Coming Home

5

After a day of driving around Riverdale, and even over to Greendale to take some test shots on her new camera she starts to get ready to go out soon. She bickered with her agent over going back to New York, telling her that she deserves this break, but knows she'll have to get some work in soon.

She gets ready surprisingly fast, and everyone else is already there for some college football game, so she quickly grabs her wallet and her keys and goes. She might admit that Fangs telling her that Cheryl is already there makes her go a little faster.

What she doesn't know is that she's in for a surprise at the bar.

Toni quickly walks to the bar, its way colder than she thought it would be and she's only in jeans and a light flannel. She pushes the door open and fixes her hair that got all messy in the wind, waving over to Fangs while she orders her first drink of the night. Her eyes scan the bar and stop when she spots Cheryl's unmistakable red hair, and they furrow when they see some girl she's with inching closer to her. She looks to Fangs, who only shrugs. 

She hums to herself in thought and ignores that weird burning feeling in her chest. The girl's hand moves up to push a piece of Cheryl's hair behind her ear, and lingers on her face.

"Better add a shot or two." she says to the bartender, sinking back on her seat as he nods at her.

Toni puts the money for her drinks on the bar, preparing to get up and join everyone else at the table. She sees the girl sink into Cheryl and whisper something in her ear, and it must be about how she's glaring because Cheryl turns around and looks at her.

Toni just scoffs, picking up her first shot and winking at Cheryl as she takes it. Cheryl quickly turns back around and Toni walks over to the table.

"Hey Tiny!" Sweet Pea yells and Toni smiles wide, "thank god, someone I can get drunk with!" she takes her second shot and sits down next to her best friend.

Toni nudges Veronica, "so who's that" she sighs and looks at Veronica.

Veronica chuckles sympathetically, "I don't even know, to be honest." she nudges Toni and frowns.

Toni hums, "I guess that makes it better." She sips her beer, "So where's Archie tonight?"

"Something about finishing up at work just a couple minutes ago, so he should be here soon." she smiles and Toni finds herself a little jealous of how they worked out.

"I'm happy you guys are still together" she finds herself saying and Veronica smiles, "Thanks, Toni! I mean we did go through some messy fights after high school, but we worked it all out. You know...you could still do that." She says and pats Toni's shoulder.

Toni scoffs, "Yeah right, she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you. She resents you." Veronica says, and turns to Betty to finish their conversation. Toni sits and thinks with that before she decides she'd rather drink.

"Hey Sweets, get me another drink would ya!" she calls after him while he goes up to the bar.

"So what have you been up to back home, Toni?" Sarah, Sweet Pea's girlfriend asks and Toni tells her she's been talking some pictures and writing a little bit about being home. Toni loves Sarah, she's like, way too good for Sweet Pea. She teaches first grade, calls him by his real name, and she's just the nicest person ever.

Speaking of New York, Toni's phone starts to ring, and it's her boss. She frowns and realizes she has to answer it, "I gotta take this, be right back."

Toni quickly ducks out of the bar and answers, "hey, what's up?"

"Hey Toni, how's home?" he asks and she shrugs, "it's pretty good, actually. Why are you really calling me though." she giggles and he sighs.