The Secrets We Keep: A Choni Story

Chapter 5

Cheryl's POV

Toni had calmed down since last night but she still hadn't told me what the problem was.

"Toni?" I called.

"Yeah, babe," she replied.

"What happened last night?" I asked sitting down next to her handing her the coffee I had just made.

"Um I-I-I had a nightmare, and uh uh..." she trailed off.

I grabbed her hands. "Toni, you can tell me, I'm here for you," I said reassuringly.

"Um, I had a nightmare and," she took a deep breath. I could feel her shaking. I pulled her closer to me. "You were murdered right in front of me," she started sobbing.

"It's okay, Toni," I said.

I hugged her tightly. She cried into me for about an hour and before I knew it she was asleep. I carefully picked her up and placed her in bed, kissing her forehead.

At school

Toni's POV

I saw Jughead and decided that he knew the answers to my questions.

"Yo, Jones," I hollered.

"Hey, Topaz, how's it hanging?" he asked.

"Um, it's good, it's good, how are you, man?" I inquired.

"I'm alright you know," he replied.

"Can we go somewhere a bit more private?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure," he said walking into the darkroom. "What's you wanna talk about?" he questioned.

"I wanna join the serpents," I said.

"And I wanna be Shakespeare," he laughed.

"I'm serious Jug," I said firmly.

"Okay, I'll talk to my dad," he replied.

I walked out of the room and walked into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, nothing. I just wanted to be normal. I felt a malevolent presence behind me.

"What do you want Jesse?" I asked, turning around.

"You know what I want, Toni. The same thing I always want, I want you," he said smugly.

I laughed turning to walk out.

"Don't turn your back on me, Toni, I have a gang now, or did you forget?" he warned.

"Oh no, Jesse, maybe you shouldn't turn your back on me," I said walking out.

I walked into the lounge and sat next to Cheryl.

"Hey, where have you been?" she asked.

"Nowhere in particular, what have you been missing me?" I teased.

"Well of course," she sighed.

"Um, we need to talk later, it's important," I said.

"Okay," she said.

After school

At Thistlehouse

Cheryl's POV

"So what did you wanna talk about that was so important?" I asked, sitting down next to Toni.

She took a deep breath "I wanna join the serpents." she said looking down.

"What why?" I asked.

"Protection. Family," she said plainly.

"Toni, you promised me only if there was a life or death situation," I said grabbing her hands.

"I know, and there is but I can't tell you," she said.

There was a pounding on the door. I jumped.

"It's alright. I'll get it." Toni said comfortingly.

She got up and there were men in snake masks.

"Your initiation starts now!" he yelled.

He threw Toni a leash and a dog walked. Toni closed the door and huffed as she sat down beside me.

"So did you want to join or did you join?" I asked annoyed.

"I talked to Jughead at school today and he said that he would talk to FP. I didn't know it would happen so quick," she said.

"Okay, I'm sorry for overreacting," I apologised.

"No, it's okay you're just looking out for me and I'm not used to people doing that for me, so thank you, Cheryl. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," she said.

I kissed her. She kissed back.

She pulled away, "What are we gonna do with him?" she asked.

"Nu-uh that's your problem, but I think we should put some food out for him and go to bed," I suggested.

Toni put some food and water out for Hot Dog. She grabbed my hand and pulled us into the bedroom.

She sighed, "So why do you have dog food if you don't have a dog?" she asked.

"My mom always told me she was going to get me one, so she bought the food to make me believe and to shut me up because she never did," I answered honestly.

I laid on Toni's chest.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," Toni replied. "Now go to sleep."

I sighed and fell into a deep sleep.

Toni collapsed into the house holding her stomach.

"Toni? Toni what happened?!" I asked frantically trying to stop the bleeding.

"I don't know, I think some Vamp attacked me, but I..." Toni trailed off.

"Toni, hey, hey, look at me it's gonna be okay," I said holding back tears.

"I wanna sleep. I'm tired," she said, almost closing her eyes.

"No, no Toni stay with me, just hold on," I said crying into her shoulder.

"Oooh look, Cher, there's a light, I think I'm gonna go to it," she said drowsily pointing at the ceiling.

"NO! No Antoinette Topaz, you will not go to that light." I cried pulling her closer to me.

"But it's so close Cher, I'm sorry I love you, Cheryl. Always remember that. I'll always be in there," she said pointing to my heart.

"I love you, too, Toni please don't go," I pleaded.

"Never forget this okay? I love you and only you, Bombshell," she said stroking my face.

Her eyes rolled back. Her arm fell from my face.

"Toni? Toni?! TONI! Wake up!" I cried.

I shot up from my bed. Shivering. Sweating. Toni shot up soon after.

"Hey, you alright? Whatever it is I'm here you can talk to me," she said.

I hugged her, "Oh, I had a nightmare and I thought I lost you." I cried into her shoulder.

"Not gonna happen, Blossom, I am not going anywhere anytime soon. Me being in the serpents isn't going to change that. Alright, that I can promise you." she said reassuringly.

I look up at her. "Promise?" I asked, tears still spilling from my eyes.

"I promise." she kissed my forehead.

I slowly fell back asleep, dreading tomorrow because I wouldn't see much of Toni at school because she'd have to be studying the serpent laws with Jughead.