The Quiet Kid: (choni)

16: Heart

CHERYL POV:

I'm finally able to go home- well I get to leave the hospital and stay with Toni for a week or so. "If you want to stay in the room next to me. You can." Toni says awkwardly shoving his hands in his pockets. "Or my room, I'm not going to force you to do anything." Ok Toni has to be the most awkwardest person I've ever met. "I don't care." I shrug. "I think it'll be easier for you to stay in my room." He says awkwardly. "Why are you acting weird?" I ask quietly. He looks down. "Toni, tell me." I say seriously. "Yesterday, before I came to the hospital to see you. I-." He stops himself. "Toni?" I'm now concerned. "I- Veronica and I kissed. But, it was nothing or on purpose." I look down. "What happened?" I ask. "I'm sorry." He says. "Tell me what happened." I insist. "I was talking to her about some stuff that is not important, and I don't know, I tripped and our lips touch. I don't know why I'm freaking out about this." He panics. "If I ask Veronica this will she give me the same answer?" He nods. "I'm not mad. If it was accidental I don't really care." I kiss him softly. "Is her kiss better?" I ask. "Not at all." He deepens the kiss. "What were you guys talking about?" I ask quietly. "You'll see." He drags me into his room, I kiss him quickly as he lifts me up. "I love you." He pushes me against the door. "I love you." I kiss him again. He rips off his shirt and helps me get mine off. He kisses my neck leaving marks. He takes off my pants and takes his off. "Wait." He stops. "You ok?" I ask quietly. "No. Honestly, I need fresh air." He pulls his pants back on and walks out.

TONI POV:

I feel like I'm having a panic attack. I run out side. I sit in the bed of my trunk. I don't really do anything or solve any of my issues. I rub my arm. "What's wrong?" Sarah ask. "Anxiety." She sits next to me. "What happened?" She ask. "Cheryl and I got- close and I panicked." I whisper. "I just want to be alone for a minute." I say quietly. She nods and walks back inside. "Hey Toni." Our neighbors are on a walk and wave to me. "Hey, guys. What's up?" I ask awkwardly. "Why do you have scars?" The son who's about my age bluntly ask. "Thomas that's rude to ask." The woman says to her son. "Oh no it's fine." I explain why I have the scars. They don't seem to have a problem with it. We say goodbye and I go inside. I go upstairs and Cheryl is lying on the bed. "You ok?" I shake my head. "Not really." I lie next to her. "If I need anything-." I stop her. "No, I've just had a long day emotionally." I kiss her softly. "Do you want to get married?" I ask quietly. "Right now?" She sits up. "No, when we get out of high school. Well when I get of high school." I say quietly. "What do you mean, when you get out of high school? We're the same age." She ask. "I haven't been in school, obviously. I haven't been to seen my tooter. I've missed so much school that I might have to stay back." I admit, I've never said that to anyone, not even to Sarah. She's probably going to get the letter soon. "Toni..." Cheryl trails off. "I'm 18, I might drop out." I rub my arm. "Or go see your tooter." She insist. "I will, but, it's not going to make up for what I've missed." I answer honestly. "I don't want to talk about it." She lies back down. "I can help you." She whispers. "That's great." I say pissed off.

"How are you doing Cheryl?" Sarah ask. "I don't know, I'm still adapting to real life." She whispers. We continue eating dinner. "Toni, can you explain to me, why I'm getting told you're going to hell by our neighbors?" She ask pissed off. "Their son asked about my scars and I told them, I thought they were fine with it but I guess not." I say awkwardly. "Oh, ok. Makes sense." She says quietly. "I'm sorry." She shakes her head. "Don't be." She whispers, I look down awkwardly. "I need to go to the bathroom." I get up awkwardly. I go to he bathroom, I don't use it for it's purpose, I just pace back and forth trying to calm my nerves. Why am I so awkward?! Ive always been, I don't know why and it sucks. "Toni, you ok?" Cheryl knocks on the door. I sit on the toilet. "No." I answer honestly. "What's wrong?" She tries to talk me through my anxiety. "I don't know." I start crying. "I just need a minute." I say trying not to throw up. "I'll be in your room. If you need me." I hear her walk away. I take a deep breath, rub my eyes, get up and walk into out to my room. I go to the desk, open a draw and take out a box. "What's that?" Cheryl ask quietly. I open it and it still has some stuff from my childhood in it. I take out a picture of me and my mom, I start crying quietly. "Is that your mom?" She ask quietly. "Yeah." I whisper. "You look just like her." She takes my hand. "I miss her, more than anything. I still feel so guilty for not being able to help her." She kisses my hand. "You couldn't have done much." She whispers. "But I could have done something." I insist. "Toni..." she tails off. My door slowly opens and Jason waddles in. I smile and pick him up. "Hey buddy." I whisper, my voice cracks as I hold back tears. "T." I smile sadly. He lies his head on my shoulder. I get up and bring him to his room. I rock him slowly. "Jason!" Sarah runs into his room. I turn around. "Oh thank god. Can you put him to bed?" Sarah ask quietly. "Yeah." She walks out. I sit down in the rocking chair and hold him. Cheryl quietly walls in. "Can I hold him?" She ask quietly. "Yeah." I hand him to Cheryl. "He looks just like my brother." She whispers. I smile softly. "I love you." She sits in front of me. "I love you." She looks up at me. "I want to have children." I whisper. She looks surprised. "First you say you want to get married now you say you want children. Are you ok?" She ask quietly, I shake my head. "Not really." I whisper. "Have you talked to Sarah about the whole you not passing junior year?" Cheryl ask quietly. "No. But, we talked about it this morning because she got the letter in the mail." I say quietly. Cheryl shakes her head.

"How's Cheryl doing?" Sweet Pea ask handing me a drink. "Better, now that she out of the hospital." I whisper. "She's still gets used really life." He nods. My phone starts ringing. "Sorry it's Cheryl." I get up and walk outside. "Sarah's in the hospital." My heart drops. "What- what happened?" I ask in shock. "Just come to the hospital." I get in the truck I drive to the hospital. I park my truck and run in the hospital. "Cheryl what happened?" I ask. "She- I- we- we were talking and she had a heart attack." She says quietly. I sit down and process everything. "Toni." I feel like I'm about to pass out. "Toni." I look up at her. "I can't breathe." I whisper and rub my hands over my eyes. "Do you want to go outside for a minute?" She ask quietly. "Baby, baby look at me." She cups my cheek. "Let's go outside." She helps me up and we walk outside. Cheryl pulls me into a hug. I start crying for the first time since Cheryl called me. "I can't lose her."

"I should probably call John or whatever the hell his name is." I get up and grab Sarah's phone, it's locked. Of course. "Oh well, I don't like him so it's ok." I say quietly. "Toni can you sit for more than a minute?" Cheryl ask grabbing my arm. I sit down next to Cheryl. "What If something happens? she's been in surgery for way to long." I panic. "She'll be ok." Cheryl takes my hand. I lie my head on her shoulder. "Thank you for getting her here in time." I whisper. "I know how much she means to you."