The Lost Ones | Choni

7| Sleepover

Cheryl's POV

Toni pulled into an apartment complex just as we entered the Southside. She parked the motorcycle and I gave her the helmet I was wearing. I looked up at the building and It was a very nice complex.

"This is where you live?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah." She said anxiously. "I guess you were expecting a trailer or something else, right?"

"No, not really. I didn't really know what to expect." I shrugged.

"Oh." She replied quietly. She then stood there and shuffled her feet nervously.

"Lets go inside." I smiled. "It's kinda cold out here." I added with a shiver.

"Oh yeah. Okay, follow me." She said as she took my hand and lead me to a door that revealed a set of stairs.

We walked up the stairs and up to another door that lead to Toni's apartment. The second we walked in I was met with the sweet smell of tea that Toni must have brewed earlier. I looked around the living room as we walked in and noticed how cozy the whole place was. It was very small to me considering I grew up in a mansion, but it was so calm and I already felt so relaxed.

Toni looked at me with nervousness as I observed her apartment. Why is she suddenly so anxious around me?

"Are you okay, Toni?" I asked gently.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just not used to having anyone over. You're the first person who's actually came to my apartment." She admitted.

"Whys that?" I asked, but before she could answer a sheepdog ran out of a room in the back, jumping up on my legs. "Awww! Hello there!" I smiled as I sat down and started to pet him.

"Hot Dog, sit." Toni commanded to calm him down from kissing my face. He sat down and I continued to pet him. "Do you want anything to drink or eat?" Toni then asked me.

"Oh um, no thanks." I said as I stood up.

"Okay. Do you wanna sit down?"

"Sure." I said and we made our way over to the couch. I sighed as I sat down and Toni looked over at me.

"So what was going on at home?" She asked softly.

"Oh." I remembered. "Well my mother invited Veronica to stay the night and after that we went upstairs. I took a shower and when I came out into my room, she was looking though my sketchbook." I explained sadly as I played with my hands.

"What did she say to you, and . . . is she the one who gave you this bruise?" She whispered as she gently stroked my forehead where I felt sore.

I didn't really want to explain the whole thing. I was mortified about what Veronica said about that one drawing and about Toni. Toni's seen the drawing and she didn't have and issue with it, but what if she figured out that I liked her and not wanna be my friend?

"She just said the drawings were terrible and threw the sketchbook in my face." I shrugged as I looked away from her.

Toni moved my chin and then we locked eyes. "Don't listen to her, Cher." She whispered as she looked at me with concern. "I know that's probably not all she said to you because you seem really uncomfortable, but I'm not going to make you tell me anything else. I'm just glad that you're here and you're safe from her."

"Thanks for understanding." I sighed quietly with a small smile. "And thanks for coming to get me." I added.

"Anytime, Cheryl. Don't hesitate to call me again if you need me." She said as she rubbed my hands.