Well here's the next one I hope you enjoy it. And I'm sorry it's taking so many parts to get Mel's story out but that's the way it should be for the main character I think only one more of Mel should do it then I can move to the next one but I won't tell you who it is. Oh and if anyone reviews telling me someone wouldn't be thinking along those line because it's not their character I will take it in to consideration but if it's because you think I'm stretching something like how they would feel psychologically I will delete your review and make sure you see my mean side I'm going to school to be a psychologist so I think I know a thing about depression and the feelings of loved one's left after someone has died. Now with that said enjoy this chapter.
After Steve left Soda came in and sat for a few minutes. "Two-Bit, do me a favor k?"
"Sure buddy." I said looking up at him.
"Take care of my best friend and call us with any updates."
"Of course I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Oh and try to get some school days in. I know she doesn't like Dally very much but I'd rather have him here instead of having you miss the last few months of school."
"I'll think about it." I said. But really who did he think he was telling me what to do? Sure maybe he was channeling Mel 'cause I know that's probably what she would want me to do but it wasn't right for him to think he could tell me what to do.
"Good thanks Two-Bit." Soda stood up and left. I was there until about noon when her brother finally arrived.
"How did you know?" I asked looking up at Jason.
"It's none of your fucking business now get the hell out of my baby sister's room and don't none of you hoods ever think about coming back in here or spreading lies about my girlfriend." Jason said. He stressed the word my and my jaw dropped.
"I'll leave but let me tell you something you good for nothing asshole. What I told her father is damn fucking truth and there is nothing that could make me spread lies about that. Where the hell else would she get all these fucking bruises? You don't get half of those bruises from fights, especially not the ones that look like someone's grabbed her. And let me tell you something else, not a single one of us would hurt a hair on her body. We would have to be stupid we know how mad you and Darry would get. Sure Shepard might hit her once but not hard enough or enough times to make her suffer like this. He'd be stupid to make an enemy out of the seven of us and you. I will be back later because you know nothing about your baby sister, our gang is the only one who does and Soda told me that Mel once said and I quote his direct quote from her: quote Two-Bit is more of a brother than that idiot Jason has been or will ever be end quote. Now you stop being such a dick and look at what your bitch of a girlfriend did to my baby sister." I said stressing my. I walked out of the room and down the hall to the waiting room. Soda and Steve walked in a few minutes later followed by Dally.
"Hey Two-Bit." They all greeted. Then after looking around Soda gave me a questioning look.
"I thought you said you were gonna be there when she woke up, you can't be if you're sitting out here." Soda said.
"I got kicked out." I answered putting my head in my hands.
"By the nurses who wanted to run some test or another right?" Dally questioned.
"I wouldn't leave her room for no nurse let me tell you." I said not looking up.
"Well then a doctor kicked you out right?" Steve questioned. I saw his shoes get close to me and I knew he had sat down.
"Wouldn't leave for no doctor neither." I answered.
"Well if her mom's run off, no nurse or doctor could kick you out, we haven't been here since this morning, and her dad's in jail..." Soda trailed off.
"You didn't leave her in there with Jenni did you?" Dally asked.
"No her asshole of a brother kicked me out. I did let him know my thoughts before I left though and I told him I would be back." I said finally sick of the questions.
"What exactly did you tell him?" Steve asked.
"I told him that he was a dick, an asshole, that none of us would hurt a hair on her body, even Shepard wouldn't make her suffer this much 'cause we wouldn't want to make him or Darry mad, that she can't get those bruises from fighting, that he knew nothing about Mel, and that she told Soda quote Two-Bit is more of a brother than that idiot Jason has been or will ever be end quote. All because he said and I quote get the hell out of my baby sister's room and don't none of you hoods ever think about coming back in here or spreading lies about my girlfriend. He stressed the word my but hey I did too when I told him to look at what his girlfriend did to Mel." I explained.
"Wow." Steve said. Soda kneeled in front of me causing me to look at him.
"What the hell did you do that for you idiot? Now we'll never be able to see her." Dally growled.
"Shut it Dal." Soda snapped.
"Two-Bit look we had better get back to work but I swear when Darry comes in here after work he'll think of something. There's no way that Jason can keep us out of there with Darry's persuasive techniques." Soda comforted.
"Hey why don't you come back to school for afternoon classes and Dally will stay here and see if he can change Jason's mind or at least see if there's any change." Steve suggested. I looked up at Dally.
