The Missing Part of Me | a Choni Story

Chapter Five

Cheryl had read the papers a bit closer, noticing that Nana Rose requested Thistlehouse be continually cleaned and looked after. It seemed like Nana Rose knew her granddaughter would be back one day, knowing her well enough to know she wouldn't want to stay at Thornhill.

Cheryl checks the time, it won't be hours until her car is finished. Thistlehouse is a little further outside town, so she has no other choice but to walk. She arrives to the gate, seeing how beautifully kept the home is. She enters, opening the door with the key inside of the packet given to her from Mr. Peterson. Thistlehouse is in prime condition when Cheryl stands in the foyer.

She drops her bags down on the ground with a wide grin, "If there's any good to come out of Daddy's horrible business, it surely is the accommodations of his money."

Cheryl quickly brings her bags upstairs, finding her old clothing from years ago in one of the rooms. She looks through them, happily changing. Going through her bags, she finds her red lipstick (used only for special, special occasions) and puts it on, taking a deep breath. Looking in the mirror, Cheryl Bombshell is what she sees. Yet, somehow, she still feels like the introverted school girl in Pennsylvania.

Walking around Thistlehouse, Cheryl reminisces about childhood summers spent with Jason and her Nana Rose. Penelope and Clifford would usually opt from staying at the summer home, leaving for business or simply staying in Thornhill. A portrait of Nana Rose resides above the fireplace, Cheryl admires her grandmother. On the mantle, picture frames of young Cheryl and Jason make her smile even more. Memories Cheryl had forgotten resurface and she cannot keep back a single tear that falls down her cheek.

Toni returns back to the trailer park with Sweet Pea when Fangs needs to go back to work. They go into their trailers, once again fooling around with each other childishly. Toni prepares to get ready for work, changing. She can still feel the tingle in her hand from placing it on Cheryl's wrist. She glances down at it, running her fingers along her palm and grinning.

Cheryl confuses her. It's as if Cheryl doesn't know who she is. She is constantly waivering back and forth between being vulnerable and being guarded. Jughead was just one of the many people who told Toni about Cheryl's personality. The stories she's heard make Cheryl out to be some villain. From the time she spent with her, perhaps they just misunderstood her, and she misunderstood herself.

Perhaps it is still the case.

Toni freshens up, relaxing for a bit before going out the door to her bike. She hops on, riding to the Wyrm for her shift. She enters, receiving cheers from the fellow Serpents and other customers. She waves, goes behind the counter and puts on her apron. She checks the time, she doesn't want to admit to herself she's waiting for Cheryl to come. Throughout her shift, though, she checks the clock, wondering if the Blossom even considered the invitation.

At one point, Toni remembers that Cheryl is without a car, a prime form of transportation for someone to get from point A to point B. Sure, feet do the same job, but walking takes up too much effort, plus, there's no way Cheryl would even consider walking to the Southside of town.

Toni looks at the time once more, it's 6:30. She takes her dinner break and sees she's missed a call from the auto shop. She calls them back, hearing a few rings before someone picks up.

"Hey, it's Toni."

"Topaz," Ricky answers. "This car isn't gonna be finished by seven."

Toni tenses, "What? Why not?"

"Like I told you, this car is a mess. You wanted a whole check up? We gotta change the oil, rotate tires, not to mention we haven't even cracked open the hood yet."