a cherry cola

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Toni's pov

Cheryl falls asleep a few minutes into the ride. She looks so peaceful. I don't know what happened to her in there. I don't know what they made her do or say or what they did to her. But I know she's going to need a lot of support
"So where am I taking her" Veronica says entering the north side of riverdale
"Here take her to the trailer park" I say pointing to the back roads be-hide the movie theater
"I thought you were homeless?" Kevin says
"What you are homeless why didn't you tell anyone. And why did you tell Kevin!" Veronica snaps
"sshhhh shes asleep" I say pointing to Cheryl
"Well I didn't tell Kevin he overheard me talking to sweet pea. I didn't want anyone to worry. Especially Cheryl to worry since her home life isn't good either. I crashed at Jugheads for a few days then sweet peas for the last week, but fangs just drove by my uncles and told me he skipped town. So I can have the trailer till he gets back, which won't be for at least a couple months" I explain to them
Kevin nods "sorrry I didn't mean to snoop" he says apologetic
I nod
"That's fine I wish you told me we could have arranged something. We are friends" Veronica says as she turns onto border between the two sides "how do you know your uncle won't be back sooner"
"Um well when he skips town it's usually cause he can't pay someone back. So he just waits till they forget or until he gets the money. Cheryl can stay there with me for a while since she definitely can't go back to thornhill"
"Are you sure there's no drugs in the trailer. They last thing that we need is someone getting arrested" Kevin says. God he's such a mom. But he's kind of growing on me
"I'm sure. I told Fangs to clean It up when he texted me. Her took out all the weed" I explain
"You smoke" Veronica says
"No ugh not all southside spend there free time cutting people up and doing drugs" I say. I know they don't mean to hurt me I just get frustrated
"Didn't mean It like that. What do you do in your free time" Veronica says
"I love photography. I take pictures all the time. Edit them on my laptop. It just relaxes me you know"
She nods and the rest of the ride we are pretty quiet. We get to the trailer park and I wake Cheryl up
"Hey babe we are here"
"No no not here you can't give me back to her Toni she'll kill me" Cheryl says still half asleep
"No no we aren't at thornhill we are at my place ok" I say trying to ease her. I know she must be jumpy after everything that's happened
"Oh ok"
We exit the car and I say my goodbyes to Kevin and Veronica. Cheryl thanks them again. As they are driving away Kevin rolls down his window and yells "going to that hotties house to tell him to clean himself up for our date. Take good care of Cheryl"
He's growing on me
"I know it's not glamours but it's safer then your home right now. Expect for all the gang violence but they won't bother us it's just kind of noisy" I say as we walk into the trailer
"Toni It's. It's perfect. Thank you" she says to me as she takes a seat on the couch. I go to sit next to her
"We. We don't have to talk about It just yet. But when your ready. I will listen. And I want to help." I say as she rests her head on my shoulder
"Why wasn't Josie there" she says looking down fiddling with her hands "she's one of the only people who really cared for me. More then Veronica. I was surprised she didn't come"
I have to tell her
"We went to your house. Your mom showed us some drawing that I guess made some sense to her. She said you stalked her and left a bloody heart with her or something and she freaked"
Cheryl's body froze. She lifted her head up and grabbed my hands
"Toni I can explain I just I"
"Cheryl. I know your not crazy. You didnt know what words to use to describe how you felt. It's ok. I know your better at understanding yourself now"
She eases and leans back and puts her head back in my shoulder
"Thank you. And I'm going to speak to her. I was confused romantic and platonic feeling since no one has really cared for me since Jason like she did. I like her. As a friend"
I take her hands
"Just know that whatever they said to you in there was wrong ok. Your amazing. Just the way you are"
"I know. I thought of you the whole time. It got me through It"
I put my arm around her and pull her closer to me. I'm so happy she's in my arms. Safe place
"We can sort out thornhill and my mother tomorrow. I just want to be alone with you tonight" Cheryl's says
———
About an hour later we are eating pizza and watching glee reruns
"Brittany should have dumped Artie right then and there are you kidding me" Cheryl says biting her pizza
"Well Santana took to long now she's gotta wait for Brit" I say laughing
"Ugh I'm so frustrated even though I've seen this show a hundred time" she laughs
It feels so good to see her smile
We fall asleep together on the couch
For the first time all week I am relieved

Only a few more chapters of this fic :))