HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER PROMPT

"We're bad people. That's the only thing we have in common."

aka, Cheryl loses everything she loves in one fateful day

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Cheryl Blossom knew love in very few ways. The weight of the love her brother gave her was the only one she considered real love. The fair skin boy with light red hair and a smatter of freckles across his nose was the only person she ever thought she needed. He was ingrained into her soul.

A year before the infamous disappearance and death of Jason Blossom, Cheryl met someone who challenged that belief.

She fell in love with someone who had the spirit of a child and always kept her smiling. And when Cheryl smiled everything glowed, from her amber waves to her almost deep purple calla lily gaze. Not many people had the honour of seeing such a sight.

You knew the moment you watched her laugh at a terrible joke that came from your very lips that the world deserved to see that smile. It was the most enchanting sight that you had the pleasure to watch in a long time. You made it your mission to make her laugh every day that she came into Pop's and took seat at the table you catered to. It was funny that when your life had gotten so low and lonely, Cheryl came into it just in time to change everything.

Making her smile gave you a twisted sense of purpose.

She fell in love with you one day when it was raining so hard that no car dared to leave the driveway. You were still being forced to work, needing the money for than your own safety. The only costumer who dared to risk the storm came waltzing in with a white cloak and soaked, silky hair. She slid into a booth and ordered a soda, the only thing she ever really ordered. Coming to Pop's was mainly to ever see you, not to upset her careful diet.

"Sit down, there's no one even here," she asked with a playful smirk. It was daring, like she needed to make it a game instead of being honest. She really just wanted more time to speak because Lord knows that she never spoke to you at school.

Neither of you ever brought that up though. She respected that you were quiet and stayed out of school happenings. You respected that she had her own crowd. But in the booth of an old beat up diner, there was no hierarchy of high school royalty.

There was only you and the brilliant girl with painted red lips.

"What brought you here in this terrible weather?" You weren't even being coy, in fact you were truly curious. Sure, you both had chemistry [maybe you were in love with her but you wouldn't let your mind go there], but why that particular day? You both knew the rain would stop and she could see you tomorrow.

Cheryl licked her lips and lifted her gaze from her soaked gloves laying still on the table. "I have an odd request. I talk to you ever day and I know I can trust you. It's so strange and I can't explain what is happening between us." She took a deep breath as her eyes met with yours. "That's why you're the only person I know I can ask to help me."

She explained her odd request as you sat there with open ears, willing to do almost anything for the red haired girl. And though again, you'd deny that you were falling in love with her, she was the only person you'd ever agree to do something that big for.

It was the strong and sure "Yes." that came from your lips the moment she was done explaining herself that made her finally realize. Cheryl Blossom was intensely in love with everything about you. No one else would ever sacrifice so much for her without a second thought.

Ironically, not even Jason. And it was for that very reason that Cheryl had asked for your help that rainy afternoon.

And the day that Jason Blossom's body was found was the day that Cheryl lost faith in love altogether.

Your hand had reached for her wrist, your fingers firmly wrapping around her cold, pale skin. Her lipstick was smudged and black makeup clung to the skin beneath her glassy eyes. She wasn't just broken, she was still breaking. It was endless, setting fire to every strong bone in her body and leaving her in ashes.

"This isn't your fault. We didn't know that this was going to happen. We couldn't have known."

Cheryl ripped her hand from your grasp and looked at you with disgust painting her gaze. Not disgust for you, but herself. "I was his other half, Y/N. It was my job to know. What I did got him killed."

Your chest felt so tight you swore you were moments away from losing the capability of breathing. Every part of you hurt for the breaking girl that you loved and knowing you had taken part in this mess was torture.

"You didn't do this alone."

You wanted to take the blame, to share her misery if it meant giving her more room to heal. Maybe that was naive, maybe Cheryl was meant to be broken forever. But you couldn't believe that, you need to hold onto some sort of hope for her.

"You don't know what Jason was to me, Y/N. In fact, you don't know anything real about me. I never talked to you at school, I never took you places or held your hand in public. Doesn't that ever make you realize that we don't even have anything real?"

Words were just spewing from her mouth, her anger and sadness controlling her thoughts. Some of it was true but what you had was most definitely real. She just didn't want to see it when the world felt as though it was completely ending.

"I remember every single conversation we ever had in the diner, Cheryl. And every moment we shared in secret this summer. I'd do anything for you and you told me you'd do the same. So I need to you just remember for one second what we share let me help you."

You could see the hesitation in her eyes, the absolutely pure desire to just give in and share her suffering with someone. Without Jason, you were all she had.

"We're bad people. That's the only thing we have in common." The path of self destruction was so familiar to Cheryl that those words came out easier than they should have. It was just another sign to you that Cheryl was broken far before her brother left her.

She could see the battle going on within your mind, she recognized the fight before it was resolved. And before you could rid yourself of anything pride you could muster, she stole the chance from you.

"You just don't know what it's like losing a soulmate."

Those words would echo throughout your head for months to come. You'd never forget the way your heart shattered as you silently screamed after her from within your mind.

I do know what it's like. I'm watching her walk away right now.