a cherry cola

the next day

Cheryl's pov

"You'll get better soon dear" a familiar voice says. A needle hits arm and I️ scream in pain.
I️ open my eyes
A nightmare
"Hey you ok" Toni says sitting up
"Yea Yea I️t was just a nightmare" I️ say still panting
"Hey I️ wasn't going to force I️t on you but I️ think you should talk to a professional after this all you know" Toni says
I️ know she's right
"I️ know but I️ don't have consent from my mother so how will I️ ever go"
"I️'m not sure but I'm some therapists will take you without the consent. We will figure I️t out I️ swear" toni says trying to comfort me
"Let's just go back to sleep"
"Ok"
We sleep for several more hours until the sun comes out. We are on the couch and my head is on her chest. I️ reach over to grab her phone and check the time
9:27 am
"Hey babe wake up" I️ say
"Argh is I️t already morning"
"I️ take I️t your not a morning person"
"Yea" toni says giggling
I️ still feel like I️ don't know much about her
We get up and decide to go out and get breakfast.
She gives me some of my clothes she took from my house and we take her bike over to pops
We order some breakfast and I️ see Josie across the restaurant with Kevin
"Shit" I️ say looking down at my food
"I️ thought you said you wanted to talk to her"
"Yea I️ just thought it'd be less embarrassing plus if I️ go over know I'll look like even more of a stalker" I️ say trying to make sure she can't see me
"To late" toni says as Josie walks up to us
She takes my hand across the table trying to calm me down a bit
"Josie um hello" I️ say. A lot more awkward then usual
"Cheryl I'm glad your okay"
"Yea me too"
This conversation couldn't get more awkward
"So I'm I️ got some pictures and some items a few months back and I️ think um I️"
"I️ sent them Yea I️ did"
I️ was more embarrassed then I️'d like to admit. Toni runs her thumb on the back of my hand and squeezes I️t tight 'I got you'
"Why"
"Because I️ didn't know how to express my feelings of appreciation for the nick incident" I️ gulp at the sound of his name "and I️ confused our friendship with an almost more and I️ got protective and obsessive and I️ was wrong. I️ was so horribly wrong"
"Yea"
"And I'm sorry"
"Your Sorry"
"I'm sorry" I️ repeat again
"Thank you. I️ accept your apology"
"But do you forgive me" I say looking down not being able to look her in the eyes
"Yes"
I️ get up to hug her and afterward she exits the diner
"That was so awkward"
"Yea but you owned up to I️t. That's what's important"
"There's no way she's gonna think of me the same way ever"
"You Don't need her to think of you in the same way, your better now"
"Your right"
We finish out breakfast and I️ decide I️ want to see my mother
"Can we go to my house"
"Cheryl are you sure you are rea.."
"Yes"
We drive over and pull up out front. I️'ve been rehearsing what I'm gonna say to her since the day she put me in that disgusting conversion therapy
Toni gets off her bike and begins to follow me
"Hey just wait outside"
"Cheryl I️ can't let you just go in there"
"I'll be fine. I️ have to do this"
And with that she takes a step back and stands next to her bike
"I'll be right here okay. If you in there to long I'm coming in"
"Alright. Thank you"
I️ walk inside to see my hideous bitch of a mother drinking tea with uncle Claudius and nana rose
"Cheryl. Darling what are you doing here I️ know you are not well yet"
"Don't Cheryl darling me. Get over here I️ have a few things to say"
She gets up from her chair and walks over to me
"Let's do this somewhere else" I️ say
We walk back into the kitchen
"Listen. You put me into that place. You basically got me a one way ticket to hell. And you were gonna leave me there weren't you. Forever"
"You are sick" she replies
"You are sick" I️ say back at her
"Cheryl I'm your mother I️"
"Yea and your an extremely horrible one. You only loved Jason. Never me. So you and uncle Claudius can pack your bags. I️ want to be emancipated. I️ want this house to myself and nana. You two are pigs and can go live amongst the other pigs for all I️ care" I️ say looking her dead in the eye. She actually looks nervous
"And what will you be using for your reason of emancipation"
"That my mother is horribly abuse and has sex with married men of riverdale. And if you don't leave this house in the next day I️ will tell every mans wife that you slept with there husbands. You will be more of a home wrecker then you already are. And if that doesn't do I️t since I️ know you don't give a shit about almost anyone. My girlfriend is in a gang. And that gang will rip you to pieces if you sleep here another night"
"You are a disappointment to the family name. We will be gone by morning. Don't expect anything ever from me"
She walks away and a few tears fall from my face. I've lost my mother. Probably for good. You'd think I'd be thrilled. But almost everyone from my childhood who I️ thought once cared for me is gone.
I️ leave thistle house and see Toni waiting patiently on her bike.
"There you are I️ was getting nervous how'd I️t go" she says the minute she can see me
"I'm going to be emancipated. And when I️ come back to this house tomorrow. They will not be there"
"That's amazing Cheryl I'm so happy"
She wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace. I️ love her. Not that I️ would say that now it's to early. I️ think?
"I️ have something to ask you" I say
"What is I️t. Anything Cheryl" she says still smiling from ear to ear
"I️ know you housing situation isn't great. I️ just want to tell you thistle house is always available for you. You know that right. I️ want you to be safe and I️ know it's not near your friends and stuff but.."
"Are you asking me to move in with you" she says
"I️ guess so don't make a big thing alright you know how much I️ care about you" I️ say fiddling with my hands
"I️ think I'll take you up on that offer" she says smiling
She has the most beautiful smile
We kiss before going back onto her bike

Things are really looking up