Chapter 28: beat the crap out of Steve day
Soda
I couldn't believe my best friend compeletly blew off my little brothers funeral, I knew that the two of them often did not get along but he had told me he would be there. Not to mention the fact that I still did not want to accept the fact that Ponyboy was gone for good. Steve had known how much I needed for him to be there; instead he was out doing who knows what with who knows who instead of supporting his best friend. And I had ended up making a fool of myself. I had been unable to take it when the preacher had said:
"Here lies a young man who once dreamed of getting out of this neighborhood, who dreamed about attending college. Now here lies a young man who cannot dream anymore." I had fallen to my knees and sobbed like a little girl.
Now that I was at home alone in my bedroom, I wished more than ever that my baby brother was alive. The house, my room, everywhere just felt so empty without him, and knowing he would never be here again just made me hurt all the more. I wished I could have protected him from that man and the cruel things that had been done to him. Tears began to fall as I saw the body that was found in our yard only days ago. It seemed like it had been a century but I guess days go by real slow when you hurt real bad.
As the tears continued to fall I buried my face in my hands, I did not want the world to see me fall apart. I just wanted to grieve in peace. Laying down on the bed I turned and buried my face into Ponyboy's pillow. Somethings you just needed to do alone besides I didn't want Steve anywhere near me.
Darry's
We had just arrived home from the funeral, and as soon as we got there, Soda headed to his room and I headed to mine. I didn't want Soda to see how much I was hurting right now, because I didn't want him to think of me as being weak for not being able to hold my tears.
Laying down on my bed I stared up at the ceiling. My heart felt like it had been torn into two pieces and then smashed into tiny bits. It wasn't fair that my family had to lose so much and I couldn't stop it from happening. Maybe Soda and Ponyboy would have been better off in a boy's home, Ponyboy would still be alive and Soda wouldn't be hurt over something his best friend had done. Just the thought of Steve made me angry. Steve had known the funeral was going to be rough on Soda yet he didn't bother to even show up. What kind of friend was that? I wondered what lame excuse he would use this time.
Sitting up on the bed, I heard a noise come from Soda's bedroom. When it continued I got up and walked into the room to find Soda with his face buried into Ponyboy's pillow sobbing his heart out. I walked over and gently placed my hand on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay Soda" I said gently "it won't hurt like this always"
Soda looked at me his eyes red from crying he asked me:
"How do you know its going to be okay?"
"Because in the end everything works out the way it should."
"Ponyboy should be alive" Soda muttered.
Johnny
The funeral had ended twenty minutes ago and once again I found myself in the adbandoned lot. I know the funeral was a chance to say a final goodbye to my best friend but I couldn't explain it when I looked at the body. I had the weirdest feeling like maybe it wasn't my best friend lying there. I don't know how it couldn't have been they looked exactly alike.
From the church I had returned to the lot, I didn't want to be in Darry's and Soda's way especially right now with them grieving and no doubt Soda would be angry at Steve for not showing up. Laying down on my back I stared up at the sky I wondered what was so important that to Steve that he didn't come. I hoped his dad hadn't beaten him again. Then again for Steve's sake I hoped it was something serious cause Soda was going to kill him then he wouldn't ever speak to him again.
I closed my eyes and tried to push the image of the body lying in the coffin out of my head. Tears slowly slipped under my closed lids why did my best friend have to be the one who witnessed his parents murders. Why did my best friend have to be dead.
Two-Bit
Once the funeral was ovewr I headed straight to Bucks, I needed to get drunk, in fact I kinda wished I had been drunk for the funeral. Maybe then it would have been a little bit easier on me. Staring into my beer I thought how I had never been good at heartbreak and this was what I was dealing with now. I had adored the kid there was just something special about him. A light when everything was dark kinda thing.
Raising my glass to my lips I took a sip, when I felt the tears start to fall I decided that maybe it would be better if I got drunk by myself. I stood and stumbled out the door and right before I left the building I saw Dally who was so drunk he could barely stand. I shook my head Dally would act like nothing had happened. I left and headed out into the night air as I walked I couldn't get Soda out of my head. He had broken down and bawled at the funeral. I felt bad for him and Darry both but more so for Soda, cause it seemed that Ponyboy and Soda were a whole lot closer than Ponyboy and Darry.
When I reached my house I saw Steve standing on my porch and it looked like he had a lot of blood on his shirt.
"What do you want?" I slurred none too pleased to see him.
"Ponyboy is not dead" Steve said I turned around and glared at him.
"Yes, he is we buried him today" I said "where were you?"
"I know you're angry because I didn't show up, but I'm not lying Ponyboy is not dead whoever you buried today was not Ponyboy." Steve pleaded with me, I only continued to glare.
"Yeah right" I muttered.
"Ponyboy is in critical condition in the hospital" Steve tried again, this time I swung a hard right hook and landed one right on Steve's jaw.
"Ponyboy is not alive" I shouted at him.
thanks for all of the reviews i hope you enjoy this chapter and remember it won't always be so depressing. lizzieten
