The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Twenty

Tuesday had passed by like any other day, nothing really happened. Toni took Tommy to school and went to work herself, she didn't see or hear from Cheryl at all but she didn't mind too much, it was all new and they didn't need to be with each other every second of the day. She spent the evening watching movies with Tommy before having an early night falling asleep thinking about the day ahead and her date with Cheryl. Wednesday morning Toni walked Tommy to school as he talked about his friends. She was glad he had settled in well at his new school and he hadn't had any problems with being the new kid. She kissed him goodbye as she watched him run into his class, once he was settled she turned to leave the school knowing that Cheryl was waiting for her in the parking lot.

She approached the familiar red car bending down and knocking on the window. The redhead rolled it down looking at her date. 'Waiting for someone?' Toni joked. 'Actually yes, I have a hot date' Cheryl smiled. 'Really? Lucky girl' the shorter woman laughed as she opened the door and got inside, she leaned over placing a kiss on the redheads lips. 'So, Pops?' Toni asked. 'Actually there's a restaurant I regularly go to, I'd like to take you there if you'd like?' Cheryl asked shyly. 'I mean, if you want' Toni shrugged. 'Great' she smiled as she put the car in drive and drove to the restaurant. She parked in the parking lot down the street before getting out of the car and moving around to open the door for her date. 'Thank you' Toni smiled bashfully taking the redheads hand. They walked towards the restaurant hand in hand. 'That's quite the line' Toni said as she noticed the people waiting to get in. 'Yes, it's a popular place but Veronica and I are in business with the owner' Cheryl said leading Toni passed the customers waiting. 'Miss Blossom' the staff member on the door nodded in greeting as he let her passed. 'Ah Miss Blossom, your usual table?' the waiter asked. 'Yes please Bradley, this is my date Toni Topaz'. 'Nice to meet you Miss Topaz, please follow me' he said as he showed them to their table.

'I'm definitely not used to that' Toni laughed. 'What?' Cheryl asked as they sat across from each other. 'The whole Miss Topaz thing' she smiled. 'We can leave if you are uncomfortable' Cheryl said unsure. 'No, I didn't mean like that' Toni smiled reaching for the redheads hand 'it's nice here'. 'Okay, what can I get you both this morning' Bradley smiled with his notepad in his hand. 'I'll have a croissant and a latte please and for the lady?' Cheryl said looking over to Toni. 'Um the same please' she smiled at the waiter. 'I'll be right back' he nodded after jotting down their order. Cheryl just watched Toni taking in the building. 'What?' she blushed when she saw the redhead was staring. 'You're just so beautiful' Cheryl grinned. Before Toni could cover her red cheeks the waiter was back with their breakfast. 'Wow that was fast' Toni said shocked. 'They have good service here' the redhead smiled but was met with a raised eyebrow from Toni 'not as good as the service at Pops, of course'. Toni just laughed until she saw Cheryl's face stiffen and her eyes following a woman approaching their table. The brunette woman stopped right in front of them both. Ton's eyesi moved between Cheryl and the stranger feeling the tension thicken instantly.

'Madison' Cheryl nodded 'can't you see I'm busy, what do you want?'. 'I wanted to give you the opportunity to tell me what the hell's going on, I thought you weren't looking for a relationship but here you are with who I assume is your new 'beau' as Veronica said' the brunette spat. 'Who I'm with is nothing to do with you' Cheryl shrugged not wanting to waste her time with the obsessed woman 'how many times do I have to tell you we was never together'. 'It didn't feel like that when we was together, I love you and you do this to me, I could have given you everything, make you feel things she never could' she said spitefully at Toni causing her to raise an eyebrow. Cheryl pushed her chair back as she stood up 'excuse me a moment Toni' the redhead said as she grabbed hold of the brunette and dragged her away. 'Don't trust her, she'll break your heart' Madison to Toni said as Cheryl moved her out of earshot. Toni could see hands flying around in a heated argument and Cheryl pulling away when the woman tried to grab her hands. Maybe this was too messy Toni thought to herself. She saw some of the staff approach the arguing women to see what all the commotion was about before they escorted the brunette out of the building. Toni noticed the redhead running her hands through her hair in frustration before making her way back over to their table. Toni adverted her gaze looking anywhere but Cheryl.

