Toni POV
That night, I went over to Cheryl's house. I had a black skater dress on with a blue belt. I put my hair up— half in a ponytail, half down. I rushed up to her front door and knocked. Jumping up and down, anxiously waiting. "Hello, pink haired girl." Penelope said as she opened the door. She gestured me to come in and I stepped in the house, taking off my shoes. Cheryl came down the stairs and glared at her mom. "Her name is Toni. Not pink haired girl." She stated. Her mother lifted up her eyebrow and shook her head. "It's fine," I said with a smile. Cheryl led me to the table as Penelope walked out of the dining room to grab dinner. "You have a nice place." I said with a smile. Cheryl shrugged, "I don't know. It's too much space for two people." I nodded and placed my hand over hers and gave it a light squeeze. She smiled back at me and we quickly drew our hands apart as Penelope came in with a big bowl of pasta. She set it down in the middle of the table and served us some of the pasta. "So, how long have you guys been hanging out?" Penelope asked. I smiled at her and shrugged. "About a month ago, I'd say." I told her. She nodded as she took a bite of her meal. Cheryl nodded, "she's been a delight to the students at riverdale." The rest of dinner was nearly silent, except for the few questions about my life I'd receive from Penelope. Cheryl was quiet most of the time, but she always talked positively about me towards her mom. Finally, Penelope spoke up again. "So ladies, who's taking you girls to the school dance?" We both shrugged and Cheryl spoke up, "if we don't find a date, we'll probably go together." Her eyes widened with a smile as she added, "as friends." Then my phone buzzed and I stood up, "I've got to go. Thank you, for the dinner. It was wonderful." I said as I rushed out the door.
Cheryl POV
I watched Toni leave as my mother eyes threw daggers at me. "I don't want you hanging out with her." She stated. I opened my mouth and shook my head. "Why not?" I asked. Mother walked over to me and deepened her glare. "We don't want history to repeat itself." She said. I tilted my head, "What history?" Mother set a hand on my shoulder. "You and that girl from your old school, people probably thought you two were together. We can't have you turn out to be a freak." She said. I felt a tear start to form in my eye. "We? This is all you. Guess what mother. Our family is a freak show, our whole family. Why does anything even matter now? Toni and I aren't together, so you have no worries. I'm not even into girls that way." I protested. She nodded. "Very well, I'm going to go read. Just go to your room and we'll finish this later." Mother told me as she strolled out of the room. I went in my room and locked the door behind me. I got out my phone and dialed Toni. "Hey," I said, "Can you sneak over here tonight. About eleven?" I asked. I could hear a chuckle from the other side of the line. "I'll be there."
11p.m.
I watched the window as Toni walked to the front door. I quietly opened the door and brought her upstairs to my room. She circled around and nodded. "So," Toni said, "this is Cheryl Blossom's room. Wow, I'd have to say it's very nice." I gave her a slight smile with a shrug. I sat down on my bed and patted down on it so Toni would know she could sit down. As she sat down, I took a big breath and tucked my hair behind my ear. "My mother thinks that we should stop hanging out." I spat out. Toni shifted closer to me and I could see her chest fall. Toni sighed, "That won't stop me. I have to see you, you're my best friend." I put my head on her shoulder and held her hand. "You're my best friend too, I don't want to lose you." We sat in silence for a few moments, admiring each other's company. Then I spoke up, "she thinks that people will think that we're an item. I mean why would she think that? Aren't you with Sweet Pea anyway?" I asked her. Before Toni could say anything, my mother knocked on my door. "Hide!" I whispered to Toni as she went into my closet. I unlocked my door and my mother walked in. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry things came down to this and that I'm going to bed. Goodnight Cheryl." She said as she walked out of the room. I watched mother leave and looked at the closet. "You can come out now." I told Toni. She walked out of the closet and gave me a hug, "I'm gonna go. I-I'll catch you tomorrow." And with that, Toni was gone.
