Coming Home

7

This is short, I'm so sorry, and I had some writers block over this story but I'm back!! I'm planning to update more often with linger chapters so pls stick around :)

Toni gets into a car to take her to her New York apartment for the first time in a while. She'll easily admit she misses living in New York, the business and urgency of it all...it makes Riverdale look like a ghost town. 

Cheryl though, she makes Riverdale worth it. And all of her other friends, of course, but Cheryl is kind of why she came back, and she hates herself for messing that up every time she thinks about how she ended things.

Toni wonders what the redhead is doing now and shoots her a text about what she's doing, as promised.

T: Update from the girl in the hot seat ;) on my way to my apartment to get some work stuff, then off to the shoot. What r u up to?

Veronica looks over the table when Cheryl's phone buzzes.

"Toni texted you again?! she's committed, huh?" she nearly shouts and a few heads turn in the coffee shop.

Cheryl would really prefer it if Betty were there to balance out Veronica's inane relationship logic, but apparently the girl couldn't fit a coffee break in her oh-so-busy schedule.

"Veronica!" she scolds and Veronica sits back, "Okay I'll quiet down."

"Anyway, yes she's being very committed to getting herself back on my good side. She apologized to me fully, and-" Cheryl lowers her voice to a whisper, "you won't believe this Vee. She called me her soulmate."

"No! No way she really called you her soulmate?" Veronica sits forward, clutching her coffee cup like an anchor.

"Yup. And she said she was even willing to be my friend after saying she thinks I'm her soulmate. What the fuck kind of logic is that?" Cheryl throws her hands up, letting her rant out.

"Woah" Veronica breathes out. "Well what are you gonna do? She's like, totally trying to win you back."

"Oh I won't be won back so easily." Cheryl assures Veronica, "I think we have to stay friends. I mean, I don't even know if I still have feelings for her like that anymore, she broke me and broke my trust. It's complicated, but I'm gonna let her try to win me back just to see what that means, you know?"

"Yeah. Yeah I think it's probably best if you start as friends to like understand each other again. Are you gonna see other people in the meantime?"

"I don't know that's not exactly my first thought, to be honest. I don't know if I should put everything on hold for Toni...I don't know." Cheryl trails off, even more lost that before.

Veronica shoots her a look and goes back to her coffee.

Cheryl hums and texts Toni back.

C: Maybe it's just a warm seat now...

C: I'm at coffee with Veronica talking shit about you ;)

Toni nearly spits out her own coffee when she reads the last text. She decides to play along and just flirt with Cheryl.

T: You really know how to make a girl blush, Cher

T: GTG actually work now, more updates later of course.

Cheryl rolls her eyes and puts her phone down, meeting Veronica's eyes again.

"Oh boy I really can't wait to watch all this unfold." she sips her coffee and sits back.

"Whatever" Cheryl kicks her shin under the table with an eye roll, her cheeks turning a light pink.

-

Toni shares some pictures and smaller texts through the day, but Cheryl can tell she's busy and is just texting her to keep her updated like she said.

It's okay, though because Cheryl gets kind of busy with some last minute paperwork at her office anyway.

She's interrupted by a text from Toni, her with the girl she's taking pictures of today- Maggie Rogers, who's music Cheryl also happens to love. Cheryl catches herself smiling and at a loss for what to respond with.

She's reminded of Toni from high school, who was always, always so sweet to her; protecting her from everything, listening to her problems, and taking care of her when she needed it. Toni who used to send her pictures of a flower she saw on her way to work, or a dog she saw on a walk.

Overcome by memories, Cheryl types out a freak-out text, suddenly feeling more sad than happy. She ditches her work and leaves for the grocery store to find something to make for dinner.

She quickly finds the things she needs- god she hates the grocery store. Everyone walks slow, puts themselves in everyone else's way. She's trying to get her things and go lounge around for the rest of the night when she hears someone call her name.

Cheryl turns and sucks in a breath out of shock.

"H-Heather?" She asks, even though it's obvious this is her first best friend-slash- sexual awakening in front of her. She's grown her hair out and it looks darker, plus she's totally found her style with the colorful top and jeans she's wearing that look like they belong anywhere but Riverdale.

"Um- what are you doing in town?" Cheryl asks and hopes her nerves aren't obvious.

"Oh I'm in town for the holidays, to see the family and all." Heather shrugs and points over her shoulder, "there's my mom, anyway. But it was good seeing you Cheryl, maybe we could get a drink? I hope you haven't changed your number..." heather smiles and Cheryl squirms under it.

"Oh- um no it hasn't" she gets herself together and puts a smile on her face as heather listens.

"You look great, by the way" Heather adds before she goes and Cheryl feels herself blush a little.

After she's sure Heather is gone, she turns back to her cart. "What the fuck  is it with my exes loving the holidays all of a sudden." She whispers to herself and throws a box of cereal in her cart.

Toni goes out with her work friends before she leaves for Riverdale again. They pester her about being home, about her ex she never stops talking about, and her work. She missed these friends, who know photography and art so well. 

They share all kinds of work with each other, exchanging advice and praises until they almost close the restaurant around them. 

She gets back to her apartment late, and manages to send Cheryl a text before she nods off.

Thx for reading <3