Chapter Text
Toni's eyes wandered over her ponytail one more time before she decided she was satisfied. Turning her head she looked at the clock sitting silently on her nightstand, her mind didn't even register the time, only that if she didn't leave her trailer right now she was going to be late.
As she rushed through the kitchen (if you could call it that) she placed a light kiss on her nana's cheek whilst she grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. The small space was barely big enough for the two of them, however it still seemed empty after her grandfather passed away last year.
'Antoinette, you know that is not a sufficient breakfast,' her nana called after her.
'Don't have time, love you!' Toni called back as she shut the door.
She wasn't surprised that Sweet Pea and Fangs were waiting outside the taller boys trailer, neither of them cared much about being late. The more time they spent away from the Northside the better.
'Are you two coming to school?' Toni asked as she jumped on her scrambler, probably the best bike on the Southside. After her grandfather passed he left her enough money to buy her beloved motorcycle.
'Yeah, I guess,' Sweet Pea said combing the sides of his dark hair.
~~~
Riverdale high schooled students from all walks of life, there were many different cliques including; preppies, they were popular and extremely rich. Geeks, stupidly clever and most likely some kind of alien species and...
'Excuse you greaser!' Toni's thoughts were broken by a redhead girl with the face of an angel and the attitude of the devil.
Cheryl Marjorie Blossom.
The richest, most popular and in Toni's opinion best looking girl in school.
Not that she'd admit it.
Toni looked up slightly at the dark brown eyes burning into hers before speaking, 'sorry darlin' '.
The brunette smirked as she stepped to the side allowing the redheaded hurricane to pass her with a stern look on her face although Toni didn't miss the mischievous sparkle in her eye.
Her ridiculous klutz of a boyfriend following behind her, Reggie Mantel, one of Riverdale Highs top football players along with Archie Andrews and Jason Blossom- Cheryl's twin brother.
'She's so stuck up, you should bring her down a peg or two T,' Fangs said with a twizzler hanging from his mouth.
'She's a doll,' Sweet Pea cut in.
'Stop drooling,' Toni said with a laugh as she smacked her friends chest.
Toni was always envious of how her friends could compliment women openly, if she did the same she'd be outcast. At her current age of seventeen she realised she saw women the same way she saw men. She didn't know what was wrong with her but her attraction to women would be a secret she'd take to the grave.
~~~
Every student was expected to be at Riverdale Highs football games. Toni would attend however she'd spend her time smoking out of the view of teachers with Sweet Pea, Fangs and Jughead.
Jughead was one on his own, he was definitely one of them- a Southside Serpent. Although he was in with some of the popular kids: Betty Cooper, Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge and Tabitha Tate.
There had been a fling with Jughead and Betty however after the blonde admitted her feelings for a certain redheaded footballer he and Tabitha had become close. Closer than close Toni would say.
'I'm meeting Tabitha at Sweetwater River after the game for a kind of get together, you guys should come along,' Jughead said.
'Cut the gas!' Sweet Pea said, Jughead's suggestion was ridiculous.
'Hey man,' Jughead said holding his hands up before smirking. 'You scared or something?'
Sweet Pea scoffed, 'of who? Some Northside knuckleheads? Don't be stupid, I'd give them a shiner without a second thought'.
'Cool. Then come'.
Sweet Pea looked from Jughead to Toni, even though she was the only female in the friendship group she practically called the shots.
'What do you think T?'
Toni took a long drag of her cigarette, a smirk dancing on her lips, she was in the mood for a little trouble causing.
'Why not?' she said shrugging her shoulders. 'Got nothin' better to do'.
~~~
Toni and her friends pulled their motorcycles alongside the cars parked a short walk from the river. All of them with a flask of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes tucked into the pockets of their leather jackets.
The shore of the lake was filled with teenagers, multiple campfires and a couple of cars that managed to squeeze through the trees playing music that Toni wasn't particularly fond of.
'Jughead!' Tabitha called from about ten feet away, a bright smile on her face as she waved him over.
'C'mon,' Jughead said. 'I'll introduce you'.
Everyone knew everyone at Riverdale High, but that didn't mean they had ever spoken or even acknowledged each other. Regardless Toni followed and so did Sweet Pea and Fangs.
'Hey baby,' Jughead said pulling Tabitha into a soft kiss which made Sweet Pea chuckle, Toni nudged him to warn him to knock it off.
'Guys this is Tabitha,' Jughead said turning to his friends. 'Babe, this is Toni, Fangs and Sweet Pea'.
'Nice to meet you,' Tabitha said, a bright smile on her lips which surprised Toni slightly, she was expecting at least a little judgement.
'Likewise,' Toni matched the other girls smile.
