Chapter 29
The next few days Hannah and I spent planning Ever's going away party and helping her pack to leave. Almost every time one cardboard box was sealed or plastic bag tied, another tear was shed from Hannah and Two-Bit's eyes. Don't get me wrong, I was sad that Ever was leaving, but I was excited to finally being able to live with Hannah. I wasn't trying to hurry her out, but I certainly wasn't trying to have her stay. I loved Ever and I wanted her to follow her dreams, and if following them meant me living with Hannah, then so be it! Ever was set to leave in four days on the 30th. I took off work for the week so I could be moral support. On Tuesday, three days before she left, the last box was packed into the car. Hannah started to cry really badly. She started to beg Ever to stay, but she knew she wouldn't win this fight.
"Hannah, you know I can't. Dal's dad already paid and can't get his money back. Plus, this is my dream, I can't give up on it," Ever said sensitively.
"B-but. I…I n-need y-you…" Hannah choked out.
"You have plenty of other people, Hannah, you don't need me." Hannah pulled away from the hug she encased Ever with.
"Yes, I do. I n-need you."
"I can't just stay because you need me! I love you, Hannah, but I can't! I need to live my own damn life and get out of this place, even if it's only for a little while! I can't stay here and be constantly reminded of Dallas! I can't! I have to leave!"
"No! I need you! The boys need you! Two-Bit needs you! Is getting a sheet of paper that says 'Congratulations, you left all of your friends who need you just to practice this shit that you think is important' really this high of a priority for you? Then, fine! Just don't come crying to me when they realize that you aren't worth one shit! Hell, you aren't even worth half of one!" Hannah immediately covered her mouth. When she gets mad, the words that she knows will hurt the most come out of her mouth. Tears started to form in Ever's eyes, unlike the last time they fought, she let them break through. She took the big sister ring off and threw it Hannah and then reached in her pocket. She took a key ring from her pocket that had a broken heart an elephant, Ever's favorite animal, engraved on it and threw it on the ground. Then she took her keys out and took the matching one with a giraffe, Hannah's favorite animal, engraved on it off and dropped it at her feet.
"Thanks for everything guys," Ever stammered as she turned on her heels and ran away. Hannah crumpled to the ground and started to cry. I heard her repeating, "I just want her to stay. I need her. I…I need her…" I tried to put a calming hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged me off.
Ever didn't come home until Wednesday, the night we planned her going away party. When she walked inside she ignored all of my attempts to get her to talk to me.
"Ever, please, please talk to me. Hannah didn't mean that stuff. Really, she didn't. Please, please baby, please talk to me. Say something. Anything."
"Fuck off. I'm not in the mood for this." She turned around and I finally got a good look at her face. She had a black eye and red scratches going down her face. I put my hands on her shoulders and made her look me in the eyes. She tried to get away from me, but I held her firmly.
"Ever, tell me who did this to you." She looked away from me and stopped squirming. "Ever Ann, tell me now." She still didn't answer. "Was it Shepard?" She shook her head and started to cry. "Ever, look at me. Who did it?"
"Sylvia. Sylvia did it. We got into it at the Dingo." Sylvia was one of Dally's side girls that he was with when he and Ever were fighting. Dally wasn't the best boyfriend to her, but he got better towards the end. They were in love and Sylvia tried to break them up more than once. I knew once she said Sylvia that Sylvia made her feel like shit about herself.
"I just want to talk to Hannah, can I do that? Please."
"You can try. She's in the bedroom."
"Is she mad at me?"
"No, but she hasn't stopped beating herself up or crying since it happened." Ever cursed under her breath and I followed her to the bedroom. When Hannah saw Ever she started to cry even harder. I was surprised that she hadn't run out of tears yet. Ever walked over to the bed and hugged her. They seemed to cry into each other for about an eternity. Ever and Hannah knew each other so well that they could have a conversation without saying a word, apparently that went for making up too. When they both pulled themselves together, they released each other.
That night we went to the going away party that was being held at my house for Ever. Halfway through the party Two-Bit and Ever went to my bedroom to say their best goodbye, which I learned from Hannah was only their second time; New Year's being their first. It didn't surprise me all that much, but still did a little. When they rejoined the party I was surprised that her makeup wasn't running and she looked like she did when we first got here.
We got up at six the next morning because Ever was supposed to leave at eight. She got all of her last minute things packed and put in the car. Pony, Darry and Steve got their hugs first. Then I got mine.
"Take care of Hannah, please," she whispered in my ear.
"I will. Take care of yourself."
"I love you, Soda."
"I love you, too." I hugged her tighter because I finally realized how much I wanted her to stay. After a few minutes she said, "Okay, baby, you can let go." Two-Bit got his hug next, he was a crying mess. He kissed her sweetly and hugged her for a while. She tried to soothe him by telling him she'd be home in a little over a month for Spring Break, but there wasn't anything that could calm him. She said something that I hadn't heard before.
"It's okay. Once you graduate you get to come live with me and we can be together. It's gonna be okay." It didn't surprise me, but I didn't want him to go either. Hannah got her hug last and she was sobbing into Ever's shoulder the whole time. I have a feeling that they did another one of their conversations where they speak with no words, without even looking at each other. Then we all gave her a group hug, she told us how much she loved each of us, she got into the car and started to drive away. Two was running after the car and yelling his pleas for her to stay. He dropped to the road after a good ways down it. I could hear the sobs that were racking his body from the apartment. I kept myself together even though I wanted to be there with Two-Bit begging and sobbing. I had to stay strong for the others because even Darry was crying. I would cry later when I was by myself. I went down the road and got Two and brought him back to the house. I got him a glass of water and tucked him into bed. I did the same thing with Ponyboy and Hannah. Steve had gone back to Evie's and Darry was at Jennifer's. I sat at the kitchen table alone and after I was sure they were all asleep, I began to cry. I missed her and she was barely gone. After a while of me weeping I felt a hand come down on my back.
"It's okay, Sodapop," Pony said. He rubbed his hand around my back and repeated, "It's okay, baby, just let it out." I cried for all the times I hadn't. I cried for Ever, for Johnny, for Dally, for Two-Bit. I cried for hours, until I couldn't anymore. When I was completely and totally emotionally drained, Pony tucked me into bed with Hannah. I wrapped my arms around her and fell asleep easily.
