Hey guys tell me what you think about this and if you think i should continue?
im gonna have songs in the beginning of each chapter after this just to have it playing while you read to go with the setting of the chapter. feel free to pm me i really wanna make friends here as much as i can. lifes fucked lol. enjoy.
Cheryl awoke to the sounds of her mother screaming at the cleaners. She grumbled. Sighing as she opened her eyes and stared at the red ceiling above her as she gathered her thoughts. Almost every morning she hoped to wake up to a normal and happy family who loved and cared for her. But it never happened. And so just like every other start of the school year she gathered and composed herself as she got ready for school. Looking as impeccable as would be possible from a human form. Except if one were to look very closely at Cheryl, they would notice how empty her eyes truly were. Those beautiful wide doe eyes were now devoid of any emotion. It was as if the death of Jason had been the death of Cheryl, and had left behind an empty shell of a human being.
She walked down the spiral staircase not even bothering to walk into the kitchen and eat. Knowing that her mother would punish her for this when she got home, but at this point Cheryl couldn't give a fuck. She clutched her bag for dear life as she sat in her convertible. She began driving as fast as she possibly could.
She turned the volume up as the song blasted through the speakers,
They say we can't stay in America
You can't be free in America
But I'm sick of listening to everyone
I just want you, oh
I just want you, oh
I just want you, oh
There were 2 hours till her next class, and so she took the next left onto the highway, crossing the bridge connecting her to the Southside. She drove down the long winding road, the trees blowing with the cold wind as her hair flew behind her, a heavy contrast to the dark blue skies and ivy green leaves of the forest around her. She breathed in the air as if it were her last few breaths on earth. And to Cheryl, it may as well have been.
Her brother had left her and now she was left alone. Alone in the midst of a crowd. She could feel her heart sinking, almost as if it were a physical blow to her chest. Gripping the wheel she forced herself to remain present. She didn't want to go deep into her thoughts today. She had to keep it together. Finding a small clearing opening to a small road she turned towards it stopping at the dead end.
Come on Cheryl you can do this. It's just a few hours of your day don't slip up. Just don't. She kept her head resting on the steering wheel before reaching into her bag and pulling out a pack of Marlboro Reds. Grateful for her convertible and her ability to smoke without worrying about her car reeking of tobacco. Flicking her lighter on, she took a long drag, filling her lungs with the substance before closing her eyes and inhaling. Her head almost immediately feeling heavier than usual. It was as if the stress she went through just immediately dissipated. She felt complete. It was a habit she picked up a year ago and now she couldn't seem to stop. She didn't want to stop.
All of a sudden the sound of twigs snapping and someone's footsteps caused her to whip forward. Her hazy brain causing her to look around in confusion.
"Who's there?" she said calmly. Not really caring if it could possibly be a serial killer out to kill her. But it wasn't a serial killer. As she stepped into the light, her pink highlighted hair shone out of the dark atmosphere. The first thing Cheryl noticed were her eyes. They were beautiful. And they were looking right at her.
"What the fuck? How the hell did you get here?" she asked, her voice as soothing as honey.
"I clearly drove here," she scoffed. "How the hell did you get here? Who are you anyways?"
The girl's eyes drifted towards the cigarette dangling in Cheryl's hand. She nodded towards it.
"Got anymore?" she asked.
Fuck it. Cheryl thought. And took the box out of her bag. As soon as she caught sight of the box she smiled slightly, walking towards the passenger seat and jumping in with ease. And Cheryl didn't stop her. Suddenly she didn't mind not being so alone.
Taking one of the cigarettes out of the box she looked at Cheryl questioningly. Confused she tilted her head.
"What is it?" she whispered. Not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.
"I don't know how to conjure up fire with my hands. Lighter?" she said softly.
"Oh of course, sorry I'm not thinking straight at the moment." She muttered as she handed her the lighter.
"Same." She said. Was she flirting?
She tried flicking it on and turned it to the side. Sighing Cheryl felt terrible and went to take a last drag of her cigarette before she gave it to her. Completely confused as to why she was being so generous. But before she could do so, her face was being tilted to the side, cigarette still in her mouth. Her heart began pounding. How long had it been since someone had touched her so softly. All she ever knew for the past year was the harsh and painful slaps of her mother.
And her already lit cigarette was pushed further into her mouth as the pink haired girl placed hers softly onto it inhaling as she looked directly into Cheryl's eyes. And just as quickly as that had happened, her hands were gone and she was resting her head on the seat as she took a long drag inhaling the smoke. Cheryl remained silent as she looked away taking a huge drag of her own cigarette.
"Give me your phone I want to play a song I've been obsessed with these days." She said as she placed her hand out. She grabbed her iPhone, typing in the password and passed it to her.
Don't you know I'm no good for you?
I've learned to lose you, can't afford to
Tore my shirt to stop you bleedin'
But nothin' ever stops you leavin'
She looked towards the pink haired girl, her heart sinking at the lyrics. She was staring towards the trees, tears welling up but she continued to stop herself from doing so.
The song continued and for some reason Cheryl felt curious. She wanted to know what was going on with the girl who sat next to her. Maybe it was the fact that this was the first person she had interacted with in almost a 4 months. But she wanted to know why she looked as sad as her.
"Hey is everything okay?" she whispered turning the music down to just a soft background.
She scoffed. Flicking the ashes to the side.
"Fuck people. Am I right?"
Cheryl stared at her, almost in awe.
"Exactly." She said as she smiled slightly.
They both sat in silence as her playlist continued. It was almost time for her classes to start and at the same time she felt as if she could stay here, in silence. Sitting next to the pink haired girl. Feeling something she hasn't felt in years. Contentment.
But of course all good things come to an end and the girl flicked her cigarette butt on the soil as she hopped out of the car, walking towards Cheryl. Cheryl watched her every move. Feeling sad at the prospect of leaving, but also the prospect of never seeing this girl again.
She leaned down to rest on the window.
"Thank you. For sharing your cigarette and letting me hang out with you when it's pretty clear you came here to be alone." She said as she flicked her eyes towards Cheryl's lips, almost immediately bringing herself to look at her eyes again.
Cheryl caught herself doing the same.
"You're welcome. I'm Cheryl by the way." She said softly. Her heart already feeling heavy having forgotten how it felt to have someone around her who she felt connected to. She felt the loneliness creep up on her again as the girl walked back letting her start her car and reverse.
"My names Toni. I come here almost every morning before work. You should come hang whenever you can Cheryl." She said. And Cheryl once more found herself amazed at this girl's sultry voice.
"Of course. Whenever I'm not busy." She said smiling softly. As she reached the main road she turned around to see Toni wave at her. She waved back. And as she began her drive to Riverdale high, she reached for her phone, realizing that her packet of cigarettes were gone. She would have to come back sometime and see if Toni was still there. And for some reason Cheryl found herself looking forward to it.