Toni Topaz never gave much thought to a life post Cheryl. The very idea of assuming a relationship might come to an end someday was far too depressing. Through ups and downs, the thought never actually occurred to her until one day it actually happened. She hadn't meant to set everything into motion. It all just kind of snowballed out of her control. All she had wanted was space, but Cheryl was Cheryl and that was one thing she was more than familiar with. It didn't take very long for the whole school to know the relationship had ended. Toni was on the mailing list of Cheryl's student wide chain email after all. She had read the words herself as she sat outside her uncle's trailer still trying to work up the courage to ask for a place to stay for the night. She had a duffle filled with her belongings. She had scrambled to find everything she could before rushing out of Thistlehouse before Cheryl got home, and Toni was well aware she may have left a few things behind in her grand exit.
It had been weeks since then. She had been berated at every musical rehearsal as though she never meant anything to the girl she had loved, and still loved despite it all. It wasn't fair. Nothing ever was in Toni's life anyway. She didn't have parents. She lost all her friends, and now her girlfriend hated her.
Maybe it was a misstep to act out in the way she had. It most definitely was but at this point nobody could kick her any lower than she already was.
At first, she felt anxious stepping foot into the halls of Riverdale High, head to toe dressed in red as though she was cosplaying as a giant red flag. She knew Cheryl wouldn't like it. She would take it personally and after everything Toni had been put through lately, she felt like the girl might deserve a little pettiness in return.
It was just clothing after all. It wasn't as though she was walking around school spreading rumours or treating her like the help. That wasn't her speed.
At first she felt as though nobody cared what she was wearing and that was most definitely an accurate description of the students who she had walked past. The only person who seemed to care was the creepy farmie girl Toni wanted nothing to do with. She locked eyes with Eveyln who simply smiled back at her. It made Toni squirm. She turned her head and wandered down another corner to visit her locker.
She checked to see what books she needed for her classes and shifted them to the front, so it was easier to grab and go when the bell finally sounded.
She turned her head to the sound of a bubble gum bubble bursting. "Hey." She smiled as she slammed her locker shut.
"What's with the outfit?" Peaches asked with a raised brow.
Toni chuckled, nervous energy evaporating out of her. She felt better being around the one familiar face she still had in her life. "Don't even ask." She told her, stepping away from the lockers to walk down the hall with her.
They made it to the end of the hallway when Peaches was flagged down by a teacher, wanting to tell her off for chewing gum during school hours.
Toni watched in amusement for a moment before her attention was stolen by another classmate who had a question regarding the choreography she had been teaching.
"Um, did you have a lobotomy for breakfast?" Cheryl demanded as she marched up behind her.
Toni let out an agitated sigh. For a moment there she had forgotten all about her petty plan to ruffle Cheryl's feathers.
She turned around expecting to get a tongue lashing and she most certainly did not expect anything less from the fiery red head.
"You're wearing my signature colour!" Cheryl said when her eyes finally met with Toni's.
"You don't own the colour red. Red existed before you." Toni said, matching the other girl's tone. She knew it was a mistake but there was no point in backing out now. She wasn't a quitter.
