Cheryl's heart jumped for joy as she picked the paper up from the stoop in front of Thistle House. She had heard the loud thump of the paper hitting the door and decided, instead of letting Toni get the paper, like she usually does, she would let her darling TeeTee sleep in for a few moments longer. She dragged herself out of the comfort of Toni's arms and down the stairs to, annoyedly, pick the newspaper up and discard it atop the table. It seemed as though all the town could talk about was Reggie and her involvement in the whole thing. Cheryl had had enough of it.
However, this morning paper was different.
Of course, after Cheryl read the paper she was squealing like a little girl on Christmas, discovering all of her toys underneath the shiny Christmas tree. The sound startled Toni into a state of worry. She couldn't tell whether Cheryl's squealing were sounds of joy or utter turmoil. She can never really tell with her girlfriend.
Toni raced downstairs, awry pink locks flying in every single direction as she nearly tripped over her own feet down the creaky wooden stairs.
"Babe?" Toni called into the sudden silence of the house. She could've sworn that she heard Cheryl's squeaks of either enjoyment and happiness or displeasure and terror. Her gaze around the large vestibule of Thistle House was suddenly halted as Cheryl came skipping out of the kitchen, the newspaper still in hand.
"Oh, TeeTee!" She shouted very suddenly, startling Toni into a flinch. "I'm so glad you're awake, my sweet! Take a look at this!" She held the paper out to her girlfriend, hands practically shaking with excitement. Toni took the paper in hand, Cheryl immediately rushing behind her to look at it with her. Toni briefly skimmed the paper as Cheryl held tightly to her shoulders. Her face ran through a plethora of emotions: first excited at the fact that their names had been cleared, then upset that a serial killer had taken Reggie's life, and, lastly, disgusted at the excerpt of the letter that she had read.
Once she had finished reading, Toni folded the paper in half.
"So, my love, what'd you think? Aren't you ecstatic?" Cheryl bounced on her toes, holding Toni's cheeks between her hands. Toni sighed.
"Sure." She shrugged, walking out of Cheryl's grip and into the kitchen, dragging her feet the entire time.
"Shutterbug," Cheryl began, catching up to Toni with a concerned sounding tone to her voice. "What troubles you?" She snaked her arms around Toni's waist, resting her chin on her shoulder. She felt Toni's shoulders raise and then drop with a sigh. Cheryl was beyond confused. Their names had just been cleared of a horrific crime which they had been fighting for a long while to prove their innocence in. Toni should be jumping for joy, practically singing all of her words as she speaks, not sighing and acting all exasperated.
"Babe," Toni turned to face Cheryl, her expression full of concern. "I know that you're excited about our names being cleared and all, but," She looked away from the redhead for just a moment, taking in a large amount of air. "Reggie's still dead. He was still murdered. And just because you, nor I, nor Sweet Pea or Fangs, didn't have anything to do with it, doesn't mean we should be celebrating." Cheryl understood Toni's words. She's always been the more logical one in the relationship which is why Cheryl takes everything that Toni says directly to heart. She's a smart girl and Cheryl knows that. And, besides, TeeTee does have a point.
"I suppose you're right, chéri." Cheryl sighed at how Toni seems to always be right. About everything. "I suppose I could be a little more sensitive about the whole situation." Why must she always be right? I'd hate it if she wasn't so cute. Cheryl thought to herself.
"But," Toni smiled, a smile that easily melted Cheryl's heart. Cheryl smiled back purely out of instinct. Whenever Toni smiles, she finds herself filled with the most wonderful feeling of joy that human could possibly experience. "I understand why you're excited." Toni brought her hands up to rest against her girlfriend's cheeks, feeling the same fulfilling joy in her heart as Cheryl did. "And," Toni leaned forward slightly, Cheryl's eyes falling onto Toni's lips. "I suppose, a small amount of celebrating wouldn't hurt anyone." Cheryl knew exactly what Toni was referring to as their lips touched. She smiled against Toni's un-glossed lips at what exactly she was insinuating.
"I think that's a fabulous idea, TeeTee." Cheryl said between a kiss. They both giggled as their lips connected, Toni swiftly turning around, not severing the connection of their lips, so that her back faces the entrance to the kitchen. She reluctantly pulled her lips away from Cheryl's and took the girl by the hands. Her devilish smile told Cheryl something about what the girl might say next.
"I think," Toni began walking, taking Cheryl with her as their hands were still linked. Toni suddenly pulled Cheryl harshly by the arms and into her body. "Perhaps, we should take this celebration..." Toni let go of Cheryl's hands and took a step up one of the stairs. "To the bedroom." Toni smiled connivingly for just a moment before turning around and walking up the stairs, not waiting for an answer. Cheryl stood at the bottom of the stairs, mouth agape, staring at the absolutely gorgeous girl she is able to call her girlfriend, walking up the stairs. Jesus Christ, how did I get so lucky with her? Cheryl thought to herself as she followed her girlfriend up the stairs, preparing for a morning filled with nothing but kisses, curves, and the final relief of knowing that the rest of the horrid town in which the girls live are finally aware of their innocence.
___________________________________
A/N: This'll probably be the last chapter I'll do in this format?
What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments ❤️
