Say Something
Chapter 1 "Been so long"
At 14 years old I became a lot more sarcastic, stubborn, and….a teenager. Darry was pretty strict but he never yelled at me.
Darry was now 21, Soda 17, Steve 18, Two-bit 20, Dallas 19, Pony 15, Johnny 17, Ciara 17, Emmanuel 15, Tyler 18, and Jon 18.
Jon went off to college, and Tyler got a job (seriously), so it was usually Ciara and Emmanuel. I hanged out mostly with Johnny, Ciara, Pony, Dally, and Scarlett. Most of the time I'm with Johnny, and Pony, though.
Phoenix was now living with my best friend back at home, since apparently it was too much money and too much work, according to the social worker.
School got out at 2 usually but today was an early out. I walked down the hallway heading to 7th hour, my last period.
It was past Christmas break, and it was already getting warm out. Right after Christmas break a new girl arrived. She was a new greaser girl, you could tell she was a greaser just by the way she dressed.
But she was like Johnny, a quiet greaser. Socs loved that, I heard they been giving her a hard time since she arrived. But I haven't seen it for myself.
The only thing I knew about her was she was my age, in the same grade as me, and her last name is Waters. Never seen her either.
I passed all the lockers and went to English class, which I had with Pony, so I sat by him in the back.
I leaned my head on my hand throughout class, trying not to fall asleep. I failed and fell asleep as we watched a video.
The bell rang and I fell out of my chair. The remaining people in the room laughed including Pony. He stretched out his arm towards me, I grabbed his hand and pulled him down.
Then I got up, brushed 'dirt' off my pants and walked out. Pony caught up with me, "Are you going to track practice today?"
"No, I have an art project to finish," I said.
"Okay, well I have to get to track practice, see you later," Pony told me and turned around heading for the back door leading to the track.
"Bye." I walked down the hallway and I spotted a group of socs banging on a door, yelling things like 'open up' and 'come on out, are you afraid'.
I knew they were messing with somebody but I didn't know who, and I honestly didn't care. I ran over and pushed the biggest soc away from the door, making the rest of them back up.
They knew who I was and who I was friends with. I think they were scared of me. It might have been the fact that I'm friends with Dally. Or it could be the way I act.
They walked away as I opened the door to a dark closet. I opened the door all the way so light streamed in lighting up the room.
In the corner you could see a small girl, I sat down by her. "Are you okay?" I asked.
She nodded, just like Johnny did.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded once again.
I tried to grab her hand, but she pulled away, scooting away from me.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I comforted.
She looked down, so I could no longer see her bright baby blue eyes, and her blond straight hair was now in her face.
I sat there for about 15 minutes, and I finally talked her into coming out of the closet. We walked to together out of the building, and I lead her towards Two-bit's car.
"Finally, what took so long?" Two-bit asked.
"Nothing," I lied.
"Who's this?" Steve asked, leaning against the car.
"This is, um….a girl I found," I said.
"What's your name?" Two-bit asked.
I looked at her, I could tell she was scared by the look on her face, "Why do you want to know, Two-bit?" I asked, I knew she wasn't going to talk.
He shrugs, "I don't know I'm just asking, you don't have to get all offense on me."
I roll my eyes, "Come on, I have to go to my locker," I told her.
"You better hurry, we have to pick Soda Pop up from work," Steve said.
"Okay, I'll hurry," I said.
She followed me, keeping her head down as we walked back in, and down the hallway. Only when we made it to my locker, she looked up at me. Her eyes were so blue, it reminded me of ocean waves.
I unlocked my locker with my key around my neck and grabbed my notebook full of drawings. The girl kept glancing around, like she didn't know if she should go or leave.
"Do you want to come back to my house with me?" I asked, and she shrugged.
"It'll only be me, my brothers, and me and my brothers' friends," I added.
She shook her head, "What's your name?" I asked.
She shrugged, "How do you not know what your name is?"
She once again shrugged, and said nothing.
"Well my name is Rayna, and your name is now Ocean, because of your eyes," I said.
She gave me a weak smile, and started to walk away, "Wait," I called.
She turned around, "I'll see you tomorrow!"
She gave me a big smile and turned around walking away. I closed my locker, and my lock, then walked out the building.
I made it back to Two-bit's car where Steve, Two-bit, and now Dally and Johnny. I climbed in back of the car in the middle of Dally, and Johnny.
"So who was your little friend?" Two-bit asked once we pulled out of the school parking lot.
"Ocean Waters," I answered, sticking my arms up feeling the breeze, while acting like I was on a roller coaster. My hair flied in the air, I had a lot more blond then brown because I'm outside more than inside.
