AN/ HEY GUYS! I'M BACK IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS BECAUSE I HAD A BURST OF INSPIRATION WHEN DOING PHYSICS REVISION, SO I ABANDONED THAT TO COME WRITE THIS. THIS WAS MUCH BETTER THAN DOING THAT :D.

READING ALL OF YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS CERTAINLY BEATS READING THAT REVISION GUIDE AND LEARNING ABOUT WAVES (FACT OF THE DAY: TRANSVERSE WAVES OSCILLATE PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF ENERGY TRANSFER).

ANYWAY, I GOT THOSE FIVE REVIEWS REALLY FAST, SO AS PROMISED, HERE IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT. IF I GET FIVE REVIEWS ON THIS, YOU WILL GET THE NEXT PART TOMORROW... IT'S READY AND WAITING GUYS.

THAT SAID, READ, ENJOY, REVIEW...

Finally, those forty seven minutes were over. They'd dragged by, and Toni felt as if she would never escape that English classroom. She couldn't help but sigh with relief when at last, the bell rang, finding herself jumping up and grabbing her bag, all but running out of the classroom.

"Hey Topaz," a familiar, gruff voice barked behind her. "Where are you rushing off to?"

Toni slowed down a little at hearing Sweetpea. "I'm not rushing anywhere. But I am going to River Vixens tryouts, and I know the Captain doesn't deal well with people showing up late."

"River Vixens tryouts?" Sweetpea repeated in disbelief. "Cheryl Blossom's cheer squad? But you hate cheerleading…"

Seeing this being as good a time as any to tell Sweetpea, Toni found herself grinning as she spoke. "But I love Cheryl Blossom…"

It took Sweetpea a while to digest this. Toni noticed the conflicting emotions on his face, the look in his eye going from one of shock, to distaste, until finally setting on happiness. "So you and Bombshell girl? You and Cheryl 'fascist Barbie' Blossom?"

Toni nodded, and Sweetpea just looked at her in disbelief. "When did this happen – no, how did this happen?"

"It started three days ago, and I promise I'll tell you later, okay?"

"Topaz, you can't just drop a bomb like that and walk off like nothing happened. I want to know the details…"

"Honestly, Sweetpea," Toni sighed, slightly exasperated. "Sometimes, you are worse than a teenage girl when it comes to gossip. I need to go right now – I promise we'll talk later."

"Yeah," Sweetpea teased, "You gotta go run for your girl, Topaz. Wait, is this why you were late to English?"

"Really Sweetpea? What part of I need to go don't you understand? I said I'll tell you later!"

"Fine. Whatever." Sweetpea muttered. "Leave your best friend out of the loop…"

"I promise I'll tell you, Jughead and King later."

"You'd better, Topaz."

"Have I ever broken a promise?" Toni asked as she turned away and began to make her way down the corridor.

"Have you ever fallen for a Northside girl?" Sweetpea called after her, causing Toni to give him the finger over her shoulder as she turned the corner.

Sweetpea stood in the middle of the corridor, beaming from ear to ear at his friend's news. Sure, Toni had been talking a lot more about Cheryl Blossom lately, and he knew she'd gone to the cinema and Pop's with the redhead when he bailed on her, but he couldn't quite wrap his head around the idea of the two of them being together… like together, together. He'd choked on his drink when Toni had said she'd been with Cheryl the other day, but this was just completely unbelievable. Toni… and Cheryl Blossom? In what universe?

He shook his head at that thought, still spellbound. Toni and Cheryl? Did that make them Choni? He smirked at that. Yep, that definitely made them Choni. Still beaming, he jumped when he heard footsteps, and ran down the corridor to go to his history lesson.

Toni would definitely be getting an earful later…


Seeing Toni creep into the hall, late, made Cheryl smile. She hadn't bailed, she was here. It made her smirk watching the group of girls stood before her, all twenty of them, nineteen of them brimming with anticipation for their shot to get on the squad, one stood at the back lacking any and all interest. That one girl was Toni, who – quite clearly – was rather complacent about the whole affair.

"Okay then, bitches," Cheryl began when the clock hand was precisely on 10:30, "You all know why you're here, you all are a bunch of amateurs but school rules declare we have to give everyone a chance to try out."

She sighed exasperatedly, looking over the group of girls stood before her, the majority of whom were (much to her disgust) freshmen. "You have five minutes to warm up; then a minute each to show us – or more precisely: me – what you losers are made of."

When none of the girls moved, slightly shocked by the brutal nature of the captain, Cheryl rolled her eyes, and clapped her hands. "Well, get going then losers!"

