A Serpant and a Rose Blossom

Chapter 17

Cheryl's P.O.V.

   Veronica has asked everyone to meet up at her speakeasy tonight. I don't think it's a good idea what with everything that's happening. "What are you thinking about Bombshell?" Toni sits beside me on the couch in the lounge. She looks beautiful today, wearing her black ripped skinny jeans, light pink spaghetti strap crop top, black and white plaid button up around her waist, with her signature jacket. Her hair is a little different than normal being straightened out and bobby pinned on top. "I was just thinking how strange it is for all of us to be in one room where Hiram would know where we're at. We need a place in complete solitude." I reach over and grab Toni's hand to play with her serpent rings. "Babe, I think I have an idea, so bear with me." She grabs my hand on top of hers and smiles. I know that look everyone else doesn't see it but she's nervous about all of what's going on. I lace my fingers with hers, "What's this idea you have, Topaz? I'm sure it's great." Right before she says anything here come the guys. Stomping in through the door like a heard of elephants. Potato head being the first to speak. "Tiny, we have been looking everywhere for you." Annoyed she raises her brow, "You found me, now what?" They both plop down on the couch in front of us when Fangs speaks. "We don't want the two of you walking off by yourselves. No offense Blossom but your mom is bat shit crazy and the ghoulies really have it out for Tiny. We want to protect you as much as we can." A slight blush rose to his cheeks but went away fast. "I agree with you about my mother and all but I don't need two babysitters with me at all times." I've noticed that Toni handles things with rage. Meaning she gets an attitude and kinda pushes back. "Do ya'll think I'm a toddler? Do you think I'm incapable of protecting both of us? I know I'm small, I get that and I can't change it either but that is no excuse to act like this. I've made it this far in my life without parents. I don't need my best friend's to start acting like they somehow birthed me." She gives them both a dirty look and walks away. That's when I get up to straighten my skirt knowing I'm going to have to talk to my baby. "I'll go talk to her. I think she is just stressed right now."

   I walked down the hallways and couldn't find her that is until I saw hobo. "Hey, hobo." He lifts his head up from looking at his computer screen. "Cheryl" He adjusts his beanie after closing his computer. "Have you seen Topaz?” "Yes actually, she went to the red room." As soon as he says it my phone starts ringing Bad Reputation by Joan Jett. "T.T. where did you run off to? You know they were only saying it in our best interest." I hear a sigh from the other end. "I know Cher, they just piss me off sometimes. I'm outside, go through the red room and there should be another door that leads to our bench. Practice starts in thirty minutes, right? Bring along the other so I can tell them the plan. Bye baby, see you in a minute." I put my phone back in my pocket. "Hobo, tell Betty to meet us outside. I'll get the others. Toni has a plan in mind."

   "So I'm glad everyone made it. Now we can all agree that this town is going to hell in a handbasket unless we do something. I have a place we can discuss everything where no one will know. Ronnie meeting at a speakeasy where someone could bug it at any moment it's the best idea so I'll write down where we can all meet on a piece of paper. When we meet I'll explain after. Bombshell you are obviously riding with me," she says with a wink.

   Cheer practice was cut early today only by thirty minutes but it's all I could do. Betty, Veronica, T.T. and I got changed into something other than a skirt as quickly as possible to meet everyone else outside by the vehicles. "Cher drive your car to your house and I'll follow behind so we both can go in something not as obvious as a bright red convertible." Everyone followed so my Cherie so she could show them exactly where to go. The guys in their bikes Betty, Veronica, and Archie went in Veronica's car. The path she took I've only seen once before and it really shocked me that she was taking everyone there.

   "Tiny, this is yours? This is where you run off to when we can't find you?" She just kinda shrugged her shoulders trying not to blush or embarrass herself. I followed behind her up the spiraling stairs to the door. I just amazes me how she built this tree house.