'Let me introduce you to my friends,' Tabitha said taking Jughead's hands.
'Oh that's...' Toni started to say, but Jughead looked at her with a pleading in his eyes she couldn't go against. 'All right let's go'.
Toni knew exactly who Tabitha's friends were and she really didn't want to interact with them. Although she was from the rough side of town she could almost guarantee she had more manners than the cheerleaders put together.
'This should be interesting,' Fangs said quietly enough that only Toni and Sweet Pea could hear.
'You're not wrong,' Sweet Pea said.
'We do this for Jug,' Toni whispered. 'And then we disappear into the background and get drunk, sound good?'
Fangs and Sweet Pea nodded just as they reached the preppies.
'Girls, Guys,' Tabitha said getting the attention of her friends. 'I just wanted to introduce you to Jughead's friends. This is Toni, Sweet Pea and Fangs'.
'Hello,' Betty said, she'd briefly spoken to the trio in the past.
Toni waved awkwardly, her eyes landing on the redhead who was currently sharing a kiss with her boyfriend. She couldn't help but think the redhead looked stiff, maybe even uncomfortable.
'Hey,' Veronica said getting Toni's attention. 'You guys are from the Southside right?'
'Veronica...' Tabitha warned expecting her friend to be rude.
'You know we are-' Toni said, her voice getting the attention of a certain redhead.
'Oh, no, no'. Veronica waved her hands defensively, 'I wasn't being disrespectful, I just wondered if one of you wanted to show me your motorcycle?'
Toni didn't miss the slight slur in the raven haired girls voice, she was at least a little intoxicated.
'I'll show you mine doll face,' Sweet Pea said, his voice full of confidence.
Toni knew he'd never do anything to hurt a woman, he was a gentle giant and really quite the gentleman given the chance. Veronica stood, but was stopped with a hand wrapping around her wrist.
'What are you doing?' Veronica snapped a little as she looked down at Reggie.
'You're not going anywhere alone with any of these criminals,' he said.
'Oh I'm sorry Reggie, since when did whatever I do have anything to do with you?' Veronica said pulling her arm away harshly before turning to Sweet Pea, 'show me the way handsome'.
Sweet Pea wrapped his arm around Veronica with the biggest grin on his face. Toni watched them walk away before turning back to Fangs. This is awkward.
'Tabitha since when did you involve yourself with the ragamuffins of this town?' Cheryl said, her eyes on Toni daring her to retaliate.
But Toni only laughed. She wasn't threatened, nor was she afraid of the redhead in front of her. If it came to a fight Toni knew she could take her, she was confident she could take most of the guys at her school come to think of it.
'Something funny?' Reggie snarled.
Here we go.
Toni only smirked as Reggie towered over her, if he dared to touch her it would be the last thing he'd ever do.
'Cool it man,' Archie said. 'What ya gonna do? Hit a lady?'
'That ain't no lady,' Reggie spat before looking at Cheryl. 'C'mon baby, there's a stink around here'.
Cheryl complied much to Toni's surprise, the brunette wouldn't mind a argument with the redhead. Anything to get her to notice her.
Oh my god Toni, stop.
'Sorry 'bout him,' Archie said. 'He doesn't really like new people'.
'Right...' Toni frowned.
'You know, I'm kinda glad Tabitha introduced us Fangs. You and your friend Sweet Pea are pretty big guys, ever thought about joining the team?' Archie asked and Toni tried to hide her giggle. 'And you Toni, you look like you'd fit in perfectly with the cheerleaders'.
Fangs didn't hide his laugh so well causing Toni to punch him in the arm.
'I don't know man, not really our scene,' Fangs said, rubbing his arm as he eyed Toni with annoyance.
'Well at least think about it,' Archie said as Fangs nodded.
~~~
Toni excused herself after around an hour of chit chat, Fangs had been so engrossed in a conversation with Kevin Keller that he didn't even care that she'd left him alone with a bunch of Northsiders.
The brunette sparked her cigarette and took a walk along the trees, she spotted Sweet Pea with Veronica and a few other serpents who must have gotten wind of the party.
As she walked she sipped her whiskey, the warmth of the liquid running down her throat helped to keep the bite of the cold weather away. Looking up she saw the moon shining brightly amongst the stars; one of her favourite sights.
She was far away enough from the music now to enjoy the gentle waves of the river, she loved it here however she didn't come as much as she liked anymore. It reminded her of the times she'd spent with her grandfather learning how to fish and just enjoy nature. She didn't want those memories replaced by new ones.
A slight rustling in the trees got her attention, she froze. Did bears come this close to the river?
The sound that followed soon after though proved the rustling wasn't a bear, instead she heard the muffled sound of voices. She didn't intend to listen, but curiosity always got the better of her.
