"Hey, Cherry?" I call out walking into the locker room.
"Over here," I hear her reply from the row of lockers where ours are located.
"You're not mad at me are you?" I ask as I walk over to open my locker and get dressed to go home.
"I could never be mad at you, Blue. Surprised you took Betty onto our team? Yes but not mad. Plus, thank you for standing up for me," Cheryl says though her last sentence is in a low tone so that the rest of the cheerleaders don't hear our conversation. God forbid they hear our conversation and see our HBIC being soft. They could use Cheryl's vulnerability against her. I simply nod with a smile in response and reach for the performing cheer uniform when I see my phone screen light up.
Pink: we're out the back waiting to escort you, your majesty ;)
I chuckle at Toni's text before texting her back.
Blue to Pink: Just getting changed after cheer. Be there in less than 5 ;*
After sending the text, I chuck my phone in my bag and quickly change into cheer outfit and walk out of the locker room with Cheryl.
"You need a lift home?" Cheryl asks me.
"No, it's alright. Serpents business needs dealing with so got some friends waiting out the back," I explain to her as we head for the doors which lead to the football field.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. You're going to the dance right?" she asks hopefully.
I sigh deeply, I really don't want to go to the dance, like at all, "yeah I'll see you tomorrow Cherry, you know Northside dances aren't my thing."
"At least come to my after-party, I need my partner in crime," she says to which I smile.
"Of course, I'll be at your after party. Now I have to motor," I reply while pointing to the motorbikes which are parked by the gates. She nods satisfied with my response, quickly hugs me then walks off to her car as I make my way over to my serpent friends leaning against they're bikes.
"Oi blue, you make one sexy cheerleader," Toni winks at me as I walk over making me roll my eyes. "By the way, the leather jacket and fishnets really go with the outfit. Reckon if Southside High had a cheer team I'd rock the look like you?"
"No doubt about it babe," I reply with a wink, "can we motor now? I don't fancy seeing any more of these people than I have to."
They all nod getting on their bikes. Fangs hands me his spare helmet which I put on and swing my leg over the back of his bike. I adjust myself and snake my arms around his waist, just like the night before. Just like that, we all speed off towards my house.
***
The journey home ended up being a race between the three serpents as I was clinging onto Fangs with all my might. The adrenaline rush was so great, something I cannot put into words to describe. I can't wait for the day I get my own bike. Anyway, the race ended with Fangs and I being first, followed by Sweet Pea then Toni close behind him.
"You guys want to come in?" I ask as I get off and hand the helmet back to Fangs. They all nod so we all go inside the house to be greeted by my dad.
"You can't get away from those three if you wanted to, could you?" dad says with a chuckle as we all pile into the kitchen.
"I take offence to that old man. Plus, I know you're the one who set up FP for his little speech last night about an escort from the doghouse," I remark causing everyone to laugh. Don't you just love simple times?
"You caught me," dad replies after calming down his laughter while handing us a plate of snacks and pouring some drinks, "by the way, you got another letter today."
I roll my eyes as I finish chewing a biscuit, "is the said letter from the she-devil asking for more help. If so I don't want to see it."
Dad sighs before replying, "just read it, if she's asking for help again, you can simply ignore it kiddo." He then walks over and kisses the top of my head, "I'm off to work, I'll see you in the morning. You three can stay the night but no funny business and head to school tomorrow."
We all nod our heads and dad leaves the kitchen getting ready to leave for work. Maybe he's right, I can read the letter and just not do anything. Or I could just simply ignore it altogether!
"She-devil? She still sends you letters?" Fangs questions as we move to the lounge.
"Don't even mention it," I sigh, "in the last letter she asked if I could testify for some unknown uncle that I have. Why would I do that? Of course, I didn't do it, I don't know who the man is, she didn't even mention the name," I groan in frustration.
"I say read the letter, what's the harm?" Toni questions with a shrug.
"Plus, those two are nosey," Sweet Pea pipes in to which I raise an eyebrow to, "fine, I'm nosey too, but tell anyone and it won't end well."
