A Secret - Choni

Fifteen

Toni's POV

"Hey Cher, I know we kinda did this the wrong way around but would you like to go on a date with me?" I asked the sleepy girl who was cuddled up in my arms, after just waking up from a nap. "I'd love to TT. When?" She shifted her head so she was able to look up at me.

"Today?" I questioned. "Sure baby. I'd love that." She pecked my lips and made her way over to the bathroom to get ready.

X

When she walked out, my jaw dropped to the ground. She was wearing a red tube top with a red and black plaid skirt, pantyhose and red designer heels. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail. "God you're so fucking gorgeous." I was basically drooling over her at this point. "Thank you." She giggled back to me.

"I was thinking of trying out that new Italian restaurant that just opened. Is that okay?" I asked her. "Sure TT, I'd love to." She agreed, before we made our way out of the door and over to my motorcycle. I held out the helmet for her to take. "Topaz if I die because I fall off of this thing I will make the rest of your life a living hell, even from my grave." She sternly told me, crossing her arms. "You won't die you idiot. It's fine come on, just hold tight." She mounted the bike and wrapped her arms around my waist tightly and we set off to the newly opened restaurant.

X

After sitting down at a table for two and ordering our food, I decided to probe further, hoping to know more about her life. "So how was your childhood with Jason?" I questioned gently, knowing it was a tough topic. "It was amazing. He was my fiercest protector, he always cared for me and accepted me for who I was, if I ever cried he'd be there. If I couldn't do something, Jason would be there to help me out. I remember this one time when we were in second grade, Jason started playing basketball. I wanted to play with him while he was practicing out in the yard, I tried throwing it in the hoop but I just couldn't do it. Jason used all of his strength to lift me up so I could reach the basket and get it in. I loved my brother endlessly." She finished, a smile tugged at her lips remembering her dear brother. "He would've loved you. He really would T." I smiled over to her. "I'm sure I would've loved him too." I giggled.

"Tell me about your childhood?" She asked, realising that she knew almost nothing about it. "I had a good childhood until I was around 10, my parents were the best I could've asked for. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was just 8, she fought a rough battle that she eventually lost, that's why my hair is pink. It's not just an act of rebellion. After my mom died, my dad went downhill. He was a serpent too, he started excessively drinking and ended up getting himself locked up, he's got another 12 years in Shankshaw." I finished.

"I'm sorry about your mom TT." She sympathised. "It's okay babe, we all knew she wasn't going to get through it, I accepted it." I let out a sad smile and she held my hand tightly from the other side of the table.

X

We spent the rest of the dinner just chatting, talking about hobbies that we had as children, about our favourite school subjects. We came to learn almost everything about each other by the time we finished our meals. "Hey a new movie is showing tonight that I wanted to see, wanna head to the Bijou?" Cheryl smiled at me, after blotting her mouth with a napkin.

"Sure baby, let's go." I grabbed her hand and walked over to the counter, slamming the bill down and pulling Cheryl behind me. "I could've paid Toni." She sounded upset almost? "Cher trust me, I can afford it. This was my idea so I'm paying." I smirked as I hopped onto my motorcycle, her following my lead, once again wrapping her arms around my waist.

X

We got to the Bijou and purchased tickets and a large bucket of popcorn to share between us, as well as one drink with two straws.

"It's kinda unhygienic to share a drink you know T?" She giggled, lifting the bucket of popcorn from the counter. "Your tongue is in my mouth most of the time, what's the difference?" I giggled as a blush rose to her cheeks quickly, she slapped my arm and shushed me.

X

Around 20 minutes into the film, Cheryl moved the armrest that was between us, upwards. She scooted closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder, on instinct I just wrapped my arm around her and she looked up at me with a toothy grin. God her smile was so gorgeous.

X

The end of our date consisted of us basically throwing bits of popcorn at each other, literally acting like children, to the expense of everyone else that was in the cinema. Our giggles were heard over the speakers so we got a fair few dirty looks as we made our way out.

Cheryl's POV

"You're so evil, it's in my hair!" I groaned playfully, picking out the popcorn that was stuck in my red locks. "So did you!" She pointed to the waves of pink that cascaded down her back, making me notice the bits that were in her hair too. "Welllll you deserved it. You started it." I stuck out my bottom lip and she just laughed at me. "Oh come on, you can be grumpy in the comforts of our bed." She shook her head and held her hand out for me to hold. "Our bed?" I questioned. She nodded her head promptly. "Our bed." She confirmed. I let a smile creep upon my face.

As we hopped off Toni's motorcycle seconds after pulling up outside of her trailer, I pulled out my phone to check the text I received when we were on our way home.

X

Lodge
Dec 28 11:20pm

Lodge
hey cheryl do you and toni want to come to a nye party at the pembrooke?

Cheryl
sure thing ronnie we'll be there

Lodge
great, i invited the serpent boys too

Cheryl
toni will appreciate it

Lodge
great, see you then

Cheryl
as always lodge

X

"Hey babe, Ronnie asked us to go to her New Year's Eve party, the boys are going." I sat down next to Toni on her couch as I removed my heels and threw my legs up to rest over hers. "I'd love to babe." She smirked before taking my phone from my hands, placing it down and leaning over to kiss me.

"I had a great date T" I got out, as soon as she pulled back from the kiss. "I did too baby, I always have the best time with you." She caressed my cheek as she spoke.

X

"I was just wondering, earlier you mentioned that your mom died when you were young and your dad got put in prison. Who did you stay with after that?" I probed further into her background, only now realising that I didn't question it earlier on.

"My uncle. This is his trailer actually, he died last year after drinking himself into a grave." She rolled her eyes. "Oh I'm sorry." I offered a sympathetic smile. "Don't be Cher, he was a fucking ass. He did nothing but abuse me, it was hell after I came out to him, but he was still bad before that. I'm glad he's dead honestly." Her voice left no trace of sympathy for the man, meaning he must have been bad.

"He abused you?" I asked. "Yeah, he used to stub cigarettes out on me." She lifted her shirt to show small circular scars, scattered around her stomach. "He used to throw beer bottles at me, kick and punch me, he threw me to the floor and stamped on me more times than I can count. He was an ass and I'm glad I don't have to deal with him anymore." God that hurt, after endless years of my own abuse, my heart became heavy at the thought of anyone hurting my precious TT.

"Nobody will hurt you anymore baby. Not ever again." I kissed her knuckles and smiled against them. "Nor will anyone hurt you, we've got each other now. Always." She smiled over to me. "Always."