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Toni had always felt as though her and Cheryl’s relationship was cosmic like they were meant to be together. That was until Cheryl decided to end things the night after their high school graduation. As much as it hurt Toni back then she understood where Cheryl was coming from. She herself felt like maybe it was for the best. It broke Toni’s heart, but there was some good that came out of the whole ordeal.
Toni was able to move to New York to focus on her college education. After she graduated from college she found herself working as a therapist. She did occasionally date here and there but, she always ended things when she felt as though they might become too serious. In all honesty she never really got over Cheryl. She hadn’t spoken to her since the night of their break up and there were times she had thought about reaching out to her but, could never bring herself to do it.
So instead she would ask Sweet pea how Cheryl was since he still often talked to the redhead. But, all he really ever told her was that as far as he knew she was okay and that she spent most of her time fixing up Thorn hill. The house she had burned down when they were teens.
She had thought about going by the old house of horrors to check in on her the few times she had visited the wicked little town she used to call home. She could never really muster up the courage to do it even with Sweet peas constant threats to throw her on the back of his motorbike and drag her up the steps of Thorn hill himself if he had to hear her ask how Cheryl was one more time. There were times she had hoped maybe she would just run into her although it just never played in her favor.
Until she received a call from a certain dark haired Serpent, informing her that Veronica Lodge was hosting a high school reunion this Friday at Riverdale High. She tried explaining to Sweet pea that she wouldn’t be able to attend because of how late she found out. But, he wasn’t taking no for an answer which made her assume that he was up to something.
Especially when he said the words. “Red might be there.”
In all honesty Toni still wanted to say she just couldn’t make it, but she hated to pass up the opportunity to see the girl she’s still so crazy about. So she told Sweet pea she would still have to think about it. Even though she knew she was definitely going to attend, she just didn’t want it to seem to him like the thought of seeing Cheryl peaked her interest. But, she should have known better the boy saw right through her like he always does.
“She’s definitely coming.” She heard him try to whisper to whom she presumed was Fangs.
She rolled her eyes with a smile, before telling the boy she had a patient literally about to walk through her office door at any minute.
Toni couldn’t get a wink of sleep the night before the reunion. She tossed and turned all night thinking about the possibility of seeing Cheryl. So due to the inability to sleep she sat up turning on the lamp beside her bed while pulling open the drawer to her night stand only to be met with a stack of photos. She pulled them out while smiling to herself. Most of the pictures were ones she had taken of the boys and some of places she had visited in the past. Then she started to get to the ones of her and Cheryl causing a tear or two to fall down her cheek.
One of the pictures was of the two of them on Toni’s motorbike. She remembers that day very well. It was the day after Cheryl told her she was never getting on the back of what she liked to call Toni’s death contraption. So after a few drinks at the Whrym and a lot of trash talking from Sweet pea, Cheryl jumped right on the back of the bike wrapping her arms tightly around Toni’s waist. She had Fangs snap a picture right before they took off for a ride a long sweet water river. She sighed to herself while flipping through a few more photos. Until she decided that she had put herself through enough pain for the night.
The drive up to Riverdale was hell, Toni was practically running on fumes, she was also extremely nervous. Considering she hasn’t spoken to anyone from high school in years except for Sweet pea and Fangs. As she made her way up the steps of Riverdale high she was met with none other than Archie Andrews, and Veronica Lodge herself.
“Antoinette, glad to see that you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world Lodge.”
“Sup Arch.”
“Toni, it’s great to see you.” He said smiling from ear to ear.
“Tiny.” Toni heard a way too familiar voice yell.
Before she could even turn around she was being picked up and spun around.
“Sweets really?”
“What I’m just excited to see my girl?” He said while putting her down.
She shook her head while looking over at Fangs who looked just as excited. She smiled while pulling him in for a hug.
“Well I gotta admit I missed my boys, just don’t pick me up and spin me around again you know I hate that.” She said while punching Sweet peas arm.
After a few more little encounters with her old classmates, Toni finally found herself inside the old building where everyone was gathered in the gymnasium. Which was decorated with blue and yellow streamers along with some balloons to match. Veronica even went all out and blew up some old year book photos which she had hung from the ceiling.
“Well Veronica definitely went all out.” Fangs said looking around at all of the old year book photos.
“Ehh could be better.” Sweet pea said.
“You’re just mad because she didn’t put any pictures of you up.” Toni said while nudging the serpent.