"Why me?" Dally asked.
"Because you're the only one who has nothing else to do." Steve explained simply.
Dally sunk down in his seat but nodded. Later that afternoon we were all sitting in the waiting room waiting for Darry to come in after work and his shower. Finally he came in and looked around. "Is there a reason why you all are just sitting out here instead of in her room?" Darry asked.
"Well Two-Bit got kicked out of her room around lunch and none of us are willing to go in there and chance his temper." Soda explained.
"Who's temper?" Darry asked sitting across from me.
"The guy that kicked me out," I said.
"Who kicked you out?" Darry asked.
"Her brother," Steve answered simply.
"Alright I'll see what I can do." Darry said standing up. He got up and walked down the hall.
Pony's PoV
When Steve and Two-Bit took us to the hospital after school Johnny and I knew that something had either happened or they just really wanted to see her. I was betting on the first. Once we got there Two-Bit sat down in one of the hard plastic chairs and when Steve followed suit my suspicions were confirmed.
"Any change?" Two-Bit asked Dally when he came back with a Pepsi.
"No, neither her condition nor his mind. He cussed me out when I went to see." Dally answered sitting down.
"Two-Bit what did you do?" I asked. He just sighed.
"I didn't do anything, her brother walked in, I asked how he found out, and he told me it was none of my business then kicked me out. I did leave him with a few of my thoughts though." Two-Bit answered.
"Two-Bit..." I trailed off.
"Don't worry kid Soda said he'd get Darry to talk to Jason when he get's off which reminds me shouldn't you be at work Steve?" Two-Bit said.
"Yeah I guess see ya'll later." Steve said. We spent the entire afternoon just sitting around in the ICU waiting room. Steve and Soda came back later that afternoon after work and Two-Bit spotted a doctor. He got up and went to talk to her.
"What'd she say?" Soda asked.
"Who is that?" Steve asked.
"That's her day time doctor, Dr. Toby, she said there's been no change in her condition and that Jason hasn't requested that Mel have no visitors." Two-Bit explained.
"So the only thing stopping us from going in there is Jason's temper?" Dally said.
"Yup." I answered. Finally Darry showed up and sat down next to Soda.
"Is there a reason why you all are just sitting out here instead of in her room?" Darry asked.
"Well Two-Bit got kicked out of her room around lunch and none of us are willing to go in there and chance his temper." Soda explained.
"Who's temper?" Darry asked sitting across from me.
"The guy that kicked me out," Two-Bit said.
"Who kicked you out?" Darry asked.
"Her brother," Steve answered simply.
"Alright I'll see what I can do." Darry said standing up and walked down the hall.
Darry came back ten minutes later and stood in front of Two-Bit. He didn't look too happy. "Well what did he say?" Two-Bit asked.
"He sure said a lot. What did you say to him? He says he just came in and sat down and you went off on him, so he had no other choice but to kick you out." Darry demanded.
"Whoa back up he kicked me out before I went off on him. All I wanted to know was how he knew Mel was in here. He told me it was none of my fucking business and to get the hell out of his baby sister's room and don't none of you hoods ever think about coming back in here and he thinks that what I told his dad about Jenni was all lies." Two-Bit explained.
"Well it is his sister." Dally said.
"I know but he doesn't believe that Jenni's abusing Mel." Two-Bit said.
"What did you say to him?" Darry asked.
"I told him that he was a dick, an asshole, that none of us would hurt a hair on her body, even Shepard wouldn't make her suffer this much 'cause we wouldn't want to make him or Darry mad, that she can't get those bruises from fighting, that he knew nothing about Mel, and that she told Soda quote Two-Bit is more of a brother than that idiot Jason has been or will ever be end quote. I think that might have pissed him off more and then I told him quote now you stop being such a dick and look at what your bitch of a girlfriend did to my baby sister end quote." Two-Bit said then dropped his gaze to his shoes.
"Soda did she really say that about Two-Bit?" Darry asked sitting down in as seat next to Dally across from Steve.
"I don't remember." Soda said. Then it hit me. She had said it about four weeks after her brother ran off.
"Yeah she did about four weeks after Jason ran off to Oklahoma City and Two-Bit was there for her more and more. I remember because I walked in right as she said it. She was sitting on the couch." I said.
"Damn kid how do you remember that?" Dally asked.
"Because it's the only time I can remember Soda's shirt being on the back of the couch like he dropped there instead of tossing it there and missing." I explained.