Nothing was really audible until she heard the word no.
Toni had no idea who it was or what was happening however she didn't have a good feeling about it. She stepped closer to the trees poking her head between them, the darkness made it hard to see.
As her eyes adjusted she saw two people, against a tree, she felt like a creeper and was about to pull back when she heard another sound of contest.
Toni couldn't help herself, she wasn't sure what was going on but if she wasn't wanted she was sure the girl would tell her to go away.
'Hey!' Toni said not knowing exactly who she was talking to, 'she said no!'
'Go away!' A voice yelled back, a voice Toni recognised. 'I'll plant kisses on my girl when I want!'
Reggie Mantel.
Toni didn't know why but a surge of anger flushed through her, she marched forward and pulled him back by his shoulder.
Now all of their faces were illuminated by the light of the moon.
'What the hell?' Reggie said turning around, his eyes landing on Toni. 'What are you doing out here snake?'
'Don't worry about that,' Toni said. 'I think you should leave'.
Reggie laughed, 'and what are you going to do if I don't? Your boyfriends aren't here to protect you now'.
'Just go Reggie,' Toni said looking behind him at the redheaded girl who looked smaller than she'd ever seen her.
'Piss off snake,' Reggie said pushing her shoulder and turning back around to Cheryl.
'Do you want me to leave?' Toni asked.
'Yes!' Reggie said.
'I wasn't talking to you,' Toni said dismissively. 'Cheryl?'
A shrug of the redhead girls shoulders was all she needed, she'd give Reggie one more chance to leave before she made him.
'All right, come on,' Toni said holding her hand out to the redhead who surprisingly reached for it but it was swatted away by her idiot boyfriend.
'Don't say I didn't warn you,' Toni said as she pushed Reggie.
'You're dead snake,' Reggie said as he swung for Toni.
Luckily this wasn't her first rodeo, she dodged his swing before planting her own fist to his jaw and one swift kick to his crotch. Reggie dropped to the ground easier than Toni expected and she was rather pleased to come out with no even a scratch.
Her luck changed though, as she looked at Cheryl she didn't realise Reggie had stood up and before she knew it she had been socked in the eye hard enough for her to stumble. She caught herself as Cheryl pleaded for Reggie to stop.
He didn't listen.
Instead he went in for another swing, one that Toni was fast enough to dodge, she swung her arm clocking him in the jaw again when the sound of sirens forced its way through the trees.
'Shit,' Toni said, making sure not to take her eyes off Reggie who seemed to be more interested in the sirens.
'Cheryl let's get out of here,' Reggie ordered as he held out his hand, the fear of being caught rushed through his mind. His dad would kill him.
Cheryl didn't know why but she froze in her spot.
'Suit yourself,' he said as he took off into the woods.
Asshole.
'Cheryl, did you drive here?' Toni asked, the last thing she wanted was for the redhead to be identified by her car.
'I- no'. Cheryl shook her head, 'I didn't'.
'Okay, follow me. We need to get out of here'.
Cheryl eyed Toni suspiciously and the brunette was kind of glad. There was a spark of the Cheryl Blossom she knew there, not the timid girl who stood there less than a couple of minutes ago.
'If we get caught here we're both gonna be in trouble,' Toni said. 'C'mon'.
Cheryl didn't protest as Toni grabbed her hand, she didn't exactly have time. The serpents grip was almost a comfort as they ran through the darkness of the trees.
As they reached the patch of grass with only a few cars still parked there she saw the cops walking around looking for teenagers. Sweet Pea and Fangs motorcycles were still there, they were waiting for her somewhere.
'Okay...' Toni said turning to the redhead. 'We're going to run to my bike, you need to jump straight on the back and were going to get out of here'.
'Toni, I can't'.
Hearing Cheryl say her name made Toni's heart sing, but she couldn't relish in it for too long, they had to get out of here.
'Cheryl, if they catch you they'll take you home and the worse thing you'll have to worry about is your parents. If they catch me they'll throw me in jail. They hate southside kids'.
Toni didn't miss the way Cheryl's face fell at the mention of her parents.
'Okay,' Cheryl finally said.
'All right, put this on,' Toni said sliding off her jacket. 'And hold on to me. Tight'.
Cheryl slipped on Toni's jacket, it was comfier than she expected. Toni took her hand again and after counting down from three she pulled the redhead and they ran for Toni's bike.
Toni jumped on first, Cheryl awkwardly climbing on after her. They both held their breath as Toni kicked the bike to life getting the attention of the cops. She spun it around and honked loudly three times letting Fangs and Sweet Pea know she was getting out of here. A signal that they'd agreed on as kids.
'Hold on!' Toni yelled as she swerved her way through the remaining cars, she felt the hands that were gripping onto her shirt suddenly wrap around her and she imagined they were in a different situation.