"She's some looker," Steve said, as we parked in at the DX and Soda hopped in.
"Oh, Stevie I'm going to tell your girlfriend," Soda teased, he was now by the window, and Steve was in the middle in the front.
Steve playfully punched Soda on the arm. Then we made to our house, we got out and went inside. I went to my room, and plopped down on my bed. It was boiling outside.
I just wanted to sleep, I was exhausted. I felt dirty, but I was too lazy to take a shower, plus Soda was already taking one. So I worked on my stretch in my notebook for art, it was a horse with a back ground of mountains, trees, ect.
I finished sketching it and I worked on the song Mrs. Witte (my choir/music teacher) picked out for me to sing to the choir during 'Show me Week'. Show me Week is kind of like a talent show but, it's only for the choir and your performance has to involve music.
The song Mrs. Witte picked out for me is, 'I knew you were trouble' by: Taylor Swift. I chose to play my guitar while singing. Now all I had to do is memorize the song, something I'm very good at.
"Rayna, Dinner," I heard Soda call.
"K, I'll be down in a minute," I said.
I put my guitar back where it belongs, in the corner of my room. And then I rushed down stairs. When I got to the kitchen I grabbed a plate and put corn, mashed potatoes, and a pork steak.
I sat down at the table between Soda, and Pony, and across from Darry. This is the only time we sit at the table, when the gang's not here. I ate quickly and drank my water down.
"Darry, can I go for a walk?" I asked.
"Did you finish your homework?"
"Yep," I said, putting my plate, fork, and glass in the sink.
"Sure but don't stay out too long," he warned.
"Okay," I said.
I ran to the door putting on my tennis shoes, and jacket, then heading out the door. I walked to the lot, and Johnny wasn't there, then I walked to the park, Johnny wasn't there but someone I recognized was.
She was on the swings, so I sat down by her, "Hey, Ocean what are you doing out here so late?"
She shrugged, like every conversation went with her.
"Are you ever going to talk to me?"
She shrugged, once again. I moaned, "Oh, come on I don't bite, I'm not mean. Why won't you talk to me?"
I watched her as…..surprise, surprise…..she shrugged.
I leaned my head back moaning again.
"Fine don't talk to me, I'll see you tomorrow," I said getting up and heading back to the house. I was half way across the park I heard a voice say, "Wait."
I turned around and Ocean was now standing, "What?" I asked.
"Thank-thanks for saving me…..you know, at school," she said.
I smiled at her and said, "Your welcome, hey if ya wanna call me sometime my number's 636-288-3071. Now hurry and get home so you can write it down."
This time she smiled and then ran the opposite direction of where I was going. I turned back around and went back to the house. Her voice was so sweet, soft, and quiet.
She didn't sound 14, more like a 6 or 8 year old. She could probably pass as one too, I mean she was even shorter than me, and I'm shorter than Johnny who's shorter than a 12 year old.
I got home and went straight to bed, and when I woke up the next morning I threw clothes on, I didn't even see what it was I just threw them on. Then I went down stairs.
Pony was making breakfast, Soda, Two-bit, and Steve watching TV, Dally sitting in one of the chairs smoking even though he knew he wasn't supposed to in the house, and Darry was in the shower.
When the food was done I ate some and then, Darry came out to get Soda, and they were on their way to work. Two-bit drove me, Pony, Steve to school; Dally left to go to Buck's and frankly no one knew were Johnny was.
We got to school and I walked with the guys to class. We all had first hour together, gym, I mean they were in the boy class and I was in the girl class but we still had gym at the same time.
Today we played kickball with the boys, and I was on the same team as Pony, Two-bit and Steve. Mrs. Vaughn had her health class to play with my class, and what do you know Ocean was in her class!
Luckily she got placed on the field with me and them. I motioned her over and she came.
"Hey Ocean, what's up?" I asked.
She shrugged.
"Oh nooooooooo….not the shrugging again," I nearly yelled.
She laughed and smiled, but said nothing.
"Do you want to sit out?" I asked her.
She shrugged but I could tell she wanted to.
"Come on, we can talk," I said pulling her by the hand over to the stairs on the side on the gym that leaded up to the stage.
We were on the very top of the steps, and everyone else was at the bottom.
"So…..talk will ya?" I asked.
She looked over at me, smiled and said, "Why?"
"Because I want you to, you don't have to be shy with me. Alright as I can see you're not the type that starts conversations so I will. What's your favorite color?"
"Red," she says quietly.
"Mine's flag color, which stands for red, white and blue. Um…are you a greaser or soc, a greaser is-"
"A greaser," she cut me off.
