Start Again | Choni

i'm coming for you, toni

Toni's POV

"Veronica Lodge, what can I do for you?" I asked as she walked into my music practice, accompanied by Delaney. "Toni, as your ex-girlfriend's cousin, it's my responsibility to tell you that Cheryl wants nothing to do with you. She lied about loving you as cover, she isn't a dyke like you, and she doesn't ever want to see you again. So you just stay away from her, okay?" She stared at me, trying to intimidate me. I put down the guitar, just so I didn't hit her with it, and stood up until I met her eyes. "You're just a bundle of lies, aren't you? A Lodge through and through. Don't you have anything better to do that ruin other people's lives, just because nobody wants you in theirs? You're a cruel, spiteful little Daddy's girl. You deserve to rot away with your precious Daddy in prison, where you both belong." I said through gritted teeth. She blinked hard, was she crying? "Yeah, well... at least I have a Daddy. Where's yours, huh? He learned what a waste of space you are and upped and left?"

That's it. That was the last straw, I couldn't take her insults anymore. Nobody insults my family, not even a Lodge. Before I knew it, my first collided with her face, and she stumbled backwards into the wall. Her face flashed red with fury, she charged at me and we collided hard, knocking the wind out of me. Rolling on the floor, she grabbed my hair with both hands but I managed to wriggle free and climb on top of her so my nose as touching hers. She struggled and I smirked. "Don't you ever cross me again, Veronica. For your sake, you should leave me and Cheryl alone." I said slowly and deliberately. "Oh yeah, have you even spoken to her at all this week? When was the last time you saw her?" She panted out of breath. I chose to ignore her and pressed slightly into her chest. I felt her heart pulse fast and grinned, she was fucking scared. "Don't talk about my family like that. I have secrets that would turn your false extensions white, so don't tempt me. Walk away whilst you still can." I let her go and she shook her curls and straightened her uniform. "You're crazy, Topaz. You'll regret this, just watch your back." She spat before walking out.

I took a deep breath and picked up the guitar again before realising Delaney was still standing there. "What do you want, Crossman?" I sighed. She shrugged and perched on one of the stalls. "Just to listen? Your voice is amazing." "Whatever." I rolled my eyes and started randomly strumming, thinking of Cheryl.

If you could see the way that you look to me
I bet that you'd be amazed at the sight
You'd see a heart that's fearless and true
From my point of view
Oh, you shine

What about you?
Why is everything so easy for you?
Man, if you only knew
Half the time I'm just faking it hoping
no one
Will discover I'm a complete fraud

I think you hide so much you feel inside
But I know deep down there's a fire burning bright
From where you stand it might not be clear
But you shine from here

No doubts, no more fears
I see you shine and the dark disappears

Then I know everything is gonna be fine
Because you shine
Oh, how you shine?
You shine

I came to an end and Delaney clapped, startling me. "That was so beautiful." She smiled and for a moment I felt shy. The only person I'd played my emotions to was Cheryl, and she wasn't here to listen. But Delaney was, and she thought it was good. Why couldn't I do it in front of other people?

"You okay?" She asked me, noticing I hadn't said anything. I'd frozen up, just like I did the first time I ever sang. "Sorry, yeah, I just remembered this one time, I needed some cash quick, and another Serpent had pressured me into singing at the Worm. When I got there, I just couldn't do it. It wasn't like karaoke, I wasn't drunk and I was singing my own music. It was real, and I got so nervous I froze on stage, and then I fainted." I finished, watching her reaction. It seemed genuine. "Oh, wow, that must have been hard. Is that why I've never seen you perform before?" "Yeah, I guess I'm just not that kind of artist." I gave a nervous laugh and she placed her hand on my arm. I wanted to move away, but her touch was soft, unexpectedly comforting. Not like Cheryl, but different. "It's okay, you know. To be scared of something. Everyone is, it's normal. But you can get past this, and if you want to, I can help you. I'm a good mentor, and if not, I'll just be the supportive listener."

I guessed it wouldn't hurt to have someone to play to now and then, especially since I hadn't seen head or tail of Cheryl since the weekend. She could just be busy, but surely she would have called or texted? "Yeah, okay." I agreed and put my guitar away. "How about lunch?"

Cheryl's POV

I spent the day in the library, catching up on the work I'd missed. I knew I didn't need to, thanks to Hiram, but I had a plan, or sort of a plan. I was going to learn everything there is to know about business and put Hiram in his place. It was going to be a long game, but I hoped that it would pay off, and that Toni would understand. I still had no idea where my phone was. Hiram probably took it, just another thing in my life he can control.

The bell rang at three thirty and I was the first out. Knowing that Hiram was watching me, I decided it wasn't worth the risk of looking for Toni. I decided to walk home, taking the route through the park. It was a warm day, the leaves were turning brown and the breeze blew through my hair. I put my headphones in and hummed a tune as I walked, trying to block out reality just for a bit. The world was so much better without Hiram Lodge. I had to get out of this somehow, but I couldn't leave Hermione after everything she'd done for me, and I had nowhere else to go. The only thing in my name was Thornhill estate, which was burnt to ash, so that was a no go. I had nowhere else I could think of.

The door of the apartment was cracked open and I heard raised voices coming from the study as I slipped inside. "Hiram please, don't make me do that. It'll break my heart as well, not just hers." "Mi amor, it's business, remember? And in business, family is the most important thing. She's not family." "But she is, Hiram, and she needs us. She needs me." "The Blossoms are a pest, a stain on the Lodge name. Remember what they did to us? They took everything from my family. So one by one, I'm going to take everything from her. Her family, her friends, her money, her home... she needs to know how it feels."

I couldn't take it anymore. They were talking about me. I snuck past the study into my room and started snatching up anything I could find. I borrowed Veronica's old gym bag, with the faded Riverdale logo, and packed my clothes and the only family picture I owned. Looking around, I cracked open the window and swung my legs out. It was a long way down, but I saw there was a thin ledge leading round the front to a nearby tree with large branches. Could I risk it? I contemplated going back the way I came, but I heard Veronica enter the apartment, talking at the top of her lungs, and I knew this was my only chance to get out before something bad happened. "Please Lord." I whispered before swinging the bag over my shoulder and climbing out.

The wind was picking up and I shuffled along the ledge, not looking down. Luckily, nobody was outside to witness my not so graceful escape. As I made it to the tree, I crawled onto the nearest branch and rested against the main trunk, out of breath. It took a lot of effort to climb down and about a foot from the ground, I missed the foothold and slipped, landing heavily on my right ankle. It hurt like hell, but at least I made it out alive. I could faintly hear the screams and yells of frustration from the Pembrooke and I hobbled away out of sight, just before the Lodges came running out of the building, screaming my name. I hid behind the trash in the nearest alley, praying that they would keep running past. My heart was pounding out of my chest and my ankle aches. I needed to go somewhere, anywhere, and I needed to save Toni. If they didn't have me, they'd surely go after her. They'd blame her for my escape, and hurt her bad. I needed to go back, but I also needed to leave. Torn with indecision, I decided to go to the nearest hospital first. I had to get my leg sorted before I could go anywhere. It hurt like a bitch. "I'm coming for you, Toni." I repeated as I hobbled through the backstreets to Riverdale General. "Just hang in there.