When I Met You | CHONI |

Chapter 12

Veronica was at Pops with Toni, Jughead, Betty and Archie. Trying to comfort Toni and worrying about Cheryl.
Suddenly her phone pinged.

Cheryl
I'm sorry I can't do this anymore, thank you for being such a good friend, tell Toni I'm sorry
Read 10.15am

'What the fuck' Veronica face went pale. 'What' everyone looked concerned. Veronica turned her phone to show them the text. The group jumped up 'where can we find her?'.
'I don't know she used to head to Sweetwater River when she needed time alone'. Veronica said.
'But that's frozen over' Jughead stated.
'Fuck' Archie said. Everyone's eyes went wide. They rushed outside to Veronicas car and jumped in.
Veronica sped as fast as she could to the river. As soon as they arrived they made their way through the woods calling for Cheryl.
They see her in the middle of the frozen river hitting the ice as hard as she can.
'CHERYL!' Toni screams as she steps forward the ice cracks, Jughead grabs her arm.
'Just come back we can fix this' Veronica calls.
As Cheryl stands and turns to face her friends she looks as broken as she feels. Suddenly the ice gives way and before anyone knows it Cheryl is plunged into the icy water.
The group sprint as fast as they can not thinking about their own safety to the hole in the ground. Cheryl's isn't there.
'The current has her, spread out' Archie screams. They frantically spread out kicking and digging the snow.
'SHES HERE' Archie yells.
He punches the ice as hard as he can, he hears his bone crunch as the ice cracks, he reaches in and pulls Cheryl out by her arm.
Toni rushes to be by Cheryl's side she's unconscious, Toni immediately gives Cheryl CPR. Her friends surround her worried and upset, hoping for the best.
'Come on baby' Toni whispers as she breathes air into her lungs. Cheryl finally coughs up water and takes a breath, she's fading in and out of consciousness.
Archie grabs her and they rush back to the car to get her to the hospital. Toni stroking her hair the whole way, the car is silent, everyone too worried to speak.

They burst into hospital. 'HELP!' Betty shouts.
Nurses come rushing over taking Cheryl from Archies arms.
'What happened' one of the nurses asks the group.
'She fell into Sweetwater river' Jughead said his friends not being able to speak with worry.
'Right we need to contact her parents'
'No' Veronica said 'they are the reason she's in this mess, we will stay'.

It had been hours, no one spoke as they sat waiting to hear if Cheryl was okay. The nurse approaches the teenagers.
'How is she?' Toni stands.
'She's alright, a little shaken up and extremely tired. But she should be able to go home later on tonight is someone picking her up?'
'She's been staying with me' Veronica quickly spoke up 'I'll be taking her home'.
Everyone left the hospital except for Veronica and Toni.
'What's been going on?' Veronica asks.
'I don't know' Toni sighs 'this is all my fault, I kissed her and I shouldn't have, she's not even into girls'.
'I wouldn't be so sure' Veronica smiles 'I think she likes you Topaz'.
The nurse interrupts the girls 'Miss Blossom is ready now, I'll wheel her out'.

Cheryl doesn't remember anything after swallowing the icy water of the river, she remembers her friends screaming her name and Toni. 'Oh no Toni, she saw me at my worse' Cheryl thought. The nurse comes in to prepare Cheryl to leave. 'Are my parents here?' Cheryl asked petrified. 'No a Miss Lodge and a Miss Topaz are signing you out, come along'.

Cheryl sits in the wheelchair, so embarrassed by what's just happened. She doesn't lift her head when she reaches her friend and her... Toni, what is Toni? She's so confused.
Before she knew it she is engulfed by the girls in a desperate hug. 'I'm sorry' Cheryl whispers.
'Come on let's get you home, you're staying with me' Veronica said.
The journey back to Veronicas was silent no one knowing exactly what to say.