Cheryl then turned her back on the group of girls then, looking towards Betty, Veronica and Josie who were standing behind her. "Is that really the best we've got?" she groaned.

"Give them a chance, Cheryl," Veronica argued, looking at the redhead suspiciously. "You're acting like there are a million places you'd rather be than here."

Not a million, Cheryl thought with a quick glance at Toni, just one. Feeling a smile spread onto her face, Cheryl continued to watch Toni, who was stretching on the floor. Noticing the redhead staring, the Serpent winked and deliberately started doing some slightly more risqué stretches. Cheryl blushed, something that was not lost on Betty.

The blonde watched the exchange, smirking at how Cheryl was acting. She'd never seen the ginger bombshell smile lovingly at anyone that wasn't her brother, let alone blush. It was ironic, really, to think that Toni Topaz – the girl who, until three days ago, Cheryl hated with a passion – was the one person who could thaw Cheryl's ice queen demeanour. Thinking about yesterday, she remembered how the pair's hands were intertwined throughout the entire will reading, about how Toni had rushed over to Cheryl when the redhead fainted. Raising an eyebrow, Betty began to think that perhaps, her suspicions about the pair were correct…

"Alright bitches," Cheryl announced. "Warm up's over. Let's get this over with." Rolling her eyes, she turned on her heel and went to stand with the other Vixens. As Cheryl strutted away, Veronica stepped forwards, reading the first name off of the list.

And so the first girl did her dance. Cheryl said no. Then the second girl. Cheryl asked if she was serious. Then the third girl. Cheryl stopped her mid-dance and told her it wasn't worth her carrying on. The fourth girl walked out, then decided against it, abandoning her chance to try out altogether.

Toni walked forward, taking a deep breath in. She was slightly shocked by how bitchy Cheryl was being to these girls. Sure, Cheryl was HBIC and that being like Regina George was just Cheryl's way of letting everyone know that, but still, it was unnecessary.

Toni nodded at Betty who hit play on the speakers. Taking an awkward step, she started to dance, instantly losing herself in the music. She forgot about every other girl in the room, focusing on only one girl, the redhead in the chair, who – for the first time that day – looked interested in what she was watching. The Serpent relaxed when she saw Cheryl lean forward in the chair, smiling in approval at what she saw. Noticing Cheryl get up and walk to join the others, Toni put an extra bit of fire into the last few moves, coming to a dramatic stop as the music finished.

There was silence for all of a second before the every girl in the hall burst into applause. Cheryl smirked at Toni as she clapped, the look on her face showing just how proud she was of her girlfriend. As she walked past Toni, she looked the Serpent in the eye, nodding ever so slightly. Toni beamed at that, and desperately wanted to pull Cheryl into a bear hug in the most embarrassing PDA way possible.

Barely restraining herself, Toni walked over to the others, standing amongst the few remaining hopefuls.

"Well," Cheryl began, "I don't think there's any way you amateurs are going to top that, so, practise is over, Vixens." The other Vixens breathed a sigh of relief and turned to make their way back to the changing rooms, whilst the remaining hopefuls were stood in confusion – weren't they getting a shot? Watching them begin to leave, Cheryl added, "Inner circle Vixens, hang back. You know who you are."

Betty and Veronica shared a knowing look before stepping forward, standing before Cheryl along with Josie and Toni.

"In honour of Toni joining our squad," the redhead said with a smile at Toni, "I think we should celebrate with a mandatory slumber party at Thistlehouse." Cheryl pretended to ignore the way the girls' eyes narrowed when she suggested that. Beaming with fake happiness, she added, "Fancy dressing gowns are appreciated, and you've all seen the Beguiled, right? Dinner at eight, parlour games to follow."

She smirked at Toni before strutting straight between Veronica and Josie. Toni turned her gaze towards Cheryl, who was swinging her hips in the most seductive way possible as she walked out of the gym.

Toni followed in hot pursuit, something that was not lost on Betty and Veronica.


"So, I made the squad?" Toni asked as she diverted her gaze from Cheryl's body as the redhead changed into her normal clothes.

"Well, obviously, TT," Cheryl replied, smiling softly at the Serpent. Turning away from the Serpent, she pulled her HBIC t-shirt off, and bent down to pick up her red strapless top, and felt a pair of lingering eyes watching her. "Normally, Toni," Cheryl began, spinning on her heel to face the brunette, "I tell people it's rude to stare, but with you, I think it's alright."

"Well, who doesn't want their girlfriend admiring them?" Toni mused as she took in Cheryl's figure. She thought the redhead looked amazing in whatever clothes she wore, but it was then, in the River Vixens' changing rooms, that Toni Topaz realised that Cheryl Blossom looked a million times better without the clothes. "Seriously Cheryl, you're just… wow!"

