Steve wasn't prepared for the bombshell that was dropped on him when he fully entered his house. There, sitting on his couch, was a blonde woman. She looked to be around his father's age, in her early forties. She was nice enough looking for a woman her age. Steve just wondered what the hell she was doing in his house and was afraid of his suspicion.
"Steve, I'd like to introduce you to Elisabeth Manning, my fiancée," his father spoke with a hand extended toward Elisabeth.
Steve felt his stomach drop. He'd been right. Well, partially, anyway. He hadn't expected it to have gone so far.
"Your fiancée?" Steve said through gritted teeth.
Elisabeth stood and smiled at him. "Garth here has told me so much about you. I'm so sorry about your mom. I know I can't replace her, but I'd like to help fill her role."
Steve didn't w ant that. He couldn't have that. This woman was not his mother and never would be. He felt his stomach clench at the thought. This wasn't what he'd bargained for. Had his dad quit drinking because of her? And here he thought his father was starting to care about him again.
"Steven? Are you all right?" Garth asked worriedly.
Steve hadn't realized he'd been standing there, looking like an idiot. He brought himself away from his thoughts, returning to the present.
"Um, I-I need to go get my stuff, and, uh, I'll be out for a while."
"Well, I can help you get your things. Come on, I'll drive."
"No. I... I want to do this on my own. I don't know how long I'll be. Don't wait up."
He headed for the door.
"It was nice meeting you!" he heard Elisabeth call after him.
"You, too!" he said so sarcastically he wouldn't be surprised if they didn't believe him.
When Steve was out of view of his house, he doubled over and threw up. It had been trying enough by coming home. But her? He couldn't take that. It was bad enough his father hadn't told him, not that he would have come home if he'd known. Did his father know that? Maybe he knew him better than Steve thought.
He did go to get his things from Two-Bit's house, his last home. Two-Bit congratulated him when he said he was returning home. Steve didn't feel the need to be congratulated. He actually though it was worse now. He couldn't tell the gang about Elisabeth, not yet at least. He had barely processed it himself. Besides, they didn't need to know. Steve knew there were things that the gang didn't tell him. So what would this matter? Well, maybe he'd tell Soda. Then again, if he did that, he might as well tell the whole gang.
Steve usually wasn't one for drinking. He had seen too much of its bad side to want to drink to the point of intoxication. He usually found his relief in cigarettes. Tonight, though, he swiped a bottle of beer from Buck's. He knew one wouldn't affect him that badly, but it would be enough to help the pain and anger he was feeling.
Steve settled in at the park closest to his house. He sat on a bench, alternating between smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer as he let his thoughts and inner turmoil take over.
He couldn't forget the pain his father had caused his mother. She hadn't deserved that. Drinking had started out as a "peer pressure" thing. Most of the factory workers would go to a local bar and spend most of their earnings on alcohol. Dad hadn't liked it at first and would get something nonalcoholic. But one thing led to another and soon Dad would get as drunk as the rest of them, if not more so. It wouldn't have been so bad if he just got sick and crazy. But Dad got mean after drinking. Sickness came the morning after. During the night, though, he'd throw angry words at his wife and son, scaring the two. It started with verbal abuse, but gradually made its way toward physical. Often Steve wouldn't come home at nights; he'd crash at someone else's home. The nights he was home, his father usually told him to get out and never come back anyway. Steve only stayed for his mother. When she was gone, there wasn't much point in coming home at night.
Could he really believe his father had changed? Even in the short time he'd been with Elisabeth, Steve had noticed the ring on her finger. It had been his mother's. She had promised it to Steve for when he got married. He wouldn't bring it up to his father. As much as he disliked the woman already, he would not deny her the only ring his father could probably afford. It would be easier to claim it as his own. Maybe it would upset Elisabeth enough to make her leave.
Even though his father had inflicted so much pain and anger upon him, Steve didn't wish any suffering on his father. Sure, he deserved it, but he didn't want to go through a "what goes around comes around" chain. If he didn't continue it, it wouldn't have to come back to him.
Steve went back home after four cigarettes and he'd emptied the bottle of beer. He felt more in control of his emotions. He went into his room, relieved to see his father wasn't up waiting on him. The clock read 12:15, so he wasn't too surprised his father had gone to bed.
In his room, he found a piece of paper above his be d frame with "welcome home" written on it. Judging by the hand writing, it was written by a woman. And if that was the case, Elisabeth must have written it. Steve didn't want to warm to her, so he grabbed the piece of paper off the wall and tore it in several pieces. It seemed his life had been torn to pieces as well.
Steve stretched out across his bed and felt the frustration leave only once he fell asleep.
Tim's departure told Dallas he had two weeks left to his imprisonment. He couldn't wait be out. Johnny would be out two weeks after him. It would be so good to see him.
Dallas hated to see Tim go, though it gave him a better sense of time. Unfortunately, he didn't have a piece of chalk to count down the days he'd been in jail on the wall. It would be boring without his friend there.
Lucky for him, the two weeks passed quickly. He was relieved to be out. He stumbled a little out of the jail, unprepared for the bright light of the sun. It felt good to be out.
The first place he went was the DX. Being a Thursday afternoon, he knew Steve and Soda would be there.
"Hey scumbags! I need to get my car fixed!" Dallas shouted when he saw his friends hunched over a car. Both their heads went up, anger in their eyes. Upon seeing Dallas, though, they both smiled.
" Dallas!" Soda came around the car and tackled him in a brotherly hug. Steve also came around the car and gave Dallas a handshake and a pat on the back.
"It's good to see you, man," Steve said with a grin.
"Good to see you guys, too. Man, it's good to be out."
