We Can Start Again

Epilogue

Rocks that were once in such a strong hold, loosened from their grip as Sweetwater River forced its way through. The trees danced to a different rhythm, gently swaying in the light breeze that passed the small town of Riverdale. A scent carried through the air, one couldn't really describe it but as an emotion. It made the residents of the town feel a sense of sorrow and loss, but behind all of that was determination and hope.

It was the last day of summer for Cheryl and Toni, not officially, but it was their last day together before Cheryl left to Highsmith. They would both walk their separate paths. Cheryl would leave their small town behind in hopes of a greater life outside of the decaying, diminishing home full of havoc.

When the group of teenagers returned from their road trip something was off. The way Kevin's Vista Cruiser drove down the road, the way people interacted, even the air felt thicker and heavier. Nothing felt the same as it once did. Maybe it always felt like that, and all it took was a little time away for them to realize it. But it couldn't be denied that Riverdale was falling apart. The Serpents' home, the Southside of town, was growing worse. Soon enough it would envelope the entire town with it, like a growing virus. Cheryl always planned on leaving, but this was just the nudge she needed. She considered staying for Toni, and attend community college with her and Fangs. But she and Toni knew that leaving was for the best, even if she was the only one feeling like she got out of it alive.

Even though this was her chance to be reborn, her heart would stop beating without Toni. The blood would eventually stop rushing through her veins, leaving her cold and alone.

Leaving for college wasn't the end of the couple, in a way it was just the beginning. They both knew the lengths they would go for their relationship, they could endure long distance.

Toni felt trapped in Riverdale without Cheryl, but it wouldn't be that way forever. After the first month, every weekend she would take the time to drive the few hours to see her girlfriend. They had come to an agreement that when it became too cold for Toni to ride her motorcycle, Cheryl would drive down instead.

The girls had everything figured out to the smallest detail, the boys however, had gone a completely different direction. Kevin would not be going to Highsmith with his best friend, instead he would return to California. He didn't know what awaited for him in the land where dreams used to made, but like Cheryl, he felt the need to escape the grip of Riverdale. With that came the end of his relationship with Fangs. The Serpent was too stubborn to realize that he could have both his loves: Riverdale and Kevin. He proposed an ultimatum, if Kevin were to leave then they couldn't be together. Unlike the other three, Fangs adored their town. He loved that everyone knew each other and he loved his gang, he loved it too much that he was unable to give it up.

Both were devastated after the breakup, but that didn't stop the group hanging out for the rest of their summer. The girls could see how much hurt the boys were going through when they were alone with them, which meant they also saw the happiness that came when they were together seated in a booth at Pop's. The boys would get back together eventually, it was written.

In the little time spent back home, Jason's view on Toni changed. He loved his sister, and she loved Toni; which only meant he had to learn to get over the past and like her himself. She went to Thistlehouse a few times for dinner, growing close to Cheryl's small family. Like his sister, he would follow in their parents footsteps and attend Highsmith. It wasn't a dream of his like it was Cheryl's, he was only going to make sure she would be safe.

Her arms tightened around the Serpent's small waist. The wind brushed through her hair as much as it could, considering most of it was covered by the helmet. She felt ridiculous in it and she complained that it made her hair flat, but Toni wouldn't let her on the bike without it. She took the few minutes they had left to relish in her girlfriend's presence. Cheryl enjoyed how the pinks in her hair separated from the browns when they went on drives like these, especially tonight. She was obsessed with how the red hue of the stop light blended in with her pink/purple-ish streaks, and how the green only enabled them to move once again in the wind.

Normally they would never catch a single red light, but the amount of times they had to stop made her think Toni was somehow doing it intentionally. If she was being honest, there was no way she could complain. It was a twisted sort of heaven: sitting on that bike that was almost too small for the both of them, kissing Toni's neck at every stop. She was determined to leave at least one mark before she had to leave. Even though she would be gone, Toni still belonged to her.

Cheryl has always hated when the street lights begin to fade away, less cars are seen, and the road begins to narrow on her rides with Toni. It only means that she's getting closer to home. There was always a guarantee she would see her the next day, but this time she would be leaving Riverdale all together.

Her tears were cold when they hit her face, the wind snatching them away from her. Some found their way on the back of Toni's jacket, gliding down the Serpent leather so effortlessly.

The headlights of Toni's bike shone on bright in the Thistlehouse driveway, highlighting her family waiting for one last goodbye. Jason spent the day packing away Cheryl's possessions into the trunk and back of her car, while she was at the river with Toni.

She was hesitant to get off the bike and to let go of Toni, just the slightest glance from her girlfriend gave her the courage. Her hair was slightly flat from Toni's helmet, which she put where she was previously sitting. She ran to her Nana Rose and her mother, hugging them as tight as she could without hurting her Nana.

Toni was propped against her bike as Jason made her way over to her, with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, take care of my girlfriend, Blossom."

He chuckled, "Isn't this supposed to go the other way around? I'm supposed to be the one telling you to take care of my sister."

"But I'm not the one going to college with her, am I?" She smirked for a split second, it quickly disappearing.

The boy let out a sigh, resting his hand on her shoulder. "Don't get soft on us now, no crying."

She was scared to blink, if she did a faucet of tears would be turned on. "Easy for you to say, you're going with her. So is Betty." She kept her head low until she heard a sniffle, Jason couldn't be the one crying. She looked up to see her girlfriend in front of her, cheeks streaked and eyes puffy.

"Tee-Tee..." Toni rushed into her arms, hoping if she held her hard enough she wouldn't leave. "I-I have to go, Toni."

"Just a few more minutes." She whispered into her neck. They clung to each other in the driveway of Thistlehouse as if they were the only ones there, whimpering into their kiss. They could taste each other's tears, but were too upset to mind. "I love you, Cheryl."

Her breath was ragged from their kiss and her crying, she felt like she was drowning. "I love you too, Toni."

"Are you ready, Cher?" Jason shouted from his car that was parked behind her's.

"Wait, wait." The Serpent removed her arms from the leather, wrapping it around her girlfriend. "Take this."

She looked at the jacket around her shoulders, "I- I don't think I can, Toni."

"Just take it, please."

Toni walked Cheryl to her car, making sure she was all settled in before going. She bit her lip, leaning in the window for one last kiss. She knew she would miss Cheryl's lips on hers, she couldn't find it in herself to pull away. Usually when they kiss Toni is left with red lipstick smeared on her mouth or neck, but today Cheryl opted not to wear any. "I love you."

"I love you, Tee-Tee."

Cheryl followed Toni's bike down the driveway, illuminating her small figure until they were due to part their separate ways. Toni turned around for one last look, flashing Cheryl a soft smile. The headlights of her car made it possible to see the tears in her girlfriend's eyes. For the moment she couldn't help but think about how beautiful they really were.