Forbidden Love

Chapter 7 We'll Be Free Someday

Cheryl didn't feel up to being at school, she was still in a lot of pain it hurt to move or walk and it was starting to get harder to hide from all the others, even the teachers were starting to get worried. But she kept going and tried her best to ignore the sharp pain she felt in her ribs. It was finally time for lunch and she couldn't wait to be around Toni, she hadn't seen her all day since this morning when she told Toni what had happened. That's how she found herself sitting at the table with Clay, Fangs, Sweet Pea, Tabitha, and Jughead. "Hey, Cher how are you?" Clay asked smiling up at the redhead who was taking a seat beside Toni, "hey I'm good today is dragging though" she exclaimed giving him the best smile considering the pain she was in. "Are you all ready for our first official meeting?" Fang's voice was low but the excitement was there. "Hell yeah though we still haven't come up with a name" Tabitha explained taking a bite out of her sandwich. "Good point we probably should" Toni heard herself say.

It felt good to be around people who weren't judgmental or cruel Cheryl never thought she would find a group of friends who made her feel so calm, being around Toni's friends really showed the redhead a different way of life and honestly she couldn't be happier. "So Cheryl what's it like growing up with two brothers?" Sweet Pea heard himself ask he had Noah who was his baby bro but he couldn't have certain conversations with him and he took care of him since their parents weren't around. "Honestly it's not as bad as people may think, I mean Jason is my twin so he's kind of like my best friend too and Julian does his own thing but sometimes he can be an okay brother" She smiled thinking about how protective Jason and Julian were, no matter what she always felt safe whenever her brothers were around especially Jason. "That's swell" Jughead smiled at the redhead before focusing back on his typewriter. "Babe, do you have to write at lunch? You need to eat" Tabitha nudged her boyfriend playfully, "I'm sorry I'm just so close to finishing my novel" he explained before typing again. "You're writing a novel" Cheryl heard herself say, "Yeah I've been working on it for months" Jughead replied not taking his eyes off his novel.

"I love how talented he is but sometimes it's annoying when I want some attention from my beau" Tabitha admitted leaning her head on Jughead's shoulder. "I know I promise ill make it up to you" Jughead placed a sweet kiss on top of Tabitha's head. "You guys are so cute" Toni teased. The group sat in comfortable silence. It was so difficult for Cheryl and Toni, they wanted to hold hands and be a couple, and even though the group all knew about the relationship they still couldn't be all loving in public and it sucked. At least in the dark room, they can be themselves. "Holy shit I've got it!" Toni heard herself say loud enough for the group to turn and look at her. "Got what T?" Fangs asked looking at his friend. "Why don't we call the group Black Athene!" Toni whispered. "Yes I love that, that's perfect" Tabitha heard herself say and the group all agreed. The bell rang through and everyone got up ready to head to their next class. Cheryl wanted to talk to Jughead and luckily he was the last to stand up. "Hey, Jughead can I ask you something" she heard herself ask, "Sure what's up?" He replied putting his typewriter away. "How would you feel if my brother Jason could work with you sometime? He really wants to write but our parents won't allow it, but maybe if you two could sometimes meet up you know whenever he hasn't got basketball and you could help him out?" Cheryl asked her tone full of hope. "Yeah for sure I would be happy to work with him sometime" he replied smiling at the redhead, "yay amazing ill let him know, thank you" Cheryl thanked him once last time and then began to make her way to her next class.

Toni sat in maths but she couldn't stop worrying about Cheryl, all she could think about was the awful bruising and the hurt and fear in her eyes, she wanted to protect the redhead, the thought of her going back to that hell she has to call home filled Toni with anxiety and anger. She promised to keep it quiet and she would but a part of her wanted to confide in a couple of her friends so they could plan a rescue mission but of course, Toni knew that wouldn't be possible because no matter how much it hurt Toni knowing Cheryl was away from her and she couldn't protect her it was still Cheryl business and it wouldn't be right to bring up something that has nothing to do with Toni, but at the same time she felt it was her duty to protect Cheryl and keep her away from any form of danger but she couldn't so she would just protect Cheryl from a distance until she finds a way to save Cheryl. She also desperately wanted some alone time with Cheryl, she wants to hold her close and comfort her the same way Cheryl did when she opened up about what was going on with her own family. Toni needed to see the redhead before the meeting. She held her hand up and asked to use the bathroom which the teacher allowed and then she found herself walking past a bunch of classes until she spotted Cheryl. She looked through the glass door until she was met with familiar brown eyes and then she held a note up that read "Meet me in the bathroom" When Cheryl nodded her head Toni made her way to the same bathroom they were in that morning.