Hey guys, sorry I took so long to update. Since I take 4 highschool classes and 4 college classes my schedule is full and busy. I have not given up on my lovely bones story so just bare with me. I will try to update as soon as possible. Please be patient. The chapters will either be semi-short like this one if I'm updating soon or the chapters will be long which will take some time but will be worth the wait. Please bear with me and review or something so I know you guys are still reading this please. Thank you. Suggestions to make the story better would be helpful too. P.S. . is my new page break
I walked back to the Curtis house after I made my proposal to Kathy.
"Hey, kid," I shouted as I bounded up the porch steps to sit by him on the top step. Ponyboy was lazily smoking a cigarette as a loud shattering sound echoed in the night, accompanied by shouts from inside the house. I heard Darry's booming voice go off.
"I have no idea," Ponyboy said as the noise escalated quickly.
"You ready for that Poker game kid? I must warn you, I play a mean hand at Texas hold em'".
Ponyboy simply smirked and looked at me as he took another drag. I studied him. Ponyboy seems to be doing much better now a days.
"I did it. I proposed to Kathy," I confessed to my friend. I couldn't keep it in any longer. I glanced at my friend.
There was a smile playing on his lips. He didn't look surprised or shocked at all. This shouldn't be a shocker to me either about his behavior. Ponyboy had a way with finding out people's secrets. If someone told him something he wouldn't be surprised in the least. The only people who ever got the drop on him were his family and Johnny (rarely).
"How'd she take it?"
"Surprisingly well actually".
"You don't give her enough credit. She's a smart girl," he grinned and got up. I don't know the exact reason, but our girlfriends seemed to love Ponyboy. Sandy, Evie, Kathy, and Sylvia made it out like he was the most adorable thing in the world back then. But I have my own reasons for loving the kid like a little brother, even though I don't mother hen him.
"You ready for some Poker?" he asked down at me.
"Kid, I'm gonna give you a run for your money". I followed him inside the house.
.
"Nope, I got it," I said as I slammed my cards down on the table. I threw a smirk at the dealer and the rest of the players. "Read it and reap boys, but I got 21". I flaunted my cards in Johnny's face as he laughed and gently shoved me in my chair. My laugh echoed his as I pushed my lost strands of hair behind my eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. You just got lucky you little shit," retorted Steve as he threw his cards down. I just simply smiled at him as I got my cards from the middle of the table.
"Well as great as this has been, I got work in the morning so I'm going to bed now. Congratulations Two-bit and keep it down guys," warned my oldest brother as he got up. Two-bit tipped his hat and Darry in thanks. A chorus of night Darry echoed throughout the house.
"I'm going to go too, catch some action," Dally said as he smirked. He flexed his arms as he walked towards the door. He ruffled my hair on his way out. He motioned for Johnny to follow him out. I gave Johnny a look for leaving me behind with these crazy people. My best friend gave me an apologetic smile and scampered off after Dallas.
"Well I'm gonna go hunt some action. Steve, Soda coming?" Two-bit asked. Steve put on his jacket as he walked out the door.
"Bye kid", he called. I barely had time to return the favor.
Soda gave me a worried look.
"Go, have fun. I'm probably gonna go to the movies anyways". My brother studied me hard.
"Alright have fun. Don't stay out to late". He walked out the door. Walking backwards, Two-bit gave me a smile as he raised his eyebrow. I returned the favor by sending him a wink and a smirk.
I listened to the engine purring as Steve's car left the driveway of my house. I sat still for another 7 seconds. Then like that I snapped back into action. I ran inside my bedroom and scrambled to my desk to get a slip of paper. Ripping the jars from the desk I dumped the contents onto my bed until I found the little slip. I was gonna find the murderer of my parents. I slipped out into the night, leaving Darry and the comfort of my home as I made my way to Buck's.
.
"You got this. This is all on you," coached Steve. Two-bit let out a laugh like a hyena as he took another sip of his beer. He was sitting on the couch along the wall with Steve, Evie, and Kathy.
I lined up my shot as I aimed at the target.
"Eighth in the left corner". It felt like everyone held their breath. Like the air was suddenly sucked from the atmosphere. I let out my air as I shot the ball. I watched the eight ball go toward the corner, and just like that...
"Eighth in the hole. Pay up losers," bellowed Steve.
"WAHOOO!" screeched Two-bit as he raised his beer in the air, then took a huge chug.
Kathy simply smirked as Evie looked disinterested in the whole entire game.
I let a smug smirk tug on my lips as I looked up at my challengers.
"We'll get you next time Curtis," the greaser said with a smirk. His eyes were conniving. He was a tricky fella. He gave me the cash. He swiped back his hair and punched his buddy to let him know they were leaving.
"Well I'll be. Sodapop Curtis," Two-bit said with a Cheshire cat grin. He looked me up and down, his grin never leaving his face. I knew I was going to be the butt of his jokes for a long time after this. Steve stood up and walked towards me.
"Nice going man". We slapped hands as I have him ¼ of the cash.
"Congrats Sodapop," Kathy said with a beaming smile on her face. She was probably the only girl in Tulsa who could handle Two-bit's antics. She grabbed her fiancé's hand and kissed the top of it. He blushed.
"Oh Kath, you're ruining my manly rep".
"Oh glory, what manly rep?" questioned Steve as he sharpened his pool stick, getting ready to take a shot. And just like that, my two friends started arguing as they fought like dogs and cats, comparing their "manly" scores. Kathy and Evie just sighed in unison. I gave them a wry smile saying what can ya do?
"Sodapop Curtis?" a feminine voice asked. I turned around to see a gorgeous girl with blonde hair that curled down her back in golden ringlets. Her sapphire blue eyes stared back into my chocolate brown, like they were searching into my soul.
