded as his son and friend left
"I thought that was very well done." Mr Jensen commented
"Well I'm not happy about where he's found his place but a least he's found one, but we need to keep an eye on him, any sign of him staying from the beaten path."
"We'll deal with it together."
-----
Clay and Amber made their way back into Amber's house.
"This isn't a huge social gathering, and keep your voice down, Nixie's asleep." She told him as they entered. Jughead, Fangs, Sweet Pea and Toni along with Amber's parents were all there talking when they came back.
"Finally what took you so long." Sweet Pea called
"Boy, lower your voice before I slap you for waking up my daughter." Amber scowled taking off her jacket
"Yes, Ma'am." Clay laughed
"You're scared of Amber?" Clay asked
"Everyone's scared of Amber she's mother hen. She put's Jughead to shame." Toni chortled
"I don't get it?"
"Jughead is King of the Serpents, but no one, none puts fear into others like Amber."
"They're exaggerating."
"You shoved Jughead on a time out in his room for being rude." Fangs snickered
"So humiliating." Jughead muttered
"Made him sit there for 16 minutes. Then made him say sorry." Amber rolled her eyes
"She's mother hen, makes sure we're all taken care of."
"You would have done the same for me, you did in fact." she smiled softly , she then clapped her hands.
"Clay, you ready?"
"For what?"
"You're serpent tattoo of course." everyone except Amber's Mom and Toni showed of their tattoo's. Amber's was on her wrist .
"Dad's gonna do it." she added
"So where do you want it Clay?" Clay thought about it.
"On my shoulder, I guess." So Clay sat down and lifted his t-shirt away from his arm as Amber's dad gave Clay his tattoo.