Shattered Smiles (A Choni Story)

Chapter 16

Betty's POV
10:38 am
I wake up to the sun peaking through my curtains and hurting my eyes. I got up at looked at the radio in my room, it reads 10:38 am in bright green numbers. I check my phone that was lying on my desk next to me. I noticed that Toni texted me saying that everyone was cool with me coming over for the day and Fangs was filled in so he could pick up all our classwork.
I decide it's probably late enough to go see them so I start getting ready to leave. I get into the shower and bathe really quickly then hop in a pair of jeans. I put on a sports bra that was laying on my bed that was probably dirty but that didn't matter, who would know anyway?
I rummage through my drawers, pull out a pink T-shirt and throw that on.
I put my shoes on then start running around my room to grab all my things.
Ok, keys, phone, wallet, and I think that's it. Wait, oh yes.
I turn around and grab the teddy bear that Cheryl leaves at my house for the next time she comes over.
I leave my room and try to quietly leave my house so I don't wake up my mom.
My mom wouldn't care about me going to the south side to see Sweet Pea and Toni, god she loves them, but she would be worried about Cheryl. She doesn't know that Cheryl was missing for two weeks and would totally freak out if she knew.
I quickly shake the thought of my mom figuring out and get to my car. I see my mom's car in front of mine and can't help but notice the dent in the back of it, the thought of how freaked out we all were when Veronica hit her car made me snicker.
"Veronica. What the fuck?" Toni yelled.
"Oh shit," Cheryl said.
"What'd you hit?" I asked, I was sitting all the way in back so I couldn't see anything with Cheryl and Toni crowding around Veronica.
"Betty," Veronica started, "Don't get mad but I just rear ended your mom."
"I'm sorry, you what?!"
Toni and Cheryl both start laughing hysterically.
Veronica smacks both of their shoulders and says "Guys, not helping."
"How am I gonna tell my mom?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot. We have to tell Alice," Toni says.
"Uh oh," Cheryl immediately stops giggling.
I get in my car and start driving to help put back together a broken Cheryl and give Sweet Pea a lesson in social cues.

Veronica's POV
So, I never really was able to figure out why Toni is so angry.
I decide I'm gonna act like Betty and do a little detective work, I grab a notepad and pen and start writing parts of my memory of yesterday down.
"Toni."
"Yes Veronica?"
"What happened with Betty?"
"Sorry, that information is classified."
"Since when? I am your best friend Toni Topaz, I swear to god if you don't tell me I'll-"
"You'll what? Kick me out? Can't do shit to me Lodge," Toni laughs.
"You know, I thought after yesterday there would at least be a mutual understanding that I don't want to be referred to as a Lodge anymore," I look at Toni through the driver's mirror and tell her.
"My dumb ass- whatever, you got nothing on me, can't get me to tell you shit."
"You literally talked to my girlfriend. I can just ask her."
"She's my friend too. We agreed what we spoke about stays confidential."
"God dammit. Toni, why can't you just tell me?" I began to beg.
"Fine. I just told her about Cheryl's anxiety attack, what she could do to help Cheryl and how I felt about what I did."
"Was talking about it really that bad?"
"No."
"So why'd you stop?"
"And that, my friend, is where we change the subject," Toni says smiling.
"You know what, I'm ok with that. Just know that tomorrow I'll continue to ask."
"Thank for the warning," Toni responds.
I roll my eyes at her and continue to drive back to the trailer with her and the groceries sitting in the back seat of my car.

Betty's POV
I'm about five minutes away from the trailer when I get a phone call from Toni.
"Yo!" I answer the phone.
"What's up B? So, Sweet Pea told Cheryl that you were coming over today earlier this morning and now she's sort of freaking out."
"What the hell does that mean? Do we we have to postpone this? Should this wait until tomorrow? I'm already five minutes away, do I have to turn around?" I start to bombard Toni with questions.
"Well if you'd shut the hell up I could answer you."
"Go on."
"I'm trying to calm Cheryl down and I was wondering if you had any words of reassurance for her."
"Tell her that I'm gonna come see her no matter what and I love her and that I'm missing her so I can't wait to come over and hang out," I list.
"You sound so fucking clingy," Toni chuckles.
"Don't make it weird, we are cousins."
"Yet you show her more affection than Veronica."
"We literally started dating two weeks after you and Cheryl did. That's a month. I'm still learning how much affection towards her is appropriate," I try to explain.
"You also made out with her in the gym the day after you guys met and became friends," Toni counters.
"We did not make out," I scoff, "It was a kiss that she initiated so she could help me get on the cheerleading squad, I was desperate."
"Why the fuck would you be desperate if your cousin, your damn best friend, was the leader?"
"Cheryl is brutal towards everyone."
"Was brutal," Toni sighed, "Now it's like she's so unstable, there is a 75% chance she might fall apart the second I leave."
"Give her some credit, she still has that 25%."
"Yeah, you're right. Anyway, get your ass over here! We're waiting and Cheryl is just so eager to see you."
"Bitch- just make sure her breathing is normal, tell her what I said and try to not freak her out anymore that she already is. I should be there in like three minutes," I order.
"Yes ma'am."
"Bye Toni," I hang up on her.
Three minutes later, I pull into sunny side trailer park and leave my car right next to Veronica's very noticeable black suv.
I exit my car with Cheryl's gray teddy bear and walk up to Sweet Pea's trailer.
I knock and I hear someone walking towards the door.
"Hey."

Cheryl's POV
"Ok listen Cheryl."
"Huh?"
"I can see you're panicked about Betty coming over but she is your cousin and you were bound to see her eventually," Toni tried to reason.
"But I don't want her to see me like this. I'm ugly and going insane. She's strong and pretty."
"Cher. You are drop dead gorgeous. And you're not going insane, you are just dealing with some trauma and happen to react differently than others."
"Well you have to say that because you are dating me."
"That's like saying to a parent that you have to love your kid but kids are still getting abused by their parents."
"I can relate," I raise my hand, laughing lightly.
"And so can I," Toni copies my actions.
"Wait what?"
"A long story for a different time," she shrugs.
"What was your point?"
"I'm not saying that because I'm dating you," Toni sits down on the couch next to me and squeezes my hand, "But I'm saying it because it's true. You are extremely beautiful and you are just going through a rough patch, you'll be ok."
"Yeah sure."
"I just got off the phone with Betty not too long ago," Toni starts.
"Oh god. And?"
"And she wants you to know that you'll be seeing her no matter what, she loves you and she's excited to see you because she missed you."
"I hope you told her that I'm no fun now. Nothing crazy like sleeping in a pet smart, just sleep, Disney movies and anxiety attacks."
"Sounds like an action packed day to me," Toni smiles.
"Oh yeah, the anxiety is always a handful. It really keeps you busy for some time," I roll my eyes and she giggles.
I begin to laugh as well but it's cut short by a knock on the trailer's door.
"Well guess who's here," Toni sits up, "I'll get the door. You, stay relaxed. She's your cousin so you don't need to be worried and she's happy to see you, she's not thinking about how you look right now."
Damn, she's good. She already knew I was questioning my beauty before I could even look myself up and down. Guess I got lucky.
"Hey," Toni greets.