Toni called in to work the following couple of days claiming to be unwell. She rambled on to her boss about how she couldn't stop throwing up, and due to her perfect attendance so far, he didn't mind. He was quiet, and some may say a little strange but Toni was rather fond of him. She would often chat to him, and although he didn't give her much back, he was a great listener. His name was Murphy, and Toni owed her life to him, really. He gave her a job as soon as she showed she was capable, and even let her stay above the bar for a few weeks before she found herself an apartment.

Okay, so yes Toni was underage and technically her work was illegal but she had an extremely good fake ID and around the area, no one would ever question her. The cops avoided the place at all costs. She hadn't actually seen one police officer in her whole time living there, and that's how she liked it. She didn't do too much illegal activity anymore, but she had a bad track record with the police from her Serpent days. She wanted to avoid them as much as she could.

So, for the first time in two years she was taking time off work.

The reason? Well, she'd be lying if she said it wasn't Cheryl.

She was concerned. She wanted to make sure that Cheryl was safe, and that she didn't have any trouble and the best way she could make that happen was to be close at all times. She was sure Cheryl didn't want her help, which is why she made no other attempts at communication, but the walls were thin and if Cheryl had any trouble, Toni would hear it.

And god help whoever would attempt to give Cheryl Blossom trouble.

It's not that Cheryl couldn't handle herself, but she was from an extremely privileged background. An opposite upbringing to Toni's. Toni had to learn to fend for herself from an extremely young age, so she was born tough. She came out fighting, and she hadn't stopped.

She was small, but mighty.

Toni's Mom was an alcoholic, and her Father bailed on the two of them a few months after Toni was born. Her Mom died when she was eleven, and the closest family member she had was her Uncle, who she then lived with. He wasn't much of a parental figure though, and Toni basically raised herself. She learned to cook and clean, and keep herself organised for school.

She did a lot of things that no child should have to do.

She should have been having a childhood.

Toni had felt protective of Cheryl since they first met. After their first meeting, Cheryl began stopping by The Wyrm a lot more often. She then even started visiting without Jughead, or any of the others. This definitely piqued Toni's curiosity as to why, but she wasn't complaining. Cheryl would sit and chat to her for hours, and then Toni would give her a ride home on her motorcycle. The first couple of visits, Cheryl refused to get on the death trap, but Toni was extremely persuasive and soon Cheryl was riding on her back, arms wrapped tightly around Toni's waist, grinning like a fool.

"Do you want to sleep over tonight?" Cheryl had asked Toni, when she dropped her off one evening.

Toni let out a nervous, breathy laugh and scratched the back of her head.

"Are you sure Mother Dearest would allow that? She didn't seem too fond of me when I dropped by last week."

"She's out of town…" Cheryl hummed, looking around innocently.

Toni didn't have to say anything else. She entered Thistlehouse for the first time, and was astounded by the interior. Of course, Cheryl gave her the grand tour and went through all of the Blossom family history. Usually, things like that would have disinterested Toni but she was clinging on to Cheryl's every word.

It may have just been because it was Cheryl though.

She could read the back of a cereal box and Toni would be staring at her dreamily, pleading for her to continue. She was a lovesick idiot then, and she still was now. Nothing had changed, and she feared it never would.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Toni was suddenly pulled from her thoughts when someone started pounding on her door. She frowned and sat up in bed. No one ever visited her. She had no one to visit her. The only person who ever did was Nate, and he usually yelled 'Topaz' at the top of his lungs, so it definitely wasn't him.

She decided to ignore it. It was probably some idiot in the building fooling around and running away or something. She hated that she still had to live in fear of someone knocking at the door. Things like that were things that she wanted to leave on The Southside, but it seemed that would always be her life. She would never have everything she wanted. Some people were destined for a life like the one Toni was living, and it seemed she fit into that.

