Chapter Fourteen
The recovering and New Family
(June's POV)
I woke up early and found myself on the couch and Two-Bit in Darry's chair snoring. Standing up from the couch I went into the kitchen. Opening the icebox I took out some orange juice and grapes. Sitting down at the table I silently ate my breakfast until Two-Bit walked in.
"Morning June." He greeted.
"Morning Two-Bit. How'd you sleep?" I asked.
"Good. You okay?" Two-Bit asked sitting down next to me.
"Yeah, I'm okay." I said. "I'm surprisingly okay." I smiled at Two-Bit and he returned the smile with one of his famous grins.
"Well, well, well. Look who's up!" Two-Bit said with the grin planted on his face.
"I didn't sleep that late! How are you June?" Ryan said and took the other seat besides me.
"That's good. What's for breakfast? I'm starving!" Two-Bit asked.
"Two-Bit your always hungry!" I said back at him. "Whatever you can find because I'm not cooking." I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in the seat.
"Damn girl! Your stubborn!" Two-Bit said.
"And your lazier then shit could be!" I said back.
"At least I'm not little. Girl!" He said pretending to be mad. This was kind of fun but the whole 'girl' thing wasn't. I marched up and grabbed his ear and yanked it downward.
"Girl? I may be a girl but I'm not little and I have a name Keith!" I said yanking my hand to the floor making him fall to the ground "Now what's my name?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"June! AHH! LET GO!" He screamed and I brought him up and I let go and he fell to the floor with a thud. He stood up holding his ear.
"Have you learned not to piss her off yet?" Ryan asked.
"Apparently not considering he still does." We looked over and saw a grinning Steve in the doorway. "Did Darry or Soda call yet?" He asked and we shook our heads no.
"Yeah he'll call and if he can take Pony home today then they'll drive him home." Two-Bit explained still holding his ear.
"Um Two-bit?" I asked.
"Yeah?"
"We have the car dumb ass!" I said loudly.
"Oh yeah. I forgot." He said.
"Certo." I said and Two-Bit and Steve looked confused. "It's Italian and I'm not explaining it cause then it's no fun to use on you guys." I smiled and left the kitchen and went to my bedroom to change. I wasn't as sore as yesterday and could wear jeans and a black T-shirt with a jacket. I grabbed my cloths and went into the bathroom to take a shower.
When I came out of the bathroom changed in my cloths. (I wasn't about to walk out in just a towel) I borrowed the boy's hair dryer and blow dried my hair so it wasn't dripping wet and mostly dry, which took forever. I brushed through my hair and looked in the mirror that was in the room.
I looked okay enough. Then I added my denim jacket and straightened my hair a little bit and decided I didn't like it so I put it in two braids and they hung down my back. I looked in the mirror again and thought it was a little better then before. There was a knock at my door.
"Yeah!" I called.
"That was Darry! We need to go pick them up! Now hurry up! Your taking as long as Soda!" Steve said through the door and I grabbed my black converse and put them on and went into the living room. "All that time for jeans and a T-shirt?" Steve asked and I walked up and punched him hard in the arm. "Oww!" He rubbed his arm.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Hang on Two-Bits in the bathroom." Ryan pointed out.
"So why did you rush me Steve if Two-Bit is in the bathroom?" I asked
"Because you were drying your hair for a half hour!" He said.
"I happen to have thick hair and it takes longer to dry. I'm sorry for not wanting to be wearing wet cloths! And since your hair is short it doesn't get on your cloths easily." I said and crossed my arms again.
"Alright let's go and get the Curtis's!" Two-Bit shouted as he left the bathroom and we followed in the truck and Steve went in his own car and had to go to work.
When we reached the hospital we parked the car and went through the front doors. We walked up to Pony's room and Soda was sitting by Pony looking very tired.
"Hey Soda." I walked up to him. "You okay?" I asked.
"Hey June. I'm fine, It's just Ponyboy I'm worried about. Darry's filling out his release forms."
"He'll be okay Sodapop. I promise you that he will." I put my arm around his shoulders and gave him a hug. The sheets started to stir a little bit and Pony had a look of horror on his face. I let go of Soda so he could get closer to Pony.
"Ponyboy Shh. It's going to be alright baby." Soda cooed and he hugged Ponyboy.
"Is he okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. Just having a nightmare is all." Steve said. "He'll be okay." I looked at Pony who started yelling and mumbling stuff I couldn't understand.
