Hey everyone- thanks for the great reviews on the second chapter! They mean a lot to me. Anyways, enjoy the long chapter and I only own Virginia.
Virginia lifted herself out of bed and towards the window. She had to be quiet for fear of her mother or uncle hearing. But judging by the late hour, they weren't home. Besides, the girl had other things to think about. Like why Dallas was here at such a late hour. Hadn't he known the meaning of getting sleep? Yet he would continue to throw small pebbles at the window on the second floor until someone spoke out. So (sighing and rolling her eyes) Virginia reached on her toes to draw the curtain from the window and lift it open.
"Dallas," she hissed," why are you throwing rocks at my window? It's midnight- shouldn't you be sleeping?"
The Greaser looked up, dropping the rocks in his hand and smiling. His eyes shone, piercing through the heart of the girl above. Those eyes were cold but somehow irresistible. But as Dallas took a long drag of his cigarette, Virginia realized any crazy girl could fall for that boy. The girl made an assumption that she was losing her mind.
"I hate to bother you this late," he said, putting out his cigarette and flicking it," but I just wanted to know if you were, ya know, busy?"
"If sleeping doesn't count as being busy," the girl mumbled sarcastically," then i'm totally free."
The boy had to smirk at her sarcastic comments. He didn't know why he found himself smirking- it just kind of happened. The girl rolled her eyes, yawning at the open window. She went to close it when the boy began to do something odd. He climbed on one of the loose bricks and pulled himself up. Virginia pulled back in shock. Why was he doing this? Wouldn't people find him crazy? As Dallas prompted himself on the windowsill, Virginia got closer to the boy.
"You're insane," she mumbled, standing by him.
"I guess you could say that," he said, turning to look in her eyes," but I didn't come here to be called insane. I'm meeting up with my friends somewhere. I'm sure they'd love to meet ya. I mean, you already know Steve and Two-Bit, but there's others. Say you'll tag along."
Virginia was hesitant to answer the boy. What if his friends were nothing like the three boys she knew? What if they hated her and then the other three would hate her too? What if everything went wrong? But these thoughts were pushed aside as Virginia went into her closet. As long as she was back by seven, she'd be alright. After all, her mother wouldn't care what time she was back. The girl was sure her mother would be fine if she never came back. Her thoughts were becoming positive as she stepped out of the closet in proper attire. She brushed off her jeans and retrieved her jacket.
"I have to be back by seven," she said," but let's make it six thirty- just in case Mom or Uncle Joe comes home early."
Dallas smirked and looked below. He climbed a few bricks before jumping down. Virginia looked below, seeing his arms were extended. Had he wanted her to jump? Perhaps Dallas Winston was most definitely insane. But she was just as bad. Her mind set off to somewhere else as she put her legs on the edge of the windowsill. She closed her eyes and before she knew it, the Greaser boy held the girl in his arms. Virginia blushed, leaping out of his arms and onto the sidewalk
"Now that wasn't so scary," Dally teased, with a response answered by eye rolling," don't worry- my friends might still think you're tuff."
Virginia was silent on their way to the house. She just admired the boy in the cold, fall air as the moonlight danced on his skin. His eyes were cold, but they were eyes to look up to. Light was perfectly shone on those beautiful orbs. The girl was so focused in them, she didn't even realize they arrived at the house. That is until a hand touched her shoulder. She quickly looked ahead to see another boy there.
"Woah," he said," sorry there, young lady. Just wondering if you were okay. You seem to be zoning out."
This boy was almost the complete opposite of Dallas Winston. This Greaser's eyes were cheery and dark. His smile was kinder and his hair was brunette, the grease pushing it to the side. With his Mickey Mouse shirt and jeans, he was a strange looking kid. But if he was a friend of Dallas, maybe they could get along.
"Virginia," Dally stated, putting his cigarette out," this is Keith Mathews. We call him Two-Bit because he's a bit of a wiseass."
Two-Bit couldn't help but laugh and nod. He had to admit, his jokes did consider him to make some smart remarks. But that was who he was. He was the wisecracker of the group. And he enjoyed it a little too much. A moment later, Johnny and Steve walked out of the house.
"Sodapop says we could go inside now," Steve said," his mother won't mind us being here so late."
Sodapop? Had that been his real name? Perhaps it was a nickname of some sorts. But it didn't bother Virginia too much. The five walked in through the front door, turning to see another boy about Steve's age. His hair was slicked back and shiny. The light shone in his dark brown eyes. He was tan and very good-looking. His smile completed the perfect picture. He walked up to the group, smiling wider when he saw a new member.
"Is this the girl you were talking about?" he asked.
"Sure is," Dally said," her name's Virginia. Virginia, that's Sodapop."
"Before you ask," the new boy replied," it's my real name. Sodapop Patrick Curtis- it's on my birth certificate too."
Virginia had to admit- Sodapop was an interesting name. And when she admitted it, he smiled and thanked her. She nodded, looking to the doorway of a bedroom. Two boys (different ages) stood in the doorway. One boy looked about seven years old- very young for a Greaser. His hair was so light brown, it was almost red. His eyes were greenish-gray. But they were more green than gray. He tugged on his sleeve, looking nervously at the girl.