The knocking persisted. Toni huffed, and crept over to the door. Her hair was a mess, she was wearing Cheryl's oversized t-shirt and small shorts, paired with some knee high socks. It wasn't her best look, but it was only one in the afternoon and she had practically just woken up. Toni stood on her tiptoes to look through the peephole, and she was taken aback at the sight of Cheryl Blossom waiting outside of her door, with an annoyed look on her face.

Toni smiled at the sight, and then the smile dropped as she looked down at her own appearance. It was too late to do anything about it though, so she held her breath and opened up the door, revealed the redhead looking as gorgeous as ever.

She wished she could tell her that.

"Good morn-"

Cheryl didn't even let her finish. "I need to borrow some coffee." She said blunty, not even meeting Toni's eyes.

"Coffee?"

"Yes, Toni. Coffee. I need you to give me some coffee, because I don't have any and I have no idea where the store is around here. So, you could point me in the direction of the store, or give me some coffee. I don't care which." Cheryl really wasn't softening. Her voice was firm, and her eyes still didn't lock with the shorter girl's. It would be considered rude to anyone else. To just, storm over to someone's apartment and demand coffee but Toni didn't mind.

She didn't mind, because she knew her.

Maybe she was just being delusional, but Cheryl Blossom was a proud girl. If she was so desperate for coffee, she would have walked miles to find a store just so she didn't have to speak to Toni. Toni thought that there may be the tiniest possibility that Cheryl wanted to see her.

Maybe even speak to her. Well, she could dream.

Toni took a couple of steps back before speaking again, "I could make you a coffee, if you'd like." She offered, already knowing that it would be a firm no.

"Fine, but don't talk to me."

Well, Cheryl Blossom was always surprising her.

Toni nodded silently and waved her arm to welcome Cheryl into her home. She was quite proud of the apartment. She had worked for the past two years to make it into a home, and compared to the rest of the building, it was practically a palace and it was very Toni.

Toni watched as Cheryl observed the room, and took everything in. She was extremely curious to know what critiques Cheryl had. She was about to ask, but then remembered the no talking rule that the other girl had put in place and she decided against it. She could ask another time. Well, she hoped. Perhaps this would be the last time the two would interact. Then again, she thought that the night she left Riverdale would be the last time they would interact and it seemed like life was full of surprises.

Cheryl was happy to see that it only seemed to be Toni who lived in the apartment. It was rather small, and as she made the short walk from the door to the kitchen, she took in the tiny details from around the room. It was very Toni Topaz. Her camera was placed on the coffee table, along with some of her favourite books. Cheryl remembered reading some of those very books to Toni some nights.

Toni claimed it helped her get to sleep. Cheryl thought she just liked the sound of her voice.

Cheryl was right.

Toni made them both a coffee silently, the only sounds to be heard were the ones from the clinking of the spoon against the mugs. There were also some faint yelling sounds coming from below them, but Toni had learnt to drown them out by now. It would take Cheryl some more getting used to. Toni wanted to ask how Cheryl how the past couple of nights were. She wanted to ask if she was okay. She knew that Cheryl didn't really like to sleep alone, and she knew she was afraid of the dark. She also knew that Cheryl was on her guard as she drifted off to sleep. After living with parents who she couldn't trust, it made her extremely cautious to anything.

Honestly, the apartment building was hell for Cheryl, and it would be until she got used to it.

Cheryl sat down at the small table in the kitchen, and Toni sat across from her. She placed the mugs down, and Cheryl uttered her quiet thanks. Toni still didn't speak, as much as she wanted to. She was extremely chatty when it came to Cheryl, and their conversations would often go on for hours and hours about everything and nothing all at the same time. She missed it. She missed everything. Sitting across from Cheryl now was just a cruel reminder of everything that she'd lost.

After twenty three minutes of unbearable silence, Toni gave in.

"How've the past couple of nights been?" She asked.