“Pfft please this face is too ridiculously good looking to be hung up amongst these ugly mugs.”
“You do realize there is literally a picture of Tiny and I up there?”
“Exactly what ugly mugs did you think I was talking about?”
“Oh that’s it Sweets.” Fangs said while grabbing Sweet Pea by the waist. Causing the two to rough house.
“Well looks like some things never change.”
Toni turned around to be met with an all too familiar face.
“Well if it isn’t Jughead Jones.” Toni said while pulling him in for a hug.
“Good to see ya Topaz, how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been great, how about you?”
“I’m doing amazing actually, I just got my first book published.”
“Jughead, thats great I always knew you had it in you.”
“Yeah well what about you, what have you been up to all these years?”
“I’m a therapist actually.”
Jughead chuckled. “Sounds about right, but in all honesty I figured you would of become a photographer I mean your pictures were always so amazing.”
“Yeah well I still dabble in photography, being a therapist just felt more like my calling.”
“Tiny.” Toni turned to see Sweet pea motioning for her to come over to where he was standing.
“Will you excuse me for just a moment Jones.”
“Yeah no problem.”
She started to make her way over to where the the dark haired serpent was located. As she started to get closer that’s when she saw a certain redhead. All of the sudden her stomach started to feel as though it had been tied up into a knot.
“Hey TT.” Cheryl said as the shorter girl made her way over to where they were standing.
“Cher-“ was all she could manage to get out.
“Uhh Fangs and I are gonna go grab a drink.” Sweet pea said while winking at Toni.
It was awkward for a few moments because Toni didn’t really know what to say. She was too busy admiring how beautiful the girl looked.
“How have you been?” Cheryl said breaking the ice.
“I’ve been good.”
“You?”
“I’ve been better.”
“I’m glad Cher really. Uhh Sweets told me you’ve been fixing up Thorn hill.”
“I have, Sweet Pea told me that you’ve become a therapist.”
Toni almost couldn’t believe what she had just heard she couldn’t help but wonder. Had she also been asking Sweet Pea about her?
“I did.”
“That’s great Toni, you were always so good at listening and helping me through so many of my issues.”
“It’s really good to see you Cheryl.”
Before Toni could even get out another sentence she was cut off when a certain song started playing.
“You say you’ll be down in five the smell of your perfume is floatin up the stairs you’re fixin up your hair like you do.”
She honestly couldn’t believe it, it’s almost like the universe was trying to pull them together. Because that song was a song Toni dedicated to Cheryl years ago.
Cheryl chuckled. “Did you put in a request?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“It’s always on a night like tonight, I thank god you can read my mind, cause when you look at me with those eyes I’m speechless.”
“Do you maybe wanna dance? I mean it is our song after all.”
“Well when you put it like that.” Cheryl said while holding out her hand.
Toni couldn’t help but smile as she took the girls hand in hers.
“You already know that you’re my weakness, after all this time I’m just as nervous every time you walk into the room.”
“Cher, I need to confess something.” Toni said as they swayed to the music.
Cheryl looked at her puzzled.
“I think I never really truly got over you.”
“Look I know maybe it’s dumb, but I had to say it I still love you, I don’t think that I ever stopped loving you and I just needed to get it off my chest.”
“Toni.” Cheryl said bringing her hand to the girls cheek.
“I never stopped loving you either, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you these past few years.”
They started to feel like magnets they just kept getting closer to one another, until their lips met.
The kiss felt just like their first kiss same passion, same spark.
“You uhh wanna get outta here?” Toni said as they pulled away for air.
“More than anything.”
They both ended the night with a milkshake at pops, along with a trip to Cheryl’s bed.
“I missed this.” Cheryl said breaking the silence while trailing her fingers along Toni’s arm.
“Me too.”
“When do you go back to New York?”
“Well I was supposed to be back tomorrow, but I decided to take some vacation time.”
“Toni, as much as I hate to see you go, I don’t want you to just abandon all of your responsibilities back home.”
“I’m not abandoning anything, I just got you back and you’ve lost your mind if you think I’m just going to leave tomorrow. Unless you want me to?”
Toni could almost feel Cheryl’s eye roll. “I obviously want you to stay.”
“Good because I wasn’t really asking.”
“I forgot how annoying you can be sometimes TT.”
“Whatever Blossom.”
“TT?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too Cher.”