Never Stop (Shoni)

Chapter One

The sun was beating down on the hot California pavement. Not a soul seen walking around the suburbs. This is one of the hottest days of the year and here she was playing basketball at the neighborhood courts just like she did every weekend.

Toni lived and breathed basketball. It was the only thing that allowed her to forget her fucked up life for an hour or two. With every dribble, her problems would travel farther and farther away from the front of her brain. It was one of the few things that was stable in her life, one of the only things she can count on, especially now.

This summer was supposed to be the one to remember but instead it was filled with painfully slow days, days where she felt suffocated with emotion.

"You know, I'm no basketball expert but I'm pretty sure the ball is supposed to go into the basket."

"Jesus Christ you scared the shit out of me Martha." Toni sated holding her hand to her chest.

"Sorry, I stopped by your house but when I saw you weren't there I knew you'd be here." Martha said picking up the rolled away ball and dribbling it.

"Just working on my game." Toni said taking a drink of her water bottle.

"Working on your game or working out your frustration?"

"Let's not do this. Not today." Toni grabbed the ball from Martha and continued shooting.

"Okay, if not today then when?"

"How about never." With that the angry brunette grabbed her things and started the ten minute walk to her house.

Martha followed by her side but let the silence take over the conversation.

When they reached the small house they were greeted by Lisa, Tonis foster mom.

"Hi ladies, just in time for lunch." Lisa put down the finger sandwiches and pulled out a few bags of chips.

"I'm not hungry." Toni said as she took a seat at the counter.

"Well I sure am." Martha started shoveling food into her mouth like she hadn't eaten all day.

"Not to be rude but do I need to remind you to fucking chew?"

"Toni, language. And here you need to eat." She reluctantly took a bite of the sandwich and washed it down with a Coke only to nearly choke when she heard screaming enter the house.

"Well, I'd say Fatin is here." Martha said.

"Yeah no shit."

"What's up bitches! Sorry I'm late Shelby and I were-" Fatin cut off her sentence when she realized what she said.

"Sorry." She said to Toni before taking a seat.

This wasn't the first time someone mentioned her name and it won't be the last. These 8 girls were a family. A tight knit group of girls who were inseparable. The kind of friendships that would last lifetimes. That's not something that just gets thrown away.

"You can say her name Fatin, it's not like she's Voldemort. Look I don't expect you all to stop being friends with her just because she shattered my heart into a million pieces. I may be heart broken and salty but I'm not an asshole." Toni finished her sandwich and went up to her room.

Truth is, Toni sort of wished they would all stop being friends with Shelby. She couldn't stand to be in the same room as the girl who used to make her stomach turn with butterflies. Now all she does is make her stomach turn in a nauseating sick feeling.

Toni couldn't fathom what happened between the two of them. They had the best relationship. Two years of nothing but happiness and love. Two years of memories with their best friends, two years of firsts that they will never get back. The two girls hardly ever fought and yet here the are broken up and miserable.

Whats worse is Toni has absolutely no idea why Shelby randomly ended. One day they were having the time of their lives at the beach and the next she had her heart stomped on by the one she loved.

***

"No Toni Don't!" Shelby yelled as her girlfriend tossed her over her shoulder and headed toward the ocean.

"Then say it."

"No!" Toni continued their walk to the ocean, when she got about knee height Shelby started screaming.

"Okay okay, you're the hottest girl at school." The blonde yelled hoping to save her clothes from the salty water right below her.

"See that wasn't so hard was it." Toni slowly let her girlfriend down so she could stand.

"You'd really think I wouldn't be dating the hottest girl in school?" Shelby said as she put her arms arms around Tonis neck as her girlfriend put them on her hips.

"Wow, shallow much." Toni said with a laugh.

"I'm not shallow, just lucky." The blonde started leaning in, craving the taste of her girlfriends lips.

"Lucky and sappy." That was the last thing Shelby heard until she was tackled into the water.

"Oh my gosh Toni, fuck you!" Shelby said pushing her now wet hair out of her face.

"You wish." Toni started running towards the sand but Shelby followed suit.

"Oh no, you don't get off that easily." Shelby caught up and jumped on Tonis back causing them both to fall into the wet sand.

After the laughter calmed down Toni looked up at the girl on top of her and saw nothing but love.

This girl was truly the women she was going to marry. She was her soul mate. The one you read about in stories.

"I fucking love you." The brunette said while stroking Shelby's cheek.

"I love you too, Always." With that, the Blonde leaned down finally connecting their lips.

***

"Toni, I'm really sorry if I upset you." Toni was broken out of her thoughts when Fatin entered her room.

"No it's fine, it's just hard."

"I know and I'm really sorry." Fatin took a seat on the bed next to Toni putting a comforting hand on her back as she cried.

"I just don't get it. Why would she do this, why would she break my heart like this. Completely out of the blue. I loved her so fucking much, I still do and yet all I want to do is hate her."

"You don't hate her Toni, I don't think that's possible for you to do."

"I know but I wish I did. She did this to me, she broke me. I finally let down my walls and for what, to get hurt once again. And she did this to you guys. She has split this friend group up. We can't all be in the same place anymore because of her stupid decision." Toni was raging at this point.

"Toni please, calm down." Fatin stood up trying to calm down her best friend.

"No, I can't calm down. I-I just need to go."

"Where are you gonna go?" Fatin asked nervously.

"I'm going for a run. I need to let off some steam and clear my head. Please can you guys just let me have some space for a few hours, I really need it." With that Toni grabbed her headphones and went down the stairs and out the door before anyone could say anything.

Fatin followed suit.

"She needs to let off some steam. Let's give her some space and talk to her later." Everyone nodded.

"Well Mrs. James, thank you for the lunch. I should get going now." Martha said standing up to leave followed by Fatin.

"Not a problem girls and hey, she'll be okay." Lisa said before closing the door behind the girls.

"I hope she'll be okay." Lisa said with a sigh.

Authors Note:
Hi guys!! I'm so excited for this story! I have so many ideas that I can't wait to get out of my head. Please like and comment and let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for future chapters! There will be flashbacks throughout the story and they'll be obvious when they occur, I want to avoid as much confusion as I can.

Can't wait to hear from you guys!!
- Kassi