Roommates | CHONI |

Thirteen

Cheryl's alarm went off waking Toni up as well as herself. 'Morning' the pink hair girl yawned. 'Good Morning' Cheryl smiled back. Finally a morning they didn't have to rush to get ready, they'd both got up early enough to take their time to wake up. Suddenly the quiet was filled by Cheryl's phone ringing. 'Shit' Cheryl said jumping out of bed. 'Is everything okay?' Toni looked up confused. Cheryl held her hand up to Toni as she readied herself and answered the video call. 'Good Morning Mother, Daddy'. Toni could hear the tension in her voice. 'Dear god Cheryl look at you, what are you doing still in your pyjama's, disgraceful'. 'Mother it's barely seven'. 'Cheryl Marjorie Blossom that's no way to speak to your Mother, she's right you wasn't raised to be a slob, you should be ready for the day. How ever are you going to find a husband that'll put up with you looking like that'. Even Toni flinched at that but Cheryl morphed her face into her signature fake smile. 'Of course Daddy you're right, apologies Mother'. 'Anyway Cheryl we called because we realised the anniversary of our darling Jason's death was when you was due home on your break from college but we won't be home if you was planning to visit his grave. We need to mourn our son without you trying to make it about you'. Toni was frozen watching the scene unfold. Cheryl was mortified that Toni was hearing the whole conversation but her face didn't show it, she had learnt how to hide her pain. 'Understood. Thank you for calling'. And without a goodbye they hung up.

'Cheryl are you okay?'. Cheryl gave herself a moment before she faced the other girl, a smile plastered on her face that definitely wasn't fooling Toni. 'I'm fine Toni, my parents are right I should get ready' she nodded as she grabbed her clothes and made her way to the bathroom. She came back out without a word as Toni went to get ready. When Toni came out of the bathroom Cheryl had already left, her bed perfectly made as was Toni's. The Serpent couldn't help but feel bad for the girl. She understood why the redhead was terrified after they shared a kiss, if her parents were to find out she liked girls they'd likely disown her. Toni shook her head, it made her angry, Cheryl was a good person she knew she was, her parents were stopping her being who she was and no one should ever have to experience that. She decided she was going to try and talk to Cheryl later on before she went to work.

Toni found Jughead at lunch. 'Hey' he smiled. 'Hey Jug, I've got some good news for you'. 'Really? What is it?'. 'Betty agreed to come over to Veronica's Saturday'. The smile on his face was worth it Toni thought. 'I'll have to speak about meeting arrangements with her tonight though, I called work off for the evening tomorrow' Toni said, she thought she'd spend some time with Cheryl after this morning. 'Cool how about a movie night at your place, we can crash at yours' Jughead shrugged. 'Jug were not kids anymore, we're getting a little old for sleepovers' Toni laughed. 'Come on Tiny'. 'Fine I'll speak to Cheryl, I don't know how me, you and fangs and going to squeeze into my bed'. 'We've been in worse situations Toni'. 'You're not wrong' she laughed. She was just hoping Cheryl would be comfortable with the boys staying over, if not though she would arrange something else. The pair chatted about the party on Saturday, Toni careful not to mention Cheryl and what had happened this morning.

On her way back to her room Toni picked up some flowers in a box from the store, she was hoping it would cheer the redhead up. She unlocked the door to their room but Cheryl wasn't home, she placed the flowers on Cheryl's bed while she got ready for work. She hoped to catch the redhead before she had to leave but unfortunately for Toni Cheryl didn't return. She left the flowers on Cheryl's bed writing a note 'here if you want to talk. Toni oxox'. She headed to work feeling deflated. She knew she'd spend her shift distracted thinking about the redhead. Toni made arrangements with Betty about the party at Veronica's as she wasn't at work the next day as she had originally planned. Every time the door jingled Toni hoped it would be Cheryl but it wasn't, it was another quiet evening so she spent most of her time chatting to Betty. The chime of her phone in her pocket got her attention.

Cheryl Blossom sent you a message.

Cheryl Blossom: Toni thank you for the flowers they are beautiful. I appreciate your concern but I can assure you I am perfectly fine.  

Cheryl had returned home when she was sure Toni would have left for work, what she didn't expect was the box of flowers sitting on her bed. She closed and locked the door behind her before curiously approaching the flowers. After she read the note Toni had left she couldn't help but allow a tear to slip from her eyes, no one had ever cared to check if she was alright after her parents were cruel to her. But as she thought more about it in the small amount of time she had known Toni that's all she did, try and look out for her. Cheryl huffed thinking back to this morning where her parents obviously tried to use Jason to hurt her but she also remembered the mention of her finding a husband. She cringed, Toni heard the whole thing. She decided to send Toni a quick message telling her not to worry and that she was fine. She didn't want Toni thinking less of her because she couldn't handle her parents. She wished she could find a man that had Toni's personality but she soon backtracked on that because it wasn't just Toni's personality that she liked, it was her soft skin, her kind smile, her body, literally everything about her. She was attracted to Toni, the only person she's ever felt anything towards but her parents would never accept it, she knew what her parents were capable of and she'd live a life of misery before she would allow anything to happen to Toni. 

Cheryl spent an hour in the shower feeling the burning water on her skin. She craved a conversation with her brother, he'd give her advice and tease her about her crush on Toni. She missed him dearly, she knew he wouldn't mind who she had a relationship with as long as she was happy. He wouldn't want her living the best time of her life in fear of their parents. She turned the water off when her pale skin had turned bright red figuring if she stayed in any longer it might mark and Toni could ask questions. She stepped out of the shower and grabbed her fluffy towel wrapping it around her body. Wiping the condensation off the mirror she looked at herself, really looked at herself. What could she offer someone as sweet as Toni, she was cruel like her parents an 'emotional anorexic' as her own Mother described her. She didn't deserve Toni, in the end there was only pain, that's all Cheryl felt she was worthy of. She pulled herself away from the mirror and got into her pyjamas.

When Cheryl opened the door, Toni was sat on her bed, the redhead jumped a little before breathing out 'Toni I'm sorry I didn't realise I had been in there so long'. 'No worries Cher, you good?' Toni didn't want to push but she thought it's better to double check. 'Toni...' Cheryl sighed. Toni held her hands up in surrender 'I'll drop it'. 'Thank you' Cheryl said as she crossed the room. 'Actually Cheryl there was something else'. 'Yes?' Cheryl looked at her. 'Jughead suggested I host a movie night here with him and Fangs. They wanted to crash here if that's okay?'. 'Where will you all sleep?' Cheryl asked. 'In my bed' Toni shrugged 'we've been in worse situations'. 'Well there's always space in my bed if you get uncomfortable. I've already had to endured Veronica I'm sure you can't be worse than that' Cheryl decided not to mention the night after the party where she had woken up wrapped in Toni's arms. 'Okay cool' Toni tried to play it off even though her heart was beating that fast she was sure Cheryl would be able to hear it. 'I better get a goodnights sleep if your hooligan friends are staying over tomorrow' Cheryl joked. 'Yeah I don't blame you' Toni smiled 'they can be a bit much. Goodnight'. 'Goodnight Toni' Cheryl said getting into bed 'And thanks again... for the flowers'. 'You're worth it' Toni smiled as she shut the bathroom door.