We didn't get to Ponyboy and Darry like I had planned. Maybe that would have helped my case a little. I thought bitterly and got up. Dallas was already downstairs, passed out drunk with some girl. I desperately tried not to be jealous. I really did, because I had work to do today and everyone was counting on me. I turned around to walk out the Curtis place. Five in the morning. I hadn't been getting sleep. Pictures of electric chairs and of Johnny Cade filled my mind. I could hear haunting screams and I could smell blood. I'd wake up breathing heavy and my head aching. I knocked on the Curtis door and when no one answered I opened it. Yelling could be herd from two blocks over. "Don't tell me what to do, Darry!"
"Maybe if you used your head and thought I wouldn't have to!"
"I do think! I thought when I was talking to Miss Woods! I thought when Johnny got jumped!" Darry and Pony were fighting. I burst through the unlocked door.
"Stop it! Both of you!" I snapped and laid my bag down. I was still in yesterday's clothing, as I didn't bring anything to wear to bed. "Do you both not realize that you will be going on trial today! Not only will you be testifying for your best friend, Johnny, you will be asked questions about your home life and is this what your going to tell them?" I snapped and Darry looked at me and then back at Pony.
"I need to cool off. Robyn, you can get ready here. Ponyboy, go get changed and that hair better be slicked back." I sighed and walked into the bathroom to see the mirror. Sodapop was shaving.
"Hey, Miss Woods." He said and he didn't seem bright and perky like usual.
"Hey, Sodapop. What's up?" I asked, taking out some foundation and dusting it all across my face. He groaned and leaned back into the wall.
"They're always fighting like this." He said. "I tell them to stop but they never listen." I nodded sympathetically. "I don't know if Darry and Pony can do it today." He said and I slung an arm around his shoulder, which was becoming my signature gesture.
"Sodapop, I know how you feel." I said and the bathroom door slammed open.
"Ya walk all the way over here?" A familiar voice asked. I removed my arm from Soda's shoulder and stood up.
"Yes."
"We got to go get Johnny in half a hour hurry your ass up!" Dallas snapped and I sighed, taking the lipstick out and coating it thick on my lips so that they were a deep crimson. Soda started to comb out his gold hair and Dallas walked out. I got in the car and we met Johnny at the jail. I unlocked the cell and Johnny followed me out of the station.
"Today you don't need to say anything." I said. You don't need to say anything tomorrow either. We're done tomorrow and I just want you to sit there and if Wayne says ANYTHING to you IGNORE HIM. Do you understand me, Johnny?" I asked, kneeling down to his level. He nodded.
"Miss Woods, will you be angry if I tell you something?" He asked. I rubbed my neck.
"Geez, kiddo, I guess it depends on what you have to say."
"Mr. Wayne stopped in to see me yesterday." Johnny said. My eyes bulged. What the hell?
"What did he say, baby?" I asked. Johnny started to sob. He collapsed on the ground crying. I'd seen him cry before. He was so weak and so innocent, but somehow this was different.
"Miss Woods-" He cried and I stood agape. I had no idea what to do. I did the only thing natural, after much hesitation. I hugged him close and rubbed his back.
"Oh, honey, you have to tell me what he said." I begged.
"I can't!" He cried. I was going to kill Wayne when we got the court today. I was going to skin him alive and shove his hundred-dollar briefcase up his ass if he said anything to Johnny.
"Come on, sweetie." I coaxed gently.
"He-he-he-he told me that they didn't care! He just said that you only wanted to help me because you needed money! That's not true is it, Miss Woods?" Johnny asked me. I brushed some of the hair from his eyes. He looked younger then sixteen.
"Oh, baby, we care and of course I'm not here for the money! I'm doing the case for free! I'm here because I care." I soothed and helped him stand. Johnny, who had calmed down a bit, got in the car. It was a silent drive except for Johnny and Dallas whispering in the back. We pulled up and I threw the keys to Dallas.
"Where are you going?" Johnny asked. I turned to Dallas and Johnny.
"In to shove his million dollar shoes up his plastically altered ass." I snapped and walked in. Wayne was chatting with another lawyer. I walked over and started tapping my fingers on the counter. They were painted with red nail polish that I had found in the room that Buck rented out. Blood red nail polish. Mr. Wayne's blood. I thought ruefully and Mr. Wayne turned to me.
"Miss Woods! How wonderful to see you. You did a-"
"Cut the crap, Wayne." I snapped and he turned to his partner.
