Not Broken, Just Bent- A Choni Fanfiction

6- Secrets and Stairwells

The first thing I saw as I walked into my hotel room was Cheryl

Standing by the bed

Taking her shirt off.

At first she didn't notice me. I watched as she continued pulling off her River Vixens shirt to reveal a lace-y red bra. My heart racing, I stood transfixed as she shifted through the suitcase that lay open in front of her.

That's when she saw me.

"Jeez, Toni!" She jumped.

"Sorry, I was just coming in," I sputtered, immediately averting my gaze.

"Oh, I don't care," Cheryl laughed, throwing down the t-shirt. "You just startled me, that's all." She continued sifting through her suitcase as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, okay," I laughed half heartedly.

Setting my bag down on a nearby chair, I began looking for a change of clothes as well, but it was very hard to avoid looking at Cheryl.

"You did a good job at the meet today," I spoke in attempts to break the silence.

"I know."

"God it's impossible to start a conversation with this girl," I thought, nearly sighed aloud before trying again.

"I'm glad we have to stay here the next two days so we don't have to do schoolwork."

"I personally don't mind homework- It distracts me from less tolerable things."

"Like what?" I inquired.

No response.

I continued unpacking my clothes before checking for the time on my phone.

7:14

It had only been ten minutes.

Realizing that this might not be as good of a situation as I though, I sat down in the end of the bed opposite of where Cheryl was sifting through her bag. I felt the weight of the bed shift, and as I turned around to see Cheryl sitting behind me. I immediately noticed that the reason she was digging through her bag was not to find her shirt, as she was still only in her bra, but to re apply her iconic red lipstick.

"You gonna put a shirt on?" I asked jokingly.

"Do you want me to?"

It was my turn to not respond.

*

My mind raced as I watched Cheryl lie on her stomach, scrolling through my phone. As my eyes grazed her perfect curves, I realized I had almost forgotten how beautiful she really was. I tried to shake myself out of the trance, but it didn't work. The only thing that I could think about was that night in Middle School when the power went out.

After she leaned in.

As our lips touched.

As I felt everything was right in the world...

"Cheryl," I stammered," why did you suddenly stop talking to me after we kissed in Junior High?"

I immediately regretted my actions the moment those words left my mouth.

She set her phone down and met my gaze.

"Listen, Toni..." She began. "I had fun with you and all, but I'm straight- I just had... a phase, and I'm sorry if you had feelings, or-"

"No, it's fine," I said, cutting her off, "it was weird for me too."

I had almost expected that response. That it was just a dreamlike fantasy that would never re-emerge into my present.

However, what I didn't expect was the look that flashed across Cheryl's eyes as I gave my response.

It almost looked like sadness.

It was certainly brief, but it was there.

Cheryl was lying about something, and I was going to find out what.

*

I woke up at 1:00 A.M. Or, should I say, I was still yet to fall asleep. I couldn't stop thinking about what Cheryl had said. Well, that, and the fact that it was extremely hard to fall asleep curled up on a chair. Cheryl had offered to share the bed, but declined, saying  that I moved in my sleep to avoid any awkwardness.

Drowsily, I stood up and rubbed my eyes. I felt around in the darkness until I felt my phone sitting on the desk behind me. I flinched at the bright light that quickly flashed from the screen. Squinting, I unlocked my phone, and turned on the Flashlight app. I may be in a gang, but I still felt slightly more comforted now that I could see, even if I was just in a hotel room. I didn't hear any sounds coming from the bed, so I presumed Cheryl was fast asleep.

"No harm in sleeping in the bed now- she won't even notice," I thought as I slowly crept into the bed beside her.

As I began to pull the covers over myself, something felt a bit off. I turned my flashlight on again, and sat up before shining it in onto Cheryl.

Or, should I say, where I presumed Cheryl would be.

I jumped up, panicked at the sight of the empty spot next to me. Frantically, I lept from the bed and switched on the lights.

"Cheryl?" I whispered loudly. "Where are you?"

I sprinted towards the bathroom and opened the door, only to reveal the sight of another empty room.

"Cheryl!" I shouted. "Cheryl, where are you?"

No response.

Not knowing what to do, I opened the door of the room and ran out. I looked down the halls next to our room.

Nothing.

I ran to the right, looking down that hallway.

Nothing.

I don't remember how long I ran for. I ran in and out of hallways, my mind blank and eyes set in what can only be described as tunnel vision.

After checking all the hallways on our floor, I frantically grasped the handle of the door leading into the stairwell, yanking it open.

And that's when I heard her scream.