That weekend had flown by, and Monday had already come. But, it was a great weekend, and there was something to look forward to for this weekend. I still wish it didn't end, though. But like I said before, all good things have to come to end, right?
After that, weeks began to fly by, and those weeks turned into months. Soon, it'd felt like forever ago, Darry had given me his ring. But it didn't stop things between us. As time went on, we were continually getting more serious. We stole time at every opportunity we could even if it was only for a few minutes. And by the time Christmas had rolled around, I really thought that maybe, just maybe I really had fallen in love with Darrel. I didn't know if he did though, so I kept it a secret.
Now it was the end of December, a day or two from Christmas Eve, and our relationship had gone on for about four months. This one particular night though, made me realize how much Darry really meant to me.
Christmas break had just started that Friday, the 21st, and it was now, Sunday, the 23rd. Darry had taken me out, and we went out after as well. So by the time he was dropping me off, it ended up being really late, this seemed to always happen when I was with him. I just kind of lost track of time, not t hat it really mattered to my parents, well not before at least.
Darry walked me up to the door, even through the cold weather, just to say goodbye. I hugged him, before we kissed and just held him. "I don't wanna let you go." I mumbled into the nape of his neck. Then, he moved his face to mine, and planted one of his long, warm kisses on my lips.
"Meet me by your window." He smiled, and my heart practically sang. Maybe I wouldn't have to let go of him tonight.
"Okay, soon or later?" I asked, wondering if I had to run past my parents right away.
"In a couple minutes?"
"Sounds good to me." I smiled back at him. "But one more thing?"
"Hmmm?" And I kissed him again, feeling my insides jump. Then, I turned and ran inside the house, grinning from ear to ear. That was, until my dad looked up at me, his eyes cold and his voice bubbling over in a drunk tone.
"Where the fuck have you been?" He slurred, making my skin crawl. It seemed like he was drunk more often than not lately. I gulped, feeling my palms sweat.
"Uh I was out. Sorry I was late, I just lost track of time.." I stumbled out. He rose from the chair he had been sitting in, and I took a step back, feeling fear grow inside of me. My mom walked out of the kitchen, into where we were.
"Settle down, Alex. We knew she was going out. Did you really expect her to come home earlier on winter break?" She said, her voice irritated and rising. My mom stuck up for me a lot, not all the time, but enough. My dad spun around to look at her.
"Shut up. Did I ask you anything?" His voice filled with disgust. I couldn't stand him. I couldn't stand the way he talked to her, the way he degraded her in that way. Anger had taken over me.
"Don't talk to her like that! Who the hell do you think you are?" I hissed. Then my dad did something he'd never done to me before. He spun around on his heels and slapped me so hard; I thought he had broken my jaw.
"Get the fuck out of my sight, you little whore. Goin' out at all hours of the night. You're just like the rest of this neighborhood, a bunch of no good scum." My eyes widened at the shock of what had just happened, and I ran to my room. My eyes swelled and salty tears rolled down my face, as I quietly closed the door behind me and locked it, hoping to never face him again. Then, just like always, the yelling began. And I knew at that moment, it'd go on till morning. Suddenly, a knock jolted me from the shock and I looked over at my window. It was Darry. I wanted to stop crying terribly, but I just couldn't. My hands shook as I threw open the window and screen, to let him come in. His face looked sad, and more serious than I've ever seen it.
Once he climbed through, he grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, trying to help me escape. But, I just couldn't stop. My dad had never hit me, never. He'd yell at me, and said terrible things, but he'd never laid a hand on me. More than anything, it scared me. Darry put me down on the bed, and went to shut off the lamp, and then he lay down next to me, bringing me in his arms again. By this point, I was sobbing, and now sobbing into his shirt.
"Shhh…" He mumbled in my ear, stroking my hair. "It's gonna be okay, I'm right here, I ain't gonna leave you." Darry moved his hand to my face, wiping the tears away with his thumb. The yelling seemed to get louder and louder, like it always had. I sniffled, trying to stop crying, it only worked a little. "Em…" he whispered, I barely heard it. The screams were practically taking over.
"Yeah.." I said, after I had settled down. He brought my face up to his, so we were eye to eye. The dim light from the street light outside allowed me to see his face.
"Why'd he hurt you?" He asked, lightly touching the cheek my father had hit. I wondered how he knew, considering I told him nothing yet, and I guess he saw that in my face. "I heard the yelling, and I saw him slap you through the window." His voice was cold.
"Because he was drunk. And apparently I came home later than I should have." I said, letting the last few tears fall down my cheek.
"That isn't any excuse to hurt you. Not you. No one should ever touch you like that." His teeth grit as the words left his mouth, and for the first time, I saw another Darry. Someone who was angry, angrier than I've ever seen someone. "If he ever lays a hand on you again, I swear I'll come over here and fix him up right." I held on to him, and I began to feel safe again.
"Darry…" I murmured "please don't leave me. I don't wanna be here alone." I was scared to stay here, in fear my dad would come hurt me again. Darry shook his head, and smiled a little.
"I wouldn't do that. I won't leave." I felt a little better, knowing he'd be with me.
"Promise?"
