9

                                    

                                          
La La watched from the pool table as Betty entered the Whyte Wrym. She watched her as she walked over to Toni at the bar. "What's she doing here", Sweet Pea asked as he watched Betty with La La. "She's planning a retirement party for FP" La La said as she turned to look up at him. To La La, Betty looked like a green apple in a barrel of red apples when she stood in the dingy bar. 
                          
"You have a stage. Would you be open to me bringing in a karaoke machine? For FP's retirement?" Betty asked as she stood in the Whyte Wrym. "Sure, why not," Toni said as she did her shift at the bar. "Also, Toni, one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you, beyond the party-planning, is I've been walking the razor's edge since Jughead joined the Serpents and all I've been thinking is You know, as soon as FP gets home, everything will get better because he'll be there to protect Jughead and make sure he doesn't get hurt" Betty said as she looked at the dancer on the stage. "Yeah, I'm following you," Toni said as she cleaned off the countertop. "I mean, with FP out of the picture But that's my whole point. I do worry. So, I wanna keep an eye on Jughead, myself. Make sure that as deep into these snake-infested waters as he goes, he doesn't do something that you know, puts him in danger." Betty continued her worrying. 

                          
"So, what? You wanna be a Serpent?" Toni asked as she stopped cleaning to look at Betty. "Let's say Serpent-adjacent. But, yeah, part of his world, this world" Betty says as she looked behind her to see an old blonde lady laughing. "Shut it, Byrdie" La La snapped as she walked by the older lady. "Sorry, Sweet Valley High, if you wanna join the club, you gotta do the dance Serpent dance," Byrdie said as she turned to look at the girl pole dancing. "Excuse me, Serpent dance?" Betty asked as she watched the pole dancer as well. "It's an outdated, sexist Serpent tradition. Tried to get it outlawed, but misogyny dies hard. You don't wanna know" La La said as she leaned on the counter of the bar. "Uh, yeah, I do. I wanna know everything" Betty said leaning closer to La La.
                          
As Betty was heading out of the door, La La followed her. "Betty, I would be careful if I were you," La La said as she followed the blonde. "I just want to be part of Jughead's world, the Serpent world" Betty stated to the brunette. If it weren't for the Serpent jacket La La wore, Betty wouldn't have known she was a serpent. Like her, Betty through La La is a Serpent because her boyfriend is a Serpent. "Your boyfriend is a Serpent, isn't that why you are a Serpent?" Betty asked the small girl. This made La La laugh as she shook her head, looking at Betty, "Why would you think that?". Betty stood there uncomfortable, "It's just you don't look like you would belong. You're pretty, elegant, and smart. Everything that a Serpent isn't".Betty looked at how La La dressed in her black and white striped pants and a black fitted crop top. La La scoffed at Betty's accusation. Just because she knew how to dress decently.
                          
"I'm a Serpent by blood. I've always lived on the Southside. My father and mother were Serpents, and my father was the King. Before he died he was the King. I'm a Serpent because I did it for my dead father and brother. Not because I wanted to be with my boyfriend. Sweet Pea and I, we started stating long after we were both Serpents. So, if I were you, Betty, I would be careful what you wish for" La La said as she walked back to the entrance of the bar.  
                          
"Jones, you look nervous," Toni said as both she and La La watched his pace. "Want a drink?" Toni offered from behind the bar.  "No, I'm good.I'm just getting a lay of the land,"  Jughead said as he looked around the bar. "Wow, Betty. Mrs.Cooper. You look incredible" Toni said as she saw Betty and Alice walk in. Alice wore a leather jacket with all black clothes underneath, it was so Southside style. "Tell me about it. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince this one to dress appropriately" Alice said referring to Betty in her pink skirt and blush button up," Hog Eye, get me Tequila, straight up, hold the worm". " Hold the worm," Hogeye said as he got a shot out for Alice. La La rose an eyebrow as she watched Alice take a shot of Tequila. 
                          
"I remember your mother and father Layla," Alice said to the young girl at the bar. " you did?" La La said as she was surprised, she knew Alice was a Serpent but didn't know that she knew her parents. "Your father was a great person. Do you want to take one with me?" Alice said as she pointed to her shot. "sure" La La said as she was passed a shot of Tequila. " I have a surprise for you. Later" Betty said to Jughead off to the side. "Hit me, Hog Eye. Honey, what do you want? A Shirley Temple? Just give me two" Alice asked both Betty and Jughead, interrupting their conversation.
                          
towards the back of the Whyte Wrym, Sweet Pea and La La watched as Archie and Veronica sing. The two were actually pretty good singers, they sang the song Mad World. La La looked over at Sweet Pea, "looks like she's about to run off the stage". Sweet Pea laughed as he saw what she was talking about. Halfway through the song, Veronica runs off the stage, Archie following her shortly. "You were right," Sweet Pea said as he placed an arm around La La's shoulders. People started to Boo at the two who ran off the stage, including Sweet Pea and La La. 
                          
The thing that got everyone's attention was when Betty got on the stage. She began to sing the song. Slowly she started to take off her clothes, first with her shirt, then skirt. Leaving her in black lacy lingerie. "What the hell is she doing," La La said as she watched Betty dance on the pole. She was doing the Serpent Dance. La La looked up at Sweet Pea as he had a small smile on his lips as he watched Betty. "Really," La La said as she smacked his stomach before walking away. "Hey, La La" Sweet Pea followed the small girl through the crowd. "Fuck off" La La hissed as she went to the bar for a drink, "Bourbon, neat". Sweet Pea stood next to his pissed of girlfriend. "Hey know what would have been better? If it was you up there" Sweet Pea whispered into La La's ear. 
                          
As the song finished FP jumped on the stage, "let's give her a round of applause! And show her some of that Serpent hospitality we're known for". FP gave his jacket to Betty before whispering in her ear. "You know what? I've been in and out of the Serpents since I was younger than my son. And it's been A wild ride. Good times, bad times, but through it all, the Serpents stuck by my side, while most other people turned their backs on me. My own family included. Now, the letter of the law says that I can't be here in the Serpent den. That I can't associate with my friends. My real family. My blood. But I've been thinking about that. And it'll be a cold day in hell before a snake lets a pig tell him what to do" The crowd cheered as they all hear FP wasn't retiring.