Yo, yo, yo! It s me, CD48, back for chapter 7 of Jesse! I've gone on a writing spree today, determined to finish at least one of my stories!! Yay! I feel I owe you guys a new chapter because six was kinda boring. Lol. So here it is! Chapter 7 of Jesse!
7
One week went by slowly. We were all trying to focus on our lives, but we knew that at that point our lives were waiting for Pony and Johnny. Darry, Soda, Steve, Two-Bit and I stuck together at all times, except when Soda and Steve would take Sandy and Evie out on dates, or Two-Bit would get drunk, or when Darry had work, and no one had seen Dallas since the conflict on Sunday. So what I really should be saying is I spent most of my time alone, avoiding Socs and going to the park on my own.
I stopped paying attention in school; I was mostly staring at Ponyboy's empty desk, which was next to me, and Johnny's desk which was in front of Pony's. We used to pass notes about the teacher, but managing to pay attention somehow. Darry would've had a fit if Pony's grades slipped. But now they were empty, and I didn't know where they had gone. Most days when the seats were empty, I knew they were at home. But now…
I met up with Two-Bit and Steve at lunch, and we all drove over to the Tasty Freeze for lunch. We drank soda and sat on Two-Bit's car in the sun. It was spring now, according to the calendars, but winter still had a light grip on the world. We all still needed our jackets at times, and today was one of them. "You think they're okay?" Steve asked. I looked over at him. Steve never liked Ponyboy much, but I guess since Johnny was missing too, he included them both. I guess.
"There ain't nothing to worry about, Steve-o. Ponyboy and Johnny are two tough kids, they'll be fine!" Two-Bit said nonchalantly, taking a swig of his Pepsi.
"Yeah…I guess…" Steve replied, going back to looking at the sky. I stayed silent. Pony and Johnny were tough, but could they handle this? Tough or not, they were still kids. Sixteen and fourteen year olds shouldn't be caught in a mess like this. Hiding for murder. Murder…I still couldn't picture Johnny murdering someone. I thought of it more as an…accidental stabbing. And still I couldn't see Johnny stabbing someone either. The whole thing was a big, complicated mess, and my two best friends were right smack in the middle of it.
The rest of the school day was uneventful, and instead of asking Two-Bit for a ride, I decided to walk home. I kept my head down, and held my backpack by it's straps, walking slowly towards my house. Suddenly a loud honking noise brought my head up. I looked behind me and my eyes widened. It was a blue mustang, pulling up slowly to the sidewalk. I started walking faster. "Hey, grease bitch!" I heard them call. "C'mere, bitch."
I ignored them, and continued to walk faster. "I said, c'mere!" And suddenly the car was in front of me and four Socs were coming towards me, angry as hell. I turned and started running as fast as I could but I could feel the Socs getting closer. Then they had me around the waist and were carrying me to the car. I screamed for help but one of them stuffed a handkerchief in my mouth. I was terrified now, because I was remembering what they had said in the park. And now one of their friends had been killed. So first they would pick up a greasy girl, and then kill a friend. And lucky me, I was eligible in both departments.
I had stopped screaming and had started to work on trying to spit the damn fabric out of my mouth. We were nearing the car and I struggled some more.
Then they had me laid down in the back seat. I only recognized two of them from the park, but I didn't see Bob. I struggled to get away, but the Socs had me pinned. I squirmed as one of them got on his hands and knees over me, laughing. I screamed again for help and felt a slap across the face and a knife to my stomach. "Shut up!" The one over me screamed.
Suddenly he was off of me, and I looked up to see Dallas Winston with a blade up against the four of them. I couldn't help but sigh in relief, and climbed out of the car silently; then jumped on one of their backs. With a firm hold on his neck, I began punching his head with my fist. He cried out in shock and pain and began to stagger around.
"Jesse!" I heard Dally call. I looked up, and he nodded towards himself. I gave the guy one more bash, then climbed down and ran to his side. He threatened them with his blade one more time, then grabbed me roughly by my shirt and started dragging me with him. I watched the Socs drive away, when I remembered my backpack. I saw it lying on the sidewalk behind us.
I tried to get out of Dally's grip to go get it, but he had a firm hold on my shirt. "Hey, Dallas! I gotta get my backpack!" I said. He looked down at me, then let me go. I ran to it, and picked up. When I looked back, he was still there waiting.
"Hurry up, kid!" he called. I ran again to catch up and we started walking again. We had walked in silence for about a block when he spoke up, "You okay?" I looked up at him.
"Yeah…" I said. "How did you know it was me?"
"I saw the bastards get you and stuff you in the car. Needless to say, I assumed you needed help." He said, lighting a cigarette.
"Well…it's a good thing you assumed right, then." I said, hitching my backpack to a better position on my back. I saw the DX nearing, and looked over at Dallas.
"You gotta be more careful, kid, ya hear?" he said seriously, looking at me. I nodded. "There's the DX. I'll see ya later. Say hi to Soda and Steve, alrighty?" he walked off without a response, and I watched him for a few seconds when I heard Soda call my name. I turned, and stole one more glance at Dallas. Who could've thought? Maybe he still had some heart underneath his icy reputation. I heard a deep rumble and looked up at the skies. Gray clouds had begun to cover up the blue sky. It gave me shivers. This had been the nicest day in months, and now rain was coming. And I wondered; with every new beginning, must there be an end, too?
