Chapter 4:
The rest of the school day was slow. I went to my locker and put my stuff away and grabbed my math stuff. I had homework in math and it was due tomorrow. Johnny and Ponyboy met me at the entrance of the school. I asked Ponyboy if he asked Darry if he could come over and he said yes. We walked silently to my house. No one was in the alley so we got to my house with no problems. We got to the apartment and we didn't see Curly. I guess he wasn't coming. For some reason, I felt sad about that. I unlocked the door and saw my dad was gone. I let Ponyboy and Johnny in and closed the door. I looked around the place and saw beer everywhere. "Let's go in Dallas's room," I said as I led them there. Once we reached there, I opened the door and walked in. I went though my dirty clothes and grabbed my skirts. "I'm going to wash these and I'll come back with snacks," I said.
"Thanks Cassandra," they both said. I walked out of the room and to laundry room. I put the soap for the clothes in and started the clothes washer. After I finished with that, I washed my hands and prepared me, Johnny and Ponyboy some snacks. I think popcorn will be good for us. I put a bag in the microwave and went to our refrigerator. There was only beer and water in there. I checked the cabinets for glasses and I found some. I filled them with water and took the glasses to Ponyboy and Johnny. I put them in the room and went to get to popcorn. I put that in a bowl and popped another bag. After that once finished, I poured the popcorn into the bowl with the first bag. I grabbed myself an apple, took the popcorn to the room and we ate our snacks. After we did, we got talking about the project.
"I think we should do three articles each," I said. "We know Curly isn't going to do any."
"Alright," they both agreed.
"I would like to do both of Darnay's trials in France and Carton's death," I said.
"I want to do the wine barrel breaks, when Marquis St. Evrémonde runs over a child and his death," Ponyboy said.
"I guess I'll do when Miss Pross and Madame Defarge fight, Darnay's trial in England and I don't know what else," Johnny said.
"It's okay," I said. "Talk about what Carton did to Darnay."
"Okay," he said.
"I have math homework so I'm going to start on that," I said. "You better start too Johnnycakes." He pulled out his math homework and so did I. Ponyboy started writing his articles and looking though his book to find the answers. I finished my math homework in 30 minutes and I helped Johnny since he looked like he needed help. After we finished his math homework, I took the glasses and popcorn bowel out of the room and when I came back, Johnny and I started writing our articles. Ponyboy finished his articles so Johnny and I had to check it for grammar errors. He made a few errors but the rest of it was good. Johnny and I didn't finish our articles until six. Then we checked each other's work and we decided on Monday we would work on the project some more. The phone rang so I went out of Dallas's room and answered the phone. "Hello, Winston house," I said.
"Cassandra, it that you?" It was Darry on the other side.
"Yes," I said.
"Can you send Ponyboy and Johnny to our house? It's almost time for dinner. Would you like to enjoy us?"
"No thank you; I'm going to stay here. My dad isn't home so I'm safe."
"Alright; if he comes home drunk, you come straight over here."
"Alright Darry; I'll send the boys home."
"Alright; bye."
"Bye Darry." I hung up the phone and walked back into the room. "Ponyboy, Johnnycakes, that was Darry; he wants you home now. I'll keep the English stuff here."
"Alright," they both said. I walked them to the door and opened it for them. "Thanks again Cassandra," they said.
"Anytime," I said. Then they walked out of my apartment and I shut the door. I locked it while I was at it. I heard the clothes washer go off so I went to check that. I threw my skirt in the dryer and turn it on. Now what was I going to make for dinner? I don't know what time dad will be home. I decided to make some raamen noodles. I filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove. I turned the stove on high. I heard a knock at the door so I went to answer it. I unlocked the door and opened it. I found Curly, drunk and beaten, at the doorstep. "Curly, what happened to you?" I asked. He didn't say anything. He must have gotten into a fight while he was drunk. I grabbed his arm and pulled him into my house. I dragged him over to the couch and made him sit on it. Then I went to close the door, lock it, grab some cold water and wash cloth. I ran back to him. "Curly, I'm taking off your shirt so I can see if you have any wounds on your chest," I said. He said or did nothing. I removed his jacket and then his shirt. I examined his chest for any wounds. I saw one on his collar bone so I wiped the blood off it.