"Johnny!" He yelled and the look on his face was pure horror. Pony's face was pale and sweat was on his forehead and dripping down his cheeks. Soda got on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around his little brother and rocked him back and forth for a minuet or two and Pony calmed down and went back to sleep. Then Soda sat back in the chair and sighed.
"He's all signed out and is ready to go home." Darry said walking in the room. He picked up Ponyboy from the bed after the nurses detached him from the machines and we went out to the truck. I sat in the truck bed and stayed quiet the whole ride home.
We reached the Curtis's house in a few minuets. I jumped out of the truck bed and walked inside the house and held the door open for everybody. After I closed the door I watched Darry carry Pony to his and Soda's room with Soda behind him. I took a spot on the couch and grabbed the TV remote and flipped on through the channels and didn't find anything so I gave the remote to Two-Bit.
"Here, There's nothing on." I said and went for a glass of water and returned to the living room and sat on the floor. Two-Bit put on Mickey Mouse and we watched the TV until Darry walked out.
"June." He motioned me to follow him and I did. We went into my room and closed the door. He motioned me to the bed and I sat next to him.
"June we are going to have to make funeral arrangements for Johnny and Dally, but I just want to talk to you about Johnny right now since your parents wont do anything." Darry said.
"No. I don't want to do any planning without seeing what my parents are doing." I said not knowing what I was saying.
"June, They came by the hospital last night and said they weren't going to make arrangements and I stepped in and said that I will. I know this is hard for you but he deserves it." Darry put a hand on my shoulder.
"Okay, I'll do it. What do we have to do?" I asked and looked at him.
"Where do you want him to be buried? St. Elizabeth's or Tulsa Cemetery?" He asked,
"Tulsa Cemetery. He grew up here so it sounds right." I said. "Your right though Darry. He deserves to be put to rest."
"When do you want to have it?" He asked.
"Next weekend, is probably the best. What happens at a funeral Darry? I've never been to one." I said and looked down in shame.
"Don't be embarrassed. It's a service putting a person it his/her resting place. Do you have any black outfits that aren't jeans?" He asked and I shook my head no. "I'll take you to get something okay?" I nodded. "So I'll call the church and see if I can make funeral arrangements for this weekend okay?"
"Okay. Darry?" I asked.
"Yeah?"
"What do I do now? I came here to be with my real family but my parents don't want me and I lost Johnny." I looked up at Darry.
"You can continue to live here. I'm not going to throw a girl on the street with nowhere to go and when our social worker comes by we'll hide your stuff and you can go out for the day with Two-Bit while she's gone. Nobody will know besides the gang." Darry said.
"Thanks Darry."
"On one condition June." He said. There is always a catch isn't there?
"Yeah?"
"You go back to school and get an education. You will have to go to the local High School."
"Okay Darry. When do I have to start?" I asked. Going back to school? That wasn't to bad was it?
"Next week will be fine considering its still fall you didn't miss that much." He said. "I'll call the school to let them know."
"Can you get adoption papers?" I asked.
"Yeah. Why?" He looked confused.
"Why don't you just adopt me? That way you wont get in trouble with the state for hiding a minor here and you'll be my legal guardian. Considering I'm technically an orphan right now." He smiled at me.
"I can do that. Are you sure this is what you want to do?" I nodded. "I'll call the social worker and see what I can do okay?" I nodded again.
"Thanks Darry."
"Your welcome." I walked back into the living room and Darry went to start with the funeral arrangements and to call the social worker.
"What Darry want?" Two-Bit asked.
"To make funeral arrangements and I'm going back to school and Darry's going to try to adopt me considering I don't have parents." I explained and watched the TV again. About an hour later Darry returned from the phone.
"June. My social worker will come by and want to meet you on Monday and to get all of the forms filled out and the funeral home has made the arrangements for next Saturday at eleven o'clock in the morning. I can take you to get something. Ryan, I'm sure on of the boys can lend you something If you wanted to go." Darry explained.
"I'm going and thanks." Darry nodded and sat down.
A few days passed and Pony didn't wake up yet. Soda and Darry were worried. Ryan got a job while Steve and Two-Bit went back to school. Today was the day that the social worker was coming to meet me. I was searching around my room for nice cloths but I couldn't find anything. Leaving my room I found Darry.
"Hey Darry? You don't happen to have any of your mothers old cloths? I can't find anything for this afternoon." He looked at me and then smiled and lead me into the basement. I watched him pull out a box and carry it upstairs.
"This is all of my moms old stuff. I think this would be good for you." He pulled out a yellow sundress and white sandals and handed it to me.
"Thanks Darry."
"No problem kiddo. Now go and finish getting ready, she'll be here soon." I went back to my room.
