My face froze. No. No, I screamed in my head, feeling goose bumps rise to my skin. I faked a smile, and half turned around. "Hi." I let out, feeling the blood course through my veins. He squinted his eyes, and the other girls told me they'd be downstairs.
"So, you've been going with Curtis, huh?" He almost spit, and I could smell the trace of alcohol in his breath. I nodded, smiling slightly. "Hmmm…why so happy about that?"
" 'Cause he's Darry…? And I'm happy to be with him."
"Bet he doesn't give you what I gave you."
"Oh yeah, what was that? Bullshit? Lies? And not to mention.." I trailed off, feeling tears burn in my eyes. I couldn't avoid it any longer. It had happened. That night, that night wasn't something I could put off.
"Oh, shut up, god damn it." He said, rolling his eyes. He gripped my arms tightly, crushing his lips onto my mouth. I pushed back, being suffocated by him. Andrew grabbed me harder, pulling me into him. I kept trying to get him off, but he wouldn't let up. I needed Darry. Someone, anyone for god's sake. The last party flashed through my head, a dim roam in the back of my head. Suddenly, he had my back against a door. His hands started to touch me, and I started to hit him, doing anything to get him off of me. Nothing was working, because he just kept pushing himself onto me. I had started crying, feeling weak tears flood down my face. By this time, he'd opened the door, pushing me into the dark room. I was suffocating, barely able to breathe. My head felt light, and I could feel bruises form on my arms where he had been holding me.
After quite some time, he let go, trying to unzip is pants as if he was going to get something from me. I yelled, trying to get someone to help me. But Andrew just covered my mouth with his hand, slamming my head into the wall. I felt woozy, and his fingers gripped into my face. "How many times is it gonna take for you to actually shut up?" That was the last thing I heard. The next thing I knew, Darry had flung open the door, and ripped him off of me.
"What the fuck! Who the hell do you think you are touching her like that?!" Darry screamed, pushing Andrew across the room. Andrew stumbled, but caught himself, going back at Darrel. He didn't get too far, because once he came close, Darry punched him straight in the jaw, and I watched Andrew fall on the ground.
"Are you crazy? Asshole.." Andrew muttered, rubbing his jaw. "God damn, I think you just broke my jaw, over a stupid girl who won't put out." Darry went over there, and pulled him up by his collar.
"Say that about her one more time, and I'll break every bone in your body. You're nothing but a pig, you son of a bitch." Darry spit, throwing him back to the ground. He turned and looked at me. His eyes cold, piercing like pieces of ice. I wiped the tears that continuously fell, not being able to stop. Last time, no one was there to save me. Darry walked over, and lightly wrapped me up in his arms. I buried my face into his shoulder, not being able to move. Darry leaned down, and whispered. "Let's go."
I felt like the Earth was spinning. Darry started the car, looking over at me, but for some strange reason, I wasn't able to tear my eyes away from the house. I was afraid more than anything. I didn't want that to ever happen again. I wouldn't let it happen again. "Em." I heard Darry whisper faintly, we had begun driving. We looked at each other, as he pulled the car over on the side. I got closer, and noticed he was crying. His blue eyes were now florescent, from the tears. I touched his cheek, wiping away some of the stray tears that were falling, and he grabbed my hand, holding it to his face.
"Darry, why you cryin' honey?" I asked, his warm cheek tingling my hand. He looked up at me.
" 'Cause..Cause I wasn't there. I wasn't there to help you. I let you get hurt." I shook my head.
"No. No you saved me. Don't say that. Please, don't say that." I murmured, wiping away more of the tears. I had never seen Darry cry. Ever. This was new.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I didn't understand why he was saying sorry? He didn't do anything wrong. If anything, he did it right. I placed my other hand on his cheek and brought his face closer to mine.
"Baby shhh.." I hushed, kissing his forehead. "It wasn't you. Please Darry, it's okay. Okay?" He nodded, and pulled me into hug him.
"You just mean a lot to me. I don't mean to cry, I hate cryin'." He said, placing his chin on my head. I snuggled into his chest.
"Why is it that you make me feel so safe?"
"Because, you love me, who doesn't?" He laughed through his sniffles. I laughed, and shook my head.