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"Ta-Da!" Soda announced, holding up a slightly crumpled paper. The whole gang, except Dallas, had gathered in the Curtis's living room that night. A fierce storm was raging outside, but we were warm and content in the house. I was surprised Soda was keeping an upbeat attitude, but leave it to Sodapop to keep a smile in the darkest of times.
"What is it, Soda?" Steve asked. Soda beamed.
"Steve, my fine-feathered friend, this is none other than the cure for our depression!" Soda said, smiling from ear to ear. "The carnival is gonna be in town this weekend, and we're going!"
"The carnival?" I said dumbly.
"Yes, the carnival. We're all gonna go!" Soda said, tossing the paper at me. I looked down at it. In big, bold letters it said CARNIVAL, and below I could see a big tent with rides rising up behind it.
"Sounds like fun." Two-Bit said, taking a drink from his beer.
"Yeah…" I said quietly. But truthfully, all I could think about was how much Ponyboy would enjoy this. And how much Johnny would, too.
"Then it's settled! Saturday we go to the carnival!" Soda cheered. I couldn't help but smile at his cheeriness. I wish I could be happy at this time, but deep down I knew that Soda was wearing a mask, and that he was even sadder than I was.
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The rest of the week was noticeably better than the previous week had been. We all had begun to hang out like we used to, and we all weren't as distant as we had been. Nothing memorable happened until Friday. Friday was the day when Soda's world was destroyed even more than it had been.
Two-Bit and I had gone to the Tasty Freeze that afternoon to pick up some drinks for Darry. We had all planned to hang out there again today. Steve was there already, and Soda had been called by Sandy to meet her in the park. We all assumed it was for a sweet afternoon date. Boy, were we wrong.
I carried the Pepsi to the front and Two-Bit pulled out his wallet and paid. We went back to his car and began the ride towards the Curtis's. "Whaddya think Sandy called Soda for?" Two-Bit asked out of nowhere.
"Probably a date, Two-Bit. What else?" I replied, rolling down the window and allowing the warm breeze to blow my hair back. It was a gorgeous day out today, perfect temperature out and the sun was high in the sky without a cloud to block it. It was a nice relief from the rain all day and every day since Tuesday, when the Socs had attacked. After that, we hadn't had much trouble with them.
"I dunno, Jess, she sounded close to crying when I picked up the phone." Two-Bit had a nasty habit of picking up other people's phones.
"Oh, come on. You need your ears checked." I said. I was feeling unusually happy today, and I couldn't tell you why. We reached the Curtis house soon, and I hopped out of the car quickly and grabbed the drinks. I nearly ran to the house, and walked in without knocking. The scene that I inadvertently had walked in on was not what I was expecting. Soda was sitting on the couch, head in his hands, Steve was next to him, a comforting hand on his back, and Darry was in the armchair, sitting forward, with his hands folded between his legs. Both Steve and Soda looked up when I burst in through the door. Soda looked miserable. I could feel Two-Bit walk in behind me. "Hey Jess, Two-Bit." Soda said. His voice was low and calm. The kind of voice someone uses when life has knocked them down and they don't feel like getting up.
"What's wrong?" Two-Bit asked.
Soda sighed. "Sandy broke up with me." He said simply, nodding slightly.
"Oh, Soda…" I whispered.
"Turns out she was two-timing me, got pregnant with some other guy's baby. She's going to Florida tomorrow, and she's not coming back." Soda continued, using that same voice.
Not this. Anything but this. Soda had had too much in his life. Between his parents dying, the fights between Pony and Darry, and Ponyboy going missing, and now Sandy, too. Soda loved Sandy, loved her so much. Sodapop didn't deserve this. He had had enough already. When would the skies open and allow Soda at least a little peace? The kid needed a break, already. I dropped the drinks where I stood and went to the couch and took Soda in my arms. "I'm so sorry, Soda." I said softly. I felt his arms wrap around me too.
He let go and looked at me. "I'm fine, Jess. Don't worry about me. Now let's play Sorry!" He jumped off the couch and went off in search of the game, and the rest of us exchanged glances. There's that mask again. I just hoped that soon he wouldn't have to wear it so often.
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Okay!!! That is it, my loverlies. And yeah, I know being attacked by Socs is really cliché, but…hey, it fits in with the story! And I hope Dally wasn't TOO OOC. Please don't kill me! cowers Responses!
SilverRain1.3- Hello back! Oh goody, another reviewer! And yes, I am VERY happy! And yes, just telling me you like it is very helpful! tallies two for Ponyboy Thanks again, and I hope you keep reading the story and liking it!
caitly- Yes, I agree about that fine line, and I'm trying my best to keep my toe on the UN-Mary-Sue side, cause I hate Mary-Sues and if I ever spawned one, I would kill myself and the demon which I created!!!! (Wow, that was slightly creepy….0.o) Thanks! I'm glad you like the story, and I hope you keep liking it, while I keep my character in Non-Mary-Sue land, where all the nice little OCs go. (Random…0.o) tallies one for NOBODY Lol, I like that. XD
Johnny Cade's Gal- Thank you, again! Ponyboy is in the lead right now, right in front of NOBODY!!
You know the drill, people. Review please, and the question is still out there! Out of the gang, who would you want Jesse to be paired with, if she was paired with anyone?? Sayonara!