one thing about me is that if my first impression of someone is “what a strange-looking person,” there is a 100% chance that I will end up attracted to them
Pairing: Sweet Pea x Andrews!Reader, Reggie Mantle x Andrews!Reader
Warnings: Riverdale being wack 🤷🏻♀️ also language
Summary: After your dad was shot by the black hood, Archie has gone off the deep end, little did you expect yourself to question your northside loyalties
Author’s Note: Sorry, it’s taken so long! Check out our masterlist or #switch flipped series for the other parts. Let me know if you want to be tagged! -Milla
Word Count: 2,784
The holidays had come and gone. Christmas trees that were once radiating with the scent of fresh pine had reverted to dry needles covering living room floors. Forgotten decorations remained in dark corners not to be found until February. The feeling of conclusion washed over Riverdale. Instead of being preoccupied with new shoes or shiny cars families were thankful to be breathing. The Black Hood met his end a biting December night much to the relief of your family. No longer would you be fearful for the lives of those closest to you. For the first time in weeks, you felt safe, like you were home again. Although that didn't stop the irking feeling of evil being hidden under your nose this whole time, walking the same fluorescent hallways of Riverdale High.
You pushed the nagging to the back of your mind as you sat by your window. Snowflakes fell to the pavement melting upon impact. Riverdale was colder than usual, salt covered every road and sidewalk to keep lives moving instead of cooped up for the final days of break. Your eyes drifted toward a familiar figure exiting the Cooper house, a grey hat acting as armor against the frost. Your mind started to wander back to another young serpent.
The last time you saw Sweet Pea was at FP's "retirement party." You had shown up in support along with Betty, Archie, and Veronica. While the other three decided to put on a show of their own you stayed back talking with Jughead or sitting with Toni at the bar. It wasn't the most comfortable night. You were obviously out of place in the musky bar, Veronica and Archie's rendition of "Bad World" didn't help. You left to find your brother midway through Betty's impromptu striptease. As you pushed your way passed oggling, drunk men, your face crashed into someone's chest. Your eyes trailed up to meet a familiar smirk.
“Easy there, watch where your going Princess,” Sweet Pea spoke over the slow music. You shook your head, embarrassed.
“Did you see where my brother went?” You attempted to look over his shoulder. He leaned back against the poster covered wall and motioned his head toward the exit. “Thanks,” you rushed. Sweet Pea nodded and crossed his arms moving his attention towards the stage.
The temperamental state of high school relationships made an appearance that night. You had tried to comfort Archie the same he did for you when you broke up with Reggie, but you knew he was still in love with Veronica. After Betty and Archie caught the black hood, they rekindled their respective relationships, at least to a friendly degree. Balance restored in Riverdale, or so it seemed.
“Students of Riverdale High, this is your principal speaking. E-mails have been sent to your parents, but effective immediately, Southside High School is shut down. Its students will be transferred to other schools in the district, including this one,” the second Weatherbee’s monotonous voice flooded through the intercom chaos ensued.
The usual hushed highschool chatter amplified to the thousandth degree. There was a tension flooding the hallways. It was to be expected. The northside and southside are seemingly two completely different cultures, cultures that in most people’s eyes should be kept separate. You never understood the hate toward the southside. Yes, it wasn't as pretty as the neighboring northside suburbia, but the people living there are the same as everyone else. It’s not like anyone made an effort to help “clean up” the southside anyway, so what gives them the right to judge the people for doing their best to navigate what northside politicians gave them? Your dad played a significant role in your acceptance of the southside.
Fred Andrews loved his town almost as much as his family and not just one half of it. He welcomed southsiders, namely a few Southside Serpents with open arms to his construction company. Fred never took an issue with the wrong side of town. Although he would never let you travel there alone, you had visited Jughead at the Twilight Drive-In countless times. It had an unmistakable charm; not even the most clean-cut northsider could refute. Now that it shut down the southside’s reputation went further downhill.
When Veronica asked you if you would help her greet the new Southside High students and try to make them feel comfortable walking into the Bulldogs den you jumped at the chance. She knew you would. While you were ecstatic for Jughead to return you couldn't help but hope he’d have his new rag-tag trio following behind him.
Things had been weird in the friendship department ever since you and Reggie split. Of course, Midge was still your rock, but Moose didn't have much of a reason to talk to you anymore. It was a weird feeling. Reverting to social status, you hadn't felt since the 8th grade. No more cheering for your friends at football games and treating them to a victory dinner at Pop's. No more rides to school from Reggie when it's raining. No more cozy couple's corner to sit at during lunch. It was the little things that caught you off guard. And you felt bad for Midge who was stuck in the middle of it all. You didn't want her to have to choose between sitting with Moose near Reggie or help you find a new domain to eat lunch.
