Chapter Twenty

                                    

                                          
Caia was trying to forget about what had happened at the speakeasy that night. She had been ghosting Reggie, ignoring his calls and staying as far away from him as possible. Veronica too, but that was hardly plausible when news broke that Archie had come back to town. She couldn't let her relationship problems get in the way of her friendship. So she went to the group celebration at Pop's, of course.
                          
"Two chocolates, two vanillas, and a root beer float for Archie," Pop Tate recited as he set down the drinks in front of each respective customer. "Welcome home, son."
                          
"Thanks, Pop," Archie voiced. 
                          
Betty furrowed his eyebrows at the former redhead who has know home dark. "Since when did you drink root beer floats?" She questioned as she handed Pop her credit card to pay. 
                          
Archie shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I'm just not in the mood for a strawberry milkshake." Caia didn't blame him. She wasn't much in the mood for her milkshake, either. 
                          
Jughead sighed at the way Archie was acting. "New drink, new hair, new haunted vacant look in your eyes-" he observed. 
                          
"Guys," Veronica interrupted. "Archie just lived through The Revenant, let him order what he wants."
                          
Oh, right. That was new too. Archie had gotten attacked by a bear during his solitary isolation. 
                          
Archie looked around at the small group of friends. He noticed Caia staring intently at her milkshake, but didn't say anything about it. "So," he began. "What'd I miss while I was gone?" He inquired. 
                          
Betty glanced down at the table and then over at Veronica. Roni decided to break the news. "Well, thanks to the town quarantine orchestrated by my father, Pop's was shut down and just reopened," she explained. "And he's also been attacking shipments to the speakeasy. But, thankfully, I've hired the Serpents as my full time protection," Veronica turned to her boyfriend. "And that service extends to you, Archie."
                          
"You don't have to worry about Hiram's goons coming after you or your dad," Jughead informed. "You won't be able to see 'em, but I have guys watching you twenty-four seven. And I have a possible lead that could diffuse this threat permanently," Jughead assured.
                          
Everyone seemed surprised by that. Even Caia looked up, her eyebrows furrowed on confusion. "What, Jug?" Betty questioned.
                          
Jughead made a quick once over of the restaurant to make sure no one was listening before leaning forward. "You can't tell anyone," he stated. 
                          
Caia nodded. "We won't," she promised. 
                          
Jughead nodded, then began revealing his information. "Fangs is deep undercover in the Gargoyle Gang," he admitted. "He hasn't met the king yet, but he's still working on it. And when we get access to him, we're gonna take him down." Caia raised her eyebrows at this lofty goal. "My bet is that it's Hiram underneath the mask." He gave a way stare over at Veronica, judging for her reaction. "Sorry, Veronica."
                          
"Don't be. I wouldn't put it past him."
                          
"Well, there goes studying for the SATs," Betty sighed. 
                          
Archie set his milkshake down, seeming alarmed. "What? SATs?"
                          
Caia nodded. "Yeah, they're this Saturday," she informed. She had completely forgotten about them to until a poster in the school hallway had reminded her. 
                          
Archie sat back as this realisation hit him. Veronica put her hand on his leg as Betty tried to reassure their friend. "Don't worry, Arch. I'll help you study and get you caught up, okay? We all will." She offered. Archie sighed, exasperated.
                          
Suddenly, Pop Tate returned to the table. "I'm sorry, Betty, but your debit card was declined," he informed. Betty took the card back, staring at it with confusion.