Roommates | CHONI |

Eight

'Cheryl wait' Toni called but Cheryl had already closed the door behind her. As she went to stand Fangs spoke 'give her a time Tee, she needs a moment to herself. She really kicked his ass, she can look after herself'. Toni slumped. 'You've got it bad Tiny' Fangs sent her a kind smile. She just threw herself back on Cheryl's bed, trying to ignore the smell of the redheads perfume that lingered on her sheets. 'What you gonna do? Ya know the whole situation?' Jughead asked. 'She's confused I think, I'm not gonna push. We actually agreed to be friends before you guys came over. She might not even be into girls, she called it a momentary blip'. 'Well good luck, Red seems like a okay person behind the whole rich girl persona but don't be someone's experiment' Jughead stated as nicely as he could. It had been around half an hour and Cheryl still hadn't come back to the room. 'I've got to go and make sure she's okay' Toni said. 'No' Fangs said 'let me go, there's too much going on between the two of you whether you both choose to ignore it or not'. Toni didn't object, it would go one of either two ways, Cheryl would either speak to Fangs or tell him to mind his own business. She wasn't sure which. Before Fangs closed the door he turned to Toni 'I'll make sure she's alright'. Toni appreciated her friends even with all the teasing, they looked out and cared for her. Even enough to run after a complete stranger to make sure she was okay because they knew Toni was worried about her.

The sun had set and the temperature outside had dropped. Fangs saw the redhead sat on the wall just outside the double doors of the entrance to the dorm. He took a seat next to her. 'Want one' he said as he pulled a cigarette from his jacket, lighting it and taking a drag. 'I don't smoke' she said not even bothering to look at him. She took a deep breath 'thanks for the offer though'. She was trying and Fangs recognised that, he'd also put up a wall trying to hide his sexuality years ago pushing anyone away that tried to help him even if it meant him being cruel. He stood up and Cheryl thought he was about to leave but to her surprise he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders before taking a seat next to her again. 'So do you want to talk? I heard Nick say something about the other night, he didn't force you to do anything you didn't want to did he?'. 'No that was all me' the wall around her was crumbling faster than she could put it back up. 'Oh I just thought with kissing Toni last night... was that a mistake?' Fangs asked but he wasn't judging. Cheryl internally flinched 'Yes. No. I don't know' a tear escaped her eye before she could stop it 'It shouldn't have happened, Toni's a girl'. 'And..? Toni's a great person'. 'I know she is Fangs'. 'When I figured out I was gay it was confusing too, I yearned to be 'normal' like everyone else but you know what I learnt?'. 'What?' Cheryl looked up at him. 'I am normal and I'm worthy of love, just like you are' he wrapped a arm around her. To say these guys were in a gang they were extremely caring Cheryl thought. 'I don't know what to do, this is all too much. I'm supposed to be with someone like Nick. That's what my Mother always told me 'find a man that will put up with you and make him happy'. She wouldn't accept anything less' Cheryl admitted. 'Forget about everyone else Red, forget about your Mom, put yourself first and accept love even from friends, if anyone disagrees screw them. They don't deserve to be in your life'. Cheryl didn't say anything. 'Look I'm not asking you to admit your undying love for Toni...' Cheryl shot him a glare 'but at least think about what you want. And be honest with yourself and Toni, either way she deserves to know where she stands. Now come on lets get back inside'. Cheryl nodded, Fangs words whizzing through her mind.

When Fangs walked in with Cheryl following him wrapped in his jacket Toni was relieved but also thankful that she had such amazing friends. Cheryl handed the jacket back to Fangs with a small smile. 'Jug we should get going we've got a busy day tomorrow'. 'Yeah man see you both later' Jughead said hugging Toni goodbye and sending a smile to Cheryl. 'See you tomorrow Toni and I guess I'll see you around Red' he said as he hugged his goodbye to Toni. Just as the Serpent was about to close the door he heard his name being called. 'Fangs... Thanks, you know for the talk' the redhead girl smiled. 'Anytime Red' he nodded before he closed the door. Toni for some reason felt nervous she had no idea what Fangs had said to Cheryl outside but it was enough to get her back here so it couldn't have been bad. 'I'm sorry I wasn't here' Toni looked at the redhead. 'Toni, it's fine you didn't know and your friends had my back. Let's not talk about him anymore. I'm really tired, do you mind if I go to bed'. 'Of course not'. Cheryl grabbed her nightwear and made her way into the bathroom. As always Toni stripped off her clothes while Cheryl was in the bathroom pulling on an oversized shirt and crawling into her own bed. She moved her eye's away from her phone when she heard the bathroom door open, Cheryl came out with her hair in a messy bun, a bare face and deep red silk pyjama's and Toni has never seen a sight more beautiful. 'Everything okay?' Cheryl asked as she slips into her own bed and Toni realises she's been staring 'yeah fine' she shakes her head. Cheryl picks her phone off the bedside table ignoring the messages from Nick, setting her alarm and after being distracted she looked up at Toni 'goodnight Toni' and turned around. 'Goodnight Cher' Toni smiled as she turned off the lamp and grabbed her phone. There was a notification from Instagram.

Cheryl Blossom followed you.

Toni felt her stomach flip, what was this girl doing to her. She couldn't help but click on the profile. As she scrolled through it gave Toni more insight to Cheryl's life, she scrolled through pictures of Cheryl with a cheerleading squad, some sketches which were impressive, a lot of selfies which made her smirk. Cheryl really was a girl who posted her life online, well all the good bits at least. She couldn't resist double clicking on a photo of Cheryl, with the amount of likes the girl got Toni was pretty sure she wouldn't notice. As she scrolled down she came across a photo of a redhead boy who looked a lot like Cheryl but a little younger with the caption 'Miss you'. Toni frowned but pushed it to the back of her mind as she scrolled back up to the top of the page and clicking the follow button. Cheryl laid awake staring at the wall, she could see the light shining on the ceiling from Toni's phone. She'd imagined she was scrolling through her Instagram as Cheryl pretended to sleep. Cheryl saw this as a gesture to Toni, showing her she was trying. After everything that had happened over the past few days or even her whole life she finally felt some sort of peace. Toni yawned as quietly as she could manage before pushing her phone under her pillow, closing her eyes and falling asleep.