Then I looked at his back and saw no wounds there. I looked back at his chest and saw there were no wounds there. I soon found myself starring at his chest and I blushed. I took the cloth and wiped his face. I saw a little blood on there. He must have gotten himself into another fight with someone. I heard the kettle go off. I quickly got up and went to check the kettle. I took two bowls of raamen out, removed the lids and poured water into them. I put the lids back on and now we had to wait three minutes. I put the kettle away form the burning stove top, turned off the stove and went back to Curly. "Dinner will be ready in three minutes," I said. I heard another knock at the door. Then I heard my father telling me to open up. I grabbed Curly and led him to Dallas's room. "Stay in here Curly," I said as I shut the door. Then I ran to the front door, unlocked it and opened it. "Hi dad," I said.
"What's up angel?" he asked as he kissed the top of my head. I let him in and closed the door behind him.
"Nothing much," I said. He walked into the kitchen to get himself a beer. He came out and asked me why I had two things of raamen noodles open. "I didn't eat much today and I'm really hungry," I told him. "Will you be staying?"
"No," he said. "I'm going to a party. I came back here to get my key." He walked into his room and came back out. He had the key in his hands. "I know you lock the doors when you go to bed so I thought I better get my key before you locked me out." When my dad's not drunk, he's a cool guy. "Do you want to come with me tonight?"
"I can't; I have school tomorrow," I said.
"Alright; don't stay up late," he said as he made his way to the door.
"Yes sir," I said as I followed behind him. He opened the door and left. I locked it and sighed. Then I noticed Curly's jacket and shirt were still on the couch. I'm glad my dad didn't see what. Maybe he did see it and thought it was Dallas's. I grabbed Curly's jacket and shirt, ran back to Dallas's room and opened the door. Curly was sleeping peacefully on the bed. I walked quietly into the room, set his jacket and shirt, on my dresser, walked out of the room, dragged our dinner, walked in the room and closed the door with my foot. Curly opened his eyes, pulled out his blade and pointed it at me. "Calm down Curly, it's me," I said.
"Cassandra; how the hell did I get here?" he asked me as he put his blade away. He was still a little drunk. "And where the fuck are my jacket and shirt?"
"They're on top of the dresser. I checked to see if you had any wounds," I said as I handed him a bowl of raamen. He took the bowl and looked at me. "I hope you like raamen noodles. I'll be right back. I forgot to get forks." I set mine on the ground and went to get forks. I grabbed two forks from the silverware drawer and walked back into the door. I shut the door, walked over to Curly, handed him a folk, sat down on the carpet, and began to eat. It was hot to I had to blow on it for a while. I looked at Curly and saw he ate his right way. He must be hungry. I looked at the clock in my room and saw it was seven ready. I finished eating my raamen so I took me and Curly's bowls and left the room. The bowls were Styrofoam bowels so I could threw the bowels away and all I had to wash were the spoons, the glasses and bowel from earlier. I put some soap into the sink and let the water run. I grabbed a clean glass, filled it with cold water and took it to Curly. I saw he was looking at the English project.
"So Ponyboy and Johnny left already?" he asked. "And for once, I thought I was early or on time."
