Chapter 2: Elvis's Return to Sender
Hard Stayin' Sober
Nellie's POV (September 22rd, 1966)
I laid down on my bed, preparing to do my homework, and searched for my Elvis record. I had to search through a few of his records, but I finally found the one I wanted. Elvis' deep, rich voice floated through my bedroom; the words of his song "Return to Sender" rang in my ears. It sounded so much like Sodapop and Sandy that I almost dropped the history book I was holding. Funny how the lyrics were always there and I just never fully understood the picture he was painting until I lived it.
Sandy was one of my best girlfriends. Whenever she had a problem she talked to me, and I did the same to her. When Sodapop took Sandy to the movie house, they would sometimes hang with me. And then she went to live with her grandma; Soda didn't need to spell it out to me, I knew what had happened and it scared me to death. Two-Bit had given me the-birds-and-the-bees-talk when I was eleven and it scarred me somethin' awful. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get in to guys. I never liked guys like that much until Johnny Cade.
Flashback:
It was just three months ago that I knew that I really liked Johnny. The idea of lovin' him seemed crazy.
I was walking home from the movies when I heard a snarl voice call out eerily, "Greaser!" From his fancy, expensive, shiny red corvette.
I glanced quickly behind me before turning back towards the way I was going, tucking my hair behind my ear. I always did that when I got nervous or bored or uncomfortable. Darry said I needed to break it 'cause it made me seem insecure or somethin'.
"Nellie!" A familiar, warm, husky voice called my name from in front of me. I glanced up from the sidewalk and saw Johnny running, with Darry following just behind him. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"What we're you thinking, Nellie?! You know you ain't suppose to be walkin' alone," Darry lectured in an exasperated, angry tone. I glared at him, but kept my head down and kept quiet. Johnny slipped his hand into mid and rubbed his thumb over the tip of my hand and along my knuckles gently.
I smiled at him as he whispers into my ear, "Darry was real worried, ya know."
"I'm sorry, Darry," I spoke up. "I forgot. It ain't gonna happen again."
I coulda sworn he said sarcastically "yeah, right" but I couldn't be for sure. Still, though, I guess in a crazy messed-up way Darry's lecturing brought us together.
End Flashback
"Nellie!" Soda called from the kitchen. He came into my room with his typical golden smile planted on his face. He placed his warm hand on my forehead and set his face in concentration.
"Your feelin' cooler," he said quietly to himself and then said, "that's good," to me.
"You mind, Soda? I got finish up this make-up work if Darry plans on sendin' me to school tomorrow, again," I sighed dramatically and gave Soda my best, innocent puppy-dog eyes. He didn't fall for it, not even close.
"How was your first day?" Soda asked, sitting on the bed next to me. My eyes glanced at where the whiskey was hidden as I turned my record player off so I could hear him better. I ached for that bottle. Johnny and Dally were on my mind and I just couldn't concentrate well.
"It was...the usual," I finished lamely. It was the usual: the Socs had dropped notes in my locker and shoved me in the hallways, but I didn't have any wounds so he didn't need to know all the details.
"You use to talk to me, Nellie. We used to dig each other. What happened?" Sodapop asked me with pain in his voice. I looked up at him dead in the eyes.
"That was then and this is now. The times are a' changin', Soda."
IMPORTANT NOTE: My poll is still open. Three options remain after this chapter: Curky, Johnny, and Steve. Please vote I only have three votes!
If you listen to Miranda Lambert's "Hard Stayin' Sober," you'll understand this story. All the lines fit just perfect.
•• Thank you so much to Chicago Fire Buddies for helping me work out all the kinks in the summary and the first chapter.
Sorry for the long note. Aufenthalt Gold,
~Alee xXx