"We've shared a bed, secrets, and dreams, but how many were lies"
Toni Topaz (pov)
The night air was cool as we arrived at Reggie Mantle and Veronica Lodge's house, I glanced at Cheryl, her hand resting lightly on my arm as we walked up the steps.
There was something different about her tonight, something that tugged at the edges of my mind, but I pushed it aside.
She looked perfect as always—flawless, composed, every hair in place. And yet...
Reggie and Veronica greeted us at the door, their smiles wide and practiced. We exchanged the usual pleasantries, and as Cheryl handed over her coat, I did the same, hanging mine on the rack before we stepped further into the warm, crowded room.
The party was in full swing, guests milling about with drinks in hand, their voices blending into a comfortable murmur.
I watched as Cheryl moved gracefully beside me, her presence commanding attention without even trying. We hadn't been inside for more than a minute when Reggie clapped a hand on my shoulder and pulled me aside, guiding me toward the back of the room where a few of our friends were gathered.
Cheryl and Veronica had already split off, drifting toward a cluster of women near the fireplace. As I followed Reggie, I couldn't help but glance back at Cheryl,
My eyes catching on the sharp lines of her high heels and the flash of fishnet stockings beneath her dress.
REGGIE
You smoke Cuban
He asked, pulling a cigar from his pocket and offering it to me with a grin.
I shook my head, waving it off
TONI
No, thanks
Reggie shrugged and lit one for himself, the rich scent of the tobacco curling through the air. I tried to focus on the conversation, on the easy banter that flowed between Reggie and the others, but my attention kept drifting back to Cheryl.
She was across the room now, a glass of wine in hand, standing a little too stiffly, her smile a little too tight.
She looked...nervous.
It was subtle, but I could see it in the way her eyes darted around the room, as if she was searching for something or someone.
My chest tightened, a low thrum of unease settling in. Cheryl was always composed, always in control. Whatever had rattled her must be significant.
ARCHIE
Hey, Toni, how's Cheryl doing
Archie asked, handing me a drink. I took it without thinking, forcing a smile to my face.
TONI
She's good
I replied, my voice steady
TONI
Same as always
The conversation continued, but I was only half-listening, my eyes flicking back to Cheryl every few minutes.
At one point, I saw her holding a baby, cradling it in her arms as she spoke to Veronica. The sight was so out of place, so jarring, that it almost made me laugh.
Cheryl Blossom, holding a baby? But the way she looked—so tense, so guarded—made the laugh die in my throat.
What was going on with her tonight?
As the evening wore on, I tried to push the nagging thoughts away, joining in the small talk and clinking glasses with the others.
But the image of Cheryl, the way she'd looked holding that baby, stayed with me, a splinter in my mind that I couldn't shake.
Eventually, it was time to leave. We said our goodbyes, slipping back into our coats as we stepped out into the cool night.
The ride home was quiet, Cheryl gazing out the window, lost in her own thoughts. I didn't press her, knowing that whatever was bothering her, she wouldn't tell me unless she wanted to.
We had that understanding between us—unspoken, but solid.
Once we got home, the silence lingered as we moved through our usual routines. We both took quick showers, washing away the remnants of the evening.
I could still smell the faint scent of cigars clinging to my clothes as I pulled on my tank top and made my way to the bathroom, where Cheryl was already brushing her teeth.
I grabbed the nail clippers from the drawer and began trimming my nails, the sharp clicks filling the quiet room. Cheryl stood at the sink, her reflection staring back at me from the mirror.
Her eyes met mine briefly, and I felt a strange urge to break the silence, to say something that would close the distance that had settled between us.
TONI
I liked the dress you wore tonight
I said casually, as if it were just an afterthought
TONI
It was nice
Cheryl's eyes flicked up to meet mine in the mirror, and for a moment, her expression softened.
CHERYL
Thank you
she replied, her voice calm, though I could sense something guarded behind it.
We fell silent again, the only sounds the running water and the snip of the clippers. I watched her as she rinsed her mouth and wiped her face, her movements slow and deliberate.
There was still that tension in her shoulders, that unease she was trying so hard to hide.
I wanted to ask her what was wrong, to bridge that gap between us, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I finished clipping my nails, setting the clippers down on the counter as I glanced at her once more.
She looked back at me, her eyes unreadable, and then turned away, heading toward the bedroom.
We climbed into bed, the sheets cool against our skin, and I reached over to turn off the bedside lamp. The room plunged into darkness, but even in the pitch-black, I could feel Cheryl lying next to me, her presence both comforting and distant.
As I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us tonight. Cheryl was keeping something from me, something big.
But as always, I pushed the thoughts aside, telling myself that whatever it was, we would handle it—just like we always did. After all, we were Toni and Cheryl, the perfect couple with the perfect life.
