Call Out My Name || C.B. x T.T.

4

Today was the day. The day that Toni was hoping to score some points in Cheryl's playbook. She had a nice pajama set and a fancy dressing gown ready, courtesy of Veronica and Betty. Now she was just counting down the hours until she's at the Blossom's front door.

She didn't eat lunch with the guys that day. After third period, she decided to sit in the library, too nervous to eat. She sat in an arm chair in the corner and read Stephen King's 'Misery' until the bell rang.

She had Jughead in last period though, and as she thought, he sat next to her ready to prod with questions. "So...I heard someone has a slumber party to attend tonight. Care to comment?"

"What, you jealous Jones?" She said chuckling.

"No of course not, but I do know that you've got the hots for the sour sprite and that you missed lunch today. Nervous?" He inquired.

She fumbled with her fingers a bit and looked down. "Jug, I see a lot in Cheryl. I want to help her as well as be someone in her life she can rely on, but what if she tosses me aside?" Toni said self-consciously.

"Cheryl Blossom can be extremely confusing and definitely deals her venom, but if there's something I know about her is that if you fake it, she'll use it against you," Jughead said. "And she may not trust you either. You're a great girl Toni, just be yourself. Cheryl will be in for a surprise, hell she was ready to pounce on you when you guys had your little feline fight in the hallway a couple weeks ago."

"You have a point. I can't deny that I was pissed and turned on when she called me 'Queen of the Buskers'. Wow Jones you were actually helpful for once," Toni patted him on the shoulder before putting her earphones in and returning to her book.

"Misery? Wow you really are getting prepared for tonight," Jughead laughed and she smacked him on the arm, ignoring him from then on.

Toni talked with Betty and Veronica, letting them know when she'd be ready since they're carpooling, and parted towards home after the final bell. She wasn't enjoying her home life very much, in fact she stayed out as much as she could.

She was relieved when she walked up and noticed her uncle wasn't home. She had a couple hours of alone time before she had to get ready. She put on a Bob Marley record and began painting her fingernails. She usually sticks with black, but this time she painted each ring finger red, in hopes to peak Cheryl's interest.

Toni had never had interests in a girl like this, especially a Northsider. She knows the Blossom family's crimes and yet she casts all of that aside, for the girl with the pearlescent skin and long, red, cascading locks. Toni was hoping for at least a friendship with Cheryl, whatever it takes to be a constant in Cheryl's life. That's not what she really wanted, but she would settle if needed.

It was almost seven when Toni finished packing her bag. She had on her pajama set, gown, some fuzzy slides, and a lollipop in her mouth. Veronica had texted that she would be arriving in a few minutes.

"Wow Topaz, a slumber party. How 2010 Barbie Dream House can I get?" She told herself. She heard a honk from outside and quickly gathered her things. As she emerged through the door, she saw not only Veronica's driver standing at the limo door, but also her uncle pulling into the driveway. She quickly walked to the limo hoping to avoid the encounter but fate had other plans.

"So where do you think you're going?" Her uncle asked loudly, approaching her.

"I'm going to a sleep over with my friends," She said sharply. "So don't worry about locking me out again."

He scoffed, "What friends? Ah your Northside playmates," He shook his head and chuckled. "They'll hate you eventually, just like everyone else. Better watch your back, buttercup."