Taking off my shirt and jeans I slipped the dress over my head and straighten it out. Taking off my converse and socks I slipped into the sandals. Snapping the buckle's shut I stood up and went to the my dresser and put my hair in a half up and half down hair style. I then straightened my hair. Going over to the mirror I looked at myself and I thought I looked good.
Opening my door I went into the living room and sat down on the coach until I heard a knock at the door. I watched Darry walk over to the door and open it.
"Hi Mrs. Neill! Please come in." Darry said and held the door open wider for her to enter.
"Good afternoon Darrel." I stood up. "And you must be June?" She asked extending her hand.
"Yes ma'am. Nice to meet you." I shook her hand lightly and smiled.
"Would you like a drink Mrs. Neill?" Darry asked.
"No thank you. Let's just get down to business please." She said and Darry lead us into the kitchen and we sat down at the table. "So Darrel, you wish to adopt this young lady?"
"Yes ma'am I do. I will take complete responsibility of her. June will be attending the local High school next week, I have already talked to her principle."
"What do you think about living with Darrel, June?" She asked.
"I would love to live here with Darry and his brothers. They care so much and look out for me. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else." I explained.
"Well, if this is what you guys would like to do then Darrel you'll have to fill these forms out. I'll be checking in in a few more weeks for your brothers and when I do that I'll check on June as well okay?" We nodded and Darry finished filling out the forms and handed them to her.
"I'll see you all next month. Good bye."
"Bye!" We both said after her.
"How can I ever thank you Darry?" I said and hugged him.
"Stay in school and do your best. Stay out of trouble with the police as well." Darry said and I nodded.
"I will Darry. How's Ponyboy doing?" I asked.
"The same but I think he'll come around soon. Now we are going to need to get you school stuff and an outfit for the funeral. Do you want to go later on when Soda gets home or now?" He asked
"Can I go later? I haven't hung out with Soda in a while maybe this'll be a good time."
"Sure. I'll write a list for you to get what you need. Soda can help you with the cloths." Darry said and we sat down on the couch and watched TV. I looked at the end table and saw the Harry Potter books. Smiling I picked up one and began reading.
The door opened and Soda walked through covered in the smell of gasoline.
"Soda I need you to take June to the store. Get cleaned up first though." Darry said and I put the book back down. Soda left for the bathroom and I heard the shower running. "Here June. This is what the school said to get for your classes." He handed me a list.
History:
1 folder
1 notebook
English:
1 inch binder
Paper
4 dividers
1 folder
Science:
1 inch binder
Paper
2 dividers
Math:
1 inch binder
2 dividers
Calculator
General:
Pencils
Highlighters
Index cards
Dry erase markers
Post-it notes.
"Thanks Darry." I said looking at him.
"Your welcome. You'll need a backpack as well." I nodded. "SODA HURRY UP! I DON'T WANT THE STORE TO CLOSE!" He shouted and Soda came out.
"Sorry. You ready?" Soda asked me and I nodded as we left. We got into the truck and drove down to the store.
"How was work?" I asked.
"A little slow today, but only because it's Monday and a lot of the kids are at school. How did it go with Mrs. Neill?" He asked.
"It went great! Darry was able to get the adoption forms and everything. So are you technically my Uncle now?" I asked and he laughed.
"I guess so." He parked the car and we went inside. I handed him the paper and watched him read it.
"Darry says I'll need a backpack and something for the funeral on Saturday." I said and we grabbed a shopping cart. Following Soda down to the aisle with school supplies. I looked for a second and grabbed a green folder and notebook for history, a yellow binder and folder for science, a blue binder for math, and a purple binder (I ALWAYS have a purple and blue math binders) and folder for English. I also grabbed a pack of eight dividers, highlighters, pencils, index cards, dry erase markers, and post-it notes. I also grabbed two packs of paper. At the end of the aisle were backpacks. I found a cheap bag and put it in the cart. The last thing I grabbed was a calculator.
"Now all we need to get is your cloths." Soda smiled and went over to the teens section for girls. I looked for a few minuets and got kind of confused.
"Hey Soda, Can you help me find something?" I asked and he walked over and went through the cloths.
"Here's something." He said and held up a black dress with a tank top type straps and it would go down to my knees. It puffed out a tiny bit towards the bottom. I went over and found my size and put it in the shopping cart. "Now you just need shoes, right?" I nodded and we went over by the shoes.
I found a pair of simple of shoes with small heels and a strap ran above my ankle. Grabbing my size I put them in the cart and we went to go and pay.
