Roommates | CHONI |

Twenty Two

Toni ran to Veronicas as fast as she could not even bothering to get her bike. She burst through the door finding Veronica sat on her couch. 'So V what you got?' Toni said as she tried to catch her breath. 'An address I think, about an hour or so drive from here'. 'Okay so we need a plan, I'll call the boys' Toni said pulling out her phone 'thanks Veronica'. Jughead and Fangs were at Veronicas in no time. A glimmer of hope on their faces as the brunette said she had a lead. 'Okay T so what's the plan?' Jughead asked. 'So...' Toni breathed out 'we go first thing tomorrow, stake out the place find out if Cheryl's there. If she is I go in while you guys wait outside ready to leave'. 'Okay Tiny sounds like a plan but don't you think our bikes will make too much noise?' Fangs asked. 'Leave that to me' Veronica nodded. 'Okay we will meet here at 8am sharp, go get some rest guys we're going to need it'.

As much as Toni tried to sleep she couldn't, she spent the night tossing and turning hopeful that tomorrow she'd get to see Cheryl again. The night turned into day and Toni had managed to get a little sleep, her alarm sounding at 7am so she had time to get ready. Toni knocked on Veronicas door ten minutes earlier than expected but to her surprise Jughead and Fangs were already waiting for her. 'You ready T?' Jughead asked as he pulled her into a hug, she nodded against his shoulder. 'Okay let's do this' Fangs smiled. Veronica shut her door and locked it 'cars in the parking lot, let's go'. Veronica and Toni got into the front of the black Chevrolet Chevelle while Jughead and Fangs jumped in the back. Without a word they set off to find Cheryl hoping some how they'd be able to rescue her from her awful parents.

The drive was quiet but not completely silent as the group went over their plan of checking out the place and waiting to see if there was a way of Toni being able to get Cheryl out. Toni's could feel the butterflies in here stomach as she bounced her foot trying to clear her mind. 'I think we're close' Veronica said slowing down around a corner before coming to a complete stop 'there that's the place' she pointed to the end of the street. 'Jesus' Jughead breathed 'this place is where nightmares are made' as they all took in the giant gates and the gothic mansion that sat behind them. 'Okay so now what' Fangs asked. 'We wait, once we know she's in there Veronica will walk around to see if she can find a way for me to get in, it'll look better than a gang member creeping around'. Just as she said that she saw a car pulling into the drive. 'Are they... nuns?' Veronica looked confused. 'I think so' Toni looked at the boys. It had been a couple of hours, the group of friends sat there as they watched the house intently and seemingly forever until the car of nuns that had drove through the gates was driving back out. 'Wait' Veronica sat forward pointing at a window 'I'm sure that's...' 'Cheryl' Toni whispered. 'Right guys we have got to get this right, V you go, be as careful as you can. If and when you find a way in we wait until dark' Toni said her eyes still on the redhead until she disappeared back behind the curtains. Veronica gave them a nod as she got out of the car and walked down the street towards Cheryl's mansion. Once she got to the gates she looked around, they were electric so they were out of the question. She followed the long wall which was way to tall to climb around the corner where she was met with a smaller gate, this one chained shut. This could work, looking through the metal gate she could she the family's graveyard as well as the acres of land the house sat on, she knew Cheryl was rich but this was ridiculous.

As she opened the car door and climbed back inside she took in the worried expression of her friends. 'Okay guys there's a small gate to their personal cemetery if you follow the wall around to the right. It is chained though so Toni we need to get that off before you can get through'. 'That won't be a problem, I'll come with you to the gate Tiny and take care of the chain so you can get your girl' Fangs smiled. 'Thanks you guys, this really means a lot' Toni smiled. 'Just one more thing though Toni, how are you actually going to get to Cheryl?' Jughead asked. 'I mean there's the vines that run up to her window, I'll climb those' Toni shrugged. 'And getting her out?'. 'I'll cross that bridge when I come to it' Toni said as they all nodded 'but guys if this goes wrong or I get caught you need to get out of here okay? I don't want you guys getting into trouble, especially with these people'. They nodded but only to please her, the boys would never leave Toni and neither would Veronica. With the sun setting Toni started getting nervous, what if Cheryl didn't want to come with her, what if she was too late but she pushed that to the back of her mind and prepared herself. 'Fangs as soon as you've cut that bolt you need to get straight back to the car okay? You can't be seen and make sure you wear gloves, snobs like this will have the police looking for evidence straight away'. 'No problem Toni'. 'Okay Toni you ready?' Veronica asked. 'Yeah let's do this' she said as she opened the door. She followed Fangs to find the gate. 'Okay this must be it' Toni whispered. 'Wow Toni this place is creepy, I think I'd rather have grown up on the Southside than this place' Fangs said as he got the bolt cutters in place and cut through the lock. They quietly untangled the chain before pushing open the gate. 'Okay, good luck Tiny, we'll be waiting for you!'. He pulled her into a quick hug before pushing her forward and turning around to run back to the car.

Toni crept through the gate pushing it closed but not completely for an easy escape. She stood for a moment taking in her surroundings, trying to gage her best bet at getting in unannounced. There were still random lights on so she assumed that Cheryl's parents were still awake but that was a risk she was willing to take. She sneaked towards the mansion avoiding the windows the best she could. Once she made it to what she was sure was the vine wall beneath Cheryl's window she gave it a tug to be sure it would hold her weight. Looking around again to be sure no one was around she began to climb, it was tricky but she got up to the window without too much trouble. She peaked through the window but couldn't see inside, the curtains were shut and this made things harder. Just because they had seen Cheryl in this window earlier doesn't mean that this is her room. Well it was too late now and she was here so she had to try. As quietly as she could she knocked on the window. Nothing. She knocked a little bit louder this time as she held her breath.