(A/N: I guess I'm on a roll now. Heh. I'll try to keep the chapter coming as quick as I can. Btw, I really only had writer's block for that last chapter. I kinda skipped around and wrote some stuff for the future of the story. I think it's gunna be good. If you've read "That Was Then, This Is Now" you'll understand a part that's in this chapter. And other parts of the later story. I'll stop giving hints now.)
Chapter 9
The next afternoon, Friday, Dally and Tim were sitting on the front porch of the Curtis house when Rae and Ponyboy arrived. They all looked at each other, then Dally turned to Tim.
"Thanks, man," he said. Tim nodded, stood up, and walked away without another word. "Hey, kids."
"Hi Dally!" Rae exclaimed, with a smile.
"Happy today?" he asked, watching her walk up the steps to him and sit down. She nodded. He was glad, but didn't show it. Ponyboy went past them and into the house. Dally looked at his younger sister, with a serious look. "Soda told me about your teacher." Rae's smile slowly disappeared.
"Yeah. We don't know what to do about it," Rae said, looking down at the books sitting in hr lap. "I threatened him. Then, Darry told us that all we could really do was to wait and see what happens."
"He's right, you know. We've all got to start being careful, too. But, if anyone gives you any more trouble like that, you tell me, alright?" Dally said, looked at her. She nodded. "Hey, don't look so down, little sis. It'll get better. And Time said Curly was coming to see you today, when he was finished with his business." Rae's expression didn't change, even at the mention of Curly's name. "Tim said he should be down here within an hour or two." She shrugged, still clearly upset. Dally sighed and put an arm around her shoulders. "You'll be okay, Rae," he tried to say, gently. "Now, get inside and do your homework." Rae immediately got up and left her brother alone. As soon as she was inside, she pulled the thin ponytail holder out of her hair and let it fall around her shoulders. The cut on the back of her head had scabbed over and her hair didn't bother it anymore. She still had the bandaged on her hand and over her cheeks. Rae put her books on the couch and took her pencil out of her back pocket. Then, she sat next to her books, propped her feet up on the coffee table, and began her homework. The next hour passed by, slowly.
"Rae?" Ponyboy's voice sounded. He peered out from behind the corner. She had just finished the last of her work and was setting it aside. She looked at her friend.
"Yeah?"
"Could you help me with my English?" he asked. She smiled and got up. English. Her specialty.
"Sure," she replied. Rae followed her friend back to the room he shared with his older brother. He sat down at the desk and she looked over his shoulder. He had to do a multiple choice worksheet. For the next twenty minutes, Rae helped him by explaining things out. "You good now?"
"Yeah, thanks," Pony said, with a nod. Rae turned to go out of the room, but she saw Curly standing in the doorway, and abruptly stopped.
"I never knew you were so smart," he said, with a smile. She smiled as well and he held out his arms. Rae ran into them and they hugged in the open doorway for a few minutes. When they let go of each other, Curly took her chin in his hand and moved her head around to inspect her face. "Got roughed up a bit, I see. By who?"
"Few Socs." He looked down at her hand and held it up.
"And what happened here?" She took him to the front room and explained. "Well, you have always been tough," he commented, when she finished her story.
"So, what kind of business did you have to attend to this time?" Rae asked, getting away from the other subject.
"Some boy named Mark Jennings was giving Angel a hard time," he answered. She nodded, and wanted to shudder. Angel- or Angela- Shepard was Curly's sister. Rae didn't know her too well, and didn't really mind that. They both sat quietly for a few minutes. "Tim told me 'bout your teacher."
"How'd he find out?" Rae asked, curiously.
"Dally, probably. Tim said he was here when you and Ponyboy got home."
"Yeah, he was." There was an awkward silence.
"If you need me to rough up anybody for you, just-"
"No. Not now. I think I scared him pretty good," she said, cutting him off. "He won't tell for a while." Curly nodded, satisfied with what he heard.
"Good girl," he said, with a smile. The phone rang. Before Rae could get up, Ponyboy was in the kitchen, phone in hand.
"Hello?" he answered it. "Oh, hey, Darry. Right." He paused, listening to his oldest brother. "Alright. See you." Pony hung up the phone and looked at Rae. "Darry is going to be home late and wanted to know if you could make dinner." Rae shrugged and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess," she answered. Curly looked at her, amused.
"You can cook too?" he asked his girl.
"Only a little," she said, blushing a bit.
"Darry said if you needed to buy anything, there's some money on his dresser," Ponyboy added.
"Thanks. What do you guys want?" Rae asked, standing up. She looked at Ponyboy, who shrugged. "Well, that doesn't help." She sighed. "I guess I could just make some hamburgers."
"That'll work for me," Pony said.
"Tim's expecting me back soon. I really shouldn't stay," Curly said. Rae looked disappointed. "Sorry, Rae." She shrugged.
"Don't worry about it. I'll just have to take Pony to the store with me." Curly nodded.
"Alright. I'll be back when I can," he said and kissed Raelee.
"See ya," she said, hugging him tightly. When she let go, he waved and flew out the front door. Pony had disappeared while the two were saying their goodbyes. He now came back to Rae's side, holding some money.
"Let's go," he said. Rae nodded, grabbed her jacket, and left with Ponyboy for the grocery store. It was chilly outside, so she flipped the collar of her jean jacket up and buttoned it. Pony zipped his sweatshirt up.
When they got to the store, there weren't many people there. The two got tons of beef out of the refrigerated section, since all the guys ate like horses. They also grabbed some vegetables and then went to the front register. They had to wait for another lady to get checked out before it was their turn. While waiting, Rae's eyes glazed over and she spaced out for a few seconds. Ponyboy looked at her.
"Rae?" When she didn't move, he nudged her, and she instantly came back to the present with a slight jump.
"Huh?" She looked over at her friend.
"What were you thinking about?" he asked.
"Why do you think they call them 'hamburgers'?" Raelee asked. Ponyboy stared at her as if he hadn't heard her. She gave the food to the cash register man.
"Yeah. I mean, isn't 'ham' pig?" Pony rolled his eyes. Rae thought for another few seconds. "Maybe they used to be made of ham but then it changed to beef?"
"Leave it alone, Rae," Ponyboy said to his older friend. He paid the man at the register and helped Rae with the bags.
"We'd better walk fast. All of 'em will be over tonight, and soon, I presume," Rae stated. She was silent for a moment. "Boys galore!" Ponyboy let out a chuckle.
"Right." They were quiet, but quickened their pace a bit.
"What do you want to do with your life, Pony?" Rae asked, suddenly serious. She was looking up at the sky. He looked at her for a second, then sighed.
"I don't know yet," he said. "Darry wants to send me to college. Maybe I'll study to be a teacher or something. I'm pretty smart." Rae nodded. "What about you?"
"I think I'll marry Curly Shepard," she said, quickly, as if expecting him to ask. "If he want to, of course." Pony nodded. "I'm not quite sure what kind of job I would ever want. I'd rather just stay at home, I think."
"Well, it's a good thing you can cook!" he exclaimed. They both laughed and kept on walking.