As the bike met the road the girls heard sirens not too far behind them.
Great.
Toni always loved the exhilaration of a cop chase but not when she had a doll like Cheryl Blossom gripping on the back of her. Unfortunately she didn't have any other choice but to push her bike to the limit.
They both couldn't be caught for different reasons.
Toni was sure Cheryl's parents wouldn't approve of their daughter spending time with a Southside Serpent. It wasn't just the teenagers of this town that discriminated, it came from the generations before them.
Toni shook her head, they weren't exactly spending time together, they were just thrown into a situation where Cheryl needed Toni's help.
'They're getting closer,' Cheryl said as her grip tightened.
Shit.
Toni didn't want to pull her next stunt but she was running out of options.
'Just hold on tight and close your eyes,' she shouted. 'Just trust me'.
Once she felt Cheryl's grip grow impossibly tighter she waited a few seconds until she saw the dirt road approaching. It was a road she knew well and it was definitely too narrow for a car to follow. She held her breath as she turned the handle of her bike sharply, praying with everything she had that they didn't fall off or crash.
The bike wobbled as they hit the bumps in the dirt road but they managed not to fall off and that in itself was a miracle at the speed they were going. Toni followed the road until the sirens were quiet and no longer lighting their surroundings in flashes of red and blue.
As she slowed down Cheryl's grip didn't loosen, not until they stopped a little later when they reached the water of Sweetwater River again. A part not many people knew about, a part that belonged to the serpents.
Toni climbed off the bike first and held her hand out to the redhead whose legs were visibly shaky as they met the ground.
'Are you okay?' Toni asked as she pulled out her cigarettes and flask from the leather jacket the redhead was wearing. Cheryl froze slightly but once she realised what Toni was doing she relaxed a little.
'I'm fine,' Cheryl answered shortly.
'All right. Good,' Toni said before offering a cigarette to the ginger girl who shook her head.
'They'll kill you you know,' she said with a frown as she watched Toni spark up.
'Says who?' Toni asked as she sat down on the ground secretly admiring the redhead in her serpent jacket.
'Science'.
'All right Einstein'.
'You'll see'.
'I didn't know you cared,' Toni teased.
'Don't flatter yourself,' Cheryl said, her words didn't have their usual bite.
Toni only laughed, even if the situation made her feel a little awkward she wouldn't show it. Cheryl however wasn't as good as hiding it. At least in Toni's eyes.
'So why are you with that goof anyway?' Toni asked as she took a drag of her cigarette.
'Reggie?' Cheryl asked and Toni nodded. 'I- I guess it's kind of the expectation'.
'What do you mean?'
'Well I'm the head cheerleader and he's the captain of the football team'.
'Right?' Toni said not quite understanding the logic.
'That's just how it goes isn't it?'
Toni shook her head, 'I don't live in your world, but no. I don't think it is. Does he do that often?'
'Do what?'
'Not listen to you when you say no?'
Cheryl didn't answer and Toni tried not to seem to interested, she didn't want to put pressure on the redhead, so she took a swig of her whiskey.
'Is that alcohol?' Cheryl asked.
'Maybe. Why? You want some?'
'No I do not. You're riding your motorcycle, the last this you should do is be intoxicated'.
Toni just shrugged as Cheryl looked down at her watch, she squinted a little to see it before her face dropped.
'Why the long face?' Toni asked.
'My father will kill me if I'm late home'.
'How long do you have 'til your curfew?'
'Twenty minutes'.
Toni nodded as she took a final drag of her cigarette and flicked it to the ground, 'then let's get you back sweetheart'.
~~~
The ride back was completely different to the Cheryl's first ride, it was much calmer and the redhead was much more relaxed as she looked up at the stars. She had already warned Toni that she'd have to drop her off around the corner. If her parents heard the roar of the brunettes motorcycle she'd probably never know freedom again.
Toni slowed down when she heard Cheryl say this was the spot. She cut the engine and jumped off offering her hand to the redhead who took it gently. Toni watched as Cheryl slipped off the jacket and handed it back.
'All right, well I guess I'll see you around?' Toni said.
'Yeah, nothings changed though. We're not friends or anything, although I do appreciate your help'.
'Not friends. Gotcha'.
Cheryl eyed Toni, curiosity seeping through her brown orbs before she nodded her head slightly.
'Goodnight'.
'Goodnight,' Toni said with a nod of her own.
She watched as Cheryl walked away, she couldn't help but follow her to the corner of the street, just to make sure she got to her house safely.
When the redhead was no longer in sight Toni let out a breath, there was something about this girl aside from her being something pretty to look at. Toni just couldn't put her finger on it yet.