"You're so very humble, Mr. Curtis." He looked down, smiling. His eyes were still red, and a little puffy from crying.
"We should get back to your house. Are you okay?" He questioned. And I thought for a moment. Before, I don't think I was. But now I had Darrel. He could protect me; keep me safe from that ever again.
"I am now." He started the car again, and when I went to move, he pulled me closer.
"Stay by me." He smiled. Once we pulled up to my house, he pulled the keys out of the ignition.
"Darry? Do you think you could stay with me again..?" I hated asking, but I wanted him to stay more.
"Of course." So he walked me in, just to make it seem like he was leaving. But, my parents were already asleep. He lay down on my bed, and I went to get into my pajamas. I could feel my body shake a little. I was still a little shaken up about what happened. He sat up. "Are you sure you're okay?" He seemed really worried. Little did he know, this had happened before.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I faked a smile, and he watched me change into my pajamas. I lay down next to Darry, leaving only the lamp on. He kissed me, but I pulled back touching my lips. Darry looked at me, his face concerned. "They just feel raw. I'm sorry…" I mumbled, feeling tears rise to my eyes.
"No, don't be sorry. It's okay." He smiled, kissing his finger, and lightly touching my lips. I did the same, smiling back at him. "That was even better than a kiss." I laughed, and he touched his nose to mine. We were quiet for awhile, just looking at each other. "Can I ask you something?" he whispered.
"Mhmmm…" I murmured, continuously running my fingers through his hair.
"Is that the first time he's done that?" He asked flatly. His eyes turned to that icy blue again, telling me he meant Andrew. I hesitated, feeling my chest cave in.
"No. It happened before….just…just worse." I let out, and Darry closed his eyes.
"Last year. Did it happen last year?" He opened them, and I nodded.
"At a party."
"He talked about you two in the locker room. I remember. Kept saying that he didn't really care, something about you two going out for a while, it wouldn't last. All I wanted to do was slug him. It was eating at me. Cause I think Paul was at the party…when..You know.." He trailed off, and I nodded signaling for him to continue.
"He said you were crying, and left to go home by yourself. Andrew was talkin' shit er something." He paused, staring into my eyes. "So was that..or he your first time?"
"I wouldn't call THAT a first time…I wanted to die after that."
"What happened?" So, I told him the story of how Andrew and I had been going out for maybe two months, and what happened at the party. About how I'd had a few drinks and Andrew got completely wasted. He pushed me into the room, and practically did the same thing he had done tonight, except I gave in. And after, all he could do was blame it on me. I'd found out after that night, he'd been cheating on me, so I ended it a week or two later. But it wasn't something I could just forget about. Darry was pissed after I told him, even though I said it was all over, nothing to worry about. I guess he just didn't like the thought of Andrew or anyone for that matter, touching me.
I woke up again, having Darry's warm arm slung around my waist, his hand on my butt. I had one hand on his neck, the other pressed on his chest. My lips felt better, thank the lord, and so I kissed his mouth lightly, closing my eyes as I backed out. I felt him kiss me again, and I smiled through. I felt his hand rub my butt, and then I opened my eyes. "Oh sorry about that…" He said, moving his hand up. I knew Darry too well. He wasn't sorry at all.
"Yeah, sure." I rolled my eyes and smiled. He licked his lips, and kissed me again. He rubbed my skin under the shirt, and pulled me closer to him.
"I have to go to church, my mom, her and her church on Sundays. Can you come with me? Pleeeaaaase?" He dragged out.
"Fine. I'll go so I can see your mom, and your brothers…but you, I'm not so sure about you." He laughed, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Not for me? At ALL?!" I couldn't help but laugh, he was just too damn handsome.
"Yeah, yeah sure, I guess for you too." I sighed.
"Good, you had me worried there for a second." After I got changed and did my hair, we left for Darry's house. It was still early in the morning, and considering church started at nine, and we were at his house at seven thirty, we were just a bit too early. Mrs. Curtis was up, kind of. She was still a little out of it.
"Hi Em." She smiled, drawing her attention away from the coffee she was making.
"Good morning." I smiled back, and Darry dragged me to his room with him. He got changed, and then sat down next to me on his bed.
