Bullet // Choni One-Shots

Under the Blue

It's 8:01 and Cheryl still isn't at school.

Being one minute late to school wouldn't be a big deal if you were anyone but Cheryl Blossom, who is punctual to the point of fault. So when I walk into homeroom and her desk is empty, my brain goes right into overdrive, thinking back to the last time Cheryl was gone from school and I ended up having to break her out of conversion therapy.

Part of me wants to storm Thistlehouse for her, but instead I sit my ass down next to Jughead and wait for the teacher to call out 'Antoinette Topaz', knowing full well that it's a little crazy to be so paranoid.

At 8:05, Cheryl walks into school. Which again, wouldn't be a big deal if she didn't look like a walking corpse.

Holding a coffee cup in one hand and her bag in the other, dressed in leggings and a yellow sweater with her hair pulled into a messy bun, Cheryl could have been mistaken for Betty Cooper had it not been for her trademark red hair.

That alone was enough to make sure that as soon as the bell rang letting us out of homeroom, I ran after Cheryl. I found her leaning her head against her locker, eyes shut tight.

"Baby," I say, "You look..."

Cheryl rolls her eyes, and mumbles "Gee, thanks." with a raspy voice.

"I didn't mean it like that, you know you're always smokin'." I lay a hand on her shoulder, "But baby, you look worn. What's wrong?"

"What? Me? I'm fine, in fact I'm -" And then Cheryl sneezes.

"Oh." And then it dawns on me, "Oh, baby, are you sick?"

"I'm not sick! Just allergies. Cheryl Blossom doesn't get sick."

I narrow my eyes, trying to fight the laughter threatening to escape my throat. Then I press my forehead to hers. "Okay, sure, even if I believed you for a second - which I don't, by the way - you're burning up. Allergies don't give you a fever."

Cheryl stifles a cough into the elbow of her sweater, "I don't have a fever. Maybe I'm just hot. Or maybe - maybe you're just jealous."

"Oh, you know I'm jealous, Bombshell." I cup her face with my hand, "But that doesn't change the fact that you're sick and shouldn't even be at school."

Cheryl sighs, her hands going to her head to rub at her temples, "I just - I have so much to do for class and I can't go home and Kevin is going to crucify me if I miss rehearsal."

Then she sneezes again, so loud that her step falters and she has to lean into the lockers to avoid falling to the ground.

"Okay, yeah, no" I drape an arm over her shoulder and start leading her away.

"My first period class is that way." Cheryl protests.

"I know, Cheryl. It's real cute that you think I'm going to let my girlfriend go to class like this." I say, and Cheryl gives up the fight, leaning against me just a little more heavily.

"Mm - where are we going?"

I smile at her. She's cute. "The Blue and Gold room. There's a couch in there, and I have some blankets stored in the supply closet from when I used to crash there. You, Cheryl Bombshell, are going to take a nap."

"What about your class, Teeny Toni?"

I scoff, "First of all, you're like two inches taller than me. And I'm basically carrying you. Second, I have yearbook. I can miss."

We get to the Blue and Gold room, and I am relieved to find it empty. "Alright, Bombshell, let's get you down."

She lets me set her down on the couch as I go to get the blankets I keep in the supply closet. There's also some tea that Betty keeps around for late nights.