"Your total is $38.93." Soda gave her the money. "Your change is $1.07, thank you have a nice day."
"Thanks you too." Soda said and we went to the car to put the stuff in the back and hopped in the front.
"Thanks Soda." I said.
"Your welcome kiddo. Just try your best and welcome to the family." He messed up my hair.
"Hey!" I said fixing my hair in the mirror. "Can I still just call you Soda? Uncle Soda may seem…awkward." He looked at me.
"Call me whatever you want to June. It's up to you." He smiled his famous grin and when he does you just have to smile back at him. "Lets say we get back before Darry has a fit." I nodded and he pulled out of the spot and we started home.
"Soda?" I asked.
"Hmm?"
"Do I have to call Darry 'Dad'? Would be right if I did?" I asked.
"You'll have to talk to Darry about that. He is your father now right?" He asked.
"I guess. I'm just not sure right now. If I should call him Dad and to call you and Pony, Uncle." I said and looked out the window.
"Talk to Darry when we get home. I'm sure he'll know what to say. Don't worry about anything June. It'll all work out I promise." He continued to drive on and we road in silence the rest of the way home. Opening the door I grabbed the bags and followed Soda into the house.
"Hey guys. You get what you need?" Darry asked.
"Yeah." I said putting the bag on the table. "Darry? Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can. What is it?"
"On our way home I was thinking. Should I call you Dad or Darry? Pony and Soda Uncle? I'm not sure what to call you guys." I looked up to see him grinning.
"You can call me Darry. You're my friend and daughter, but I don't expect you to feel obligated to call me Dad or Soda and Pony Uncle." I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks Darry. I just wasn't sure."
"Its okay, now go and get cleaned up for dinner and bed." He said and I went to my room and put on my pajama's and walked out to the living room. Two-Bit was there watching TV.
"Well it looks like the Curtis trio grew added one more person to the group eh?" He said smiling and he messed up my hair as well.
(Soda's POV)
We got back from the store and I went to the kitchen to help Darry finish Dinner.
"How much did you spend?" He asked.
"About forty dollars. That was all I had, sorry Dar." I said.
"That's okay. It was a bit more the you should've spent but we'll make ends." He put a hand on my shoulder. He went back to making dinner. I went back to Pony's room and went over to the bed sitting down on the edge of it. The sheets stirred and I looked over and saw Pony's eye's flutter open.
"Soda? Is somebody sick?" Ponyboy asked me.
"Yeah somebody's sick. Now hush up will you honey?" I told him and he looked back at me.
"Soda? Am I sick?" He asked.
"Yeah your sick." I pushed his hair back and hoped he was going to go back to sleep.
"Is Darry sorry I'm sick?" He asked.
"Yeah he's sorry your sick. Now go back to sleep." I said and his eyelids went down slowly and he was back asleep. "Good thing he fell back asleep." I said and walked out of the room and went into the kitchen.
"Anything?" Darry asked and June looked up at me from the table.
"Yeah. He was awake for a minuet or two." I said smiling.
"Really? Is he still up?" Darry asked and turned around to face me. June looked at me surprised.
"No Dar. I told him to go back to sleep." I sat down next to June and Darry placed the dinner out for us.
"Ok. I'm going to stay home with him tomorrow Soda. June you start school tomorrow, so bed early tonight understand?" Darry asked and she nodded. "Soda you have work?" Darry looked at me.
"Yeah but not until noon." I said and we all returned to our plates. We ate with very little conversation besides the normal 'how was your day?' stuff.
Darry cleared the table and June went to get ready for tomorrow while I watched TV.
(June's POV)
I walked into my bedroom and closed the door, not wanting anybody to barge in while I was picking out something for tomorrow. The only kind of cloths I had were jeans, different colored t-shirts (mostly black) and a couple of button up shirts, with the few nice outfits I owned but didn't really wear often. So I walk over and open up my closet, going through my cloths and I finally choose one. I took the hangers out of my closet and hung them on one of the hooks that were on the wall. Putting together my school stuff and writing out labels, making sure everything looked nice and neat. This took awhile and when I was finished I put my backpack over in the corner and checked the clock.
"Shit!" I said, because it was quarter to ten and I had to be up and 6:30. Without a second thought I got into bed and turned out my lights and slowly drifting to sleep.
Hey all! I'm really sorry how long it's taken for me to update, but I have a computer for now! We will hopefully be getting a laptop again soon! So here's chapter 14, how will school go for June? Will she become closer with a certain member of the gang? Well. . . .you'll find out in the next few chapters. A New Start is starting to come top an end.