"Here's a glass of water for you Curly," I said as I handed it to him. "I'm going to wash dishes. You can rest in here." I walked out of the room and went into the kitchen. I turned off the water from the sink and I began to wash dishes. I was done washing them in five minutes and raising them. Now I had to dry them and put them away. I dried the glasses and put them in the cabinet above me. I put the forks in the silverware drawer and the bowl under the sink. Then I returned to the room. Curly saw sleeping again and the glass was on the ground, still full of water. I quietly walked in, went to the closet, pulled out a blanket and put it on Curly. After that, I grabbed myself some new clothes, left the room, and shut the door behind me. I needed to take a shower. I went into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I don't want Curly coming in. I removed my clothes and started my shower. I washed my hair with shampoo and I washed my body with bottled soap. My hair smelled like roses to me. I turned off the water, stepped out of the shower and wiped myself off. Then I put my new clothes on and water out. I was now wearing sweat pants and a tank top.
I walked back into the room and saw Curly was gone! I hurried into the room and looked around. I heard the door close behind me. I turned around and saw Curly, still shirtless, standing behind the door, smiling. "You sure as hell ran in here quiet fast," he said as he locked the door. I was scared now. "Why did you?" he asked as he advanced toward me. Was he still drunk or was he normal again? I couldn't tell. "Are you in love with me or something Cassandra?" he asked. Okay, he was drunk. He never called me by my real name. He always called me by my last name. I backed away, only to fall onto the bed and kicked over the glass of water. Before I could get up, Curly pinned my arms above my head and saw looking down at me.
"Curly, let go please," I said as I tried to get him off me.
"Come on Cassandra; you know the answer to that," he said.
"Please Curly?"
"No." I struggled to get free even more but I couldn't. He was stronger than me. He climbed onto the bed and then on top of me.
"Curly you can't this on my brother's bed."
"The floor is much harder; you knew this day would come Cassandra."
"Please Curly, I'm not ready yet."
"How long have you had to get ready?"
"I'm not answering that."
"I thought so; now calm down. You're making this more painful than it is."
"I heard about how you work Curly."
"Oh really; what are people sayin'?"
"They say you're an animal."
"That's true; just calm down Cassandra." I turned my head away from Curly and cried. I couldn't take this. He was forcing himself on me. I wish Dallas was where but I know he's not. I had to get Curly off me somehow. Well I knew how but I didn't want to think of the consequences. Well it was either that or being raped. I had to do it. I lifted my feet up and kicked Curly below the waist. He got off me and I rolled off the bed. I got up, unlocked my door and ran out of the room. I ran to the phone and dialed the Curtis's number.
"Hello?" It was Soda. I fell onto the ground on my knees.
"Soda, is my brother there?" I asked. I sounded really scared.
"Cassandra, are you alright?"
"Is my brother there?"
"Yea hold on a sec." Soda got off the phone and I heard my brother's voice.
"Hello?"
"Dallas, it's me; can you come pick me up from the house and hurry."
"What's goin' on sis?"
"Curly's here and he's trying to-" The phone was discounted. I looked up and saw Curly above me, holding the telephone wire in his hand.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked as he removed his belt. I got up and ran toward the door but I felt something hit me in my back. I fell to the ground and looked behind me. Curly had his belt in his hands. I was terrified now. "Let this be a lesson to you Cassandra," he said as he hit me with the belt again. Then he hit me again and again. It hurt too. Why is he doing this; just because I wouldn't bed with him? I don't know how many times he hit me but he stopped after a while, kneeled down, grabbed my chin and made me looked at him. "Have you learned your lesson Cassandra?" he asked me. I closed my eyes and started to cry. He let go of me, got up and kicked me in my ribs.
"Why Curly?" I asked as I put one arm around the area he kicked me. Then I looked up to him. "Why are you doing this to me Curly?"
"You should know what you did," he said.
"So you're going to kill me just because I wouldn't sleep with you?"
"That's it." I looked down at the ground again and laughed. "What's so funny?"
"I thought I had you figured out," I said. "I really did and I tried to love that part of you. I tried loving your good side first but I found out you don't have a good side. So I tried loving your bad side. I found out, that's impossible. I wanted to love you Curly Shepard but I can't!" I got another good kick in the ribs.
"Shut your trap," he said. "You never loved me."
"I did Curly," I said. "I always had loved you since I first saw you." Then I fell into unconsciousness.