Cute, thinks he can threaten me because he's double my height. Fangs and Toni laugh as I flip him off. The walking beanstalk can dream of fighting me. I reach over to grab the letter, which coincidently has been placed on the coffee table. I then proceeded to open it while taking my seat next to Fangs on the couch while Toni and Sweet Pea sat on the armchairs. Ripping it open, I unfold the piece of paper with the familiar handwriting on it and begin to read it out loud.
"Mija,
I was disappointed to hear you didn't testify like I asked you to but I didn't expect anything more or less from you. You are my daughter after all...
Lucky for you, your uncle will not hold a grudge against you for not testifying as you're my daughter, not his. Don't worry, no one will come after you. I told him that I'm not in the family picture so you shouldn't hear from him or his family.
Now to business, I need help. I'm on the run in New York. Not like you care where your birth giver is as you chose the snakes and your father over me. I don't need money per say as we both know that. Just please ask the Snake Charmer to check her mail more often. That's all I need.
I might not show it Mija but I love you dearly.
Love, your mother, Camila Grace Jones."
When I finish reading the letter I was confused, to say the least. I really don't care about this mysterious uncle as he is none of my concern. I don't know anyone from mother's side of the family. Never met them if I'm being honest. However, why is she talking down on the Serpents knowing it will annoy and anger me. Then proceeds to talking about the bloody Snake Charmer. I would rather get into a fight with a Ghoulie than speak to that bitch... Unless, I could go see her for my own benefit and then deal with the consequences later...
After our moment of silence Toni is the first to speak up, "she really is the devil."
"And a hypocrite," Sweet Pea adds in while Fangs nods in agreement.
"Wait are you going to do about Princess?" Fangs questions as he adjusts him self on the couch next to me.
"As much as I hate to do this, I'm going to see the Snake Charmer tomorrow. Not for the she-devil's benefit but my own and deal with her favors later. You guys can tag along if you like but we are not telling my father or FP about this," I explain as they all nod in agreement. Whether they're agreeing to go with me or not tell my family I'm happy they got my back.
***
I wake up the next morning in the lounge? Oh yeah, after our discussion about the letter we spent the rest of the day doing nothing but watching movies on Netflix and ordering food for dinner before falling asleep in the lounge. Before you ask, we all changed into our pjs, well the boys slept shirtless but that's besides the point. What? These three are here so often that one of my drawers is filled with their clothes alone. Anyway, time to get up I guess. I try to sit up but it seems practically impossible? I look down only to find Fangs with his arms snaked around my waist. Oh sweet Jesus! Damn, he's got abs for days... Girl, snap out of it! I try to get out of his grasp without waking him but it only seems to make him tighten his arms around me more.
I suddenly hear a girly giggle and a deep chuckle coming from the ground. I turn me head from my position on the couch to see Toni and Sweet Pea trying to suppress their laughs making me roll my eyes. How long have they been up?
"Admit that you're cold stone heart likes the guy and I'll help you," Toni teases making Sweat Pea burst out laughing for real this time which makes me panic that Fangs will wake up.
"I'm not admitting to shit. You're both delusional, help me," I whisper-shout at them but that quickly turns out to be the wrong move as I feel the said boy beginning to stir beside me. His arms tightening around me even more.
"Morning Princesa," he mumbles as he opens his eyes causing the other two Serpents to burst out laughing even more. Upon hearing their laughter, Fangs looks around and quickly apologies to before removing his arms from around me.
"Ah good, you kids are up," dad says walking into the room not taking notice of our situation. "Got an email from your school this morning Kenz, no school due to the school dance. Fangs, your mother rang and said you guys have a day off too for unknown reasons. Pop's breakfast in the kitchen for you all, I'll be off to see FP – later kids."
I guess at least there's no school which is weird, it would only have been our second day back. Whatever float Weatherbee's boat, I guess. Not my problem. Let's just hope everything goes to plan tonight...
Author's note:
Feels like a filler chapter but I don't want to strictly stick to the whole plot and will be making these type of chapters and altering some of the actual Riverdale storyline as fits. Hope you still liked the chapter and liked the insight into Mackenzie's life a little.
Let me know what you think :)
Love, Southside Royalty :*