"Fine. I'll get used to it, I suppose. Obviously, it's nothing like I'm used to but I can make it work… Also, I have noticed you broke my rule but I haven't spoken to another human being for a week, so conversation isn't exactly unwelcomed." Cheryl shot back, her fingers wrapped tightly around her mug. Toni noticed her chewed nails, and chipped nail polish. That wasn't Cheryl. She took pride in her nails, and always made sure they were perfect. It must be all of the change, she assumed.

"Noted. Are you okay, though?" Toni asked.

There was an elephant in the room, and they were obviously both well aware of it. Toni didn't want to ask too much of Cheryl at the moment though, and if she was okay with dancing around the subject of why then Toni was too, as curious as she was.

Cheryl chewed on her bottom lip, that was coated with her signature red lipstick and nodded. Cheryl was well aware that Toni knew her better than anyone else though. Toni would know she was lying.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." Cheryl snapped at her. "Because the last time I opened up to someone, they left me in the middle of the night. So, forgive me for not wanting to reopen old wounds."

Cheryl was bitter, and she had every right to be.

And well, Toni couldn't argue with that. She simply nodded her head, and kept her eyes locked on the table, wondering where they would go from there. She wondered if Cheryl would stay furious at her forever, or if she would ever give her a chance to explain herself.

Then, along came Nate with the worst timing possible.

"Topaz! Hey, Topaz! Let me in." He said, banging on the door. It was usually locked, but he tried the door anyway and seemed surprised when he came crashing right through. Toni buried her face in her hands, and hoped that he wouldn't say anything too idiotic and embarrass her in front of Cheryl.

"Hey- This is the chick I was telling you about. You charmed her that quickly? Nice." Nate laughed, but Cheryl certainly didn't see the funny side.

"She didn't charm me, you dweeb. Wow, Toni. You're friends with this idiot? I must say, I'm surprised. I thought you kept better company than this, although you were friends with Sweet Pea and he is questionable." Cheryl said, eyes flicking back and forth between Nate and Toni.

"And as for you, kindly, get the hell out. Antoinette and I have some things to discuss, not that it's any of your concern." Cheryl practically barked at him, and Toni just waved a hand at him to leave and as if to say I'll explain later.

Nate threw his hands up in defence, and left a few moments later.

"I see you're still as charming as ever." Toni teased Cheryl, unable to resist.

"Of course. Nothing, not even this place can change Cheryl Blossom."

"Now, for those things we need to discuss?" Toni asked.

"Simply a rouse to get him out of the apartment. Try not to dwell." Cheryl had a slight glint in her eyes, and Toni could see the life in them for the first time since they had reunited.

Perhaps, it was fate. Perhaps the two girls, sitting across from each other sipping their coffees in silence, were meant to be. Perhaps the universe was greater than the two of them, and maybe all the signs were aligning perfectly so that the pair could be together again. God, how Toni hoped this would end well. She had worked for two years to accept the fact that she would never see Cheryl again, let alone be with her but now that she was back in her company, it was hard not to crave her.

She had always craved her.

So they sat, making mindless conversation as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened between them, for the rest of the afternoon. Toni felt young again. They danced around the tougher subjects, and spoke as if it was just another day in Riverdale, and they were catching each other up on what had happened that day.

Cheryl was still angry.

She was trying her best to not let it get the best of her, just grateful that she got to be in Toni's company once again.

They would have to talk about it.

Just not yet. Toni was happy to live in the delusion for just a little bit longer.

"I'm glad you're here." Cheryl was being honest. The redhead didn't think she would have been able to survive in a place like that without Toni across the hall. Even if the pair weren't spending time together, it was comforting to just know she was there. She was there, and she hadn't been there in so long.

"I wish I could say the same… But this place isn't quite right for the Cheryl Blossom I know."

"Maybe the Cheryl Blossom you know doesn't exist anymore."

Toni hoped she wasn't right.

"Nice shirt, by the way." Cheryl smirked.