"Wow…" Cheryl contemplated, mulling over Toni's choice of word. "Nobody's ever called me wow before."

"Nobody had ever called you sensational either…" Toni said, her voice husky. She felt the heat of Cheryl's blush, as both of them felt themselves reminiscing over that night at Pop's.

"It's mad, isn't it?" Cheryl stated as she pulled her top on, her voice flooded with affection. "It's crazy how much things can change in such a short period of time."

"Until three days ago," Toni confessed, "I was convinced you hated me."

"I did at first," Cheryl admitted, looking down at her shoes as she spoke. She ran her hands through her hair as she gathered her thoughts together before continuing. "I saw you, and I was just taken by you, that day at the drag race. And being mean is my way of catching people's attention. People don't remember the nice ones, but Cheryl Blossom – Queen Bee and Riverdale High's own Regina George – it's hard to forget, isn't it?"

"Well, you certainly made an impression on me," Toni replied, smiling softly at Cheryl. "That day, when you called me 'Cha Cha,' that was the first time I'd ever found myself appreciating why people fall for the mean girls. And then on my first day here…"

"God," Cheryl remembered, "I was a bitch that day. I'm sorry."

"To say you were a bitch is an understatement, Blossom."

"Point taken, Topaz. Carry on."

"That day, when you came down the stairs, I remembered exactly who you were. And remembered how I'd taken one look at you and felt that attraction again. And it kept coming back over the last few weeks."

"I felt it too," Cheryl confessed, blushing slightly, "But you know that I don't do feelings that well, so I did what I do best."

"Which is?"

"I put on act of the merciless ice queen in the hope of pushing you away so you'd get out of my life and I could get back to my path of perpetual loneliness."

"Alright, Jughead, calm down."

"No, really. Feelings are complicated, and when I have them, I run."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm a fast runner then," Toni mused.

"You're the only person I've never pushed away." Cheryl deadpanned, grabbing her bag as they walked out of the changing rooms. "Why is that?"

"Because the people who spread the most hate often have the most love to give." Toni replied, quoting her mother for the second time that week. "We're far more alike than you like to give credit for. It's why we get on so well."

"Offers an explanation for our chemistry."

"Cheryl, I've never felt like this before."

"Me either."

The ringing of the bell interrupted their conversation.

Both girls looked up, and felt their glances meet. In that moment, both girls saw the other, truly, for the first time.

Cheryl Blossom might be Riverdale High's resident mean girl, with a mean streak a mile wide and a flawless appearance that made her look like a Vogue cover-girl, but really, Toni knew she wasn't that girl. Toni knew that Cheryl's mean nature was only on the surface, and underneath it, there was a girl, quiet and kind, scared and vulnerable, desperately trying to find her place in the world. That was the girl Toni had fallen for.

Toni Topaz might be the rough and tough biker girl from the Southside, with pink highlights, a scary Serpent tattoo and an attitude to match, but Cheryl knew that wasn't the real Toni. The real Toni wasn't like that. The real Toni Topaz was kind, and sensitive, a piece of calm amongst the all of the chaos. Cheryl saw that Toni was guarded, and in that moment realised how little Toni had disclosed about her personal life. Thinking about that, she wondered exactly who Toni Topaz was, and the things that made the girl tick.


The silence the two fell into was a comfortable one, and neither girl spoke as they made their way to the cafeteria, both deep in thought. Cheryl pulled a salad out of her bag, and Toni rolled her eyes, wandering over to the counter before returning with a large portion of fries and a bottle of cherry cola.

"What is it with you and cherry cola?" Cheryl giggled as Toni opened the bottle, placing two straws into it.

"Well, Cheryl Blossom, you were drinking cherry cola when I first realised I liked you. And, whenever we drink cherry cola, we always seem to have deep conversations that pull us closer together. I like that."

Cheryl nodded before pushing her salad away, choosing to steal some of Toni's fries instead. "These are actually really good," the redhead declared, reaching out to take some more.

Toni moved the tray so it was in the middle of them, allowing Cheryl to take however many fries she desired at her leisure. "So, Cheryl Blossom," Toni began, "what shall we talk about? I saw this film –"

"Let's talk about you." Cheryl interrupted, smiling at Toni.

"Me?" Toni clarified, her expression suddenly becoming guarded.

"Yeah," Cheryl said soothingly, "I want to know everything about the girl I'm falling for…"

"There isn't much to me," Toni deflected, "You already know all the important stuff: I'm a Serpent –"

"But that isn't the be all and end all of Toni Topaz, is it?" Cheryl asked, looking at Toni with genuine curiosity. "Like what about your family?"

