Worst of You | Choni

chapter 29

Toni had been crashing at Sweet Pea's trailer since her biggest nightmare had happened. He was nice enough to open up his home for her while his family went on to do business. It's been weeks since Toni had gone to class. But she knew she couldn't avoid it any longer.

"You gonna go back to school yet?" Sweet Pea asked as he walked over to his kitchen to look thru the pantry and refrigerator for a quick bite before school.

"I am, actually." Toni responded, as she finished up putting her light make up on. Sweet Pea hadn't even noticed that she was ready. He typically just walked past her and assumed that she was just going to crash on the couch all day.
Sweet Pea looked up at her after having his head dug in deep in the refrigerator. "I didn't even notice you had gotten ready." Sweet Pea stated. "Are you seriously coming?"

"Yes, I think it's time. I don't think I can sit here and do nothing all day any longer. I want to do and be good. For Asher. Make him proud, you know?" The serpent girl had responded back as she grabbed her backpack, flinging it across her shoulder. She was wanted to be the best. She wanted to make her little brother proud. But she felt it was too late for her to get her shit together. All four years of high school, she basically passed all her classes with the bare minimum.

Sweet Pea nodded. "I'm so glad that you've decided to do this. But, it will be hard catching up and all that.. It's our senior year, and you've already slacked off the first few months."

"I'm willing to take that chance. I know I can do it. Pea... I want to. I mean, I'm still so angry and upset over how everything happened. But, that'll never change. I'm always gonna feel that way. I think... I mean all I need to do is talk to all my teachers and see what I can do to catch up.."

"I got your back, Tiny. If you ever need anything, you know we got you. We'll support you in anything and everything that you do. We're a family. We gotta take care of one another." Sweet Pea said as he grabbed a red bull from the fridge. "Want one?" The tall boy asked, lifting up the drink, showing Toni exactly what it was that he was referring to.

Toni looked up and nodded. "I'll take one. Thanks, Sweets." She answered, not ready but ready to start her new reality without her brother since he had passed.
-
Alongside the pink-haired girls first day back, walked Fangs, Jughead and Sweet Pea. She was glad that she had the support of her bestest friends. Toni looked up at the front doors of the school building and took a deep breath before taking a step in. It was so difficult for her to do just about anything since Asher had gone. She was so angry and so upset in the inside. But, she hid her emotions, trying to motivate herself to be better, to make her brother proud. She walked through the halls of Riverdale High, with her head held high, not trying to show any sign of vulnerability or weakness after all that has happened to her. She walks by the student lounge and notices a certain redhead from her peripheral vision. She hasn't seen that girl since that night every went down. The redhead just sat there talking to Veronica and Betty. She was smiling and all the serpent could do was just look at her and admire that big, beautiful smile. The pink-haired girl didn't know what to do but just stand there.

"You gonna go say something, Tiny?" Sweet Pea interrupted her daydreaming.

"Huh?" Toni questioned, scrunching up her eyebrowsc full of confusion.

"Cheryl."

"No. I think it's best that I stay away. I've already hurt her too much. She's better off without me." The serpent girl stated. Over the past few weeks, Toni has had a lot of time to think. She knew that Asher would have loved Cheryl and would want someone like Cheryl for her, which only made Toni's feelings for Cheryl way more known to herself. Every single day while Asher was in the hospital, she sat there and spoke about Cheryl. Good or bad... The girl didn't realize it then how much she actually spoke about the redheaded beauty. She couldnt fathom her own feelings. It scared her to actually care about someone other than her baby brother.