Offline | CHONI |

Part VIII

Hey everyone,
I can't believe I've written another chapter so soon! Thank you for the comments on the last chapter and I hope you like this one!
Happy reading!
Nat xx

The sound of the lock clicking was the only thing that filled the silence. The trailer that only fifteen minutes ago was filled with the rowdy conversations of teenagers was now heavy with drunken emotions. Cheryl stood in front of the couch, her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes cast down to her feet.

Toni turned around slowly, daring to look at the redhead. "What's going on with you?" she asked, keeping her voice gentle. "Was leaving with Ryder really what you wanted?"

"Yes... no... I don't know."

Cheryl's suddenly burst into tears forced Toni to console her without even thinking. She wrapped her arms about the cheerleader tightly, whispering how everything was going to be alright. She didn't get a response, not even as she guided her to the couch.

For Toni everything with Cheryl seemed to come so naturally, even if sometimes it was awkward between them. Not that it was right now. All she cared about was making sure the redhead was all right even if it did feel like the merry go round they were on was just going faster and faster, every day making them feel more and more unstable.

"What can I do to make this easier for you?" Toni whispered. "I want to take care of you. I just... I just need you to tell me what you need."

"I don't know what I need, Toni. That's what makes everything so difficult. I feel like the walls are closing in on me and any minute the tightness in my chest is going to crush me. I just want to be able to breathe. I just want to be me..."

"And who are you?" Toni pulled back slightly so she could look the redhead in her eyes, keeping her arm wrapped around her shoulder. "You know you can trust me."

"That's the thing. I don't know who I am... I've tried so hard to keep everything buried I'm not sure I'll ever feel like I'm truly myself."

"Look, even if it doesn't feel like it's the right thing to do, sometimes you just have to tell the world who you are. To the people that truly care about you it won't matter."

"And what about if no-one-"

"Cher," Toni interrupted, "I know what you're going to say and I promise you there are people that truly care about you. Betty and Veronica, they love you and me... well, I really care about you..."

"I'm just so confused..." Cheryl lifted her eyes to look into the dark ones softly staring at her. "Everything just feels so complicated..."

"What's complicated?"

"Being... the way I am."

"And what's complicated about being the way you are?" Toni asked, desperate to get to the bottom of what's going on. "Because from where I'm sitting the way you are is perfect."

Cheryl laughed humorlessly until she noticed the serpent wasn't even smiling. "I'm far from perfect, Toni."

"Not to me." Maybe the alcohol was to blame for her honesty, but there was no way she could let the redhead believe she was anything less than perfect. Her eyes flicked to plump lips, although she remained firmly in her place resisting the urge to lean forward.

"Why are you always so nice to me? I don't deserve-"

"Stop," Toni said gently. "You do deserve it. I've told you before and I'll tell you again. I care about you. I'm not going anywhere, Cher. No matter how many times you try to push me away."

The air thickened and Toni was sure she saw Cheryl's dark eyes glance down for a split second, she didn't even realise they were slowly moving towards each other until their lips brushed. The moment was so delicate and although they should've stop to think, they didn't. The serpents hand found the redheads cheek carefully bringing her closer and if she could stay in this moment forever she would.