The Lost Ones | Choni

29| I want it to be normal again

Cheryl's POV

I woke up at 6:30 am and groaned, wanting to go back to sleep. It was Wednesday and I told Mom that I wanted to get back to school today so I wouldn't have a lot to catch up on. Truth is, I just wanted it to be normal again, even if I had to force it. I just wanted to go back to school and finish the year like nothing happened. What ever happens I need to force a smile and convince everyone I'm fine so everyone will stop watching me with worry for the next thing to happen.

I want tea.

The thought came out of no where as I began to crave it. Tea helps relax me when I'm worried or stressed, and I want to be as relaxed as possible for school today. I have to get through it.

"Cheryl?" Toni asked. "Hey, baby what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing. I just woke up early and now I'm craving some chamomile tea." I said honestly and she nodded.

"Okay, I'll walk downstairs with you and keep you company while you make it." She said as she climbed out of bed so I could move out as well.

"Thanks, Toni." I smiled. I wanted to tell her she didn't have to because I know she's been tired with stressing over everything, but either way she would refuse to go back to sleep, so I knew it wasn't any use.

Toni held my hand and lead me out of the room and down the stairs. I began to feel a bit anxious being out of that room. I've literally been in that room since we've been here, so it was a bit nerve racking for me to leave it. I know it's safe up there so I feel comfortable there, but downstairs is different. I've of course been in this house a lot and nothing has changed, but I just feel like at any moment something bad is going to happen. I guess I still don't really trust my surroundings yet unless I'm in my room. I'll have to get used to being out of it though, since I'll be leaving the whole house to go to school today. As we were walking downstairs I was listening to everything, making sure I couldn't hear anything dangerous that I couldn't see yet. While I was doing this I picked up on the conversation my aunt and mom were having. They must have both woken up and came downstairs. I figured out that they were talking about me and pulled Toni back to a stop.

"Wha-"

"Shhh." I hushed, cutting her off. She then listened along with me.

"I don't know if it's a good idea to let Cheryl go today. She hasn't left her room since Sunday night and now she suddenly wants to leave the house?" Mom explained.

"I think she's just been experiencing some separation anxiety, Penny." Aunt Alice said gently. "If she says she's ready to go back to school then she probably is. She knows what she can handle and she'll most likely be more comfortable since Toni will be with her."

"That still doesn't explain her staying in her room for that long."

"Well maybe she likes to stay in there because it's quieter and calmer. Although school won't be that way, her friends are there and could be a distraction. It's worth trying." Alice reasoned.

"I guess. I think I'm just nervous to let her go since a lot has happened lately and she doesn't deserve anything else. She didn't deserve a single bad thing that's come her way. Especially with being sent to the sisters. I still can't believe all those horrible things happened in just 2 days." Mom explained sadly.

"I know. The girls back in high school were there longer but none of them seemed to went through anything that bad, but none of them were there for conversion therapy except for Hermione, and she was there for over a month." Alice added.

Wait. Hermione? Like Veronica's mom?

"She never did come back the same. I know damn well it didn't make her straight, but she probably went with Hiram so her family would believe that she was converted. She was never the same after all of that."