Strange Connection

Chapter Thirteen

She had heard it. Toni's real words. From her mouth. Toni liked her.

There she was standing right in front of Cheryl, eyes shut tight and eyebrows knit together. Cheryl was too stunned to speak, realizing that all her delusions and gossip sessions with Betty were not as far off from a fantasy as she thought. Though all this was, until today, a dream that lived in Cheryl's head alone.

"If you don't feel the same, I completely understand," Toni started to step back.

"No, no!" Cheryl grabbed her arm, jostling her eyes to open wide and look for any sign that would give her an answer. 

"I mean," Cheryl recomposed herself, "I feel the same, Toni." 

Smiles graced both of their faces, followed quickly by giggles releasing pent-up nerves. Without Toni's apprehension, Cheryl saw her confidence return in her signature smirk and pointed attention. She breathed out, "I think we should get you home Cher."

She realized the sobriety that came with her anxiety was dissipating, and going home might not have been the best idea.

"I can't go home like this," she motioned toward herself, "After the punch."

Toni laughed, "I think you'll be okay."

"What if I stay at yours?" Cheryl surprised herself with the boldness but pinned it on the alcohol. The girl in front of her paused, trying to let her down easy, she assumed.

"What if you stay with Betty? I don't think your parents would like to find out you've been staying with me." She said, scratching the back of her neck. 

"I guess you're right. My mom is convinced you're some sort of serpent or south sider," Cheryl partially slurred along, "which doesn't make any sense!" She snorted thinking about her mother's accusations, not noticing the difference in enthusiasm with the girl across.

"Yeah, that's weird." Toni began ushering Cheryl out to the van, asking in the group chat if Betty and Archie didn't mind leaving a bit early. No surprise, they happily obliged and Betty agreed to take the tipsy mess home with her. Based on the silly smile planted on Cheryl's face, Betty knew she'd be hearing about the dance all night anyways - better in person than on the phone.

The van made it's way back to the Blossom residence, making it's way past the gates and back up to the misfit cars of the gang. They piled out, Cheryl, Betty, and Archie heading to his car and Toni to hers. Archie went to start his car up while the rest said their goodbyes. 

"Archie is going to drop Cheryl and I," Betty motioned to the girl in question, "off at my house."

Toni smiled at girl swaying back and forth, "Must be nice being neighbors with your boyfriend."

"It does have it's perks, yes." They shared a moment before saying goodbye, Betty taking the front seat next to Archie.

Cheryl looked to Toni, unsure of how to part. Their feet scuffled along the pavement, meeting for a hug. "Goodnight, Cheryl," Toni said, head next to her ear, before pulling away. Cheryl unabashedly racked her eyes over her one last time for the night, blushing at what she saw. She started to the car, but quickly changed course again, planting a quick - but full - kiss on Toni's cheek.

"Goodnight Tones!" Cheryl called out, unsteadily hurrying to the car. The engined reved as the small civic made it's way down the shady driveway, Cheryl waving out to the awestruck Toni Topaz.

Once she thought she was out of ear-shot, Cheryl screamed, "I kissed her on the cheek!" The car erupted in squeals and hollers from the three celebrating teenagers.

Toni stood fixed in her place, listening to the cheers coming from the slowly disappearing car, jaw completely dropped. She touched her cheek, where a light silhouette of the girl responsible's matte lipstick was stuck. A grin spread across her face, not to leave her for the rest of the night.

...

NOTE:

Hello everyone, I have not been on Wattpad in like a crazy long time. Anyways I basically gave up on my stories on here. However, I had these last couple of chapters written for this story and I felt like it was better to leave you guys with a "sort-of" ending. There are some crazy plot holes, I know, but I figured this was better than nothing since I already had them. Anyways, I'm on AO3 now under the same name and I write mostly Willow fanfics and oneshots, so if you're into that, come check it out. Again, sorry for the cutoff.