The other boy (who looked much older-maybe thirteen) didn't look so shy. He had eyes were a pale blue- green mixture, which were almost like ice. He looked a lot taller than everyone else did, but that was because of his age. His hair kicked out in the front and had slight cow lick in the back. His smile was light-hearted, but comforting. Yet he didn't seem like the boys before him. The boys in the doorway came to greet the six others.
"So this is Miss Virginia Stinton?" the oldest boy asked," well, i'm Darrell Curtis the second- Sodapop's older brother. You can call me Darry. And this (Darry pushed the youngest boy out) is our little brother, Ponyboy."
Ponyboy was nervous around the new girl. Would she think he was just some kid? He really wanted to be liked by his brothers' friends. Steve and Dallas weren't too fond of the young boy. He thought this new girl wouldn't like him. Either was because he was "just a kid" or because he wasn't like his brothers. Virginia knelt to Pony's height, knowing exactly what to say.
"Ponyboy's a real tuff name," she said gently, earning a smile from the boy," I wish my name was cool. My name's Virginia Allison Stinton- not as cool as Ponyboy."
"It's a nice name," the boy admitted, letting go of his sleeve.
The girl smiled, causing the boy to blush. He began to feel comfortable around the girl. And so did everyone else. As the group started to mingle, two adults stepped out. They looked like the brothers, meaning they were probably the boys' parents. They were kind looking,with perfect eyes and perfect hair, and seemed to be caring to the entire group.
"Is this your new friend, boys?" the woman (Mrs. Curtis) asked.
"I'm Virginia, Mrs. Curtis," the girl said, extending her hand for the woman to shake.
"A very fine name for a very fine girl," the man (Mr. Curtis) said.
Virginia thanked him and the group was on their way. That night, the eight kids walked over to the park. It was late so they were the only ones there. The boys began to playfully fight, jumping on each other's backs and running around. Hours passed and the play seemed to cease as they listened to each other's stories.
"My parents are just awful," Johnny confessed," but I have great friends and the Curtis' treat me like a son. How about you, Virginia? What's your story?"
Up until the incident that happened a year ago, things were easy to explain. She told them of her birth place in Georgia and of her birth parents (Michael and Elizabeth Stinton). She talked about most of her friends in her old home and the life she lived. She was still touchy about the subject on why she'd moved to Tulsa. After all, no one knew her father had been shot. Only because no one bothered to ask. With her eyes looking away, she began to speak.
"It was a year ago ," she began," my father was an officer. He'd been one of the best in our town. He was always up for anything- arresting, robbery- and he did well enough to provide Mom and I with what we needed."
Dallas and the others tensed up when they heard of Mr. Stinton's occupation. With all they did, he'd have them arrested by then. But what they didn't know was the truth about Virginia's father. The one that scarred her for her entire life. She hesitated, seeing the boys had tensed up.
Looking at her, Two-Bit and Dallas sat next her, waiting for her to finish.
"He was out on a run. Someone had taken their wife and sons' lives and dad was finding the man that did it. The man had gone down the street we lived on at the time. He was speeding past- until he stopped in front of our house. He got out of the car and pulled a gun out. Dad had stopped too. He noticed us and immediately pulled his gun out too. All he wanted to do was protect his family. And the man...the blood and mom's scream.."
Virginia let her mind wander off for just a second. She'd never told anyone about this. Not even her close friends in Georgia. A tear trickled down her cheek at the thought of her dad's funeral. People asked her mother how she'd raise a child by herself. It made her mother feel even more terrible. Dallas and Two-Bit looked away for a moment before putting a hand on each shoulder. Smiling slightly, the girl continued her story.
"So mom began looking for a job," she explained," and a year later, she found a job with my uncle. He owns a restaurant that's around here. I thought moving her was stupid, but once I met Dallas, Steve, Johnny and all of you- I think i'll be okay."
The boys smiled, yawning and jumping from the bench. The eight of them began to head back to the Curtis residents. They joked around, laughing in the streets. Two-Bit noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Socs were heading their way. Dallas noticed too, but the Socs were too busy arguing to see the Greasers. The blonde grabbed the girl's hand as the eight ran back to the house.
"Socs," Dallas explained as they ran," they don't like us Greasers. They want all of us dead. Don't look their way, don't get involved with fights and stay out of their territory. Do this and you're safe. Got it?"
Virginia nodded and looked back at the people. It had been Bob and his crew. They were the ones Dallas, Steve and Johnny had saved from danger. It became clear that they were looking for a fight. But why did the two hate each other? Couldn't each group forget about their differences and get along? She guessed not.
That night, Dallas walked her home. She decided to go the exciting way and climb the wall. The boy smiled, lighting up a cigarette and watching. Why he'd smoke at his young age was beyond Virginia. She climbed into the window and looked back. But when she peered outside, Dallas Winston was gone.