"Soda?" she questioned. I wonder how she knows my name.
"Can I help you little lady?" I ask politely.
"Soda-," Evie started as she started off the couch. Kathy took on the scene with her moth wide open as she grabbed her small bucket of popcorn and shoved a fistful of it into her mouth as if she were watching a very entertaining movie. The sad thing is, my life is a movie.
"You mean, you don't remember me?" she asked looking crest fallen. "It's only been a year. Look closer," she begged me. I did just that, and I wish I never did.
Two-bit and Steve stopped their bickering as they looked onto the scene. My eyes darted to each of my friend's faces. Then it landed back on the girl.
Steve pointed an accusing finger at the girl.
"What the hell are you doing back here," Steve said in a deadly calm voice. He took a threatening step towards her. Evie stepped in front of Sandy protectively as she challenged her own boyfriend with a look that clearly stated step down. Steve walked beside me, Two-bit taking my other side. Kathy looked on with worried eyes as she didn't know what to do to keep a fight from escalating.
"Wait guys, just hear her out," Evie pleaded but demanded. Her stance firm, ice caramel eyes blazing.
"Why should I give her the right to explain?" I questioned. She broke me, left me like I was nothing but a piece of trash on the sidewalk.
"I need you to hear me out Soda," she begged. I contemplated for a moment.
"Fine, but I want the truth Sandy. Can you handle that?" I asked as my eyes bored straight into hers.
.
I sat down on the chair as I sized the man up in front of me. His black hair was curly and greasy. His large frame looked sullen. His face appeared haggard. I wonder why he had such good looking children. He looked up from this martini glass as he sized me up.
"What the hell do you want kid?" he asked with a slight Russian accent as he was sizing me up good. His cold ice blue eyes glared coldly at me with deadly accuracy. A shiver ran down my frame as I stared into the idiot's eyes.
"You don't remember me do you?" I asked him.
"Should I know you kid?" If only he knew.
"I didn't come all the way down to this bar for nothing," I bit back crossly. "After all, you're the cause my pain and misery right now".
His eyes narrowed on me as he stared me down and focused his intoxicated sight on me. Realization flowed through his eyes, like a light switch being switched on.
"I knew I recognized you from somewhere. Вы - ребенок, который имел обыкновение играть с моими детьми все время," (you're the kid who used to play with my kids all the time)he said.
"Yeah, I am. Do you even know how your kids are doing?" I questioned him. I felt rage course through my veins as I slammed into him and grilled him. "You haven't even seen then in 8 years. How do you think Tim, Curly, and Angela are doing you twisted sick son of a bitch," I screeched at him. My chair slammed to the ground as I stood up fast. The upbeat music canceled out the sounds of reprimanding screams and the chair falling.
He sat up slowly and stared at me. Hatred was pouring out of his eyes and shooting at me like deadly lasers or hydrochloric acid. I should've been afraid. I really should have. There's something about this guy that's off. He's even scarier than Dally.
"I know you didn't come all this way to tell me about my damn sorry excuse for kids. Those brats are trash," he sneered.
"I'm not here to tell you about your kids". My voice was choked. The burning in my throat and eyes was getting worse.
"I hate you. Everything about you. You caused my family and yours to suffer. I want to know why your drunk ass killed my family". My eyes bored into his. His hard exterior wavered for a moment.
"It wasn't my choice". He chugged down his martini and looked me in the eyes. His eyes were full of desperation now, begging me to understand. "I did it for my kids. I had to do it. I needed the money. Paul caught me cheating with his mom and threatened to tell my family unless I did what he asked. I was gonna lose everything, everything. He blackmailed me. He wanted me to scare Darry, just to teach him a little lesson. The original plan was to just bump into the car and give them a scare. I thought your oldest brother was in the car, but it was just your parents. I was so intoxicated, so drunk. My foot hit the acceleration and I sped up the truck. It hit the back of the car and it flipped over. I didn't mean to kill your parents. I just wanted to provide for my family, but my wife found out about my affair anyways. I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry". His expression crumpled completely.
I was shocked speechless. My knees crumpled from underneath me as I took in what he said. A pair of arms caught me as I was free falling towards the ground. I looked up in time to see a fist slam into the side of Mr. Shepherd's face. I looked behind me to see a pair of glazed blue eyes filled with so much sadness and exhaustion staring back at me.
"Hey Curtis," Curly told me as he looked down at me with his sad filled gaze.
"Curly". Tears streamed over my eyes as the man's words finally caught up to me.
I look back up to see a raging Tim standing over his dad who was sporting a broken nose and black shiner. Tim delivered a swift kick to the man's spine as the man cried out in pain. Tim picked up his dad and slammed him into the wall, screaming and cussing the whole way.
Out of nowhere Buck and 5 other greasers came to break it up. I watched Tim scream profanities at his father, kicking and screaming at his restrainers, watched Angela collapse on the floor in wailing anguished sobs of pain as she couldn't fathom what she heard. Curly let me use his leg as a back support in order for me to sit up. My energy filled friend was struggling through his own tears. As I looked at the hard core Shepherd family through teary eyes, I realized this is the first time I've, or anyone's, ever seen them completely shatter and break.
Awww, how was this chapter guys? I enjoyed writing this one so much.
Poor Curtis's and Shepherd's. Their whole world is crashing down right before their very eyes. Tim's dad killed Ponyboy's parents? Sandy's back? Two-bit's drop off dad is back in the family portrait? What do you think will happen next? Stay tuned. Review and tell me what you think and I'll update soon thanks guys.
