Leather Jackets and Brooches

Chapter 17

Toni ran out of the door to the car park, she looked around but she couldn't see Cheryl. She quickly walked out the the main road, to see her walking down the road on the side walk.

"Cheryl!" Toni called out

Cheryl turned round to see Toni almost out of breath at the entrance to the car park. She walked over to the pink headed girl. Toni could see Cheryl looked incredibly nervous and vulnerable. Just as Cheryl was about to apologize to Toni, she pulled her in for a hug. Cheryl was a little taken back by Toni's actions, she expected Toni to be shouting and screaming at her for being a terrible friend. Cheryl put her arms around the smaller girl and held her tightly, Toni held her even tighter. The girls separated and looked in each other's eyes. 

"Toni, I can't tell you how sorry I am. I should have ignored my head and listened to my heart which believed in you. I am the worst friend ever, I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you" Cheryl had Toni's hands in her to sorry how sorry she was.

"Cheryl it's ok, I forgive you" Toni used her thumbs to rub the back of Cheryl's hands and she looked up at her a gave her soft smile.

"Toni, I..." Cheryl stuttered

"Come on lets talk" Toni took Cheryl's hand and led her to a wall near the entrance to the Whyte Wyrm where they sat down. The muffled sound of the music from the party filled the car park. 

"Toni I am really sorry for what happened, I can't believe my mother was so against me spending time with you that she would do that. I could understand her trying to punish me for it but not you"

"Who knew I was Penelope's least favorite person in the world" Toni joked

"I'm serious Toni. What would have happened if we hadn't have found out the truth" Cheryl looked at Toni.

"I would have to find myself a prison wife" Toni continued to joke

"Come to think of it, how did they find out she set me up?" Toni said in a more serious tone.

"I went looking for headache tablets in my fathers desk and I found an envelope full of Jingle Jangle. I called Sheriff Keller because they looked similar to the ones he found in your bag, but because you was with me the whole time I knew you couldn't have gone in there also how would you have known they were in there" Cheryl explained.

"But I saw Penelope leave your house before I knocked at your door" Toni was a little confused.

"Yeah she had come back, when we was interviewed again she let slip that she called the Sheriff Keller. I put it together and she kind of admitted to setting you up. I'm really sorry Toni" Cheryl looked down at the ground.

"Cheryl you have nothing to be sorry for" Toni moved her head down to make eye contact with Cheryl, she smiled at the red head.

"I never should have doubted you" 

"Well it's difficult to not doubt when you are set up" Toni tried to joke to make Cheryl feel at ease.

"Toni, I have something I want to talk to you about something" Cheryl moved a little closer to the smaller girl.

"You can tell me anything" Toni offered reassurance.

"When me and Hogg Eye was setting up for the party, he told me about your father" 

Toni began nervously playing with her ring on her thumb.

"Toni, I feel even worse for not believing you. If I had only visited you and given you a chance to talk about it"

"I wanted to tell you" Toni confessed.

"I let you down. I promise I will be there for you no matter  what happens, if you ever want to talk what ever time of the day I will always be available" Cheryl held Toni's hands to stop her nervously playing with them. Toni looked up in to Cheryl's eyes. She had never had this close relationship with anyone before. She then felt herself leaning in towards Cheryl but she was a little hesitant. Cheryl could see Toni moving closer to her, she too felt herself leaning in.

"Toni you can't just abandon your own party" Kevin had appeared from the entrance door.

The two girls stopped then looked at one another, Cheryl sat back up and moved her hair over her left shoulder. Toni could feel her heart beating rapidly.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt" Kevin noticed the close chemistry between them.

Both girls went red in the face.

"No it's okay. We should go back inside" Toni stood up and Kevin went back inside.

"I really glad you're back" Cheryl stood up as well.

"Me too" Toni took Cheryl's hand and led her back in to the party.