Disclaimer- I don't own The Outsiders.
I stood silently, fiddling with the sleeves of my dress nervously. The dress was one of my favorites.
Some woman in the town I was in at the moment died, from a car accident I think. She must have been very wealthy, for her house was an old farmhouse that used to belong to a very well off plantation owner. I felt really bad about it at the time, and I still do. They were just throwing all of her things away though and I needed new a few clothes. I made sure to not take anything that looked too expensive. I took a plain, musty, grey coat and a pair of worn leather boots that were starting to look more tan then deep brown. I remember how nervous I had been digging through the trash bin full of clothes, hearing the angry voices of a few wealthy men just on the other side of the darkening shadows. From the sound of it I think they were sorting out a few quirks in the woman's will.
Just as I was I about to sneak off I saw the dress. It was so beautiful, yet simple. As I held I up to me I was able to tell the black color would look good against my pale skin. The top part was fitted and when it reached the hip it began to stream out. At one point it looked to be full length but it was now ripped off at the knees. The long sleeves were like another layer of skin for the thin layer of fabric clung to my arms. I hesitated, but went and picked it up didn't feel like any of those luxurious fabrics, just cotton. I glanced around before I picked it up and took off.
I wear it a lot now, it is my only dress that fits me right and isn't falling apart.
I jumped slightly as the door was cranked open. The man who had heard us laughing and stormed in only three seconds earlier, looked furious. He had yelled at both the boys for not being careful with me cause I was injured and all. It didn't really hurt that much though, but I wouldn't dare tell him that.
Soda must have thought differently cause he was trying to get him to believe this absolutely outrageous tale that wasn't even close to being true. He sure really made a spectacle of himself. He was trying to animate his story by jumping around the room and making strange sounds. The mean looking guy didn't believe it though cause he just told them to get out with the sternest face he possibly could, while trying to cover up his smile. The boys hustled out with grins plastered on their faces as they waved bye to me. I returned a small smile and became even more nervous when I looked up to see the man's pale bluish-green eyes staring at me intensely.
"They didn't hurt you did they?" he voice coming out calm and soft. My eyes widened in shock for his voice didn't seem to match the figure it was spoken from. I quickly recovered and hastily shook my head, my knees beginning to feel like jello. He exhaled loudly motioning me to sit down, so I did. He plopped himself down next to me on the bed staring straight ahead.
For every second that ticked by I became more panicked. The possibilities of all the worst-case scenarios played like a movie in my brain as I sat there perfectly still.
I tried to occupy my thoughts by examining the room. It was small; it barely had enough room for the twin bed that I currently sat on, the tattered chair that rested next to it and the table in the far right corner next to the grungy window. The walls were a minimal white and some dark wood trim lined the edges. There were two shabby looking doors; one led to the rest of the house and the other I assumed was the closet. Despite it size and lack of extravagance, it had a very comforting, homey feel about it.
"I'll make a deal with you" he said suddenly, causing me to jump ever so slightly and let out a squeal. He ignored this and he continued, his eyes stayed fixed to the wall in front of him.
" If you tell me why you were runnin' from the cops I won't turn you in." he said but quickly began again,
" Unless you killed someone or something like that" he trailed off. I took few breaths and continued.
" They were gonna put me in one of those girls' home and I didn't want to go, so I ran." I said in a small voice.
" I understand." he said with a few nods. I smiled again. It seemed pretty stupid of me now to have ever thought this guy was gonna be nasty.
" I'm sorry but I don't think we can let you live here, we're short on money as it is." he said with a sympathetic look as he faced me for the first time during our conversation. I nodded; I didn't expect they would let me stay here. I opened my mouth to say something but he beat me to it.
" Do you know anybody you could live with? A friend or maybe a cousin" he asked. I nodded.
" My older brother is supposed to live somewhere around here. That's why I was up here. I was trying to find him." I said trying to keep a smile on my face. I stared at my shoes trying to hide my embarrassment for my own vulnerability.
" Why haven't you been livin' with him?" he asked curiously. My brother was about 12 years older than I was and had ran away from home when I was about 5. He probably still thought my sister and I lived with my parents. He couldn't have got custody of us even if had tried; he had a pretty hefty criminal record and it seemed like for the 5 short years I knew him that he was always running from the fuzz.
" I haven't seen him since I was five." I stated simple. My brother was my favorite out of my family. He was always nice to me and understood me even though he was much older. Possibly it's because we're both almost exact copies of my dad. I got my height from my dad, not all of it though. If I remember right my dad was about 6' 6" and rather muscular. I stood at 5' 9", which is rather tall for a girl.
I also got his hair; it was blacker than a moonless night and held a slight wave in the summer. He used to keep his cut at about the ears like my brother, but mine went down to about my hips. Most girls these days had rather short hair but I would rather spend the money on food or a new pair of shoes.
However my sister got hers cut. I never really understood why. Even though we lived on the streets and had to steal, she insisted that she needed to look presentable. I guess I'll never understand her.
"Ebony, Ebony" he said sounding concerned, he placed his hand on my shoulder lightly. I shook my head trying to clear it of my previous thoughts and determined to stay focused on the conversation.
" Sorry." I said a little embarrassed.
"What were you saying?" I asked and I smiled trying to rid his face of the worried look it currently held. He smiled back and asked again.
" How do you know your brother lives up around here?" I hesitated trying to think of the best way to answer his question. He sat beside me patiently.
"I found one of his friends he knew from back home and he gave me some suggestions on who might know where he is." I spoke confidently. He smiled at me with a small chuckle.
" I assume you already found these people?" he spoke flashing me another grin. I simply nodded.
" So, do you know were he is?" he sounded a little confused as he spoke.
" They said he was married and the girl's cousin lived around here somewhere" I said, unsure if I remembered it correctly. He nodded.
" Do you know their name?" he urged, getting a little impatient.
"Her cousin's name was…" I trailed off, racking by brain for the essential info.
A smiled formed on my face and my eyes lit up with recognition.
" Her cousin's name was Randle, Steve Randle."