"Oh now I remember, it was the day she had skipped school and hung out at our house all day. She was alone when I came home early and was really depressed." Soda said thinking back.
"Alright let's see what I can do." Darry said getting up to go try again. This time when he came back he was smiling.
Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow. "Well what did he say this time?" He asked.
"Ya'll can see her just don't say anything about Jenni and we got to find proof that she was abusing Mel." Darry said.
Two-Bit got up and ran down the hallway. "Damn." Dally said but Steve and Soda looked at each other and followed Two-Bit. The rest of us went down to where Two-Bit had disappeared. When I saw her my heart literally stopped for a few seconds. "Damn she's really beat up." Dally muttered.
"Winston..." Jason warned.
"Kick me out I dare you but I have never seen anyone beat up like that from a soc or Shepard. The only person I have ever seen beat up that bad is Johnny after his dad get's to him. Let me tell you something you asshole, Tim may taunt her, he may tease her, he may call her names but I swear to you on my life that Tim Shepard will only hit her once. And then it would only be if she pissed him off, he doesn't make a habit of hitting girls he leaves that to his sister." Dally snapped. Jason looked ready to hit him but instead turned his eyes back to Mel. Two-Bit was sitting on her other side and was whispering to her. I just couldn't look at her anymore.
"Hey Johnny you want to come with me to get some dinner?" I whispered. He nodded. "We'll see you at home Darry." I said walking out the door. We were halfway to the Dingo when we spotted Curly. "Hey Shepard!" I called.
"Curtis, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Curly asked.
"Hey do you know Jenni Thomas?" I asked as we stopped near him.
"Real name's Jennifer but she makes everyone call her Jenni?" He asked.
"Yeah she's dating Jason Whitfield." Johnny said.
"Yeah I know her she's about twenty grew up down near Brumly. Has a bad rep if you talk to any greaser girl that knows her." Curly said.
"Why? She keep taking their guys?"
"No most have big brothers that she's dated or they have friends that have big brothers."
"Why's that give her a bad rep?" I asked.
"Look, wait did you say she was dating Jason Whitfield as in Mel's big brother Jason." Curly said.
"Yeah," I trailed off.
"Damn it if she hurts Mel Angel's gonna be pissed." Curly said.
"She's hurt girls before?" I asked.
"That's what gives her her rep. I've never seen it happen but what I've been told from Angel Jen beats her boyfriend's kid sister to keep her out of the way and then Jen will eventually dump the guy when she finds someone else. She dated Tim while I was in Juvie once and Angel said that Jen started picking on her and abusing her but Angel got smart and told Tim who invited Jen over saying he wanted to see her. When Jen got there Tim was in his room but Jen stopped in Angel's room first to tell her to stay out of the way and Tim just happened to come in right after Jen did and he caught her right in the act of hitting Angel. Tim went ballistic. He couldn't stand it said that me, him, Mel are the only one's allowed to hit Angel without a reason. How is Mel?" Curly asked. As he got to the end of his tale his face clouded with worry.
"Curly I don't know how to break this to you but...well has any girl ever ended up in the hospital because of Jen?" I asked.
"Not that I know of," Curly said.
"That's where Mel is. Jen put her in the hospital but Jason doesn't believe that Jen did it to her." I said.
"Damn it." He mumbled. "Boys I'll be back later something's come up." He hollered back to the group of guys standing behind him.
"Oh Curly it ain't a pretty sight." I said.
"Thanks Ponyboy." Curly said then sauntered in the direction we had come from.
Once we reached the Dingo we ran into Tim and a few of his boys. "Hey Curtis you seen Winston. He owes me."
"He's at the hospital." I answered.
"What happened to him?" Tim asked.
"I said at not in. Mel's the one in the hospital."
"What happened to Mel?" Tim asked. I thought I saw a trace of concern in his eyes but I must have imagined it.
"Jenni Thomas." His entirely gang visually tensed.
"Come on guys we've got to go see someone." Tim barked and they all went to toward the hospital.
"Is it just me or did Mel just get more popular all of a sudden?" I asked Johnny.
"Maybe but then again you know how popular Jason is." Johnny said.
"I guess." I said and we ordered dinner.
