Everything You do (Choni)

There's a Hell in Hello

Toni's pov:

My shift at pops was coming to an end when the bell above the door announced another customer had entered. I headed towards the counter to collect a cloth to wipe down the table and collect a few menus. I had gotten a job here as soon as I had returned to help pay the medical bills and had gotten used to the routine quickly.

"Waiter over here please," said a shockingly familiar voice. It had come from the seats by the door so probably belonged to the new arrivals- god I hated impatient, bossy people.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to look at the table that had summoned me and my eyes fell upon my high school nemesis- Veronica. Even though two years had passed, I had to wipe my sweaty palms on my apron before approaching her. Across from her sat another brunette who was intently looking at something on her phone.

"What can I get you guys?" I asked, keeping my eyes trained on the notepad in my hands.

"Two, chocolate smoothies, mine with no extra cream. Got to keep this figure," she winked at her friend. Yes still same old Veronica.

"Anything else?" I asked grudgingly trying to hide the contempt in my voice, she had made my high school years hell.

"Nothing thanks" she turned up to look at me and a confused expression settles on her face. In her defence I had changed quite a bit, I had dyed my hair pink and learned a thing or two about makeup. She stared a few moments trying to place me in her memory and then read my name badge- letting out a light whistle when she finally remembered me.

"Toni? I thought you were at college?" she asked in a pleasant tone, like the years of torment she had thrown at me ceased to exist.

"I had but I have an apartment here now, looking after my mother," I breifly explained. I felt a second pair of eyes on me. I turned to smile at the second girl who had lost interest in her phone and taken to one in me.

"I'm sorry-" she began to give condolences when her phone's ring tome basted through the diner. She looked up apologetically and she rummaged through her bag for it. I turned away, taking their order to the till.

"Cheryl, yea it's me," said veronica over the phone, my grasp on the counter tightened.

"What tonight? I mean sure, like a house warming thing?" She continued, curious, I strained to hear more.

"Yeah I'll ask around," she said, Veronica's eyes flickered to me and back to her friend.

"You'll never guess who came back to town the same time as you?" challenged veronica. My heart skipped a beat, Cheryl was back in Riverdale too?! It was the coincidence of a life time.

"What you already knew! That was going to be my surprise tonight. Anyway bye," chirpped veronica as She finished the call. I made myself look busy cleaning down a counter, I didn't want my first impression as an adult being an eavesdropper.

"Go drop these over there, would you?" asked Pop Tate loading two cool chocolate milkshakes into my hands.

I made my way slowly back to the table and lowered one in front of Veronica and the other in front of her friend before making a quick attempt to escape the table.

"Hey Toni, you free tonight?" asked Veronica taking me by surprise, when had she ever wanted to hang out with me?

"Umm... I guess," I said wearily, eyeing her up and down like a nervous deer.

"Good, you can come with us to Cheryl's party, she's having a housewarming thing now she's back from the big city." she said authoritatively.

"you remember Cheryl right?" She asked slowly, watching my confused face.