' 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 ' ˊ ˗ soa

𝐎𝐧𝐞

ˊ ˗

It wasn't until several weeks later that Belladonna was able to escape the busy streets for a more quite, secluded location. Her flight from New York to Sacramento landed in the early hours of the morning, meaning she was able to gain a few more hours of sunlight on her journey from Sacramento to Stockton in the hire car she'd rented upon her arrival into the state of California. Belladonna had forgot just how much she yearned to be surrounded by the sounds of nothing but the wind rattling against her ears, as she exceeded the speed limit down the desolate highway she once knew all too well.

Tapping her fingers against the crisp leather steering wheel, she hummed in sync to the familiar tune of Nickelback as it played softly from the cars speakers. The scenery outside the car was all the same: cracked, crumbling canyons filled the void landscape for miles. It wasn't long after leaving the small town of Stockton that the young women could see a large billboard with the words "Welcome to Charming" plastered on top of it. Continuing on past the sign, Belladonna began her descent into the small town by passing through a rather isolated neighbourhood. The houses were spaced apart, with your typical overgrown big front lawns and wooden picket fences which could use some maintenance. Driving through a neighbourhood she used to ride her bike around when she was a kid, everything about it felt different. It shouldn't have, but it had been so long since Belladonna had been back in Charming, that even passing by the house she once lived in felt strange.

Coming to a stop at a giveaway sign, she breathed a heavy sigh as she ran her fingers through her honey blonde curls. A small part of Belladonna was happy to be back in the town she once grew up in, but a large part of her felt rather repulsed- causing her stomach to churn at some of the old memories she had of this place. The Jones family was a founding family of the annual "Taste of Charming" event which happened annually, so many of Charming's residents knew who they were, or used to. Although that was many years ago, and Bella hadn't been to a Taste of Charming gathering since she was fifteen.

Turning down the street she knew like the back of her hand, Belladonna pulled her rather expensive rental car to a stop besides the curb outside an all too familiar house. The Winston resistance never changed, apart from a few new additions of plants which had been planted messily outside the front porch- clearly Donna's work. Bella knew the kids would be at school, so Donna would more than likely be at home- and if the old, dead beat pick up truck wasn't a clear giveaway then it was the sound of the lawn mower coming from the back yard.

"That bloody women." Belladonna cursed under her breath as she grabbed her purse from the passenger seat before slamming the door shut. Heading up the worn down steps outside the front porch, Bella tried the front door to see if it was open- to which it wasn't. Smart girl, the blonde thought as she jogged down the stairs as best as she could in her heels and made her way around the garage to the side gate. Finding it unlocked, Belladonna pushed forward the rusted steel gate before shutting it behind her, making sure to lock it before she moved to walk off. The screeching sound of the mowers engine rattling grew louder the closer Bella got to the backyard, where she found her best friend heaving the large piece of machinery across the jungle of a garden which resided in their backyard. It was obvious the lawn hadn't seen any kind of maintenance for a good twelve months, with how overgrown everything was.

The sweat was rolling off of Donna at this point along with the overwhelming sense of disappointment. Bella could see the heaviness in her friends shoulders and the obvious frown on her face. Deciding now was the best time to intervene, Bella made her way down the patio steps and towards the smaller women who was now hunched over with her hands on her knees. Bella turned the motor off, catching the attention of her clearly stressed friend who frowned in confusion before she noticed who was standing besides her.

"I better not see you touch this bloody reckless machine again, Donna Winston." Belladonna ordered as she placed her hands on her hips in mock authority, feeling a large grin pull at her lips as the latter threw herself into her best friends arms. "Oh my god! I can't believe you're here, Bell! You didn't tell me you was coming today?!" Donna gasped out, shock evident in her voice.

"I know, I wanted it to be a surprise. I'm sorry it wasn't sooner, work called- you know how it is," Bella smiled bitterly as she pulled away gently, still holding her best friend at arms length as she gave the smaller women a once over. "Look at you, D. Have you been eating properly? You look ill." The younger women frowned as Donna pulled herself away from her hands.

"I'm fine, Bella. Just stressed, you know how it is." Donna mocked slightly, issuing the same phrase the younger had used not even a few seconds ago. "Bullshit. This isn't healthy, Donna. I'm so fucking sorry I wasn't here sooner, I feel awful. I swear, anything you need you let me know, okay?".

"I don't need anything Bella, I'm just happy you are here." Donna expressed with a sad smile, before turning back towards the lawn mower. "Woah! Get your ass inside women, I'll deal with this." Bella warned as she pushed Donna gently towards the house. Shaking her head, Donna couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "What, you gonna mow my lawn in those six inch heels, B?" Faking a gag, Belladonna shook her head. "Christ no, I'm putting this piece of shit away whilst you go and changed before we pick up the kids. You look like you lost a fight with Mother Earth, and you smell like shit."

Rolling her eyes at her friend, Donna couldn't help but throw her head back with a laugh. Turning on her heels, the small women made her way up the stairs towards the house. "Thanks for telling me I smell so discreetly, B."

"Just keeping it real, baby." Bella teased as she watched her friend walk into the house with a little less of a tense look in her shoulders. Smiling softly, Belladonna was happy to see Donna smiling again. She knew the older women had been through a lot over the past couple of years, and these past few weeks hadn't been too easy on her either. She just hoped with her being here, Donna would start to feel like her old self again a little- even if it meant stepping in where Bella knew Donna wouldn't want her to.

After dragging the heavy piece of metal machinery into the crowded shed, Bella made her way into the Winston residence in search of a sink and her best friend. Stepping inside the back door, Belladonna made her way into the kitchen where she began scrubbing at her hands as the feeling of wet grass itched at her palms. Besides the sink rested a few dirty dishes, so whilst she was there she began to wash up and put away as she waited for Donna to freshen up. Placing the last of the freshly cleaned plates in the cupboard above the sink, Bella wiped her hands on the front of her skin tight leather pants before she moved to take a seat at the kitchen bench. Pulling her phone out her purse which rested on top of the bench, the young women checked her emails and text messages before the sound of footsteps caught her attention.

"Look at you, you look a million dollars." Bella teased as she stood up from the chair, grabbing her purse at the same time. Donna did her best to keep herself from rolling her eyes, before giving her friend a knowing look as she shrugged on her old leather jacket. "Ellie and Kenny don't get out of school for another two hours, what exactly is it you are up to?"

"What? Can't a women take her beautiful best friend to get their nails done? I'm in desperate need of a manicure and you, well you're in desperate need of a lot of things, baby." The young women teased with a cheeky grin, earning a slap on the arm from Donna who let out a groan.

"Bella-," Donna huffed out, beginning to start her argument on how getting her nails done wasn't necessary and how it wasn't in her financial budget but before she could ever start, she was cut off. "I don't remember giving you the choice, Donna Marie Winston. Now get your ass in the car before I start insisting we go and get you a bloody new wardrobe too." Bella spoke sternly as she made her way down the porch stairs and towards the drivers side.

"Yes Ma'am." Donna chuckled softly as she locked the front door behind her, before descending down the steps to the expensive black car parked in front of her house, which looked ridiculously out of place in the small neighbourhood she resided in.