Before The Storm ( wlw / lesbian )

Chapter 13

It was barely 9 am on Friday morning when Toni Deere emptied another small bag into her mouth, relishing at the feeling of the small dust-like minerals dissolving on her tongue. Rich really did know how to clean house with the shit he came up with.
The Ravens were racking in more money than they could stash, and Toni was barrelling packets of the drug even before the high came crashing down. 

Devil Dust, as Rich has patented it once it became more in demand, was a stimulant and kept her mind off the things she rather not face. At first it had just been cocaine, but then with a little tweaking and diluting, it was something way better than. It stopped her from the shit feelings, like the gut wrenching one that never subsided since Grace had left. She could taste it going in, clean and cold rushing down her throat like menthol; a crash of pure pleasure straight to her brain and setting every nerve along its way on fire.

She tossed the empty packet into the trash and exited the trailer, inhaling a refreshing breath of the spring air. She had the day off (or at least was taking a mental health day from classes) to indulge in a relaxing day with her best friend and sister. 

Shasta and Dakota were there to greet her by the motorcycles; in a heated debate over which jellybean flavour was the best. Shasta swore up and down on berry blue, whilst Dakota was winning with her compelling narrative in favour of lemon lime ("it's literally so good!") 

"Hey, kiddo," she beamed, ruffling the fluffy brown curls, a tongue poking out at her in response.

"I'm not a kid, Toni. Soon enough I'll be running with the Ravens." Dakota boasted, puffing her chest out proudly to both Shasta and Toni's amusement. She wished her little sister wouldn't grow up, but also looked forward to the day she handed down her father's jacket. 

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say, cheech."

Shasta noticed the light pink dust nestled into the corner of Toni's lip but said nothing of it. After all, things were going well for them all, so what if they wanted to celebrate? Which led them to where they were now, on the south side about to head to O'Flanagans and then drop Dakota off at the better Lawrence residence to hang out with Susie's younger sister, Rachel. Stephanie and Peter Lawrence were more than willing to take care of Dakota during the week and even the weekends, which is why she spent most of her time out of the south side. It was probably best. Away from the danger in a room bigger than a crawl space with warm showers and homemade meals each night.

"Come on kid, you're riding with me." Shasta smiled softly at the younger Deere sister, who beamed back as he helped her onto the back of his bike.

"Remember Dakota, be extra kind to the Lawrence's for them letting you stay there all weekend." Toni voiced as they set off, bikes roaring to life and heading down to the tracks separating the north and south side. She tries to not think about Christian and Malachai, and luckily the thrum of drug in her veins managed to block it out long enough for them to pass the area.

The air was warm, the breeze in the air pushing faded blue waves back. The sun was peaking through the treetops and setting fire to the smoke filtering out of the exhaust pipes.

It was a beautiful day, and the extra dose of adrenaline in her just made the happiness bubbling in her stomach boil over. Applying extra gas to her bike; the front wheel lifted slightly as the Raven girl skidded into the diner's parking lot.

"Jesus, Toni.." Shasta mumbled as he approached her once he caught up at a safe speed, careful to not let Dakota hear him. "Are you... yaknow, okay? You were being more reckless than usual..."

"Yeah, dude. Get off my case, I'm just having fun." She replied courtly, making her way to the door. "Come on, Kota."

"I'm gonna go pee!" Dakota announced as she bounded through the doors, waving at Alice who beams at the little girl.

"Alright but if you don't hurry I'm eating your pancakes!" Toni shouted back with a smile, settling into a booth in the corner of the diner. "Just the usual, Alice!"

"Sooo how are things with Daniel?" Toni mused as she drummed her fingers absentmindedly on the table.

Shasta was red. "Good." Was all he had to answer, but the smile on his face was telling enough.

"You've been spending a lot more time with him then with us."

"We're just.. hanging out, okay? Drop it."

Toni raised her hands in surrender; three hot plates being placed in front of them just in time, a smaller figure climbing into the booth a few seconds later. The sound of their bikes must have burgled their arrival. 

Her stomach was grumbling all morning, but the second she laid eyes on her plate the breakfast food suddenly wasn't so appetizing. Neither was the chocolate shake she craved practically every morning.

Sparing a quick look at her little sister and across at her best friend; both were wolfing down their pancakes like they'd been starving their whole lives.

"You know, Dakota," Toni started, careful to not allude to her disinterest by forcing a smile  that didn't quite reach her eyes, her face pale.
"Why don't you just bring this to Peter. I'm sure he'd appreciate it."

The boy's brow was furrowed in confusion as he motioned to the untouched plate with his fork. "You're not eating?"

"Nah, I woke up at like 5 am and had some old Chinese food."

Shasta shrugged and continued attacking his pancakes. If he thought it was strange, he didn't let on.

"Toni, can I have Grace?"

"What?" Her head snapped to Dakota who sat with syrup staining her mouth. "What did you say?" Her head started feeling like it was spinning. Maybe from the overuse of drugs or lack of food, but suddenly the warm day felt sweltering.

"I asked if I could have honey apple pie?"

"Um yeah, sure, get whatever you want, I'm just going to go to the washroom."

Not waiting for either of them to say anything, she practically ran to the bathroom, making a beeline to the sink.

Her vision was blurring the reflection staring back at her; messy hair sticking to her pale forehead from the sweat. Her hands trembled, and with a few attempts at turning the faucet on she finally managed to access the cool water pooling in the sink, splashing her face until she felt the bile rising in her throat settle.

"Ugh.." she groaned, rubbing at her temples "What's happening to me?" wishes she could eject her soul from the burning inferno that her body has turned into.

One of her hands gripped the sink, cool against her hot skin. She made a silent vow to take it easy on her consumption of Devil Dust - after all, she didn't need it to survive.

Only to numb the pain.