CHAPTER ONE

Toni wasn't oblivious to the damaged woman sat before her, she liked to think she could read people well...great in fact. That's how she knew Cheryl wasn't just some stuck up, self-centered rich bitch high school student.

The pain and trauma the girl had been through so evident in each of her actions, her snide comments to whomever tried to reason with her, her sharp eyes as they shot daggers at the Serpents sat in the classroom with them. Toni probably should've steered clear of the redhead. Already knowing the woman disapproved greatly of Toni and the Serpents going to her preppy little school from their little clash this morning.

It's safe to say Toni was observant when it came to guarded people; she could see there was more to the bitter woman than what meets the eye, and pink haired brunette was intrigued to find out what.

"What are you staring at?" Sweetpea sibilated beside her, the Serpents had all been placed at the back of the class, luckily her closest friend being seated beside her.

Toni corrected, "Not a what, a who."

Toni watched as Sweetpea's eyes followed her gaze to the redhead seated before them, her brown eyes trained on her nails as though she was ensuring that her recent manicure was on point. The young man's face visibly cringing.

"Not to call you crazy, Topaz. But she's the number one northside bitch." Sweetpea whispered, the boy had never been a fan of northsiders.

Sweetpea was right of course, as far as Toni could tell most of Riverdale High feared displeasing the woman. But to Toni that just showed power, a leader. The sound of her teachers voice pulled her from her trance.

"Class dismissed."

She heard several of the students let out a sigh of relief, glad to be rid of the class. She couldn't blame them, math wasn't exactly easy. Toni's eyes stayed on Cheryl as she left the classroom, the redhead shifting the bag on her shoulder and glancing over her shoulder seeming to drop the confidence act when she noticed no-one was focusing on her. Cheryl slipped into the bathroom, Toni in pursuit, cutting into the restroom shortly after some students had clearly been ushered out of there.

Toni caught Cheryl resting her hands on the sides of the bathroom sink, seemingly in a daze, releasing some of her stress as she counted her breaths. She hadn't noticed Toni appear beside her.

"Now you don't look like a girl who's holding it all together."

Maybe that shouldn't have been how Toni started the conversation because Cheryl immediately seemed to snap out of her vulnerable moment, anger flaring in her brown eyes.

"I don't know who you think you are coming in here, Queen of the Buskers, but I am none of your business. Understood?" Cheryl spat, her walls towering up in seconds.

Toni's eyes narrowed on the woman, she could see the years of pain behind Cheryl's sad, defensive eyes. Before Toni could even fathom to stop herself, she'd reached out and placed a hand on Cheryl's arm. It was an action that the brunette could tell had caught Cheryl off guard, the anger seeming to disintegrate from her demeanour.

"How about you tell me what's causing you so much pain?" Toni asked softly, she was sweet when she wanted to be, she'd been in Cheryl's shoes before.

Cheryl remained silent for a few seconds, eyes lingering on the hand touching her arm, before locking onto Toni's searching eyes.

"Get your filthy southside hands off of me!" Cheryl snarled suddenly, practically tearing Toni's hand off of her before the woman sauntered out of the bathroom.

A sigh left Toni's mouth as she stood in the bathroom, fixing her bag that had fallen off of her shoulder at Cheryl's quick retort. She knew getting to know Cheryl wasn't going to be as easy as she thought. But for a split second, she saw the real Cheryl. The innocent, loving, broken side of her that she gathered rarely anyone had seen - that was the Cheryl she was going to find.

[X]

It wasn't until Toni was sat lazily in her bed, alone in her trailer. That she'd decided to go to the movies - she rarely got lonely but it seemed extra quiet tonight - she'd been used to living alone all these years after what happened three years ago between her and her uncle. It was lucky that Fangs was able to get her a trailer as quick as he did. Toni quickly gathered up her keys, her motorbike waiting outside for her as she locked up her trailer. It was better safe than sorry.

The brunette's eyes glanced around the theatre, it was clear as day that tonight was a busy night. The place was crowded to the rim, yet a slight glint of colour captured her gaze. Cheryl. Toni made a beeline for the ginger, if this wasn't fate she didn't know what was.

"Let me guess, cherry cola for Miss Cheryl bombshell?" Toni smirked raising an eyebrow, watching as the redhead sipped her drink, pausing at the sound of Toni's voice.

For once, since she'd laid eyes on her there wasn't a flicker of hatred in her eyes.

"What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?"

Toni held back a laugh, "Well...this is a movie theatre," Cheryl seemed to roll her eyes in annoyance at her reply. "But no...this beats sitting alone in my trailer."

"Hm. I don't think I could live in such a contraption." Toni tried not to be offended, she knew Cheryl looked down on the southsiders. Toni gave a curt nod before clearing her throat.

"So um, if you're here alone...maybe we could watch Love, Simon together? Better than being a loner, right?" The petite woman suggested, she knew it was risky. This could be a repeat of earlier, but a wave of relief washed over her when Cheryl hesitantly nodded.

"I suggest you don't try anything, it's best you know I carry pepper spray." Cheryl warned, straightening up as though she was trying to make herself seem more threatening.

Toni scoffed at her words, "Just because I'm a Southside Serpent, doesn't I mean commit crimes for the fun of it," Cheryl seemed to soften as Toni became defensive. "We aren't all bad. Just like I know you aren't either."

Cheryl dipped her head, unsure of how to respond. An action that for some reason caused a smile to creep on the brunette's face. The ginger suddenly lifted her head, taking a hold of the popcorn she'd left on the side and arched her red lips into a smile. Toni couldn't say what it was but that smile...that genuine smile...that's when she felt her heart melt.