Strawberries and Cigarettes | A Choni Fanfiction|

Nine

TW: Brief mentions of rape. 

Also, I just wanted to let you know that I don't like this book at all. I genuinely don't have a connection with this one, or Dichotomy. That's why they get shorter/unexciting updates. I'm sorry, I'm just not invested in the story line like Voltage, Fixer Upper or Speak Easy. BTW, don't forget to check those out, especially Speak Easy, my new, sexy fic. Enjoy, I guess.

I've always hated thanksgiving. We always celebrated at the Whyte Wyrm with gross canned foods, and leftovers from old pot lucks. This year wasn't any different. Sure, we got to spend time as what we call a family, but we never had much to be thankful for.

Afterwards, however, I'd be thankful to Cheryl for having passed all my classes, including that stupid serial killer project, and the performance. It turns out that I was a natural at the piano.

Now, after the semester's end, just in time for Christmas, not only do I have money saved up this year, but Alice invited me over for Christmas dinner, and to stay the night to spend Christmas day with them, which was something I didn't see coming anytime soon.

I mean, she just started liking me, so why would she be so dead set on having me over for something so big.

"Toni, this is my other daughter, Polly." Grinned Alice, gesturing to the green eyed blonde who towered over me, a scowl on her lips.

Oh.

Because Polly Cooper is more intimidating than Alice Cooper.

Cheryl excused us so we could go upstairs and play around on the piano when she had discovered that I felt uncomfortable under the patronizing gaze of two strong women.

"Come on, she isn't bad at all." Giggled Cheryl as she pressed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "She's just protective, and she doesn't want anyone to hurt me."

"Have I EVER, EVER hurt you though, babe?" I asked in faux hurt, and Cheryl giggled.

"Well there was that one time when we were kissing, and it got really inte-"

"Hi!" I interrupted Cheryl as Polly's eyes came into view from the stairs, where she walked up. My heart was pounding when Cheryl made eye contact with me, trying to fight off her laughter as she chuckled.

"Mom said you started playing again." Polly spoke, and the tone of her voice almost seemed fragile, like she was trying to keep something safe, someone safe.

"I guess." Cheryl shrugged, looking down at the keys, toying with the G sharp key, but not playing it. Just running her fingertips along the length of the black key. "Mostly just to teach Toni." She justified.

"You know, you don't have to stop just because-"

"I know." Cheryl nodded, cutting Polly off softly, "It feels wrong when I play now though." She admitted, striking a minor chord, causing it to ring across the room.

"It isn't though." Polly mumbled, stepping around the piano and striking a key on the far left, making it ring low and quietly. "Dr Sloan would want you to keep playing. Even if Nick was the-"

"Can we please not talk about this right now?" Chuckled Cheryl sadly, her fingers shaking as she hesitated to touch the ebony and ivory again. Polly stepped back, and I watched her lips tighten, as though she had said something wrong, and I rose a brow in confusion.

"Do you wanna go downstairs?" I asked, and Cheryl inhaled, before exhaling sharply, shaking her head.

"No, I like working up here with you." She admitted, "I like finally being able to teach you something, instead of feeling useless." Her tone seemed angry, and I felt like I just had whiplash. Considering the fact that she had been acting completely different just two minutes ago.