Choni | When Opposites Attract

*17*

Toni's Perspective

I sat in the White Wyrm, slowly sipping on some whiskey when I hear loud footsteps behind me. They stop behind me and I just sigh, knowing who it is.

"What do you want Jughead. I'm not really in the mood to take a photo for you and an article." I say, clearly not wanting to talk about what I knew he would ask. He moves again and sits beside me, staring at me but I keep my head pointed forward at the many assortments of drinks on the wall. "I'm worried about you Toni, you haven't shown up at school for the past 3 days and your not replying to texts." He asks. True to what he said there was worried ness laced in every word he spoke.

"It's not like anyone misses me, if anything their probably better off without me." I mumble looking down at my lap now.

"Not Cheryl." He says, and I snap. I shatter the glass in my hand, "Don't you dare say her name." I hiss, my eyes staring daggers into his. He leans back in fear and nods his head, afraid of what I can do. I turn my head back to the wall in front of me. "I'm just saying, if she was bad before. She's hell now." He says and gets up and walks out. I slam my fist into the counter.

I get up and walk out to my bike and take off towards Pops, I hadn't had any real food since the party. Any time I tried to eat I felt sick to my stomach and would end up with just a glass of water most times. 

I parked outside and headed in, going up to place my order. Before I could get a word in Pop said, "The usual Toni?" For the first time in 3 days I smiled and nodded. "I heard what happened, don't worry about paying, this ones on the house." He said. My smile faded slightly and I just nodded my head looking at the ground.  And that's when I saw her in the booth in the very back. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the red locks that my hands used to caress. Where my head would be buried when I slept over at her house. What I would hold when she would cry.

My eyes widened as i looked up and my thought were confirmed. Their sat Cheryl, staring blankly into the wall, tear stains visible, makeup all over her cheeks. She looked like a god damn mess, and I did that.

I did this to her, I made her forget her worth when I broke up with her. Part of my wanted to wrap my arms around the broken girl and put her back together, but I knew couldn't. Maybe I could forgive her someday, but not yet.

I was taken out of my thoughts by the bell ringing, signaling that my food was ready to be picked up. I took the bag and started my way out, but took one last glance at her, but this time her sad eyes met mine. They widened and I quickly made my way out of the door, knowing she'd follow me. I got on my bike and started my engine but was interrupted. A pair of red nails turned the engine off. 

"Not this time, not before you here me out." I turned my head to see Cheryl staring at me, and without leaving her eyesight I turned the engine back on and spoke. "One minute."

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes to meet mine, "I'm sorry okay? I don't know why I did it. I was drunk and dancing and the next thing I knew I was dancing with Reggie. Pretty soon he kissed me. I'm just..sorry." 

I breathed in, letting out a shaky exhale before speaking, "I want to forgive you, more then anything. But I can't, not yet, were just too different. Your the princess and I'm the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. I loved you Cheryl, a part of me always will. And maybe things will work out but right now, our times up. I'm sorry." 

This left her mouth open slightly and tears rolling down her face. I turned my head back to my handles and put my helmet on before driving away.

The Next Day At School

I sat in 4th period, tapping my pencil against my notebook and staring out the window. It was rainy today, as well as my first day back in 3 days. The soft pitter patter of the droplets of water outside seemed to keep me in a trance for most of the period. It soothes me as well as keep me occupied from the other side of the room which held a redhead, who although I didn't realize, was staring at me as I stared outside.

The bell rang and I was shaken out of my trance by Betty who told me to meet her in the Blue and Gold. I nodded and yawned as I packed my stuff up, heading through the long corridors of this god forsaken school. I walked into the Blue and Gold where Betty awaited me, sitting on one of the tables.

I came in and closed the door, making my way over to a wall and leaning on it. "What's up?" I ask. "Two things, one, I need a photograph of the bulldogs practicing for the schools sports section. And two, how are you holding up." She asks, the last part laced with sincerity and a worried tone. 

"I'm...processing." I say, looking down at the ground. Part of me wanted to just run home and never speak to anyone again, but the other half knew she was only trying to help. She nods her head and I try to change the subject, "So I'll get those pictures for you today, anything else?"

"Nope that's all, thank you." She says before I push myself off the wall and head out to finish the rest of the day.

At Jugheads Trailer

I quickly walked past Jughead who was sitting watching TV. I made my way to my room and closed the door and threw my bag on my bed and stood in the center of my room. I stared at all the pictures strung and nailed onto my walls. Until one caught my eye.

I made my way over to the bulletin board above my desk, and in the very center was a picture of Cheryl smiling. I felt a tear roll down my face before I set the picture down and put my hands on either side of it, leaning over the desk. 

Suddenly rage flowed through my and I threw my hands to the side, knocking everything off my desk and resulting in papers being flown everywhere as well as the loud thumps of books slamming against the floor. I got on my knees and held my hands to my chest and started to sob quite loudly.

Jughead opens the door and quickly runs up to me, holding me in his arms asking what was wrong. I don't move I just continue to cry. "I did it Jughead, this time I broke her. It's my fault."

"Toni...It's Cheryl's fault, she's the one that did this to herself. She kissed Reggie, not you." Jughead said, not quite knowing what to do. I've never broken down like this in front of anyone, not this bad at least.

We didn't say anything after, I just cried in his arms. The only noise surrounding us was his hand rubbing my back and my sobs. I broke Cheryl, i told her that I would never let anything hurt her again, but I did. 

And it was me.