"I promise you." At that moment, I really realized that Darry meant more to me, than anyone or anything that'd been in my life before. It was like a brick wall had come and hit me. I wasn't afraid anymore, because Darry was there to protect me. He wouldn't let him hurt me again, at least not tonight. I didn't think he'd always be there, he wouldn't. I knew that my dad would be here all the time, maybe Darrel wouldn't. But for now he was, and he wouldn't leave me.
When I woke up in the morning, I was still in Darry's arms. It was really early; I was still stuck in the school schedule. Darry was snoring softly, and frost had covered my window. It gets pretty cold in Tulsa at this time of year.
I tried to fall back asleep, considering it was around 6:30 am. But I just couldn't stop looking at Darrel as he slept. In a little bit, he woke up, probably for the same reason I had. He yawned while his eyes slowly opened, and a groggy smile crossed his face. " Morning." I murmured, smiling at him. He yawned again.
"Morning." He rubbed my back softly, and I buried my face into his neck. My parents wouldn't be up for hours. Thank god. I didn't want to face my dad. "Did you do okay last night?" he asked, and I nodded.
"Thank you for staying." I whispered, as he pulled me even closer to him. I laughed as he tickled my sides.
"You're welcome." He grinned, and kissed my nose.
For the rest of the day, I went over to his house to celebrate Christmas with the Curtis family. I went to church with him, ate the good food Mrs. Curtis cooked and gave him his present. I decided on a watch, because when we were together, we always lost track of time. His mom told me that was one of the cutest things she'd ever heard, and Darry hugged me so tight, I thought I'd stop breathing. But I didn't mind, if anything, I enjoyed being squeezed to death by him. Then he gave me my present. It was a gold heart necklace, he told me he'd been saving up for it. It was beautiful, and when he put it on me, I had tears in my eyes. Neither of us had a lot of money, so this, this was really big. I would wear this every day from now on, that's how much it meant.
After that, winter break came and left. Time seemed to be doing that a lot now. Maybe it was because I had someone who made me feel differently than I ever had. Just like before, the monthes rolled on at the same pace. And just as soon as it was winter, it was March, and prom was coming up in the next month. On the third of April, I'd be officially eighteen, just a couple weeks before Prom. I already had my date. Darrel. He asked me where we had officially began our relationship, had our first kiss, and now, where I was asked to Prom. It was a Thursday morning (my favorite day of the week), and when I walked out of my door that morning, he was standing there, with flowers. I smiled but kind of cocked my head, asking what he was doing there so early before school? My mom was standing behind me, while my father had already left for work. He grinned and his face got a little pink, as he took my hand in his.
"I came here to ask if, I may take you to Prom, Miss Emily?" My eyes lit up and I could feel my cheeks get flaming hot. My mom let out a squeal, boy did she love Darry. I opened up my mouth to speak, but suddenly I was just overcome. There he was standing here, holding out flowers to me, asking me to Prom. I let out a huge YES! And threw my arms around him, giggling.
That month before Prom, I became closer with the entire gang. I'd hang out with them in lot to play football, we'd go to the Drive-In, and sometimes, just chill out around the Curtis house. I loved them all, even with their quirks of stealing and smoking. But to me, those weren't quirks, that just made them different and better than the Socs. It made them real, even Dallas, who rarely showed deep emotion. They all had certain qualities that just made them, unique. Even if they were rough and tough greasers.
By the time Prom had rolled around, I was extremely close with Darry's family, too. They were like my second family, a second home, somewhere safe. When things kept happening with my dad, Mrs. Curtis told me to stay with them for the weekend. I guess Darry had told her, because she called me over one day, while Darrel was picking up things with Mr. Curtis. So, that weekend, I stayed with them. Mrs. Curtis made Darry sleep out on the couch, while I slept in his bed. He complained, saying that he wouldn't do anything to me, but Mrs. Curtis just rolled her eyes, and set him up on the couch. When they'd all go to sleep, he'd sneak into where I was, and we'd fool around for awhile. We just couldn't get enough of eachother.
Now, it was the day of Prom. I couldn't wait so, I started getting ready early. Since, yet again, my dad was gone (only God knows where his was), my mom helped me get ready. Which is usually what would happen, but I wished he was there to at least see me. I didn't think about it though, I just focused on being ready by the time Darry and his mom rolled up in the Ford. Mrs. Curtis forced Darry into taking her with him. She said she would to see us off, and wanted to get a few pictures. At about quarter to six, I heard a knock at the door, and while my mom answered it, I put on my little heels. There he stood, in black pants, a white shirt, black tie, and tan coat. My eyes immediatley went to his hair, which instead of being greased back, was shorter and casually parted to the side. It looked so soft! Darry walked in, after hugging my mom, and handed me a corsaqe. "Em…you look beautiful." He grinned so big at me, and I smiled, while blushing.
"Well, Darry look very handsome." I laughed, still not being able to get over his hair! I just wanted to run my fingers through it! I kissed him, and back out into a smile. "And I mean, really handsome." I whispered, watching him smile, and took his hand in mine. We matched quite nicely. I wore a cream dress that fell just below the knees with black heels (all borrowed from my mother), while soft curls fell past my shoulders, some pulled back, and light lipstick. Our moms took some pictures, posing us in all these goofy ways, causing Darrel and I to bust out in laughs, and finally, we were able to go. My mom would drive Mrs. Curtis back, so the ford was all ours.