"Hurry up Sodapop or we'll be late!"
I groaned and shoved my face into the pillow. My brothers always had to be so loud in the mornings. I know they have work, but can't they be at least a little conscious of the two other sleeping people in the house. My brother Ponyboy and I usually slept in since we didn't have jobs.
Well, technically I have a job, it's just that I worked the last three weekends and my boss thinks I need a brake. My boss is a literal godsend, I could not have survived without her.
I walked out of my bedroom and into the kitchen. I really hoped there was chocolate cake in the ice box. I was pretty sure Soda made one the night before, but Ponyboy kept complaining about how much icing he was putting on. I smiled as I found it and grabbed a piece.
I heard Two-Bit wolf whistle and shot back up. Everyone was starring at me, my brothers looked horrified.
"Morning Katie." Two Bit grinned.
He was quickly met with a smack to the head from Darry. Even I could tell from Two-Bit's tone what he was implying but I couldn't figure out why.
"You just gonna stand there in your panties?" Sodapop asked, smiling.
I looked down mortified. I had completely forgotten that I was only sleeping in my t-shirts and underwear.
"I hate you." I sighed, grabbing a pair of jeans off the chair in front of me. "You know that?"
Soda just stuck his tongue out at me. Sodapop was my twin brother and was my always teasing me. Soda teased everybody though, so you can't get mad at him. He's got this grin that just makes you want to grin too.
Suddenly, a small scream was heard from Ponyboy's room. My younger brother had been getting nightmares since mom and dad died. Sodapop would sleep with him and they became less frequent, but every once in a while they'd act up.
Darry looked nervous and Soda made a move to go comfort Ponyboy. I stopped him, he had to get to work. "I'll get him."
"Ha! The kid still gets nightmares?" Steve laughed.
I shot him an icy glare and Darry hit him. He knew very well how traumatizing our parents deaths were to Pony.
"Shut up Steve." Soda snapped. "You know how hard it hit him."
The room went quiet. No one talked about my parents death. It was an unspoken rule not to bring it up.
"Have a good time at work." I said, walking into Ponyboys room.
I heard the door slam and knew my brothers had left. I could still hear Mickey on so I assumed Two-bit hadn't left.
I stopped in the doorway of Ponyboy's room to find him sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. I gently put my hand on his shoulder and sat down beside him. "Hey kiddo."
"Hi." He whispered.
"Want to talk about it?" I asked, even though I already l knew the answer. Ponyboy shook his head no. "Want to lay here with me?"
"Can I?"
I smiled and hopped into the bed. Ponyboy came up next to me and put his head on my chest.
"Hey Pony?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened last night?"
I had been coming home after spending some time with Kathy when I heard yelling. It sounded like Darry and Ponyboy, I decided not to get involved and sat on the roof before going inside.
"Darry was yelling at me again." He said angrily.
I knew this was probably going to turn into a rant. I let him vent it out though, he's never able to.
"I swear he wants to put me in a foster home!" He yelled. "He hates me! I'm never enough for him!"
"Pony you listen to me." I said sternly, but gently. "Darrel Shaynne Curtis loves you."
"No he doesn't." Pony sighed. "I'm a waste of space and just another mouth to feed."
"Ponyboy, I was there the day Darry signed those papers."
I decided to recount the story of Darry giving up everything to Ponyboy.
Mom and dad had just died, and Darry was technically our next of Kin. He needed one of us to go with him to witness it. You were too young and Soda was too emotional.
Darry and I walked into the courthouse. I instantly felt awful, Darry had to give up university to take care of us. We sat down at the table and I grabbed Darry's arm.
"You shouldn't sign this."
"Why not?" He asked, confused.
"You shouldn't give up your right to go to college." I said sadly. "Don't let us ruin your life."
The lady at the desk looked up and smiled at Darry. "Your sister's right. We can put them in a foster home and you can go to university."
"No." Darry had said. "I love my siblings more than anything. They don't go to a home if I have a chance to look after them."
"Darry are you sure?"
"I'd give up the world if it meant we stay together."
I finished my story smiling. I'd never been happier then when Darry had said that. I remembered Ponyboy was still in front of me and I rubbed his hair affectionately.
"He may love you and Soda, but not me." He said firmly.
I sighed as the screen door slammed shut. Johnny's voice could be heard throughout the house. "Anyone home?"
I gently moved Pony off of me and sat up. "Time to go."
He nodded and we stepped into the living. Two-bit had gone through 2 beers and was finishing off the chocolate cake. Johnny and Dally stood in the doorway. Dallas was smirking and Johnny was just standing there, eyes on the TV.
"Hey Pony, want to come watch a movie with us?" Johnny asked.
Ponyboy shrugged. "Why not?"
He looked to me as for permission and I nodded. He would be fine with Dally and Johnny. Two-bit looked up from the tv with a smile. "I'll come too."
They looked at me expectantly, but I shook my head. "I was going to meet up with Angela Shepard."
Now, that wasn't actually the truth. I was going to the park, by myself. Now, my brothers would argue that that's a stupid idea, but I had to disagree. In a house with three boys and no other girls in the gang, I was alone. Especially after mom died. I figured I'd go see Mrs. Matthews, Two-bits mum. She was always helping me out with girl things, if you know what I mean. It still sucked when it was Darry's turn to do the laundry.
"I'll see y'all later" I smiled as they began to head out.
"Bye Katie." They had said and left.
At the time I was glad for being alone. I never did have a second thought. I was carry a blade, I would be fine. Boy, how I wished I'd taken them up on their offer. Things got a whole lot worse.