Every time I run away you're never far behind | CHONI |

Eight

Cheryl walked into her hotel room slamming the door behind her causing Tabitha to almost drop her phone on her face as she sat up.

'What the hell happened?'

'I can't stand that woman. I swear I don't know if I'll be able to make it to the end of this trip without doing something I'll regret.'

'What do you need me to do?' Tabitha asked and that caused Cheryl to break out of her anger with a small smile. 'I've got your back, you know that. If you want to beat her up we can do that, but first do you want to tell me what happened?'

'I was talking to Toni and-'

'Wait... you were talking to Toni? When? Where?'

'The hotel bar about five minutes ago before Ashleigh interrupted.'

'Does she know she's pissed you off? Because you know you can't let her get to you. She'd love that.'

'No, of course not. I walked away like I owned the place, but still she infuriates me. I just want a conversation with Toni where we can catch up without her causing issues every time.'

'She's threatened by you. You should be honored that you had such a special relationship that even years later the current girlfriend is jealous.'

'But she still has what I don't. No matter how much she's threatened by me, she still has Toni and they'll go back to their lives and I'll go back to being alone.'

'You're not alone. You have me.'

'And I'm forever grateful for you,' Cheryl said. 'You're the best friend a girl could ask for. I don't think anyone else would do this for me.'

'Like I said, I've got your back. You're just lucky that there hasn't been any hot single guys because I may have strayed away.'

Cheryl laughed, 'I'll set you up on a date with someone of your choice once we get home.'

'I'll hold you to that. Finding a good man where we're from isn't easy.'

'Neither is finding a good woman.'

'Hey! You have me,' Tabitha said with a smirk. 'Let's get ready. Betty and Jughead's party is starting soon.'

'I don't know-'

'You're going. End of discussion.'

***

Betty and Jughead were staying in the wedding suite which was out of the way of other guests so they could have the music as loud as they wanted and that's exactly what they did. Cheryl and Tabitha were surprisingly the first to arrive and that's simply because Tabitha thought her friend may change her mind about going. After greeting the soon to be married couple Cheryl headed straight for the alcohol and luckily there was plenty to choose from.

Everyone apart from Toni and Ashleigh arrived soon after. The redhead was slightly relieved that she could relax for now, but that didn't slow her down from drinking. She looked around at all of her old friends, how everyone seemed the same but different all at once. Cheryl knew she'd missed out on a lot, she'd moved away before they'd really become adults, but she wouldn't change it. At least she wouldn't for the most part.

She had her own shop where she sold her work, she had Tabitha who was the best friend she could ask for and apart from not finding love she didn't have a bad life. She just didn't have Toni which was the only thing she craved. Even after all of these years she still longed for her and she'd come to accept the fact that she always would.