Toni drifted from class to class as part of her usual school routine. She then sat on the toilet finishing her cigarette. When she left the toilet block she could see some guy getting in Lauren’s face. He had her trapped against the lockers, pointing his finger menacingly.
Toni watched for a moment, Lauren didn’t seem to be concerned in fact she just looked around then grabbed her earphones and stuck them in her ears and tried to walk away. He grabbed her and pushed her back to the lockers. She struggled this time
Toni clenched her jaw and strolled over.
“You fucking owe me 40 dollars bitch, now pay up” said the student
Lauren shrugged “I said I will get your stuff, just waiting from my supplier now bugger off.”
He was about to start again when someone grabbed him by the throat and rammed him hard into the lockers. Toni inches from his face “you got a problem.... huh”
The student stutters “she owes me my stash, fucking bitch”
The guy doubled over from Toni’s punch, she grabbed his throat again and squeezed tighter. His face going red
“And I’m sure she will get it to you, just have a little patience. I don’t want to be talking to you about this again.” Toni unclenched her hand.
The student took some deep breath. “now go” ordered Toni
Toni happy at her heroics faced Lauren expecting acknowledgment
“What the fuck do you think you’re were doing, huh, why can’t you mind your own business” she spat
“I was just..... helping, you looked like”
“I don’t need your help, so stay out of my way. Just cos you’re Ritchie’s favourite flavour of the month doesn’t mean you and I can be friends. Stay out of my way.” Lauren pushes passed her.
Toni watches Lauren storm off and smirks to herself “you’re welcome”
---
It was after 10pm one night, Ritchie, Lauren and Toni were leaning against a wall looking at the black SUV they had spied as their next target. The street was still busy so they just waited.
“Where’s Seth and Josh” asked Toni
Lauren shrugged “Josh leg still hurting and Seth had to visit sick grandma”
“tossers” spat Ritchie.
Toni was resting against the shop still waiting for a clearing of traffic. Toni faced the shop window, a jewellery shop. The windows were empty. She walked along and looked at the illuminated sign advertising gold, diamond bracelets. She tried to peer through the window
Ritchie looked over “what are you doing, there is nothing there. Focus on the car Toni”
Toni looked around “right.....”
They all walked over to the SUV, Ritchie opened the door and Toni got it started. She looked back at the shop.
“What is it Toni” asked Lauren. She had never seen Toni focussed on anything but cars. Tonight she seemed distracted by this shop.
“I bet there is jewellery behind that advertisement in the window”
“There isn’t, now get in.....” barks Ritchie
Toni looked again and at Lauren.
“Well only one way to find out” says Lauren and goes over to the window.
Ritchie got out and tried to grab Lauren. Toni also over at the window when Lauren threw her small iron bar at the window. It shattered, she brushed away the glass.
“Jackpot” says Toni
Both Toni and Lauren grab handfuls of the jewellery putting it into their pockets.
Sirens were heard in the distance. They all jumped into the car and drove off.
Once back in Ritchie’s workshop both girls emptied their pockets. “Fuck me” says Toni, “look at this stuff.” Admiring watches, bracelets, chains and rings
Toni was grabbed and thrown to the wall “don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again. It’s about the cars.... not shit like this”
“Ritchie.... let it go.... this stuffs worth more than your car.” Lauren held up gold and diamond bracelet “don’t you think this will look pretty on me” holding it against her hand
“Nothing looks pretty on you bitch” he growls. He grabs the stuff and puts it in a bag
“Hey I want that” whines Lauren
“What I want is for this car to be stripped” points at Toni “do it” he turns his attention to Lauren grabbing her “and as for you, you know what I want ....” drags her up to his apartment
Toni finished the car and heads to Ritchie’s apartment. She creeps quietly into his kitchen, helps herself to a beer and as she leaves, sees the door to Ritchie’s room was slightly ajar. She watches for a moment as Ritchie was riding Lauren hard. Thrusting in and out, his hand grabbing Lauren’s head
“Fuck yeh, that’s it baby....I’m gonna fuck you hard.” Ritchie hisses to Lauren
Toni thought he saw Lauren flinch as if in pain. She walked off towards the TV room “animal” she whispered under her breath. She watches TV until she fell asleep
Lauren climbs out of Ritchie's bed. She was in discomfort from Ritchie’s forcefulness. She dressed and crept out. She walked towards the door, stepped back to see Toni asleep on the couch.