"Me too! Um…have any siblings?"
"None…." she said lightly looking at the game going on below us.
"I had 3 brothers, but they died last year in a car crash. Now I have foster brothers, I guess you could call them. You might know them, Darry Curtis, Pony Boy Curtis, and Soda Pop Curtis. My name used to be Rayna Hunter, but now it's Rayna Curtis. Now are you going to tell me your name?"
She shook her head.
_Ring_Ring_Ring_
The bell ringed for next hour.
I followed her down the steps, "Come on please, I told you mine."
We were passing the boys now they didn't follow me, they just let me go on by. We walked out the gym doors and I was still begging her.
She turned around really quick, you could see the frustration in her face as she said, "I don't have a name."
She ran off down the hallway, as I stood there not knowing what to do. The guys came out laughing, but stopped as they saw me standing there.
"What happened to you, looks like you just seen a ghost," Two-bit said.
"Nothing…..let's just get to class," I said, and started to walk down the hall.
"Okay, if you say so, but I'm skipping. See you guys later," Steve said.
"Alright kids let's get to class," Two-bit said slinging his arms around our shoulders.
I pushed his arm off me, then lead the way to class. I sat in front of Two-bit's desk, and Pony was next to Two-bit. I was in a total daze as the bell rang and the teacher started his lesson of Math.
I don't get it, how could someone not have a name. Everyone has a name, shoot even Johnny has a name, which if anyone should not have a name it should be him; especially since how his parents treat him.
Ocean Waters, she's a nice, quiet girl. Never will do anything wrong. She's so innocent and sweet…like Johnny. She dresses like Johnny, acts like Johnny, just in girl form.
How could she not have a name? What if her home life is like Johnny's? But then again, she doesn't have any bruises, she doesn't flinch as much as Johnny. It was all too confusing, it was giving me a headache.
"Earth to Ms. Curtis," said our math teacher, Mr. Roberts.
"What?" I snapped out of my daze.
"Can you answer number 1 on the board?" he asked.
I moaned and whined, "Do I have to?"
"Yes you do and I would appreciate if you would stop acting like a little kid, Ms. Rayna," Mr. Roberts said impatiently.
"Yeah, but sir I am a little kid, well to everyone in this room. I'm only 14, sir," I said, leaning back in my chair.
"Yeah, but-"
"Sorry, I'm late," Scarlett rushed through the door and took a seat next to me.
Mr. Roberts took her tardy slip, and while shaking his head went back up to the board and continued the lesson.
Scar, which is the nick name I gave Scarlett. Is in school with me, the boys, and Ciara, because she failed a grade and because of her part time job, which she quit, she missed a lot of school.
Therefor making her be in the same grade as me. I don't know if you knew this or not but Scar has 2 older siblings, both are out of school. A older sister named Violet, and older brother named Jake.
Her siblings finally got jobs, so Scar was able to quit hers, and pick up school where she left off. So what she's a 19 year old in school still, Two-bit's 20 and he's still in school.
"Where were you?" I asked Scar.
"My brother's car broke down," she answered.
Ciara was in this class with me and the guys too, but she told me earlier this morning she was going to skip so she could hang out with Dally. Emmanuel was probably with her, he's always with her.
Rather it's because she wants to keep an eye on him or they just want to spend time together, their always together unless he's over at a friend's house or he's with Tyler.
I ended up falling asleep in class and waking up when the bell rang, but instead of me clumsy falling out of the chair, Two-bit pushes me.
"Two-bit, I'm going to kill you, Scar hold my bag," I give Scar my bag and run after Two-bit, out the door.
We ran down the hallway, past teachers yelling at us, and past Ocean at her locker. Wait, I stopped, Ocean, I ran back to Ocean's locker but she was already walking into her next class.
Two-bit was long gone by now, so I walked to my next class on the way there getting my bag back from Scar, I was supposed to have science with Johnny, but that wasn't going to work today. I sat at me and Johnny's table taking my books out of my bag.
The teacher, Mrs. Heitert started the lesson about our solar system. I tuned her out the whole class, and when we read in the book I drew a picture, the teacher stopped at my desk, looked down at me, and waited for me to stop drawing.
I didn't stop, and when I didn't she took it and threw it away. I sighed, and put my head in my hand. The bell rang and I rushed out of the class room. My next class was Choir.
It went by fast, and then I had lab, lunch, social studies, and then English. After English, I walked around the school looking for Ocean. I saw her once I got outside, Dally had her against the car talking to her.
Author's Note: Please R&R, this is part 2 to 'I don't understand'! I hope you like I will update chapter 2 & 3 today sometime! Please R&R!