Jason's PoV
I seriously hope I'm doing the right thing. I thought as Darrel went out to get the rest of Mel's friends. Two-Bit Mathews was the first one to come in and sit next to her. He was in the same place that he was when I came in a noon. I thought about what he had told me earlier. Was it really true that she didn't think of me as that much of a brother and how could Jen really do this to Mel. I just couldn't believe that last time I talked to Jen she said she liked Mel a lot. I'm just so confused if Mel was awake she could tell me what's going on but all I know is what Two-Bit has told me. Winston's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Damn she's really beat up." Dally muttered.
"Winston..." I warned. He was close to getting kicked out no one will talk to me like that.
"Kick me out I dare you but I have never seen anyone beat up like that from a soc or Shepard. The only person I have ever seen beat up that bad is Johnny after his dad get's to him. Let me tell you something you asshole, Tim may taunt her, he may tease her, he may call her names but I swear to you on my life that Tim Shepard will only hit her once. And then it would only be if she pissed him off, he doesn't make a habit of hitting girls he leaves that to his sister." Dally snapped. I really wanted to hit him but instead I turned my eyes back to Mel.
What sucks is I knew he was right and that means Two-Bit was probably right about Jenni as well. Twenty minutes later I saw a kid with a cat like appearance, dark eyes, and dark hair come in the door. "Who are you?" I asked. The rest didn't seem bothered by him.
"Name's Shepard, Curly Shepard." The boy said.
"Tim's little brother?" I asked.
"Yeah." He said his eyes landing on Mel. "Holy shit Angel's gonna have a fit."
"What's Angela got to do with this?" I snapped.
"Angel is her best female friend I can guarantee you that the moment she walks through that door she'll know exactly what happened without hearing anyone's theories." Curly said. About ten minutes later Tim Shepard walked thought the door.
"Holy shit what hit her?" Tim asked.
"You know by now our theory only Pony would have been able to tell you she was here." Dally answered.
"Hey Winston you owe me." Tim said.
"I know and I'll get it to ya just chill out." Dally snapped.
"Angel needs to know." Curly said.
"I called her and told her Mel was here, she's on her way. Said she was bringing a few of her friends too." Tim answered.
"Hey kids sorry to break this up but it's getting a bit crowded in here we're gonna have to ask no more than seven people in at once." Dr. Toby ordered.
"I ain't going anywhere." I said.
"Me neither." Two-Bit said.
"I'll be back later." Steve said leaning over and kissing Mel's forehead before him, Soda, Darry, and Dally decided to go get some food. That left me, Two-Bit, Tim, Curly, and three of Tim's boys.
"She strikes again." One of his boys muttered.
"How can you be sure?" Tim asked.
"See if she's got that cut." The boy replied. Right as Tim was about to grab the blanket Angel walked through the door.
"Alright I'm here now, someone want to tell me what happened..." She started real fast but slowed down when her eyes landed on the bed. "Damn it, don't tell me Jennifer Thomas has been here." Fire was burning in her eyes.
"That's what Ponyboy said." Tim answered before motioning his boys into the hallway.
"Damn it stop blaming my girlfriend for this or I'll kick you all out of here." I said.
Angel grabbed the blankets and pulled them down to Mel's knees. "I want to show you something." She growled. She lifted up the left side of her skirt to where her panties were just barely visible. "You see this mark?" She questioned showing me a faded scar in the shape of a J.
"Yeah what about it?" I asked.
"I got this scar two days before Tim dumped Jennifer Thomas. I could show you six or more girls with the same scar. Always in the same place, same side, and from same person. Each and every single one of those girls will tell you how Jennifer Thomas, your current girlfriend, left that scar and others while their big brother dated her."
"So that doesn't..." I started but she cut me off.
"Now let me show you something else." Angel said nodding to her two friends. They both showed me the same scar in the same place. "Now lift up your sister's gown and reveal all the evidence you will need that your bitch of a girlfriend is, as everyone told you, beating your sister." Angel demanded. I was hesitant.
"Either you do or I will Whitfield." Tim growled. My hand slowly found its way to the hem of my sister's hospital gown. I swallowed hard and slowly moved it up. I gasped when I stopped right above the spot and saw exactly what Angel said I would, a cut in the shape of a J.
"We all told you what happened and here's your proof. Do something about it or we will forcefully keep you from Mel's side." Angela growled.
"How could she do something like this Jenni said she loved Mel like a little sister?" I said breaking down. Tim ushered everyone out and sat on the edge of Mel's bed facing me.
-That's all for now hope you enjoyed it.-
