CHAPTER SEVEN
After the incident in Thistle House, Toni refused to let Cheryl return to her home in the manor once she'd left her nana in the hospital. The doctor had told Cheryl it was where Nana Rose would remain for the next couple of weeks, and until then Toni had insisted that Cheryl come and stay with her in the trailer. Somewhere where the she-devil wouldn't dare trespass. The Blossom's weren't welcome in the south end, so Penelope wouldn't dare come near. But Toni would ensure that no-one clashed with Cheryl whilst the girl was staying there - people knew better than to piss Toni off by going against her words.
Cheryl knew she'd be in Toni's trailer again, she just didn't think it would be this soon and under these circumstances. For once, other than judging the living space, she was just happy to be safe and out of fear from her mother. Her brown eyes snapped up to the short brunette who had accidentally slammed the bathroom door shut behind her, startling the redhead seated politely on her couch. An apologetic expression washed over Toni's face when she saw Cheryl jump, she wasn't used to living with someone.
"Uh sorry, I forgot you were here for a moment," Toni let out a short but amused laugh, rubbing the nape of her neck. "I guess I have a bad habit of closing doors a little too loudly."
Cheryl could only smile at the girl's sweetness, already grateful towards Toni for allowing her to stay in her trailer. Cheryl wasn't one to put a burden on anyone, only towards her family, mostly because they deserved what they got - especially her mother. In all of her years living in Riverdale, she never felt safe, she barely felt safe even when Jason was still alive. But right now, in this current moment, she was content. Her nana was going to be okay and for now, her mother and stranger of an uncle, couldn't get their filthy murderous hands on her.
"It's been a long time since you've lived with someone?" Cheryl asked in curiosity, wanting to know more of the girl she was becoming so fond of. After their almost kiss last night, Cheryl couldn't help but notice how her heart seemed to race whenever the girl was near. The littlest touch from Toni and she found herself melting.
Toni shrugged, her past being a touchy subject. The usually open girl, suddenly becoming closed off. "Let's just say I've gotten used to living alone...it feels better that way, you know?"
Cheryl didn't know, but she nodded anyway, wishing she understood. Then again maybe she did know what it was like, half the time her mother wasn't around and she'd have the manor to herself, peaceful for once. But it would always be ruined when her mother returned from her little rendezvous, drunk and filled with spiteful fury towards Cheryl.
Penelope had come home late one night from meeting up with some lowlife man who must've hired her for the night, the woman's husband and son had been snoozing in their rooms. The redheaded woman hadn't known that Cheryl had snuck out to follow her the same night, having snuck back into the house moments before, her eyes filled with innocence as she confronted her mother about what she saw. It was traumatising for a fourteen year old girl, having to peek through some creepy, rotting motel window to see her mother undressing before some strange, sleazy man. But all her confrontation earned her was a slap that left her stumbling backwards, hand clutching her now stinging cheek, tears burning in the young girl's eyes.
"Cheryl?" Toni's soft voice pulled her from the brief memory of her mother, the warmth of a hand on her thigh coming to her attention. "Is everything okay? You don't have to stay here if it's something you're not comfortable with."
Cheryl met the eyes before her that was awaiting an answer, any confirmation that Cheryl wanted to stay or go. But Cheryl just found herself lost in the earthy hues that focused on her, both Toni's hands on her now, worry lingering in her eyes for the seemingly frozen ginger. A gentle smile tugged on Cheryl's lips as she realised Toni actually cared for her, there were only a handful of people who she thought cared about her in this world and it was safe to say she was glad Toni was one of them.
"Sorry, my sugar-muffin." Cheryl finally spoke up, her voice hoarse from the lack of sleep she'd had. Toni had been trying to convince her to take a little nap at the hospital but she'd refused and now the dark shadows beneath her eyes were beginning to show. "I'm fine."
Toni frowned at the lie, knowing Cheryl was far from it. "No, Cheryl. You're little facade doesn't fool me." Something faltered in Cheryl at that, allowing herself to let the exhaustion settle in. Toni quickly noticed, taking the girls hand and pulling her onto her feet, an arm curling around her waist. "Come on, there's no way you're crashing on my couch. A princess like you deserves a bed."
The redhead didn't exactly know what she'd been expecting when she walked into Toni's bedroom, her soft brown eyes falling on the neatly made bed in the corner, the room was pretty big for a room in a trailer. Cheryl found herself looking at the few photos that were pinned on the wall, one of Toni and what was probably the entire Serpents gang, another of her, Fangs and the one that was always giving her dirty looks. There was one that made Cheryl want to ask questions, a dark skinned woman, with curls for days and a beautiful smile that resembled Toni's. The photo seemed to leave a microscopic smile on Cheryl's lips.
As she clambered into the sheets, the tall girl getting a shiver from the chill from the bed that had been untouched all day, Cheryl noticed the sketches that were on a Toni's bedside table. They were scattered around, one covering another but Cheryl knew art when she saw it. It was eye opening seeing that Toni had this cutesy creative side to her, Cheryl had already known she was into photography because Jughead had informed her when she'd asked about Toni. Toni must've caught her snooping, a smirk appearing on her lips.
"I like to express my feelings through art...as corny as that sounds." The brunette seemed shy about the subject, something that Cheryl had found adorable. "Well I'm gonna let you sleep, it's been a long ass day."
The brunette had turned quickly to leave her room, Cheryl felt the urge to call Toni as she headed for the door. She didn't want her to go, she especially didn't want her sleeping on the rough looking couch whilst she stole the comfort of Toni's bed.
"Wait, Toni." It was the shock of Cheryl actually saying her name that caused the woman to stop in her tracks, turning on her heel to look over at the pale, beautiful girl sitting up in her bed. Eyes longing for something. Cheryl seemed to hesitate before she spoke, "I don't want you to sleep on the couch."
Toni raised an eyebrow, wanting to smile widely at Cheryl's words but waited silently for the girl to continue. She wanted to know why Cheryl was pleading for her not to sleep in the next room. Cheryl let out an exasperated sigh,
"I want you to sleep in the bed...with me, if you will?"
Toni didn't know who could say no to those wide, sad puppy eyes Cheryl tossed her way, not that she wanted to say no anyway. She too was in need of a much needed sleep, she hadn't wanted to sleep on her couch anyway, it might be comfortable to sit on but to sleep on, it was the worst. So she didn't argue, she closed the bedroom door, shaking off her leather jacket, kicking off her boots and climbed into bed beside Cheryl who wore a genuine smile of happiness on her face.
The single bed was relatively small which meant Toni found herself in a little spoon position with Cheryl, her back pressed against Cheryl, the brunette basked in the warmth of being close with the girl, yet still attempting to ignore the butterflies that rose within her stomach. Cheryl wavered on whether to put her arm around Toni, but too sleepy to fight her hesitance she curved her arm around Toni, gently tugging the short girl into her, burying her face in the girls hair. The had ended up falling asleep like that, a smile on spread across their face. Hoping they could remain this way forever.
