I'll Be There

Ch. 9 - And It's Too Broken To Be Open

The night of Toni's accident, and the next day. Toni gets to go home and some drama happens 🙃

Sorry for the late update. I worked today and tonight has been busy with the holiday. Happy boom boom day, or whatever 🎇

Also follow Kass (SoftforChoni) on Twitter.

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"Cher..you came," were the first words Cheryl heard when she walked through the hospital room door. Her eyes landed on Toni, who despite being in pain and having had a motorcycle accident, was smiling from ear to ear. 

And at that moment, Cheryl realized she knew exactly why she decided to do whatever it was that they were doing. 

Toni.

And that damn magnetic pull. 

Cheryl smiled back at her as she walked closer, sitting in the folding chair next to her bed. “Hi, Toni. I’m so sorry you got hurt,” she spoke as she gently moved a stray piece of pink tinted hair behind Toni’s ear. In doing so, she noticed a couple of light hickeys on her neck. A knot formed in her stomach. 

Did she really choose Laura? No, she couldn’t have. 

“Don’t be sorry. I’m just a little sore and have a cast on my arm. I think it’s pretty badass,” Toni smirked. "Plus, they gave me some good pain meds. I barely feel a thing." It was quiet for a moment, the only noise in the room being the beeping of machines and the birds chirping outside the open window. Toni sighed, “Laura and I are over. For good, I promise. I was going to end things with her anyway, but…”

“But what?” Cheryl asked. 

Toni told her everything. She wanted to be completely and utterly honest with the redhead. She told Cheryl that she and Laura had slept together, but that she felt incredibly guilty. And she told her about Ashley, and the conversation that took place near the coffee shop. 

“Fuck,” Cheryl whispered. 

“I shouldn’t have been driving. I should have pulled over or just chilled at the hotel until I cooled down, or...I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“TT, you have nothing to be sorry about.” The redhead held onto Toni’s free hand with both of hers.

“I do, Cheryl. I’m fucking sorry about everything. F-for dragging you into all of this, for agreeing to do this,” she motioned between them with her finger, causing Cheryl to pull away. “No, Cher. That’s not what I mean. I want this. I want you, and I want us. I just shouldn’t have done it this way.”

Cheryl nodded with understanding. She agreed, and she hated that she was such an impatient person. She should have waited. 

“Cheryl…” Toni let go of the redhead's hand, moving it to her cheek. “I want you, and I should have realized it sooner. I’m sorry that I didn’t. And we can take this slow. As slow as you want or need.”

Did Cheryl want them to go slow and take their time? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she wanted Toni.

"Why did you do it?" Cheryl asked, getting a confused look from the pinkette. "Why did you sleep with her?" 

Toni sighed, "As selfish as it sounds, I wanted to make sure that my feelings were real. I was going to end things after this weekend, anyway. Probably when she got off work today, but she wasn't really at work…" 

"Do you think that's why she suggested that you not go downtown and take photos?" 

Toni's eyes widened. She was right. That had to be the reason.