'I'm sorry about that Toni, I didn't expect her to be here' Cheryl apologised. 'Who was that?' Toni asked. 'Do you remember when I went to the club with Ronnie and I told you about the unwanted interaction with someone I, now regrettably hooked up with, well that's her. Madison, completely crazy'. 'She seems really into you' Toni shrugged trying not to look too obvious that she was digging for information. 'Well I don't care, I'm only interested in one person and she's sat here with me now' Cheryl smiled sweetly. 'Cher, do I need to worry?' she asked meeting the redheads eyes. 'Of course not TT, don't let her get to you, I'm not the person she's making me out to be' she said reaching for the other woman's hand 'trust me okay?'. 'Okay' Toni nodded squeezing the redheads hand not missing the new nickname. They continued drinking their latte as Cheryl asked about Tommy. 'He's really missing his uncles' Toni said sadly. 'Do you want to call them? You can use my phone so they can't trace anything back to you'. 'It's not them I worry about, it's him' Toni said looking down. 'Well I can put my phone on private so no number shows up, will they still answer?' Cheryl asked. 'I guess I can try'. Cheryl pulled out her phone putting it on private and handing it to Toni 'do you want me to give you a moment?'. 'No, please stay' Toni said not letting go of Cheryl's hand using her other hand to type in the memorized number. She brought the phone to her ear, feeling more and more nervous with every ring.

'Who is this?' the familiar voice said on the other end of the phone.
'Sweet, it's Toni' she said nervously.
'Toni? Are you okay? Where are you?'.
'I can't tell you where I am right now but Tommy and I are both safe I just wanted you to know that'.
She heard rustling on the other side of the phone before the voice of her other brother came on the phone.
'T? What happened?'.
'Fangs, I had to leave Lukas hurt Tommy, I couldn't let him live like that anymore' she couldn't stop the tears falling.
'That bastard. Can we speak to Tom?'.
'He's at school but Lukas can't know you have spoken to me'.
'As if we're going to tell him T you're our sister. We went to your place when we hadn't heard from you but when he said you had abandoned him and took his son we thought he'd done something to you. We beat him but he didn't tell us anything obviously he didn't know where you were'.
'Thank god, do you know if he's doing anything to find me?'.
'I haven't heard anything T, he probably couldn't afford it anyway since all his money goes on alcohol'.
'I know but Tommy is still legally his son and I can't take a court battle right now' she sighed.
'Look Toni, we won't tell anyone we've spoken but we need to see you. We miss you'.
'Fine let me arrange something and I'll give you a call back shortly'.
'Okay T we'll be waiting'.

Toni hung up the phone and brought her hands to her head 'this all seems a little heavy for a date' she tried to chuckle. 'Real life can be messy' Cheryl shrugged 'I want to be here for you'. 'I need to find a place out of the city to meet them' Toni breathed out. 'Well I know a quiet town, Greendale, it's around an hour and a half away if that's far enough away? I could drive you there on Saturday, if you'd like' the redhead offered. 'I may as well get it over with, I doubt Lukas will follow them but you never know with him'. 'Call them back, I'll pay the bill'. Cheryl had left the table before Toni could refuse. She picked up the redheads phone redialling her brothers number and arranged to meet them at the town Cheryl had mentioned. They were happy and if Toni ignored all of her negative thoughts she was happy too. The redhead approached the table when she had noticed Toni was finished on the phone. 'Do you want to head to my place for the rest of the day until Tommy finishes school?' Cheryl asked. 'Sure' Toni said taking the hand offered to her as they walked back to the car.

As they drove back to Cheryl's place Toni was too lost in her thoughts to speak. 'So I couldn't help but overhear your brothers names' the redhead asked glancing at her date. 'Oh yeah, Sweet Pea and Fangs, they don't go by the names our parents gave them anymore, they haven't since we were kids' Toni smiled. 'How come you didn't give yourself a nickname as a child?' Cheryl questioned. 'Well technically I do, Toni is a nickname' she shrugged. 'Wait, what?' Cheryl said turning to her before setting her eyes on the road again 'so what's your real name?'. 'I'm not telling you, you'll laugh' Toni grinned. 'No I will not' Cheryl defended 'just tell me please' she said placing her hand on Toni's leg 'I promise I won't laugh'. 'Fine' Toni huffed playfully 'it's Antoinette'. 'Antoinette' Cheryl repeated 'that's really pretty I like it' she smiled. 'Are you lying to please me?' Toni laughed. 'Of course not' Cheryl winked. Toni just shook her head and looked out of the window placing her hand on top of Cheryl's.