She pushed her “hey.... Toni.... Toni”
Toni opened her sleepy eyes “huh, what”
“cmon let go, I’ll drop you home”
Toni followed.
Toni occasionally glanced over at Lauren, she looked wasted and sad.
“are you alright?”
Lauren didn’t answer at first “yeh, just tired...”
They sat in silence until Lauren pulled up in her street “your stop I believe”
Toni didn’t move at first. “Give me your wrist”
“what.... why”
Toni reached for it; Lauren pulled away “what is your problem”
Toni growled and reached into her pocket showing the bracelet that Lauren liked, which Toni had swiped from Ritchie’s stash.
“Are you crazy, he’ll kill you”
“so..... what’s one more death wish.” Toni grabs Lauren’s wrist and puts it on.
Lauren smiles “it’s....” she looked at Toni
“Ritchie’s right you’re not pretty”
Lauren face scowled
“But when you where this, it’s just beautiful.... on you.... you are.” She stammered her words
Lauren smiled and looked at it again, then back to Toni
“You’re not hitting on me are you?” she asked
“What... me.... fuck noooooo..... look I was just.... look forget it” Toni stumbling over her words.
Toni opened the door when Lauren grabbed her jacket “thank you, at least someone has taste”
Toni watches Lauren drive off. She eventually crashes into bed and moans as she replayed Lauren’s question. She had no feelings for anyone, but when she thought about Lauren she was beautiful when she smiled. Although she didn’t smile too often, when she did it was genuine. She drifted off to sleep with Lauren on her mind
---
One afternoon Toni was sitting up in the stands of the school’s basketball stadium. She was waiting for Lauren to collect the money she had got from selling the bags of dope.
She was a little anxious, not the fact she was carrying around nearly 800 dollars, not the fact it was all illegal, that gave her a buzz. The fact was Lauren was going to sit next to her closely and they would exchange the money secretly. Her hand would have to touch Lauren’s in the exchange and that excited her more than anything. Her eyes divert to the doorway waiting for Lauren and she walked in, she nodded at Toni
Toni could feel her heart racing.
Lauren walked along the court while the school’s senior girl’s team were training. She bumped into one of the players and knocked over their water bottles. “watch out you idiot” spat Lauren
The taller girl walked over “hey... you need to watch where you’re going, and pick up the shit you knocked over”
“Fuck off” Lauren standing her ground.
A few more girls moved in on Lauren
Toni watched “uh oh.” Even if she intervened, she knew her and Lauren would be no match against the 8 or so players.
Toni walked down towards the heated situation
“Bout time someone bought you down a peg or two Lauren” said the defiant basketballer
“yeh bring it on shit for brains” antagonised Lauren
Just as the girl went for Lauren, Toni got between them and held them apart. “ok ok, lets just take a moment. This was all a misunderstanding... we’re gone” Toni grabbed Lauren and pulled her away
Lauren shook Toni away “I’m not letting that big, fucking bitch push me around”
“Lauren, she won’t push you around, she will bury you now come on” Toni grabbed at her again
“I am not afraid.” Lauren fights at Toni
“and you’re not very smart, now come on” Toni pushes Lauren harder, then ends up dragging her bodily into the change room
Lauren wasn’t strong enough to get free of Toni “let me go..... I can take care of myself”
Toni pushed her to the lockers “I know that..... but sometimes you just need to let things go”
“Fuck off, just cos you’re afraid”
“I’m not afraid Lauren, I just didn’t feel like taking on the entire women’s basketball team ok. “
“I don’t need your help” she went to leave but Toni put her hand against the locker blocking her exit
Lauren stared at Toni not sure what to do. Toni took a breath then leaned in and kissed Lauren for a brief moment. She was sure Lauren was returning the kiss then she was shoved away hard.