"You still wear that?" He asked, pointing at the ring on my finger. Technically, it was his.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know…just some girls take it off. I like that you keep it on." His fingers played with it, twisting it back and forth. I watched him concentrate on moving it, seeing his eyes shift back and forth.
"You know Darry, I really love you." I practically sang. Something inside me just made my voice bubble over with happiness. It was probably the butterflies floating in my stomach that seemed to never leave when I was around him. Looking up, a little smile fell on his face.
"You wanna know something?"
"Yes." He took both my hands in his.
"I've never fallen this hard over anybody. Not a single person." We both smiled at each other, and he sighed. "You know what else? You've got the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen." I blushed, feeling my body turn into mush. I swear the things he could do to me.
"Do you tell all girls this?" I flirted, feelings rising in me like a balloon. He grinned.
"This is something you only tell a special one." Right as he leaned in to kiss me, his mom bust through the door.
"Breakfast is ready! Darry, keep your lips to yourself young man!" Darrel put his face in his hands, and Mrs. Curtis walked over to us. "Is someone embarrassed? Next time, don't you try and pull anything! Then it'll never happen again." She looked at him, then me and smiled. I truly loved Mrs. Curtis.
As we sat down in Church, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis sat next to Darry, while I was in-between him, Soda, and Pony. Sodapop started making fun of Darry for holding my hand, and began asking questions. "Did you tell her yet? Please tell me I didn't go through that experience for nothin'" He was talking about what Darrel had told me the night of prom. Darry just rolled his eyes.
"Please! You kept making me run it over and over! Like you didn't enjoy it. C'mon boy, who do you think you're talkin' to?" Soda's eyes widened.
"I have a list of things I could say right now, Dar. Don't you be giving me sass." I just shook my head, and looked at Ponyboy.
"I am so sorry you have to live with them." He gave me a crooked grin.
"You get used to it after awhile." And church started. The priest started talking about how woman was made. Love. That was the topic today. I got an elbow from Sodapop.
"Aw, like they made it special for you and Dar." I smiled at him, and wrapped my fingers in Darry's. The priest spoke about how a woman was made special for the man; each had someone made for them. Darry's lips pressed lightly on my cheek, and on my ear.
"You think maybe we were made for each other? You for me, me for you." My cheeks turned red, and I whispered back in his ear.
"I think that could be a possibility." His thumb rubbed over mine, and I rested me head on his shoulder for the rest of the mass.
School was coming to an end. Our class was getting ready for graduation, some of us college, and some the end of schooling. Darrel had been offered a football scholarship, and was planning on working to pay for the rest. For now though, he'd said he was going to worry about the rest of the year, and summer.
The weekend before graduation, there was a big dance in town. It always happened before summer started, so some kids we knew, decided to go together. It ended up being a lot of fun, just being able to let loose with all stress of graduation on us. Darrel and I went together, go figure. I loved to dance with him, and just be held in his arms. Afterwards, we headed back to my house, where yet again, no one was home.
"Hello?" I called out, sticking my head through the door, trying to see if my mom or dad was there. Darry stood behind me, holding the door open.
"They there?" He questioned, after not hearing a response. I shook my head, and told him to come in. "Mind if I go grab something a little more comfortable than this?" He tugged at his shirt, starting to unbutton it. "No I don't mind…do you know where your stuff is?" I'd taken some of Darry's clothes, sometimes he left stuff here. But it was the same at his house. We both had each other's things. "Yep." He strolled off to my room, and came back in a football shirt. I'd worn it to bed a couple times. It was huge on me.
I had sat down on the couch, and was watching some TV when he came back in, so he just picked up my legs, placing them on his as he sat down. Running his hands up and down my legs he began to talk. "Did you have fun?" He smiled, and I grew closer to him, balling up into his arms.
"I was with you, how could I not have fun?" I replied, rubbing my hand on his chest. I smiled at him, looking into his blue eyes. I lightly touched my finger to his lips, outlining them. "You have nice lips."
"Do I?" He laughed. "Yeah you do. I like them a lot." I kissed his cheek, and he cupped my chin. He kissed me lightly and backed out. We both stared at each other, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Can you do that again please?"