The Secrets We Keep: A Choni Story

Chapter 3

Toni's POV

Oh. My. God. She said yes, I can't believe it. I don't know what but there's something about her. Cheryl is different. I'd do anything for her. I can feel it in my heart.

"Cheryl, who is that?" I said, pointing to a guy with a leather jacket with a snake embroidered on it.

"Oh, that, that's Jughead or as I prefer to call him Hobo," she replied.

"Oh, cool his jacket is cool, what's a Southside Serpent?" I asked confused.

"Oh, TT," she chuckled, "It's a gang from the other side of town, they have some rivals called the Ghoulies or something like that, not like I care,"

"TT? I like it. Do you, um have to be a part of the gang to get one of the jackets?" I asked.

"Um, yeah," Cheryl replied "Wait, you're not thinking about joining them are you, it's dangerous you know?" she asked face full of concern.

"I might have to Cheryl," I replied looking down.

"Promise me that you won't join unless absolutely necessary like life or death," Cheryl said firmly

"Fine, I promise," I said grabbing Cheryl's hands.

At home

I had just come out of the shower and was about to dial Cheryl's number and then Jesse appeared.

"What the- what are you doing here you can't just show up like that!" I screamed.

"Toni?" my mom called from downstairs "Who are you talking to?"

"Uh, uh, no one mom!" I yelled back.

"Alright!" she replied.

"Good job on the redhead!" Jesse said quietly.

"Don't call her that, she has a name!" I snapped back careful not to be too loud.

"Oooh, catching feelings babe, what about me?" he chuckled.

"You and I are finished and you know that but she doesn't mean anything, I was just following orders because I have a duty to protect my mom. Okay?" I stated firmly.

"And just so I can keep an eye on you I kinda took over one of the gangs in this town. That's all catch you later, babe,"

Before I had the chance to tell him to not call me that he was gone.

The next day

"Hey uh Jughead, do you have a minute?" I asked nervously.

"Um sure but who are you exactly?" he said confused.

"Oh sorry, I'm Toni Topaz," I said, smirking.

"I'm Jughead Jones, but I'm guessing you already knew that anyway what did you want to talk about Toni?" he asked, gesturing for me to follow him into the lounge.

"Um, did your gang get taken over?" I asked.

"No, but our rival's the Ghoulies did, now they're called the Vamps or something," he replied.

"Oh okay cool, catch you later Jones," I said, trying to mask the anger and shock in my voice, as someone placed their hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, TT. Hobo." Cheryl said shooting Jughead a glare.

"Nice to see you too, Cheryl. Bye Topaz, I'll see you around" said Jughead as he got up to leave.

"What did he want?" she said, rolling her eyes.

"He's not that bad of a guy I can see us being good friends," I deeply inhaled "But um, uh I was uh talking to him about um the gangs," I said looking down.

"What, why? Toni look," she said cupping my face, "There's beef between the Ghoulies and the Serpents that I don't want you to get involved in. I don't wanna sound controlling but I don't want to come into school and hear over the tannoy that you've died, I don't think I could handle that, call me selfish but that could send me over the edge because if I'm being honest," she took a deep breath and stared into my eyes, "I love you, Toni."

A wave of emotions hit me like a truck. I thought of every bad thing that happened to the people I care about. I couldn't do that to Cheryl. I felt that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this woman. She made me feel special. I had to protect her from Jesse. He could not lay a finger on her or he would have hell to pay because I loved her too but I couldn't tell her that, not yet. Before I knew it I was crying.

"Toni, hey hey it's okay you don't have to say it back," she said pulling me into a tight hug.

"Oh, Cheryl, you really are too good for me, I really want to say it back but I can't not right now. I will though, well at least I'm all yours," I said, smirking through the tears.

"All mine?" she asked looking up at me.

"All mine," I said, reassuringly, pulling her into a kiss.

Lunch

Cheryl's POV

We were at lunch and Toni had calmed down from earlier. We were sitting with Veronica and Betty.

"Soooo...?" asked Veronica, looking at me and Toni.

I blushed and looked over at Toni to see that she was actually redder than my hair. I chuckled.

"C'mon Cher since I found out we were cousins you've been really easy to read like easier than a code written in a Nancy Drew cypher easy," Betty laughed.

"Well, Cheryl here is my girlfriend and I wouldn't change her for the world," Toni replied, causing me to turn even redder than I was I didn't even think that was possible!

I kissed her on the cheek. She smiled.

"Oh. Em. Gee! You guys are SO couple goals!" Veronica exclaimed.

After School

Toni and I walked home together hand in hand. I dropped her off at her house.

"See ya, TT," I said.

"Bye Cheryl, stay safe," she replied.

"Of course I can't have you worrying about me," I chuckled, before pecking her on the cheek.

At Thornhill

I placed my bags down and had a relaxing shower, I put on my PJ's. Something didn't feel right, I could feel it in my stomach. I didn't have time to do anything about the smell of gasoline growing in my nostrils. Before I knew it I was out like a light.

At Toni's house

Toni's POV

I was about to fall asleep when I heard a knock on my door. My mom was at work so I had to get up and get it and was annoyed by the face that greeted me.

"Jesse, what do you want it's like 4am or something?" I said groggily.

"Well um, I took care of the redhead!" He smiled excitedly expecting approval.

I grabbed him and slammed him against the wall with a newfound strength.

"What did you with Cheryl?!" I yelled.

"Well, why don't I show you, huh?" He said breaking free of my grasp, before taking hold of me and flying into the air so we had a birds-eye view of Riverdale.

And that's when I saw it.

Hope you guys are enjoying this story it's my first, don't be afraid to comment on what you'd like to see and I'll see if I can make it happen. Tell me what you like and what you don't like and I'll try and improve on it.