Toni then doubled over and fell to her knees from the hard punch Lauren had delivered to her stomach. She was gasping for air
“What is your fucking problem” she wiped her mouth “you are so fucked up Toni, do I look like a guy?”
Toni still trying to catch her breath, she was blushing from embarrassment for her lost of self control
“You stay away from me” Lauren ran out the change rooms
Toni got to her feet and rested against the locker regretting what she did. She was more afraid that Lauren would tell Ritchie and the other boys. She hoped that Lauren was too embarrassed and would keep Toni’s indiscretion to herself.
---
Toni rocked up at Ritchie’s warehouse wanting to test the waters. She banged on the door and was let in. Ritchie and Josh were working on the cars and nodded
“Hi Toni... how was your day” asked Seth. He handed Toni a beer
“ummm ok Seth”
“Look we heading out to get some number plates, you wanna come?”
“umm ok”
Ritchie walked over “wait up” he digs into his pocket and hands over some money to Toni “get some more beer.”
“ok... sure” Toni went to leave
“and one more thing”
Toni faced him “yeh”
Ritchie grabbed her and rammed her to the wall, her head hitting it hard “you ever touch, kiss, try anything to my girl and I will kill you. I will pull the trigger you can be sure of that.
Seth spoke up disappointedly “are you queer or something”
Toni trying to catch her breath and talk, Ritchie’s hand around her throat “No.... no way... I wanted to stop Lauren from trying to take on the whole women’s basketball team. She wouldn’t listen”
“Oh so kissing her was your way of stopping her” Ritchie sneers “next time punch the fucking bitch, don’t kiss her.”
He released Toni and went back to working on a car. Toni looked up to see Lauren standing at door to Ritchie’s apartment. It was the first time Lauren’s eyes ever submitted to Toni’s glare.
“Now fuck off.” growled Ritchie
“You kicking me out” whines Toni, feeling devastated Ritchie was throwing her out of their little gang
Ritchie looked at her “noooooo, cutting you adrift would be me putting you in a grave. Get me the number plates and the beer.”
“ok”
---
They finished up for the night, and sat around watching TV. Toni never once looked at Lauren. She did allow Seth to pay her more attention and they kissed on and off.
Ritchie came up to the apartment and grinned at Lauren “you know what..... just thinking about you two girls has given me the biggest hard-on.” He grabbed Lauren “now tell me again, word for word how she kissed you, and don’t leave out the part about the tongue.”
Toni eyes flared at Lauren, she never did anything like that to her. Lauren said nothing; she just got up and went to Ritchie’s bedroom.
Toni was furious at Lauren’s exaggeration of their exchange. She played it over and over. It was only a quick kiss, nothing else. She then felt a hand on the inside of her thigh and Seth near her ear
“You know, the thought of you kissing Lauren is such a turn on.... why don’t you and me.” He stopped when he felt the blade of Toni’s knife at his throat
“Don’t you ever fucking touch me again Seth.” Toni got up and left, slamming the door.
It was an hour and half walk home, she had no money for a bus. She stomped along the pavement, still fuming over the events. She heard the sounds of a slow idling car, pulling up on her. She didn’t look, she knew who’s car it was and kept walking. The rain was starting to get heavy
“Toni get in” ordered Lauren
Toni ignored her and just kept walking. Lauren closed her eyes and groaned. She drove up again
“Look, get in out of the rain, so we can talk at least”
Toni stopped and faced the driver’s window “talk... what about.... oh how I stuck my tongue down your throat. That was load of bullshit and you know it Lauren”
“I know... just I wasn’t expecting you to do that, I was angry and.”
“I bet you left out the part where you kissed me back”
Lauren shook her head “no I didn’t”
Toni yelled at her “you did, you know you fucking did.... it was a big mistake, ok so just forget it because I have.”
“alright, calm down and get in, I’ll drive you home...”
Toni walked off down a side street “fuck off Lauren”
Lauren watched Toni disappear into the darkness.