Choni | When Opposites Attract

*18*

One Month Later

"Alight Class! We are going to do a project for the book you have been reading. I will assign your pairs, so don't complain about who you are partnered with." The teacher said trying to make it seem fun. I sighed and threw my head down looking at my notes. 

"Reggie, with Archie. Betty, with Veronica. Jughead, with Sweet Pea. And Toni, with Cheryl. Alright get to work!" My eyes widened and slowly shifted my head up and to the right, where I was met with a wider eyed redhead. I took a deep breath and got up with my pencil and notebook, sitting down next to her not daring to make eycontact.

"So..uh...do you want to meet after school at Pops to work." Cheryl stammered, I just nodded my head and said. "Yeah, sounds good." And with that the bell rang and swiftly shot out of the desk and out of the door, quickly followed by Veronica who ran up to me. 

"Are you okay? I know your usually excited to get out of class but you were gone before the bell stopped ringing." She said laced with worry. "Did you not hear the teacher? I'm paired up with Cheryl of all people!" I whisper trying not make my annoyance noticed. 

"I know! But it's been a month I thought you'd be over her by now. Sorry." She said, it was true. It had been a month since that night in the trailer where I cried into Jughead. I tried to get over her, so many times, but I fail every time. She haunts everything I do, when I ride my bike. When I go to parties, or listening to music. Everything makes my mind drift to her.

"Yeah, well I have to go." I say before going past her and heading out to meet the last and first person I wandered to see at Pops.

At Pops

I walked in and headed over to Cheryl's booth, sitting down and waiting for her to arrive. I placed an order for a vanilla and strawberry milkshake and soon Cheryl walked in. I could see her gulp as she sat down and pulled out her laptop. I was reading the textbook in silence when she finally broke it. "You know this is a group project, why don't we talk about what we're gonna do."

I lifted my head up and closed the book, crossing my arms and leaning back into the booth. "So what do you want to talk about?" I ask. She looks down and mumbles something, I had an idea of what but I still asked, "What?"

"The project, I want to talk about the project." She said still looking down.

"Mhm. Sure." I say looking out the window. From the corner of my eye I see her head jolt up, here we go. "Alright, you wanna talk about it? Fine. I kissed Reggie, big deal. I was drunk and so was he it meant nothing. I know what I did was wrong and I'm trying to fix it but it's hard when all you seem to do is ignore me."

I turn to her and I see the annoyance, but broken eyes staring into mine. "You wanna know why I love Titanic?" At this statement I'm left confused but somewhat intrigued. "Because jack and rose are two people from completely different worlds. And yet they fall in love, knowing everyone would despise it, knowing their too different."

I'm taken aback by that last comment. It was what I said at Pops.

"Just like you and me." She finishes a tear rolling down her eye. I look at her and sigh.

 "I forgive you."

She looks up from wiping her tear, "What?" She asks her words laced with confusion and a hint of relief. "For everything, for kissing Reggie, everything. Now," I start sitting up from my slouched position and sticking my hand out.

"Hi I'm Toni Topaz, I go to Riverdale high and work for the Blue and Gold." I say with a smile, waiting for her to shake my hand. She does hesitantly, confused at the situation, "What are you doing?" She asks.

"Starting over, and as far as I know I'm staring at a stranger who I now I have to do a project with." I say. "Okay the, I'm Cheryl Blossom, Queen of Riverdale High, captain of the Vixens." She says with confidence and perking her head up a bit to show superiority. I laugh at this and open the textbook.

"So I was thinking, for this project. We meet here at 4, everyday. I figure we could do a presentation on..." I continue as she listens. From there we sat in Pops for hours sipping milkshakes for what seems like forever. As well as working on the project, the project that brought me back to Cheryl Blossom.

"Well it's getting late, I should probably head home." I say as I pack my things into my bag.

"Wait." I hear Cheryl say and look up, "I-I don't have a ride home, can you drive me?" I look at her confused for a moment, if she didn't hav a ride then how'd she get here? Unless she walked, but my look seemed to give an answer that wasn't what I was thinking.

"Un-unless that's too weird! I can just walk..." She stammers and I immediately feel bad. "No no! It's okay!" I laugh. "I can give you a ride it's no problem." I say smiling at her and we head out to my bike. The night sky covers us as Cheryl struggles to find a proper way to hold on. I chuckle under my helmet, "You can put your arms around my waist, I don't mind." I say.

"O-okay, I just don't want to make it weird." She says nervously wrapping her arms around my waist. God I miss this, the feeling of her so close to me. Subconciously my head hold her arms around my waist and a tear rolls down my face silently.

"Toni?" She asks and I look down at my hands and quickly release them. "Sorry." I say before taking off down the street. When we arrived at her house I turned off the engine and pulled my helmet off. Cheryl got off and brushed her hands down her side straightening out her outfit. "Well thank you for the ride." She say and I nod, "Anytime." 

We had a moment of silence, a very akward silence before Cheryl broke it. "So I should probably go.."

"Yeah, yeah okay." I say shaking my head. "So I'll see you tomorrow?" She asks as she starts to make her way to the door. "Yeah, see ya Bombshell." I say before turning the engine back on and riding down the street. 

So let's mark everything off, Veronica is suddenly interested in me getting over Cheryl. Interesting. I have made amends with Cheryl and started over. Extraordinary. And lastly, I got to feel her hands pressed against mine once more.

Sensational.