We Used To Be

Chapter 10

A/N: I’m probably not going to do any work right now but I’m here so that’s what counts. It’s like a week later and I really don’t want to write. I'm feeling pretty rubbish today but I should really get this done :/ I just read an unfinished fanfic marked as complete and im crying it only needed 1 more chapter and it was last updated 2020 </3 I’m so uninspired I really can’t be bothered but this needs to be out by tonight and I’ve only written 200 words lol. This is already a day late but I’m so uninspired. I only have 500 words left as well. This is my worst Chapter so far - I’m so uninspired. Ugh I hate this so much. It's finally done thank god. 30k words ayyy

Toni awoke relatively early and immediately got up, she had a guest in the house after all. She wobbled a bit, dizzy after getting up so quickly but grabbed the door handle and trudged into the kitchen. It’s almost as if she had expected Cheryl to have left, gone back to Miranda but to her pleasant surprise, she was already in the small kitchen, putting the kettle on. Toni attempted to sneak up on her but Cheryl was already aware, she always was. 

“Hi Toni,” Cheryl grinned as Toni jumped slightly from behind her, startled at her being caught. 

“Morning,” Toni said, recovering. They always used to do that.. Every morning. It was weird how quickly they had slipped back into tradition. 

“I made you coffee,” Cheryl smiled, pouring it into an old christmas mug and handing it to her. They brushed hands slightly but Toni pretended not to notice, that was kinda weird. 

“Thanks,” Toni nodded and went to sit down. 

“I’ll be out of your hair soon,” Cheryl promised, disappointing Toni a bit. But she was right, she couldn’t stay forever… Right?

“No honestly, it’s fine, I really don’t mind.” 

“But-” 

“No really I insist, stay as long as you need.” 

“Thanks Toni,” Cheryl sighed, relaxing into the opposite armchair. 

She wanted to support Cheryl, she really did but part of her was also selfish. She wanted to be near Cheryl, she would be lying if she said she hadn’t missed her. But she would definitely lie to anyone who would ask. Nobody needed to know. 

~~~

The rest of the morning was Toni telling Cheryl how things had been, skipping the uncomfortable parts of course, and Cheryl just listening. She didn’t really speak much but she seemed genuinely interested in Toni's life, and she had just been through a heck of a lot and Toni really didn’t want to push her. She probably didn’t want to talk anyways, when she was sad in highschool she used to cuddle up in Toni’s arms and listen to her talk about whatever was on her mind. They weren’t in highschool anymore but here they were, Cheryl upset and listening to Toni ramble on about anything she could think of. 

“Do you want to stay for lunch?” 

“Thanks Toni, but I really should get going. I have to go see the girls at Pops.” 

“Oh I didn’t know you were going to that?” 

“You’re going too?” 

“Yeah, today at 12 right?” 

“Yeah! Oh well that’s great!” Cheryl’s eyes crinkled when she said that - not that Toni noticed but that meant she was being genuine. There was absolutely no happy feeling in her heart.. ok maybe there was. 

“Do you want me to take you? Since you.. don’t have your car right now.” 

God please say yes.