Offline | CHONI |

Part VII

Hey!
Sorry it's been so long, is anyone still reading choni? :)

Toni left Cheryl's house the next morning after a hug and promise to be there the moment the redhead needed her. She had a lot to think about, but with Jugheads question hanging over her it wasn't easy. So as much as she wanted to head home, she knew she had to make things right with the boy she was dating.

It didn't take Jughead long to answer the door to his trailer after she knocked. His hair was messy as he stood in a white vest and his boxer shorts. Toni could tell she'd caught him off guard. It was still early and since it was Sunday morning most teenagers were still tucked up in their beds.

"Toni, I'm glad you're here."

"Yeah, I wanted to talk about yesterday. I'm sorry I left it the way I did." Toni meant it, she was so concerned with Cheryl she allowed it to affect the way she treated Jughead and it wasn't fair. Yeah, maybe he was a little clingy, but like Cheryl said, he's a good guy.

"Come in."

FP greeted Toni from the couch as she followed Jughead to his bedroom. She took a seat on his bed, she could see he was nervous, but she didn't mention it.

"Toni-"

"Jughead-"

They both smiled slightly before Jughead nodded his head towards her, "you go first."

"I just wanted to apologise again for the way I left. I'm- I've never been someone's girlfriend before..."

"I'm sorry I sprung it on you the way I did. If you're not ready for that it's fine. I can wait... for as long as you need."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I like you, Toni and I want you to be honest with me, if you're not ready then no biggie, we can just carry on the way we are."

"Alright and Jug? I wanted to talk to you about something else..."

"What is it?"

"Sometimes I need my own space. I know it's not always the right thing to do, but it's the way I am. It really makes it difficult that when something happens between us I have Sweet or Fangs calling me on your behalf."

"I'm sorry. I just worry... I-I really don't want to lose you. I don't mean to push." Jughead reached out for her hand, "but I promise to be better, okay?"

"Okay." Toni nodded, returning the kiss that was placed on her lips as their hands roamed, and even though she tried hard not to, her mind wondered to someone else.

:::

Even though Cheryl wanted to hide away in her room, she didn't. She forced herself up and made her way to Pops to meet with her friends before they headed to Greendale for the day. Afterall she needed the distraction. Toni knew her secret. The one thing she believed could destroy her life was left in the hands of someone else. And although she should worry, she didn't. For the first time in a long time she felt relieved, like the weight on her shoulders had been lifted just enough for her to breathe a little easier.

After lunch, the three girls jumped in the redheads car, excited for some retail therapy. Greendale had a mall unlike Riverdale, like Veronica said 'it was nothing like New York', but it was the best they had. They picked up some make-up products and a new outfit, but all Cheryl could think about was Toni. Maybe she could pick her something up as a thank you for being there for her.

Nothing really caught her eye until they walked by a jewelry store and in the glass window sat a beautiful thin gold bracelet, there was one below it too, but that one had a heart and it felt like an overstep. The redhead could admit to herself that deep down she liked Toni, that much she'd figured out already, but she'd never say it out loud. They were friends, she would accept that.