The walk back to my new "home" was a strange one. I was having an eternal battle over staying at the Curtis house. After all I barely knew these boys and what if they were just acting nice for the time being to really fuck me up or something. No, I wouldn't let that happen, I couldn't. Without another thought I felt my feet stop under me. I was going to make a run for it.
I went almost unnoticed…. Almost. One of the boys must have looked back or heard my foot steps against the pavement as I ran frantically in the opposite direction of them, because all I heard were voices calling my name and six pairs of feet chasing behind me.
What have I got myself into now?
Ponyboy's POV
This was sure going to be exciting, having a girl in the gang I mean. I don't think she really trusts us yet, but I'm sure she'll feel at home in no time.
"Hey Pony?" I looked up to see Johnny
"Yeah, Johnny?"
"What do you think about Cali?"
I thought for a second. What did I think of her? Well, I thought she was mysterious and beautiful mostly, but she was also different from any other girl I had known.
"Ah shucks, I don't know man. I mean she's kind of a mystery huh?"
He nodded in response without another word. I glanced back for a second and to my surprise I saw California standing still looking down as if she was debating what she should do next. I called to Soda to show him her strange actions and almost simultaneously the strange girl took off running without another word. And with this we all began chasing after her. She was pretty fast but not too fast to out run all six of us, especially me.
California's POV
Everything seemed to be a blur and I just wanted to get away from it all. Tears started coming down my face but I didn't stop or take the time to wipe them away. I couldn't hear the boys call after me anymore so I turned to check where they were. This was a bad idea because before I knew it I was tumbling to the ground with Ponyboy, Johnny, and Sodapop not far behind.
"What the hell Cali?" I sat completely still with my face in my hands "Cali, come on look at me.. what ya run for?"
I yelled at him to get away from me and started to sob heavily into my arms.
I felt someone move my hands from my face to see Soda's concerned eyes burning a whole in mine. I couldn't look at him so I did what I do best stay quiet and avoid eye contact.
"Aw come on Cali, we ain't gonna hurt ya" This was Ponyboy talking now.
"And why the hell should I believe that! I don't even know if Ponyboy is your real name"
The others had made there way to us by now and I felt like an animal in a zoo. Was trapped and made a spectacle of by now.
"Look, the broad obviously doesn't want our help"
"Shut up Dally, she's already got enough shit from you" Two-Bit barked
I looked up in fear knowing that Dallas wasn't the type to talk back to and I was right the two boys started to brawl.
"I-I should go" I muttered trying to stand now.
Soda looked at me with sad eyes "You don't have too! Please Cali just come back to the house for a little while at least. You can get to know us"
I nodded, not wanting to cause any more trouble and with that we walked back, but this time I was in the front walking between Pony and Johnny. I didn't mind them so much. They seemed the less tough, especially Johnny. He was, well he was almost like me I guess, quiet and cautious. Kind of like a puppy.
"So are you okay Cali?" I mustered up a weak smile and nodded to Pony
"You can trust us ya know?" he told me sincerely "we're not like most gangs around here."
I sighed and shook my head "I don't trust anyone"
"Well, have you ever tried? I mean we ain't gonna do nothing to you" his voice was stern it shocked me at first.
"I'll try Pony. I promise."
