Helloooo, lovelies :)
She's a Handsome Woman Ch. 10
Grace hasn't come out of her room for a week.
She won't accept any visitors, only letting Ponyboy and Soda in when she's asleep (and Johnny's isn't sure that she would if she was awake.)
Soda and Pony have been trying to talk to her all week, but she won't even say anything. After their little group hug she had gone into her room-and she hasn't come out since.
Johnny thinks that she needs her time . . . but a whole week? He isn't even sure she's eaten anything.
Right now he' s rolling home from school, a suicidal, idiotic move (or at least that's what the Curtis's said.) But Darry had to work late today, and now Johnny is lying out like Soc bait. It should be less than a week now until he gets out of the chair; he's not supposed to even try to walk before then.
"Damn it!" he yells to no one when his wheel gets stuck. He jimmies it a few times, and he sees that a rock is wedged in between the rubber and the actual metal circle-how the hell did that happen? he thinks. The rock is too big to get out by shaking the wheel, so Johnny leans over to pull it out.
He knows it's a bad idea when he feels the chair begin to teeter on the edge. He braces himself, but the hard, jarring fall never comes. He looks up, and sees his savior.
Grace, looking bedraggled and sad, pulls him back to the sitting position in silence. She leans over and pulls the rock from the wheel. Johnny is envious when she does this- and a bit ashamed. He can't even pull a damn rock out from under his wheelchair.
She looks at him one more time, and starts back toward the Curtis home, no explanation, no conversation.
"Grace!" he yells to her. She stops, but doesn't turn around.
He begins to wheel towards her. "Grace!"
She turns this time. He rolls up to her.
"What is it, Johnny?" her voice isn't cold, like he expected; more pleading than anything.
"You need to get out of this funk," he says. "You've been in your room all week, and you won't talk to anyone." She walks towards him slowly, but he doesn't notice.
His tone is hushed. "I'm worried about you, Grace."
"Thank you," she says quietly. "For worrying, I mean." She stops and chokes back a sob. "I'm such a slut!"
"Grace!" Johnny exclaims, and grabs her arms. "No you're not! Those guys took advantage of you."
Her crying is real now. She nods her head and mutters, "I am."
Not even caring, he pulls her down into his lap and cradles her, telling her she's not.She stays, and laces her fingers through his.
So here they are.
Anyone walking through right now would turn up their nose, but in truth all it is is a crippled greaser trying to comfort his best friend's sister.
Sorry for taking so long. I've had a bad, shocking week.