"This is the lawyer doing the murder trial." He drawled. "She's ever so sweet. We'll try to-"
"Look, asshole, I don't know what makes you think that you have the rights to screw with my client's but I could have gone a lot harder on Jared yesterday. Maybe you should look at Johnny from-" I said, my voice getting louder.
"Miss Woods visiting someone in jail is strictly professional. Living with one of your clients =, however, is not."
" I'm a independent lawyer. I'm not part of a firm, what I do on my own time and where I stay doesn't matter. What does matter is what a jerk you're being to my client! Just leave him alone! He's a sixteen year old boy!" I screamed.
"What? Oh, my dear, you want me to leave him alone?" He asked, laughing at me like I was an inferior.
"Yes!" I hollered, but it was to late.
"Judge Terry!" Mr. Wayne exclaimed and walked over to where the woman was standing. I clenched my fists and walked into the courtroom.
"How did it go?" Johnny asked. Dallas was waiting, already seated on the bench.
"Horrible." I snapped. "I freaking hate the god damn asshole!" I snapped and then Johnny and I walked into the court. Terry was soon seated and I was still radiating angry heat.
"Mr. Wayne, you may call up your first witness." Terry said smiling at Wayne. Puke your guts out fest. I thought.
"I'll call Mr. David Young to the stand." He said and the young man stood. He was cute. Really attractive and clean. I'm not going to lie; I could see why they were favored. Not justifying it, but I can see why. He was dressed in a full on suit and tie. His green eyes sparkled and his blonde hair fell just a bit over his eyes. "David, were you their the night your best friend was killed?" I snorted. Was he going to start to sob too?
"I was. Bob didn't do anything wrong."
"Did anyone try to hurt Jonathan Cade?"
"Bob kicked him around a bit, but nothing worthy of the loss of a human life." David said. I'd give it to him so bad. He deserved it to. How can he stand up there and say that?
"So when Johnny pulled a blade did Bob have one?"
"No, Mr. Wayne. He did not."
"Did he pull one after Johnny did?"
"Yes, in self defense." David said and I balled my fists. I was going to cream him.
"Now did you grab Ponyboy Curtis?"
"Yes, but we were only going to cuss him out a bit."
"Did you hurt him?"
"Againe, Mr. Wayne, only a little."
"You just cussed him out a bit."
"Of course. You know what they say; boys will be boys. We were just trying to show them not to pick up our girl. You know how much Bob loved Cherry."
"No further questions, your honor." Wayne said. I got up.
"Jared, you a good boy?"
"I'd like to think so."
"That's not a answer. Do you consider yourself to be a good kid?" I asked againe.
"Yes."
"Good enough to do all of Bob's dirty work?"
"Excuse me, Miss Woods?"
" You heard the question." I snapped.
"I don't understand the question." He stated coldly looking me in the eye. Challenging me to beat him. Challenging me to win.
"A month ago Jonathan Cade took a beating by your friends. Who did the beatings?"
"This is completely out of line-"
"You asked me to clarify the question and I did. Who did the beatings?" "Me and Bob."
"Ok, now let me ask you. Is Jonathan the first greaser you jumped?"
"Mr. Wayne-"
"Is he?"
"No."
"Who does the dirty work for Bob when you jump others?"
"Me." He said and I turned to Judge Terry.
"Yet you've never been arrested?" I asked innocently.
"No."
"Is it because you have all the advantages in society?" I asked and Wayne was glairing at me. A surefire sign I was doing well.
"Yes, but that's-"
"I didn't ask why. What's your answer?"
"Yes."
"Have greasers ever taken time and a sentence for something you did?"
"Yes."
"Now, back to that night. Did you grab Ponyboy Curtis?"
"Yes, but he's a filthy little greaser!" Out burst. I thought. Good for my case.
"That's not what I asked. Right now I don't care. I want to know did you or did you not grab Ponyboy?"
"I did."
"And you dunked his head underwater?"
"Yes."
"So three more seconds of his head underwater and you might be here instead of Johnny."
"Not true!"
"Would you to like me to try to cross file on behalf of Johnny Cade, Ponyboy Curtis, and the other greasers you hurt in your life?" I asked and sat back. I had this in a bag. He was worked up and angry.
"No! I mean that-"
"So you admit to it?"
"Yes."
"Is Bob your friend?" I asked. He nodded. "Do you care about him?"
"Like my own brother."
"Now, I have a question for Mr. Daryl Curtis. I call Mr. Curtis to the stand briefly." I said and Darry stood.
