The Missing Part of Me | a Choni Story

Chapter One

Cheryl grips the steering wheel, grinding her teeth as she feels her car coming to a stop. She pulls over, only a few miles outside Riverdale, sighing as she steps out to see what has happened.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," she mumbles to herself, swatting away the smoke coming from the hood of her car.

After Jason's death, finding out the murderer was her own father, and being ridiculed by her mother, Cheryl was taken by Child Services to have a better life.

She was not opposed to this, not at all. There seemed to be nothing left for Cheryl in Riverdale, aside from Jason's grave. She could do without the River Vixens, she could do without the Scooby Gang's antics, she could do without the constant reminder that her family legacy had been erased and all that was left were judgemental comments from everyone around her.

This was the case for the first few years. Child Services relocated her to a quaint family in Pennsylvania. The Keenes were well off, owning a lavish estate up north, much to Cheryl's relief and liking. They were kind to her: Kathy, a supportive mother (unlike Penelope), Kent, an honest father (unlike Clifford), and a pair of enthusiastic twins, Nathan and Lisa. They reminded Cheryl of her and Jason: inseparable, loyal, best friends. While it seemed picture perfect, something about them just could not fully connect to Cheryl. She told herself that it would pass. (Deep down, she knew it would not).

The town she lived in was well enough, it surely wasn't Riverdale (a great characteristic to Cheryl). It was small like her hometown, though the news and events much more relaxed. Cheryl attended school, unfortunately not becoming HBIC. While the family was good to her, most students were not. After finding out about her past, Cheryl's peers jumped to conclusions, judged her, which ultimately hurt her, though she did not show it. She somehow couldn't find the strength in herself to stand up, to be Cheryl Bombshell. Instead, she found herself staying quiet, being reserved, feeling like the shell of what she left in Riverdale. For her remaining years, Cheryl stuck to keeping up her grades, continued sketching - specifically the twins and their family - and doing her best to not let the comments get to her.

Upon finishing high school, she thanked the Keene's for all they had done. Cheryl, once 18, left the town and branched out into the world. She attended college but found it wasn't for her. She soon found a job as a personal assistant and while it did not last, she kept it long enough to support herself.

Cheryl had turned away the Blossom family fortune, wanting to rid herself of all things maple. She could not, however, come to change her last name. It was the one part she kept, in honor of Jason, who, before he'd died and found out the true nature of the company, respected the family as if it were royalty. Cheryl wanted to cherish him in his glory years and it was then, when they were unaware of the true business, that Jason Blossom was the best man Cheryl knew.

After the personal assistant money ran short, Cheryl jumped from place to place. From staying a bit with Veronica Lodge, who'd become a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman running various bars and clubs where signature drinks were created to serve, to traveling with Josie McCoy on a nation-wide concert tour, departing once reaching Pennsylvania. Cheryl returned to the Keenes, hoping to find a home. Once again, the feeling of being a tad bit disconnected resurfaced and Cheryl could not deny it. At 21, she left them once again, unsure of where to go.

Eventually Cheryl realized she could not continue the lavish life she used to have. It was a hard adjustment at first, but Cheryl learned to live in places that were not in her prefered comfort and luxury. By the time she was 24, she found herself living with one of her coworkers, who she barely knew (and honestly didn't really like). They were both in desperate need of a place to live and sharing rent was much better than having to pay for it on her own.