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Along Came a SpiderChapter 12: Question(s)
"I swear I'm fine. Honestly." I say to Caleb's doubtful look. We're presenting our project today in third period, so we're finishing it up now during lunch in the library.
"Didn't seem okay." He mumbles. I sigh irritably, even though I know I can't blame him for being worried. I guess I can't expect other people to drop things as fast as I do.
"Anyways, so the point of our business is to-" I start to go over. Caleb clicks his pen with boredom.
"Caleb, this thing is due next period. We have to present this to the teacher…and the class. You think you can focus for like, ten seconds?" I admonish lightly. He props his head in his hands and smacks hard on his gum.
"Yeah, Yeah. Okay so go on with the point." He tells me. I go over the information we need to have memorized for the project with Caleb vaguely listening.
"What did ya say your other brother was called? Soda?" He interrupts. I place my head on the table and mumble into it.
"He's not called Soda, he's named Soda. Now can we please, for the love of God, move on?" I feel like I'm working with a five year old, with an attention span of thirty seconds.
"Oh yeah. Sorry. And the scary one's Darry?" He says, completely ignoring my plea.
"Yes." I answer. "The scary one is Darry. Now when we get up there, you have to be sure to explain the model. You can't just say this is the entrance, this is the parking lot. You have to actually go over what each part is according to the business."
"Jack thinks Darry is scary too. He told me that he yelled at him over the phone just for calling. Are you sure Darry doesn't have some kind of anger management issues? I mean, like the incredible hulk? He is almost as big…" Caleb says excitedly. I'm so thrilled that you find my family so exciting, I think.
"And then you have to talk about prices. How much it cost to build the business, start it up and stuff-"
"Or like Jekyll and Hyde. He's normal one minute-"
"Caleb, are you even listening to me?" I ask exasperatedly. The bell rings for us to go to class and I groan with impatience.
"Great. So not only did we miss lunch, but we got absolutely nothing done!" I whine, picking up our stuff and heading to class. Caleb runs after me.
"Hey Darry and Scary rhyme! Isn't that cool?"
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"Ponyboy can you stay after class for a minute." Mrs. Cambridge asks. I grit my teeth and nod unwilling. Our project was a complete failure to say the least. Caleb and the rest of the class goes off the forth period, as I pack my things up and remain in my seat.
"Pony-" She starts once the class has emptied.
"I'm sorry about the project." I break in. "We actually did work on it." She looks at me curiously, and then nods, as she understands what I'm saying. She gets up from her desk and sits in the one beside mine, making me extremely uncomfortable.
"No that's not what this is about." She answers. "How have you been lately?" I know that whenever a teacher asks you a question like that, it's never a good thing. I swallow hard and slouch in my seat.
"Fine." I answer curtly. I stare at my desk instead of her.
"I noticed that you were out a few days last week. You were sick?" She questions softly. I inwardly groan, as I understand where this conversation is going.
" My brother got back from Vietnam. He was wounded, but he's okay, and I wanted to be home when he got there." I reply. She looks at me doubtfully, but goes on.
"That's great. I mean, that he's home. Not that he was hurt…my records say that you live with your older brother?" She states in a question form. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, and listen as the late bell rings for forth period.
"Mrs. Cambridge, I really should be going to class now." I tell her.
"I'll write you a pass, don't worry about that. Ponyboy I want you to know that if something is wrong you can tell me. You shouldn't have to-" She informs me seriously. I cut her off by shaking my head and standing up.
"Nothing is wrong. I've got to get to class." I answer angrily. She stands up and touches my shoulder.
"You shouldn't have to be afraid, Pony." She finishes. I slip my bag on my shoulder and jerk away from her.
"Everyone afraid of something, Mrs. Cambridge."
OOoOoOoOoOoOo
Darry is sitting in his truck at the front of the school when it's time to go home. Normally Two-bit is there to pick me up, since Darry doesn't get off until six, so I'm surprised to see Darry waving at me.
"Hey kiddo. How was school?" He asks overly cheerfully. I shift uncomfortably under his gaze, and climb into the passenger seat. He starts up the truck and drives off as I look around for Two-bit.
"Two-bit's with Steve right now, and Soda's at work, so that's why I'm picking you up. I hope that's okay." He tells me, reading my expression. I fumble with the seat belt as I buckle it up.
"Yeah, sure. Of course." I answer. "I could've walked home though."
"Well, Two-bit called me at work and said he wasn't going to be able to pick you and had no way to tell you. I just decided I would get you myself." He tells me as if it was the obvious explanation.
"You've missed a lot of work lately." I state uncaringly. Mainly just to be saying something. It was still a little awkward between us, despite the effort on both our parts.
"Nah. Not too much." He answers. An awkward silence falls between us, and I don't know how to break it.
"How did the project go?" He questions, genuinely interested. One thing that never changed with him was his concern with my grades. I sigh.
"That bad?" He asks amusedly.
"Yeah. That bad." I answer. He passes our street, but answers me before I can ask why.
"The Sooners are playing. I thought maybe we could go see them." I laugh and roll my eyes.
"You had this whole thing planned out." I tell him as if he didn't know. He looks at me mischievously.
"Yeah, maybe a little." He admits.
"Why?" I ask before I can think about it. He looks at me sadly, knowing what I want but not knowing how to give it to me.
"Because I know you like football." He tells me. I shake my head.
"That's not what I mean." I tell him. He nods.
"I know."
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