A piece of you wished nothing ever changed, but the rest of you saw this as an opportunity to grow. What better way to grow than by befriending Jughead's southside pals? They seemed nice enough the few times you met them. And knowing the mentality of Riverdale High, they'll need a northside ally. Not even a minute into Veronica’s introduction to the new students, the cavalry rolled in.
"Listen up, Raggamuffins," Cheryl started. You bit back a laugh at her attempt to sound intimidating regarding your school's above average GPA. She continued spewing her fascist regime until Toni challenged her. Before anything more could come of it, Archie decided to try and diffuse the situation. You were proud of your brother; he was starting to relax back into the open-hearted Archie you knew. Your admiration for your brothers change of agenda was cut short.
"You don't speak for the Bulldogs, Andrews," Reggie butted in. "And need I remind you, these greaser-snakes showed up at your place trying to kick your ass," he said with a hand on Archie's shoulder glaring towards Sweet Pea and Fangs. You noticed Sweet Pea's face contort into venom as he pushed forward at Reggie. Before another rumble broke out, you spoke up.
"A fight that Archie started in the first place," you looked apologetically towards your brother for throwing him under the bus. Reggie looked back at you almost bewildered.
"You're really defending these thugs?" He waved his finger at the group. You took a seething breath pushing your way in front of Reggie and Archie.
"Thugs? Reggie?" You couldn't help but snort at the irony, "have you seemed to forgotten who Riverdale High's resident drug dealer is?" With each word, your tone got sharper. You hadn't breathed in Reggie’s direction since the break. You didn't have the patience. "Apologize. Now," you crossed your arms.
Reggie looked at you as if you had a third head. His mouth floundered searching for his next attack as he glanced between you and the motley crew. You noticed Sweet Pea stepped forward breaking free of Toni and Jughead's grasp.
"I'd listen to the princess if I were you," Sweet Pea glared at Reggie. The bulldog snarled in return ready to lunge. Before he got the chance, Veronica cut in, followed by the bellow of Weatherbee.
The two forces dissipated in opposite directions. You and Veronica lead the southsiders and fellow members of the welcoming committee to the student lounge where you could finish handing out schedules and assigning tour guides in peace. Veronica made it halfway through the list.
"Who would care to show Sweet Pea around fair Riverdale?" She lifted her eyes above her reading glasses at the clump of clean-cut teens. Whispers tangled throughout the group as they stared at the brooding boy. Shaking your head at their shallowness, you stepped forward.
"I'd love to," you smiled at the surprised serpent. "C'mon Sweet Pea," you said walking out of the safety of the lounge. The two of you walked in silence as you showed him to his first-period and second-period classes. It wasn't necessarily uncomfortable. Neither of you knew what to say. You weren't exactly friends, but not strangers. While walking, you glanced up towards the clock. Six minutes before the bell inevitably rang you stopped short of Sweet Pea's giant steps. He mirrored your sudden halt.
"Um, the bells gonna ring soon, do you maybe want to pick this up during lunch?" You offered. Sweet Pea retuned a hint of a smile and agreed, taking a last look at the room numbers on his schedule before folding it and putting it in his jacket pocket. "Cool, I'll meet you back in the student lounge," stepping back you parted ways.
You tapped your pencil between your fingers on your musty textbook. History seemed especially historical today. Your teacher droned on, dust practically collecting on every word she said. All you could think about was finishing touring Sweet Pea. You were excited to see new faces around Riverdale High. Even now you looked toward your left and spotted washed out pink hair. Finally, the bell snapped you out of your gaze, and you swiped your supplies back in your bag.
You caught up with Toni in the hall as you both headed to the lounge. She plopped down in the chair next to Fangs who was already talking to Kevin by the time you arrived. Not too long after Sweet Pea took a seat next to Kevin while Jughead took his place in the center chair. Josie and Veronica approached the gaggle of teens to made small talk and introductions. Before any meaningful conversation commenced Weatherbee barged in.
“You guys!” He commanded while pointing. We all shared glances of confusion. “Yes, you, come with me.” He promptly exited the doorway. Shrugging, we followed him to the middle of the hallway where a previously sparkling Bulldogs logo remained on the floor. As we looked closer, a green squiggle revealed itself to be a poorly drawn Serpent, tragically mimicking the same one on Jughead’s jacket. “Now! Which one of you defaced our school seal with this graffiti?” He asked pointed at the leather-clad teens.
“This is what they do, principal Weatherbee,” started Reggie in a matter of fact tone. “They tag their turf,” he smirked eyeing the tallest serpent.
That smarmy son of a bitch. “God Reggie, could you be any more transparent?” Veronica took the words right out of your mouth. Weatherbee decided on banning all serpent paraphernalia, including tattoos. At this moment you thought Sweet Pea might be regretting the placement of his own. When everyone retreated back into the lounge, you stood your ground staring at Reggie. Weatherbee and the spectators had continued about their business.
