We Used To Be

Chapter 2

A/N This chapter was really easy to write and I’m pretty happy with it. I like descriptive writing more than story writing. Maybe I should just solely write descriptions but that’s boring so. I did procrastinate a lot by making a really in depth plan. Hopefully it will help in the future and keep the story intact because I want it to make sense. Also this has been in drafts for over a week now, glad to finally get it out! A/N are written as I write it so it's you get an insight into my journey. <3

As Toni arrived in Riverdale, a sense of nostalgia washed over her, everything was the same but slightly different. The trees were in the same places but they had grown taller, stronger; the buildings hadn’t moved but had grown older, frayed and the town, her poor town… overrun with rubbish, grime and filth. As she biked down the old roads her heart slowly sank, it seemed that the once friendly streets were now littered with gangs, criminals and thieves though not friendly gangs like the serpents, but mean, aggressive gangs with a thirst for blood. She hadn’t expected much but this.. this was disgusting. Pulling up to her old home she shivered as a gust of wind came her way. Her once half put together trailer was now almost falling apart, she could see more than one place they had patched it up and the once beautiful front garden was trampled with mud and weeds. Tears pricked in her eyes, she knew it had been rough for her grandparents but seeing the state of their- her trailer really pulled her back to reality. She sighed as she rang the doorbell, it couldn’t get much better than this. She waited a while and contemplated ringing again until the door slowly groaned open to reveal a slightly hunched over, greying woman.

“Nana!” Toni exclaimed, though slightly surprised at how much the older woman had really aged. 

“Toni!” her Nana smiled, “come in darling I’ll make us some tea should I, yes, yes I better”

Toni hauled in her oversized backpack and stepped over the slightly moulding welcome mat into a grubby apartment. The scent of old people hit her immediately mixed with damp mould and.. was that cherry? Toni looked around as she threw her bag onto the discoloured formerly emerald green couch. The beige wallpaper was peeling slightly and areas of it had completely disintegrated away to reveal the metal walls of the old trailer. The carpet was mug tracked but it was clear that her grandparents had tried as best they could to keep it stain free. The small kitchen was dirty but reasonably clear with only a few dishes in the sink- much better than Toni’s studio back in Highsmith. The kitchen table was pretty empty, a few stains but it looked like her grandma had cleaned a bit before she came. Her nana hobbled into the kitchen and put on the old kettle before settling down in one of the chairs at the table, Toni following suit. 

“So how have you been Nana?” Toni asked, trying to induce lighthearted conversation to be met with no answer. 

“Nana?” Again, no answer. “The place looks nice.” Toni attempted.

“Hmm? Sorry dear I didn’t catch that.”

“I said the place looks nice” Toni repeated a bit loader.

“Oh yes, I suppose it does. I cleaned it before you came.” Toni appreciated the effort but she made sure to make a note to herself to give the apartment a quick clean- not that she doubted her Nana’s abilities… but yeah, because she doubted her Nana’s abilities. No offence Nana. Just as she was going to speak, the kettled popped. Her Nana started to get up but Toni hurriedly said

“It’s alright I got it”, wanting to make herself useful.

“Two sugars”

“And no milk, yes, I know,” Toni interrupted. 

She took her time and brought it over to her Nana. 

“Thank you dear, I’ll soon be out of your hair”