Well well well, some of you reallllly don't like conflict huh? hahahahaha full disclosure I wrote the first part of this chapter, the flashback, before I wrote the last chapter (ch. 38). I debated putting it in before the last one because I reference some of the dialogue (so look out for that the intellectuals among you, I know you're out there in the comments) etc and it gives a little more perspective on Toni's side of things but in the end I decided that with all the flashbacks and fluff that had come before, the pacing felt better to do it this way. So maybe this will clear some shit up. Also, as I said, I wrote this before the fight and I noted in some comments that Toni was seen to be 'overreacting.' which had me lolling to myself because I use that exact word in the flashback in this chapter. I thought about changing it etc but decided just to keep it so please be aware that it was already part of the piece and is not meant as direct shade to those of you who critiqued Toni hahahaahaha. For real. Speaking of that, however, as I have mentioned on many occasions I don't like to explain away my work, it just is what it is, but I will repeat something I said in the comments which is that Toni in this fic may not correlate to everyone's ideal view of her because I don't want her to function purely as Cheryl's 'Yes-man' support system. I want her to be her own character with her own dimensions and that includes flaws, so I suppose what I'm saying is, Toni isn't perfect, so let's enjoy that. Anyway, I will forewarn you all and say that the flashback does get a little political, whether or not these are my personal views is redundant, just know that they ARE Toni's views and THAT is why they are in the fic, not for my own agenda. Also, for those of you who didn't like Toni's reaction/the conflict...... I'm not sure you're ready for a Scuff sequel yet hahahaa, based on the ideas I have queued up in my head to write, just sayin', might need to back-burner that, what do we think?
So! Thank you so so much once again for all the amazing comments and kudos and fucking lovely things you guys feedback to me, so grateful, sorry for the long notes here, but here's a nice long chapter for you to enjoy! Peace out x
Chapter Text
"And that is why I stand here before you tonight, to implore you and your parents to think about the reality of Riverdale's future, our beloved school's future and, most importantly, your future. We are not afraid to be accused of clichés and to state that, truly, your vote counts. Your voice matters. The re-election of my mother Sierra McCoy as Mayor of our abundant and resilient town can be surmised in just two words: family and industry. The first is without doubt the most important to her campaign and..."
Cheryl had watched Josie seep charisma into the lawn of the football field from her position on the podium, her slender frame standing ram-rod straight as she lilted the speech her mother had clearly written for her into the microphone, the entire crowd enraptured by her words.
The election had been a hot topic for everyone, an invested interest for both North and, the usually politically apathetic, Southsiders due to the very recent Southside High closure and Hiram Lodge's desire to develop a prison on the newly liberated land.
The Serpents had still been new to the school, by exactly 23 days Cheryl had counted, and the Northsiders had still been wary of the shift in the air.
Oh the times, most certainly, had been a-changing.
Everyone had seemed to have an opinion.
Excluding Cheryl, that was. She had given the exact sum total of no fucks.
She had always been told by her parents that municipal dealings were beneath them,
"Local Politics is the worry of the middle classes, Cheryl, and the fateful lottery of the working scum." Her father had once drawled blithely to her through the smoke of a Cohiba cigar. "If it's not your problem, it doesn't exist."
So long as one had money, a mayor was simply a figurehead, sculpted from financial clay to be moulded to whichever shape the rich desired.
Thusly, with her Blossom money, Cheryl gave no fucks.
