The next few days were quiet. Sweet Pea and her didn't discuss their moment, she hadn't heard from Penny, and she wasn't speaking to jughead. She was making sure Sweet Pea was going, and staying at school, keeping things steady at the Wyrm, and hanging out with her friends. Life actually felt pretty good at the moment.

The group was sitting at their lunch table, talking with each other. "This whole black hood stuff is getting concerning" Emma murmured, her eyes scanning the most recent issue of the Riverdale Register. "And Cooper isn't helping things."

Her friends murmured in agreement as she glanced at her phone, pursing her lips. "I'm worried about Jug. He's known to get mixed up in shit like this. I just - I don't want to see him ending up dead"

"Listen, he doesn't seem like the most aware," Tonis eyes flickered over to Jughead, who was sitting alone, "but he's not that dumb. Look, I know you two aren't on the best terms right now, but I'm helping him get the Black and Red reopened, and he seems to trust me, a bit. I'll keep an eye on him, okay?"

Emma exhaled slowly but nodded, rubbing her eyes.

"We're hitting the quarry after school right?" Sweet Pea asked, and was met with a chorus of agreements and nods from not only their close group but the broader serpents.

The rest of the day passed relatively quickly, and Emma linked with Sweet Pea to get Toni, and maybe Jughead, to come head out with them. Sweet Peas arm was around her shoulder, and they looked slightly intimidating, not that either of them minded.

"Just, be nice Sweets, please?" Emma asked, looking up at the boy.

"no promises"

"Topaz, let's bounce. Jones, you wanna come with? We're going down to the quarry." Sweet Pea asked. Even though it was a hair abrasive, at least he was trying.

"Uh, I don't have my beach bod yet." Her brother replied, shifting uncomfortably. Emma sighed and rolled her eyes, matching Toni's look of annoyance. She felt Sweets tense at the rejection, and she internally grimaced.

"What, you'll ask for the serpents help when you need it, but you won't hang with us," he gestured towards Emma. "Well don't come crawling back to us when some Ghoulies decide to earn his stripes by taking out FP Jones' kid." he spat, and Emma absentmindedly reached up to grab his hand, an action that didn't go unnoticed by jughead.

"Duly noted. Thank you, Sweet Pea. I appreciate what you and the serpents have done for me and my dad." Emma actually did scoff this time, he was actually acting like she didn't even exist. "I do. But I'm done, okay? no more favors coming your way"

Sweet Pea stepped forward, and Emma made no move to stop him, but Toni did.

"Hey hey hey, he made up his mind. Take the hint Sweet Pea, he's just not that into you. Let's motor." She cut in, stepping between the two and moving Sweet Pea towards the door. Emmalina paused, looking back at the boy. She could see the disbelief on his face.

"This is what I meant, Jughead. You're no better than us" she said quietly.

"You're with that - that thug?" he asked, with disgust on his face.

"No, but I'd be lucky if I was. He's a hell of a lot more supportive and present in my life than you ever have been" she spat, before walking out and slamming the door behind her.

She didn't even want to go to the quarry anymore. She wanted to cry. She knew that her friends would wonder if she didn't go, but she really lacked the energy to go and pretend to have fun when she was still reeling from her little argument with her brother. She paused, trying to compose herself outside the door before walking towards the bikes.

"Don't hate me, but imma take a rain check, okay?" she murmured, walking up towards the trio. She gave them a weak smile, but Sweet Peas frown only deepened.

"What the hell did he say to you?" he seethed, and she just shook her head.

"It's fine, really, I just want to lay down. Maybe go to pops." she said. "but please go have fun."

Sweets and Fangs looked like they wanted to argue, but Toni stepped in, much to the other girl's relief.

"We'll see you later, check in. right boys?" she said, glancing at the other two, who nodded in agreement.

She smiled slightly and nodded, going towards her bike. She did end up driving to pops, the warm glow of the diner calming her sick stomach. She smiled softly, letting out a breath. She parked the bike and made her way in, smiling and giving a pop and small wave as she took her seat in the corner booth. She ordered a burger and a chocolate milkshake, settling in with her notebook.

She'd always loved drawing, especially sketches, so she picked a random girl in the diner. She worked for a few moments before deciding she needed someone to talk to, someone who wasn't her serpent friends. Her eyes skimmed her contacts before settling on Cheryl. The pair had texted a few times, mainly to check up on one another, but not much.

>To< Cherry

Are you free to meet at pops? need some girl talk asap

>from< Cherry

I'm on my way now

Cheryl arrived 10 or so minutes later, sliding across from her.

"What's going on? no offense Li, but you look like hell." Cheryl asked.

Emma hadn't thought about it. She hadn't showered in a few days, her hair was in a bun, and her makeup probably looked like hell.

"Jugheads being an ass. My dads still in jail. I'm indebted to a woman who almost got me killed last year. And I might feel something for my best friend." she rambled, it all coming out in one breath, and she didn't even realize the last thing she said until it came out of her mouth.

"Well, that's a lot. Let's go through a bit more slowly, yeah?"

"Jughead transferred, and obviously I'm a serpent, and he acts like he's so much better than us. These are my friends, and even though it's messy, they're like my family."

"He's probably just trying to get used to it. And he will have to come around at some point. Now I can't do anything about your dad, but I'm sure that will work itself out. But the boy, do tell."

Emma felt her face flush scarlet, ducking her head. "His name is Sweet Pea. He's, he's great, and he's always been good to me. He has a bit of a temper, of course, but so do i. He'd do anything to protect me, even if he was going to get hurt, and even though he acts tough, he isn't that mean. But, I don't think he sees me like that" she admitted, not even realizing the feelings until they came spilling out of her.

"It sounds like you really like him." Cheryl reached across the table to grab the girl's hand. "and he would be lucky to have you, I mean, look at you, you're a CATCH. I swear. Even though I could set you up with a sexy, riverdale high footballer player" she said, causing both girls to laugh.

"I suppose so, I guess we will see." she murmured, giving her a small smile. "how are you doing though? better?" she asked softly, looking over at the redhead.

Cheryl nodded. "I'm compartmentalizing. But better. A lot better." she said, and Emma nodded in relief.

"This was nice. Thank you. I really needed this. I don't think I would have really even realized my feelings" she admitted, cheeks darkening again.

"Any time, just like you told me, I'm only a text away, right?" she said with a smile, squeezing Emma's hand. 

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Three short updates in one day! it's only an episode but i felt like they felt better broken up, personally. Who knows when i'll update again. Maybe tmrw or like a month. anyways. enjoy