There was an uncomfortable moment of silence, as both Cheryl and Toni sat, both stunned by Cheryl's words.
"Toni?" Cheryl finally asked cautiously. She still stared blankly ahead.
"Did- Did you hear what I said?" It was a stupid question to ask, and she knew it, but Toni's eerie unresponsiveness made the moment extremely uncomfortable.
"I heard you." Toni said. She swallowed and looked at Cheryl, as if she was considering something.
"And?" Cheryl asked. Was she about to be rejected? It sure felt like it. And by the girl who several weeks ago had been in hysterics over her leaving her, to a point of no shame.
"I don't know." Toni said honestly.
"You don't know?" Cheryl asked incredulously, blinking.
"Well damn it Cheryl, don't act so surprised!" Toni snapped, "Do you think after all the suffering you put me through, you can just come around on your own terms, tell me that you love me, and I'll just jump right into your arms so we can live happily ever after?"
Cheryl floundered for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"Do you know what I've been going through?" Toni asked her. Her eyes narrowed, and Cheryl's face flushed, her cheeks burning. She'd just unleashed something. Toni had come here to talk, and now she truly was going to say everything she needed to.
"I gave my virginity to you. I did anything I could to make you happy, and made my life revolve around you. I gave you everything, without even getting an actual relationship in return. You know why Cheryl?"
It had sounded like a rhetorical question, but after a long pause Cheryl realized Toni was looking at her like she expected an answer.
"Uh..." Cheryl wrung her hands together nervously, trying to carefully word a response she would like to hear. But she didn't give her time.
"Because I love you!" Toni answered, "And I never once saw that love reciprocated. I asked for a relationship with you, and you left me to be with another girl. Do you know what that said to me Cheryl? That I was just an object to you!"
"But that's not true! I don't think that, I swear!" Cheryl interrupted, wanting her to understand she meant it.
"You used me for sex day and night, and when I asked you to give me anything beyond that you walked out on me." Toni said. Her voice quivered, and she couldn't believe how much of her pent up emotions she was setting free now, but she couldn't stop.
Cheryl looked at her pleadingly, "Toni, I'm sorry, I-"
"I'm not finished." Toni's voice was angry and icy. Cheryl shrunk back, fearing the sound of it. Before tonight, she'd never heard her speak to her so harshly.
"After that you ignored me." Toni continued, "I had to see you every fucking day at school, and watch you with another girl, who by the way, I think deserves to know what you did behind her back, if you plan on continuing a serious relationship with her."
"Toni I just told you I love you." Cheryl interrupted. Another stone cold glare from Toni and she fell silent again.
"You ignored me every single day, despite the four classes we have together. Didn't I deserve some sort of closure at least? I cried nonstop over you. You can't even imagine how bad you hurt me." she stopped an inhaled a large breath. She gotten extremely wound up while spilling her heart.
"Toni, I am so, so, so sorry." Cheryl began sincerely, "I know I put you through so much heartbreak, but we could move past that, and I promise I will never hurt you again."