"A month ago Johnny was jumped by the socials. What did you do?"
"Brought him back to our place."
"If something happened to Johnny would you feel at blame?" I asked, Darry answered, just like we practiced.
"Yes. We love the kid like our own brother and when he got jumped we all felt horrible. Dallas brought him back to his place and when he was patched up we all stayed at my house. Soda and Steve took so much time off of work. I couldn't afford to, but every night I stayed awake with the kid."
"Now, let me ask, if Johnny was stabbed by the socials at two thirty in a public park, would you leave him to die?"
"No, of course not!"
"What would you do?"
"Bring him back to my place and see if he was alright."
"Thank you, Daryl. Is that you did, Mr. Young?" I asked and he slammed a fist down on the counter.
"No! We were drunk and scared! You know how we get when we're drunk!"
"No further questions, your honor." I said and shut my notes, sitting down, but I knew that whatever I did it would never be enough. I could nail every cross and my witnesses could give beautiful directs exams; it would never be enough to rise above social classes.
"Attorney Woods, you can call a witness to the stand." Judge Terry said and I nodded at Ponyboy.
"Mr. Ponyboy Curtis." I said and ho rose. "Were you their that night?"
"Yes, Attorney Woods. I was." He said. It took me aback. I'd never seen him with such security or strength. I quickly gained composure.
"Tell me what happened." I commanded and he started. Practice paid off.
"Well, Darry and I got into a fight and I went to get Johnny, who was sleeping in the lot." He paused, like I told him to.
"Why was he staying in the lot?"
"Because his parents knock him around real bad."
"Keep going." I urged and he did.
"We were walking in the park and the socials started to drive up. David grabbed me and dunked my head underwater."
"So he grabbed you before anything happened?" I asked.
"Yes."
" Now, let me ask you, did they cuss you out?"
"Yes, Miss Woods. They called us white trash."
"Objection! Your honor, this is leading and I wish for his testimony to be sustained."
"Accepted. Miss Woods, You're done." I looked around. That was ridiculous.
"Your honor, I-"
"I said your witness has been excused." I nodded at Ponyboy to sit. Wayne was just pissed because we had a good testimony and he didn't.
"Court adjourned for today. Please state the names of your witnesses tomorrow."
"Cherry Valance and Keith Mathews." I said and turned to face Wayne.
"Randall Anderson and Alexandra and Michael Cade." My mouth dropped open. His own parents. His own freaking parents.
"Your honor-"
"I've had enough, Miss Woods!" Terry snapped. I looked at the clock. Late. Terry probably had some social get together to go to where they'd sip coffee and cocktails and think about gold and new movies. We all walked out and I stormed to the car. Dallas got in with Ponyboy, who was being driven home by Dallas, as Darry had a job to get to and Soda and Steve needed to take a late shift. I could tell Dallas was pissed to. The police had come t take Johnny back to the cell and I looked at Dallas. I can't fight with him anymore. I thought.
"Dallas, I'll walk."
"Get in the car, Woods." He snapped. "I don't want to ask againe, you freaking bitch!" He yelled and I turned to him. Pony was shrinking down.
"Just drive! I want to walk! I'll be back at the Curtis place. We can all sleep there." I hollered and he cursed at me some more.
"Get in the god damn car, you stupid slut! You're going to get yourself killed walking the streets alone! Some asshole's going to take you for a stripper and try to get lucky!" He hollered and at first I thought that he was joking, but when I realized how serious he was I got in and we drove. When I got out of the car the first thing I did was make sure Ponyboy was in bed. It was late and Ponyboy, Dallas, and me were the only ones in the house. I knew that everyone would be back close to three in the morning, except for Two-Bit who I had told to get sleep. Dallas walked over to the fridge and popped open a beer. I rolled my head back. It was killing and I had started shaking.
"Dallas, grab me one." I asked and he rolled his eyes.
"Shut your trap." He snapped, but after looking at me passed me a beer. "Just one and I'm driving on the way home." I took the beer and downed it. Dallas slammed the bottle down on the table. "How can they?" He asked. I shrugged.
"I've seen it before."
"What? Parents against their own kids?"
"Yah." I responded, taking another beer from the case. I handed it to Dallas. "Open it for me?" I asked and he sighed. We were both to worked up to do anything else. He cracked it open and I gulped at it. Quite soon bottles and cans littered the floor.
