Sapphic Serpent Hands {Choni}

1

TONI'S POV

Turn off my alarm. Brush my teeth. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. The days, in their similarity, seemed to mesh together. My life was a landscape of black and white.

I finished the last of my unfrosted corn flakes and swept away the homework cluttering the desk into my color-coded binders. Tucking them neatly in my backpack, I slipped on my matte black converse. The mirror I knew was fastened to the wall enticed me, but I shied away from it. I just couldn't look at the faint bruises covering me; not again. Instead, I fiddled with the pink, purple, and blue friendship bracelet around my ankle, concealed under the crests of my socks. I flew out the back door to catch the bus.

My face pressed against the icy window of the bus. I inhaled sharply.

I don't want to be here right now.

It wasn't even 8 in the morning and I was already over it.

A stop later, clunky black heels stomped down the aisle.

"Think the bus driver'll let me stop for some coffee? I'm so dead, I almost left my pom poms at home."

"You need to start going to bed earlier, Ronnie."

My best friend rolled her eyes at me. "And you need to start staying up later so you can help me with homework."

"Touche."

"Seriously, who goes to bed at 9?"

I shrugged, hugging my books closer to me. "Oh, just kindergarteners and people who want to succeed."

"I guess you're right," she caved. "You're the only person I know that's on track to go to the school of their dreams."

Oxford University. I can't wait to escape.

I sighed, "Just have to finish out this year."

The lumbering yellow animal came to a screeching halt by the curb, spitting out the students that shuffled to class like the undead.

"See you at practice!" I hollered, swiftly making my way to the administrative office.

I'm so not in the mood to give a tour.

"Toni! Wait up!" yelled a panting blonde.

I smiled, "Betty!"

She hugged me, and I asked, "Have you met the new transfers? From Southside High, right?"

"Yeah, one of them's my cousin."

I raised a curious eyebrow at the Northside princess, surprised she could in any way be related to such a lowlife.

"Distant, distant," she reassured.

We continued into the office through the heavy glass door that squeaked on its hinges. In there stood Principal Weatherbee and two people in shiny leather jackets.

One was a boy with heavy, mauve bags under his greenish eyes. He had dark hair that curled out from under his heather grey beanie. He had a lean build that near disappeared under the jacket that encompassed him.

The other took my breath away.

She had striking orange hair, the color of the licks of flame that bounce off the sun. The red eyeshadow that packed onto her chocolate eyes matched the crimson of her pouty lips. Despite the body-hugging red leather, the edges of a rose tattoo and half of an "H" peeked out, draped over her collar bone and chest. A small, glimmering stud decorated her nose.

Well maybe giving a tour wouldn't be so bad.

Betty leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I'll take the cute one."

I frowned slightly, disappointed. "I guess I'll take your cousin then."

I started towards the boy.

"What're you doing?" Betty asked, puzzled.

"I thought you said-"

"Oh my god," the rosy girl giggled, "that's my cousin."

She pointed to the girl. I blushed harder than I ever had before.

"Oh, uh-" I stuttered awkwardly. I turned to the redhead. "I- I guess I'll show you around then."

All she did was curl her scarlet lips into a grin, and my heart went aflutter.

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Here it is!! I'm so so excited to finally share this with you, I worked really hard on this story (I had a lil writer's block). I really really hope you like it. Please comment to let me know what you think, this story is for you guys and every little comment makes a difference.

Also, I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of publishing my first story (I unpublished it for now)!! To celebrate, I'll be hosting a lil contest!! Tune in next chapter to enter and find out what the prize is....

- LilyPopp