a cherry cola

the morning

Toni's Pov

It's been almost three weeks since we saved Cheryl. I️ moved my things into her house about two weeks ago. She gave me a room but most nights we end up just sleeping together. Her emancipation isn't finalized and could take a while, but Penelope and Claudius know not to come back and mess with her again. We even were able to get a nurse to help with her Nana when we aren't home. Though the play was a pretty traumatic experience that I won't get into now, everything else is okay. Cheryl has been to therapy a few times after a school counselor said I️t was necessary, she says it's helping. There's still so much pain and built up emotion underneath but she's doing better.
The serpents miss me I️n the southside. Said I️ left them to go live like a princess. There kidding but I️t is a problem driving whenever theres an issue. And it's only getting worse with Hiram Lodge basically taking everything the southside owns. I️ try not to take sides as I'm very grateful for Veronica and I've actually formed a friendship with her. She has a very confident exterior but can be emotional. She came to sleep over with me and Cheryl last week after her breakup with Archie. She did cheat but still she knows she was wrong and now Archie won't even sit with us at lunch anymore. Pretty sure me and Cheryl are the only happy couple in this town. I'm just waiting for Jughead and Betty to breakup at this point. Jughead was my best friend but he's so wrapped up in the serpent riots and protests that's it's ruining all his friendships and relationship.
It's the spring formal this week Cheryl and me have obviously decided to go together. She still picking out dress so I️ have to wait so I️ can match her you know. Not sure whos bringing who as basically every couple but us and Kevin & Fangs are broken up or fighting, but we are having the pretty party here at thistle house
It's 6:30 am. I️ here the alarm go off. I️ begin open my eyes. I️ used to hate getting up for school. But now that I️ wake up everyday with Cheryl next to me. It's really not bad
"Morning" she says turning over so she can look at me
"Good morning" I️ say smiling. I️ do a lot of smiling these days
I️ plant a kiss on her lips before we get up to eat ready for school
An hour later we are downstairs grabbing last minutes breakfast before driving to school. We take her car more then my bike these days as it's quicker. Living here and being with her hasn't changed the way I️ feel about being in a gang. Cheryl always supports me and never asks me to be something I️m not or give up something I️ love, she does worry though so I️ try to avoid conflict as much as I️ can.
I️ grab my jacket and she tosses the keys to me
"Oh come on you drive" I️ say
"No way I️ drove yesterday plus you need the practice" she says
"ouchh sorry you have an extra year on me" I️ say laughing
She's a junior while I'm still a sophomore. Sucks that we don't have classes together but even if I️ was in the same grade there's no way I'd be able to keep up with her and all her AP courses
We drive for a just a few minutes until we arrive at school. We get out of the car and walk in holding hands as we do every day.
"Hey I️ have to go to the newspaper room to drop of photo copies for next weeks paper. Wanna come"
"Sure"
We walk to the blue & gold room where we hear and see Betty and Jughead fighting
"What do you mean you don't want to go to spring formal!" Betty shouts
"I'm protesting Betty I️ can't just give in the dance is stupid anyway"
"Why is everything I️ like stupid. The dance is stupid. Parties are stupid. You even said cheerleading is not important"
"Because you don't need to do that to prove somethin"
"But I️ enjoy I️t Jughead! You are so miserable near me and around me and you don't put any effort into this relationship"
"Then maybe it's over"
"FINE"
"FINE"
Betty storms out of the paper room with tears filling her eyes and we see her run to the bathroom
"I'm gonna go with her I'll catch you later" Cheryl says
"Ok" I️ say letting go of her hand so she can run after Betty
I️ enter the Blue & Gold room and toss my prints on the table
"How much did you hear" Jughead says sighing
"Everything"
"Seems like the only people who can stay together these days are you and Cheryl"
"Why can't you just go to the dance"
"It's not that"
"Then What is I️t you've loved Betty forever"
He sits down and sighs again
"I️ think we. Or I️ fell out of love"
"Do you think she fell out of love"
"I️ don't think she has eyes for me anymore. Maybe Archie again. I️ just can't anymore I'm a shitty boyfriend anyway" Jughead says kicking the chairs
"Jughead it's ok you can..."
"Just forget I️t I️ gotta go"
He grabs his messenger bag and storms out of the room. Can't wait to deal with awkward lunch today
I️ sit through my classes day dreaming about the dance Friday. I've never went to a dance with someone I've actually loved. Liked. Loved. I️ love her I️ just can't tell her yet it's to early. Maybe? Anyway the dance is going to be amazing
Lunch comes and I️t ends up just being Cheryl, Veronica, Betty, and myself eating in silence
"Um so what are you guys doing about the dance" Cheryl says trying to break the silence
"Well we are single to what do you think" Betty says dropping her fork clearly still upset
"I️ didn't mean anything"
"I️ know Sorry I️ just. I️ don't know who I'm going with"
"What about you Veronica" I️ say not wanting to provoke Betty further
"I️ don't know. Reggie asked me"
Betty's looks over
"Are you gonna say yes. You knows it's gonna hurt Archie" Betty says
"I️ don't know. I️ actually told Archie he said to not ask him for permission to do stuff it's my life so"
"You should go" Cheryl says "you like him right"
"I️ do" Veronica says
We finish our lunch and soon the day is over. I️ meet Cheryl outside and we walk to her car as vixens don't have practice today
"So I️ got my dress for Friday. And I️ have some ideas if you want to match if you want any help"
I️ don't have much formal fashion sense
"I️ would love some help"
We walk to her car and drive home
She holds my hand
I️ love this

* Sorry for the filler chapter. Dance is soon! *