Strange Connection

Chapter Ten

"Mr. Andrews this is great," Cheryl complimented as she took small sips from her cup. 

"Yeah, I think we may be looking at tonight's winner," Toni chimed in.

Cheryl saw Toni finish her cup rather quickly and strike up a conversation with the Andrews. She admired how well she was able to make connections, despite talking to someone who was used to being on the opposite end of the social spectrum. Granted, it was Archie. The boy was just like his dad, ready to forgive and see the best in people. They were just what Riverdale needed, herself included. She hoped they won tonight.

The two girls walked around the whole circle, finally having tasted every cider the festival had to offer. She threw the paper cup away and wrung her hands together as she drifted toward the middle of the field once again. Cheryl looked at Toni to gauge her thoughts. They hadn't set an exact ending to their time together and there wasn't much else to do at Ciderdale until later. The other girl had a line between her eyebrows and her arms crossed, in a contemplative expression. 

"What's wrong?"

The expression fell and her head swiveled, "Nothing, just wondering if you were down for a little adventure?" Her voice heightened near the end and her smirk found its way back to her lips.

Cheryl bit her cheek. She almost declined the invitation out of old habits, remembering back to when Toni couldn't be trusted. Things were different now. There was no trace of danger around Toni Topaz anymore. If anything, Cheryl felt slightly safe.

"Where to?" She questioned.

Toni's smile grew, "I want to take you to my old hangout as a kid. I built it with a couple of friends."

Cheryl made a face and Toni laughed at the reaction, "Come on, I'll show you. It's in Fox Forest."

Built it?

...

Toni led Cheryl through the Southside. Not more than a couple of blocks down from the park stood Fox Forest. By day, the forest was a beautiful array of greenery and nature. By night, the forest would get clouded with mist and fog, making it something out of a horror movie. Cheryl paused, hesitant to enter with the sunset starting right around the corner. Toni stopped, having realized she was walking by herself for a couple of steps.

"Hey Cheryl," Toni came back to face her, "It's okay, I promise people make this place out to seem worse than it is."

Cheryl nodded silently and took slow steps forward. Toni stuck her arm out for her to grab onto. She looked plainly at the proposition before her, almost not believing what she was seeing. Her hesitancy lasted so long that Toni started to retract and she quickly clung to the brunette's side. 

They slowly made their way down the uneven path with sunbeams reflecting off leaves onto their faces. Every so often Cheryl would look over to Toni and see the light create a glint in her brown eyes. She was sure not to get too close to the girl while holding her arm, not wanting to overstep what she was given.

"Here it is," Toni announced proudly as she looked up. Cheryl followed suit and tilted her vision to what should have been the top of a tree, but instead was an old treehouse. She dropped her grasp on Toni's arm and let her run ahead to the ladder.

She started climbing and called down, "Let me check if it's safe first!" Cheryl saw her flip the trap door over and disappear into the structure. A couple of loud bumps could be heard, which she could only guess was Toni jumping to test the stability of the floor.