"Iz jus not right, Robyn!" Dallas said, his speech was slurred. "Even afta' the socials beat 'im up reeeeal bad they still kicked the shit oudda him!"
"Dally, I wish I knew why people are such freakin-" Dallas cut me off.
"You know if we lose iz your fault." He snapped. I looked up, drunk or not that hurt.
"Not all, Wayne 'az all the advantages. Terry looooooves him! Did you see them talking!" I asked.
"No, it is your fault. You need to put people up and-and-and-" Dallas started, but threw a bottle across the room. "GOD DAMN IT!" He hollered, standing up.
"Dallas, you need to-"
"No, tomorrow, you need to give it to his parents. You need to cream them worse then you did David. Make them look lie idiot. Make them cry." He said, taking my shoulders.
"Dallas, I'll do the job and no more." I slurred, trying to stand, unsuccessfully.
"What do you mean 'you'll only do the job?'" He asked me.
"I mean 'dat when I go in tomorrow I'm not sayin' shit that is going to get me to lose this god damn case. If that means keepin' my cool with the Cade parents, then I'll do it." I said and Dallas looked at me.
"No, No, NO, NO!" He screamed, smashing another bottle and then knocking books and magazines off of the table. I stood up and grabbed his shoulders. He was breathing heavy and my makeup was running.
"Dallas, calm down!" I yelled. "For god's sake you need to control your temper, god damnit!"
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! YOU'RE SUCH A BITCH! Thaz all your good for! Lookin' at! It IZ your fault if we lose and I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!" He yelled. I was drunk. Scared and drunk.
"THEN YOU'LL NEVER GET SOME!" I screamed and started to sob. "I try everything for you! How can you talk that way to me! Just because-"
"Get out of this house!" He screamed. "And this state, and this country, and never come back! I hope you die alone in the gutter and I hope next time you decided to drink so much you black out, I hope you do it in your own vomit and die!" He screamed.
"You know what, Dallas Winston?" I hollered. "I wish I never came here! I wish that I just stayed in Boston and kept my job! I wish I never saw that god damn newspaper!" I screamed and stumbled out of the house, taking a bottle of beer with me. I walked down the street and drank the beer. If Dallas wanted to be a jerk, that wasn't my problem. I thought. Let him have Sylvia. Let him have any random hooker because I hate him. I thought bitterly and fell of the sidewalk and onto the wet street. Rain had started to come down and I felt sick as hell. I'll head back to Buck's. I thought and prepared to collect myself when a car came screeching down the street. I hauled myself up onto the sidewalk and lay their breathing as the car doubled around and skidded to a halt next to me. I was still on the ground when the driver got out. Randy. I knew him as the boy who would go on tomorrow. David got out the other side.
"Well, look what we have here!" Randy exclaimed and pulled me up. I stumbled backwards.
"D-D-D-Don't you touch me, bastards!" I slurred and they both laughed a cold laugh. Randy pushed me and I toppled over into David.
"Damn! She shouldn't been a lawyer! She's got-"
"Leave me the hell alone!" I yelled in the most intimidating voice I could muster. David delivered a swift punch to my stomach. It knocked the wind out of me.
"Not as touch as she thinks she is! God damn Boston lawyer." Rand taunted and kicked me down. I was on the ground now; to drunk and shaken to get up. I felt the blows being delivered to my body and I finally after a bit of a struggle I was able to get myself up. David grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and thinking fast, I stripped it off, getting a couple of steps. Randy grabbed me and I gasped as I felt a sharp object impale my stomach. I smelt alcohol on someone and it wasn't me. They were drunk and there was no way I was getting out of this alive.
"I'd love to see what those greasers do tomorrow without a lawyer!" David snapped.
"Did ya' kill her?" Another voice asked. Jared. I thought.
"Nah, kiddo, just ruffed her up a bit. Taught her not to mess with us, socials. She deserved it all. She had it coming." David said and I could hear the revving of the engine. I was gasping for air and I felt my lungs starting to fail me. A searing pain was shooting through my stomach and I and hit my head pretty hard to. Breath, Robyn, just breathe. I told myself, but I could feel my breath coming short. No one would come looking for me. I thought. It's over and done for. If they did come. They'd be to late. I thought and grimaced with pain as I thought about what a pathetic fight I put up. It was lame. I thought about the things that I still didn't do. Get Johnny out of this shithole, tell Dallas I liked him, and make up with my mother were only the top three. That'll never happen anymore. I told myself bitterly and then without a fight, passed out in the gutter.