Amber's POV
It was the first day of school. Well for most of the gang anyway. Johnny, Ember, and I were going to meet Pony. Steve was giving Soda a ride and Two-bit had to take his sister. Pony was standing out front. Ember and I were the only ones carrying something.
"Do we really have to go to school?" my twin wined. "I mean its not like I'll use the information in the real world."
"Your as bad as Soda." Ponyboy said. "He was saying the exact same thing to Darry this morning."
"Johnnycakes! Pony! Twins!" Two-bit shouted from his car. He took to calling Ember and me twins. Whenever we where together, otherwise it was Color for me and Coal for her.
"Hey Two-bit!" Ember shouted back. "You thinkin' of graduating this year?"
We were right in front of him when he answered. "Maybe, but the teachers would miss me too much." Two-bit was a senior. Soda and Steve were able to make it to junior. Pony, Johnny, Ember, and I are sophomores. Soda and Steve should be seniors, but Soda did drop out and Steve failed. Speaking of the two….
"Hey gang!" Soda said as he launched himself onto Two-bit's back. Soda's arms went around Two-bit's neck. Two-bit grabbed Soda's legs, and started walking into the school.
Ember and I stayed together. Even though it was the first day of school we still are the new kids. We all made our way to our homerooms. Ember and I knew which hallways to avoid and all other things needed. Though sometimes we could pass as Socs. We had the manners and the clothes, but where's the fun in that?
I see some Socs looking at our group strangely. Then I remember a few nights ago….
Flashback
Ember and I watched another group Socs' cars go by. Johnny was watching TV. Ponyboy was stuck at his home. Johnny was going to go too, but Darry wouldn't let him. I didn't know why.
"How many more do you think will come by?" I ask Ember.
She gave a shrug. "I don't know. I hope everyone's okay out there."
Susan came out in her nurse's uniform. Most of the gang thought it made her more of a babe, but Darry always shut them up. Everyone knew that Darry liked Suzy. Would he ever ask her out who knows? He always said he didn't have time. We all knew that was a lie. That's why we were making a plan to get them together.
"Suze goin' to work?" Ember asked. "You sure you'll be ok?"
"I'll be fine." Sue said. "They wouldn't hurt a good looking nurse like me, plus I have the truck."
Ember nodded, Johnny waved from the couch, and I gave a small wave before she left. She came back home her regular time, but she wasn't alone. "Amber open the basement door." Suzy yelled into the house. "Johnny come help me get Curly here out of the truck. Ember keep the front door open."
We all ran to do our jobs. Suzy had told us not to go into the basement unless it was really necessary. I heard Johnny and Suzy struggling to get the guy into the house. They got him to the door. Ember and I followed them down.
The Cade siblings put Curly onto a bed. I switched on the light. The entire basement was filled with beds. There were at least six on each side. A small room was next to the stairs and there was another on the other side of the room. I guessed that one was a closet and the other a bathroom.
"Since when was this down here?" Ember asked.
Suzy didn't listen. She was too busy. Curly was bleeding from the head. She opened a bedside table that I just noticed and got a roll of bandages. "Johnny do you know him?" Suzy asked.
"Not well. He's Curly Shepard." Johnny said.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Tim's little brother. I remember. Tim used to be one of my old friends." She said while wrapping up the Shepard. "I want you to call Tim, Johnny. Use the phone over there." She motioned with her head.
Johnny went to the phone. He dialed a number. "Tim? Yeah we have Curly" Johnny moved held the phone away from his head. "No he's not at the Curtis'."
Suzy finished up wrapping Curly and went over to the phone. She grabbed it from Johnny. "Timmy, calm down…Yes I can call you Timmy…You lost the bet remember…Yes its Suzy…No I still won't go out with you…Tim look…Curly has a head wound…He's at my place…You know the old lady's house I used to visit…Yeah well because I was nice to them they left me the house…No joke…Yea and their money too…Tim just get you butt over here and to see your brother…Because I said so…I don't care…Timothy Michael Shepard you get your scrawny little ass down here or I'll come over and kick it here…Good." Suzy hung up. "Still pig headed."
My attention turned to Curly. He was trying to get up. "Am I in a hospital?" he asked.
"No." Ember said. Suzy went upstairs to change and wait for Tim. "Your in heaven sorry dude you died." I smacked her in the head. "Hey."
"Your not dead." Johnny said. "Ember's not a night person."
End Flashback
Ember and I have the same homeroom. We find that Curly is in there too. He looks at us and gives us a nod. Ember and I give a small smile.
"Amber Rements." The teacher calls I raise my hand. He hands me my schedule. "Ember Rements." Ember gets hers.
Susan's POV
I was at work. I got my shift changed since the girls and Johnny were in school. Which means right now I'm on a 16-hour shift. I'll be back on an 8-hour shift by tomorrow. Hannah and Dr. Corbin, where at the nurses' station which is where I was headed.
"Susan there you are." Dr. Corbin greeted. "We were just talking of what a great addition you are to our shift.
Hannah was an elderly lady. She was at least in her seventies. "Yes, Susan you are a great addition. A young one too, but more qualified then half the other women here."
"Thank you, Hannah." I say. "Is there anything you needed Dr. Corbin?"
"No. We just wanted to see how you were adjusting." He said.
"I'm doing fine. Thanks for your concern." I smile sweetly. "Hannah I'm going to lunch." She smiles and nods.
I walk out of the hospital to a small diner a few blocks away. I wasn't really hungry I just had a breakfast break an hour before. I had to take my lunch break now because I was expected to.
I walk past a construction sight. I see Darry he and his fellow workers were eating. I sneak next to him as quietly as I can, and sit down. "Hey Darry." I said calmly.
He jumps a little. Then turns to me. "Sue. What are you doing here?" He asks.
"I'm on break. I ate an hour ago so I went for a walk."
"But why are you here?"
"Oh I'm disturbing you? I'll just go…" I say standing up.
He grabs my arm. "Sit." I do. "I mean why are you walking in this neighborhood?"
"The hospital is around the corner. I was just going for a walk, and saw you here."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"Honestly?"
I roll my eyes. "Is it too hard to believe that I came over to say 'hi'?"
"Well…No…but…"
"I'm sorry I embarrassed you in front of your friends." I got up and left.
Ember's POV
Finally school was out, even if it was only for the day. Steve, Soda, and I were heading towards the DX. It was a pretty good day. Well for girls anyway. Soda's Fan Club (SFC) was admiring him more than usual. The head of the SFC wasn't even Soda's girl. Soda loved Sandy, but the problem was Sandy didn't love Soda.
"Hey Steve." I said. I heard someone groan behind me.
"How'd you know it was me?" he asked.
"Easy you smell." He gives me a playful punch in the arm.
"Oh my arm." I say dramatically. "It might have to be amputated." Soda lifts his head and hits it on the hood of the car he's working on. Steve and I break into a fit of laughter.
"Ha ha… not funny." Soda said rubbing the back of his head.
"Maybe for you it wasn't." Steve said.
"Well it hurts." Soda replied.
I walk up to Soda and kiss the back of his head. "Did Ember make it all better now Sodapop?" I say using a mother-that-helped-her-hurt-child-tone. Soda nods. I held back a smile. "No more booboos alright?" I said keeping the tone.
"Yeah Soda, you don't want us to get in trouble with Darry do ya?"
"Darry doesn't hurt girls." Was Soda's o-so-great comeback.
"Both of you off you go…" I said making a shooing motion with my hands. "Back to your cars."
"Yes, mother." The boys reply.
"Don't you use that tone with me young men." I said before I broke into a fit of giggles. Soda and Steve joined in with there laughter.