"What the hell Reggie," you were the first to say something.
"I don't know what you mean Y/N," he replied feigning innocence.
"There's only one person in this school with a car fast enough to get to the store and back with still enough time for an amateur art project during his free period," you deducted. "What's your problem with them?"
"They don't belong here," he tried to reason, "they're bad news."
"You don't know a thing about them, Reggie!" Your arms raised up in exasperation. He continued going off on his wrong side of the tracks rant. Most of it muddled through one ear and out the other as you squeezed your eyes shut pinching the bridge of your nose. Then you heard it.
"Babe, c'mon you can't-" Reggie attempted, but you cut him off.
"You don't get to call me that," your voice sounded hollow, "you're, not my boyfriend anymore Reggie. You made that choice yourself."
He didn't get a say in what you chose to do or who you chose to associate with. Without bothering to hear his reply you backed away from him. The person in front of you wasn't the bright-eyed boy you fell for. He was infected with the pain of loss and neglect which contorted into a hatred for people who threated the one slice of normalcy he had left. You wouldn't let him pass that virus to you. As you stepped through the doorway of the student lounge, you didn't notice a certain Serpent eyed the confrontation through the wall of windows. The leftover scowl on your face forced itself into a mildly pleasant smile. You walked up to Sweet Pea determined to finish his tour. He swiftly dug the tattered schedule from his pocket and followed you through the halls.
"We have math together 4th period," you said stopping by the door to the dreaded classroom. "There's an empty seat by me after some kid transferred to Seaside. You can sit there if you want? Um, I mean you don't have to it's just an option if you-" you rambled worried you were being to forward.
"Thanks," he stopped you gently.
You nodded curtly and continued with the tour. Your hands clasped in front of you twiddling with your fingers. You were nearly finished. After showing him the gym, all you had left was the library. You took your phone out of your pocket smiling triumphantly, still 10 minutes to spare before the end of lunch. Looking up to your side you noticed Sweet Pea was staring at you, he was biting the inside of his cheek.
"Do you have a question about anything," you asked suspiciously. It took him a few moments before he concluded what he was going to say.
"What was with you and that Bulldog earlier?" he questioned innocently.
"What? Reggie? He's just an idiot," you tried to brush it off. Sweet Pea's brows furrowed, quirking his head to the side.
"Really? It looked kinda intense?" He must have seen you clenching your jaw as he quickly added, "sorry, uh, its none of my business." His hand offered to surrender.
"It's fine," you smiled reassuringly. "Let's just finish this tour shall we?"
He nodded brightly. You were surprised the way he marveled at the library. His eyes noticeably fixated on the few rows of computers. After that grand finale, the two of you said your goodbyes as you headed towards your respective third periods. Your mind started to wander. Why did he seem so interested in you and Reggie? Was he trying to make small talk? Or perhaps he was taking intel on the enemy? Whatever his motives were the bell disrupted you from sleuthing any further.
Even the smell of the math class made you sick. The second you stepped foot in that room you were bombarded with the scent of worn out erasers, used up pencils, and tears. All trying to be masked by your teacher's obnoxiously citrusy chalkboard cleaner. You took a seat in your familiar spot second row from the back. You took out your textbook and notebooks, hissing as they slipped from your hands. Frazzled you tilted your head back to the front of the room. Sweet Pea stood next to Mr. Chase, holding back a smirk. He had obviously seen your blunder. Sweet Pea nodded at whatever Mr. Chase told him, taking a textbook from his hand and headed towards you.
"So which one's the empty seat you were talking about?" He said pointing to the desks either side of you.
"Um, this one," you motioned to the desk on your right, adjacent the window. The boy took his seat, his long legs miraculously fitting under the table. Throughout math you held your head in your hand, struggling to keep up with the chicken scratch written on the board. Accepting defeat, your attention turned to Sweet Pea. His face was scrunched in concentration. His tongue peeked out from his lips as he clenched his hand around his pencil frantically writing away. You were amazed at how the pencil hadn't snapped due to the white on his knuckles. The dog tags around Sweet Pea's neck glinted in the sunlight that flooded through the cracks of the drawn blinds.
You didn't understand how Reggie could see him as evil or vile. He had been polite and kind to you without incentive that night at Pop's and carried that reputation next to you. Maybe now you had a reason to look forward to math class.
All your life - your upbringing, your training, Akuze, ICT - has prepared you for this. You know you're ready, you know you can do what you need to do. It's everyone else that you're worried about.
Rated: T
Warnings: None (yet)
Pairing: FemShep/Liara (eventually)
Chapters: 1/??