Toni's eyes glazed over when Cheryl mentioned family, and she felt an overwhelming urge to tell her everything. Cheryl noticed that, and immediately felt guilty.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Cheryl added when she saw the look on Toni's face, "I'm sorry if I've brought up a tough topic for you…"

"Don't be. You were only asking, and you deserve to know. Just so you know, I don't tell many people this, so please don't say any of this to anyone else" Toni recounted the tale of her parent's tragic demise, the crash, her brother murdering the two Ghoulies, her brother running away, moving into her grandpa's trailer and joining the Serpents. "And yeah, that's the messed up story of Toni Topaz."

"It's not messed up Toni. There's no such thing as a happy family – let alone a perfect one – in this town."

"Is it stupid that I still miss them every day?" Toni asked, letting the vulnerability and insecurity creep into her voice.

"Not at all." Cheryl replied instantly. "You loved them, Toby especially."

Tony nodded at that, and gulped as she prepared to drop her bomb. "Toby's back," Toni whispered, her voice flooded with nerves.

Picking up on how anxious Toni was saying that, Cheryl placed a soothing hand on Toni's. "When did this happen?"

"At some point yesterday I guess."

"What's he said?"

"Nothing, really, because I haven't given him the chance to talk, Cheryl. I don't want anything to do with him."

"But, why?" Cheryl asked, shocked because – from what Toni had said – it sounded like, growing up, Toni would have given anything to see her brother again.

"He isn't my big brother anymore."

"You don't know that, Toni…" Cheryl argued.

"My brother wouldn't have ran off to god-knows-where for nine years without anyone hearing hide nor hair of him."

"Toni, if he's come home, it means he still cares about you."

"He's just a stranger now. And anyway, blood doesn't mean anything about family."

"He's a Serpent too."

"Cheryl, please don't push this…"

"Toni, I'd sell my soul to have five minutes with Jason. I'd give anything to see him again." Cheryl admitted, feeling her own eyes glaze over as she thought of her twin. Jason was taken from her in the most unfair way possible, and Cheryl would crawl to the ends of the Earth if it meant getting him back.

"I know –"

"He might not be perfect, but Toby wants to get to know his sister again. Give him a chance."

"I don't want to."

Slightly exasperated, Cheryl looked at Toni. The redhead couldn't understand why the Serpent wouldn't want to. "But why not? Right now, Toni, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

"But what if he leaves again?"

"You did fine these nine years without him. You'll get over it."

"Then why ruin that? I'm fine right now."

"Trust me Toni, take it from a girl whose family despise her, if Toby cares and is reaching out to you, why would you fight it? Hear him out, it can't do you any harm."

"Cheryl…" Toni pleaded, desperately wanting this conversation to end.

"Do it, for me…"

"C –" she went to say Cheryl's name, only to be cut off before she got the chance.

"Just talk to him. You never know if you never try. You've got nothing to lose."

"Fine. I'll listen to what he has to say; but I'll do it tomorrow: okay?"

"Perfect." Cheryl beamed, "Now, I need to pop to the shop to get snacks for tonight, care to join me?"

"And play truant?" Toni gasped, her eyes wide in mock horror. "Cheryl, I don't think I can date someone like that..."

"Good thing you're a Southside Serpent with loose morals then." Cheryl retorted. "Anyway, are you coming or not?"

"Let's go."

"Good. I need to catch you up on last night's episode of the horrors in Thistlehouse."

"Was it that bad?"

"Toni… You know what, I'll tell you with the others later. Let's just head to the shops…"

Noticing how Cheryl hesitated about explaining what happened in her household, Toni let the subject drop, knowing that it was probably for the best. Still, she had every intention of finding out what was going on later. And if Penelope Blossom was doing something to hurt her daughter…

Toni looked down at her fists to find they'd become clenched. Cheryl glanced at her girlfriend, suddenly concerned.

"You okay?" the redhead asked.

"Fine." Toni lied, feeling her blood boil when thinking about Penelope Blossom.

Now that her and Cheryl were an item, Toni was going to do everything in her power to get Cheryl away from those maniacs living in Thistlehouse. There was no way she was about to let Penelope and Claudius hurt her girlfriend.

The only way they'd do that would be over her dead body.

AN/ TONI TOPAZ: SOUTHSIDE SERPENT AND RIVER VIXEN... I LIKE IT. HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED READING THIS AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED PROCRASTINATING FROM REVISION TO WRITE THIS. DO YOU GUYS THINK TONI SHOULD GIVE TOBY A CHANCE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS.

DON'T FORGET: REVIEWS ARE LOVE, AND WE WANT TO SPREAD LOVE :)