"How long have you been out?"
"What time is it?" Steve looked at his watch, a piece offering from his father. "About 1:30."
"So I've been out less than a half an hour."
"Is this your first stop?" Soda wondered, figuring it was considering the short time.
"Yeah."
"Well, don't we feel honored," Soda teased with a light punch to Dally's arm.
"So what have I missed? Eight months is a long time."
"Yeah, no kidding. You heard about Pony lately?"
"Tim was jailed a few weeks ago and said he'd seen him walking. How's he doing?" Dallas felt his chest tighten at the thought of Pony not being okay.
"He's okay. It gets hard for him, you know."
"No, I don't." He didn't think anyone did except for Pony. He turned to Steve. "What's new with you?"
"I got beat up by my old man, he sobered up, offered me the chance to come home again, and now I'm living with him again." Steve made a point to leave out Elisabeth. He had decided not to tell anyone.
"Good for you." Dallas didn't really think it was that good. He knew what Steve's dad was like. He didn't trust that he'd sobered up. That was just what they said during their dry periods. It wouldn't last, but Dallas wouldn't crush any hopes Steve had about his father.
"I'm going to head over to see Two-Bit. I was thinking about picking Pony up from school. You think that'd be okay?"
"Sure. I'm sure he'll appreciate the surprise. Come over some time for supper; tonight if you can."
"We'll see. It was good seeing ya'll."
"Yeah, you, too."
Dallas walked the short distance to Two-Bit's house. He wondered what was new in his friend's life. It seemed so long since he'd last seen him.
Two-Bit was sitting on his front porch when Dallas came toward him. He looked up and was surprised to see his friend coming to him. It had been such a long time.
"Well, I'll be a son of a gun. Dallas Winston," Two-Bit said as he stood when Dallas came to him.
"Hey Two-Bit."
"Come here, man." Two-Bit half hugged his friend as he brought Dallas over to sit on the porch with him.
"When did you get out?"
"Not long ago, just this afternoon. I went to see Soda and Steve then came here to see you."
"I'm second best, huh?" He grinned teasingly at Dallas.
"So what's new with you man? It's been so long. I've probably missed out on a life time."
"Yeah, pretty much."
Two-Bit proceeded to tell Dallas how he'd dropped out of school. He told him about Molly and his near suicide.
"Gosh, I'm sorry, man," Dallas clapped a hand on Two-Bit's shoulder.
"Yeah, well, these things happen. I swear, these past eight months or so seemed like a life time. It's amazing how much has happened."
"And now? Are you happy?"
"I am actually, if you can believe that. I didn't expect it, but thing have been going well. I'm working as a bus boy with my mama and I make good pay. We usually split the tips."
"That's good, man. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks."
"Two-Bit! Who you got out there?" Katherine Mathews called from inside the house before she stepped outside to see for herself. Seeing Dallas, she broke into a grin.
"Well, look who the cat dragged in. Dallas Winston! How are you, boy?"
Dallas stood upon her appearance. "I'm okay, ma'am."
Katherine swallowed Dallas in a hug after planting a firm kiss on his cheek.
"Oh, it's good to see you! How've you been?" she asked once she let go.
"Okay. I, um, I heard about Molly. I'm awfully sorry, ma'am."
"Well, I am, too. It's all in the past now, though. We just have to move forward."
"Yeah, I suppose we do." That's what he planned on doing. He wasn't going to go back. He couldn't go back to the way he'd been.
"I should probably go now. I still need to see Pony," Dallas said as he stepped off the porch.
"Well, don't you be a stranger. You're always welcome here."
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll see you later, Two-Bit."
"All right. See you, man."
"Bye."
Dallas headed for the school. He waited on the corner where Pony would have to turn to walk home. He wondered what he'd find when he saw Pony. Would he be okay? Would he be hurt? Would he still want to see him after what he'd done, for being responsible for his injury? How could Pony forgive him? Dallas should have just stopped him. It would have been that simple. If not, he could have gone in there after him and pulled him out, let those damn kids die.
It was obvious when school was let out. A wave of kids came out of the school. Dallas searched the swarms for Pony. It wasn't hard to spot him, considering he was the only one with crutches.
Pony was walking with his head down. He tried to keep from making eye contact with any of the other kids, as though shy. He didn't like seeing their pitying eyes. He couldn't stand how they gawked as though he was part of a freak show. It wasn't fair that he should be stared at just because of the empty part of his pant leg.
Dallas watched Pony as he quietly made his way closer. He thought the kid looked sad, and that made him upset. He didn't want Pony to be upset, but I guess that could be expected. Pony finally lifted his eyes briefly and caught a glance at Dallas. He had to look back to see if his eyes were showing him right.
Dallas just grinned at Pony's surprised face, watching the kid's mouth hang open. Pony just stood there, surprised.
"I ain't coming to you. You're gonna have to come to me." Dallas wanted to see Pony make it to him, though he knew he could since he'd seen him walking already.
" Dallas?" Pony asked in confusion.
"In the flesh."
Pony smiled and walked toward Dallas, picking up the pace. When he was inches away from Dallas, he dropped his crutches and hopped to Dallas on his foot and hugged his friend tightly.
Not usually one for hugs or any signs of affection, Dallas was taken back by Pony's hug. Knowing he'd missed the kid and hoping this was a sign that he held no grudge over him, he hugged Pony back.
"How long have you been out?" Pony asked as he stepped back and knelt to pick up his crutches, not wanting help.
"About an hour."
"It's so good to see you."
"Thanks. It's good to see you, too, kid."
The two walked to the Curtis home and both had the same thing on their mind.
It would be so much better if there was only one more present.
