Truth Or Dare

Chapter Five

One week later

Cheryl takes a deep breath as she walks up to Toni. "Serpent, I figured I would let you know. It was a false positive. Thank god." she says, forcing out her bitchy façade. "I don't know what I would've done if you of all people, had gotten me pregnant." she says rudely before walking away.

"What's that supposed to mean... 'me of all people'?" Toni said.

Sweetpea walks up to her and frowns in confusion. "Who are you talking to Tiny?"

"Cheryl." Toni said.

The brunette looks around them. "Where is she?" he said in confusion, not seeing the redhead.

Toni turned. "She was right there."

"Okay, I believe you." Sweetpea responds before nudging her. "Let's head to the lounge, the others are waiting."

"You think I'm crazy?" Toni asked.

Rolling his eyes, Sweetpea leads her toward the lounge. "No, just didn't see Cheryl."

When they reached the lounge, they found Cheryl curled up between Archie and Veronica. She was silently talking to Veronica while Archie pretended not to be listening.

Toni ran her fingers through her hair and sat in the chair that was furthest away from Cheryl.

After a few minutes, Cheryl gets up and makes her way out of the lounge.

Toni watched her leave.

When she turned back toward the group, Veronica was glaring at her.

"What?" Toni asked.

Shifting, Veronica curls into Archie and just continues to glare.

"What? Why are you glaring at me?!" Toni snapped.

"You hurt my best friend." Veronica snaps back before getting up and leaving.

"What? How?" Toni was unbelievably confused now.

Archie shifts and shakes his head before turning to face her. "Cheryl has never been with anyone before, she gave herself to you." he explains softly.

"I made sure she was okay with it, she told me, of sound mind and body, that she was okay with it." Toni said.

Nodding his head, Archie runs a hand through his hair. "It's not that, she's just. Cheryl is fragile, even if she tries to hide it."

Toni shook her head. "Fragile, my ass. She's a bitch."

"You don't know her." Archie says angrily. "You don't know what she has been through." he snaps before also storming off just as Betty and Jughead finally walk into the lounge.

Toni rolled her eyes.

"What was that about?" Betty asks as her and Jughead sit where Archie had just vacated.

"Nothing." Toni said.

Jughead wraps his arm around Betty as they sit on the couch.

****

Cheryl was in the girl's locker room, looking at herself in the mirror. She turned to the side, analysing every ounce of her body. A frown growing on her lips as she notices the tiniest amount of fat on her stomach. She poked and prodded the fat with her fingers.

"Hey." Veronica says softly, walking into the locker room.

Cheryl jumped and turned.

"I may have snapped at Toni." The brunette admits, moving closer to her friend.

"You snapped at her? You shouldn't have done that." Cheryl said.

Veronica sighs. "I know, I'm sorry."

"This isn't her fault." Cheryl said.

"But it is, she got you pregnant." Veronica says, sitting down on the bench beside where Cheryl was looking at herself in the mirror.

"I told her yes. I told her I was ready." Cheryl said.

Veronica reaches out and gently pulls Cheryl onto her lap. "Cher, you did nothing wrong."

"And neither did she." Cheryl said.

Sighing, Veronica rubs Cheryl's back. "Okay, let's not talk about it."

Cheryl sighed and closed her eyes.

"Are you going to tell her?" Veronica asks softly.

The redhead shakes her head. "I told her it was a false positive."

"Why?" Veronica asked.

"She wanted me to get an abortion." Cheryl whispers, looking down.

"But you wanted to keep it?" Veronica asked.

Nodding her head, Cheryl fights back tears. "After JJ died, I didn't have a reason to live. This baby gives me one."

"Honouring Jason's memory and making something of yourself, getting out of Riverdale and away from all the drama was reason enough to live." Veronica said.

Cheryl looks down. "I couldn't bear to live without JJ, he was the light in the den of shadows that is Thornhill."

Veronica sighed. "Have you told your mother?"

The redhead instantly shakes her head. "She'd kill me."

"She couldn't kill you, you're all she has left." Veronica said.

Cheryl shakes her head. "You do not know my mother then."

Veronica sighed.

"I think I'm going to skip Vixen practice today. So you're in charge." Cheryl says, moving to get up.

"You can't." Veronica grabbed Cheryl's hand to stop her from leaving. "You know they don't like when I'm in charge. They prefer you."

The redhead forces a laugh. "You and I both know that's far from the truth."

"You are definitely a better leader than me." Veronica said.

Cheryl shakes her head. "I'm going home." she tells the brunette.

Veronica sighed.

****

"Hey, is she okay?" Betty asks Veronica as they get changed for practice.

Veronica shook her head. "Nope."

Running a hand through her hair, Betty sighs. "I'm worried about her, what happened between her and Toni by the way?"

"I'm worried about her too." Veronica said, pulling her shirt over her head.

Once her practice outfit is on, Betty tightens her usual high ponytail. "You didn't answer what happened between her and Toni."

"You'll have to ask her." Veronica said.

Frowning, Betty crosses her arms. "V, you're my best friend and she's my cousin. Can't you just tell me?"

Veronica shook her head. "I promised her I'd keep her secret."

The blonde sighs and looks toward the door. "What could have happened that she doesn't even want me to know?"

"Ask her." Veronica said.

Groaning, Betty moves toward the door. "Let's just get this practice over with."

Veronica nodded, sitting down on the bench and tying her shoelaces.