Chapter 35

That Sunday was March 30. We were packing up to leave the cabin. Hannah wasn't her happy self, considering the date. She told me that she was going to try to be happy for Ever because it was her twentieth birthday, but the moment she opened her eyes she started to cry. She missed her mother like crazy. They used to do everything together. Sometimes I still couldn't believe she was gone, but it had been three years ago. I wanted to be happy and go out and party with Ever, but I needed to stay with Hannah. Ever had asked Hannah if she wanted her to stay with her, but she told her to go and have fun. I wanted her to ask Hannah to come and party with her, even though I already knew the answer.

After we packed up the cabin we headed back home. I sat in the back of the truck with Hannah and held her. She was letting silent tears run down her face. The hour ride back was very quiet. Pony, Dar, and Jennifer didn't dare to say a word. Ever and Two-Bit left a day before we did because they wanted to move her back into the apartment before we got back. They didn't want to stress Hannah any more than she already was.

Darry dropped me and Hann off at the apartment before he went on home with the other two. There was a package sitting by the door that Ever and Two must have missed. I saw the return address said "Fort Sill, OK". Fort Sill was the military base that I was getting sent to for training. I made sure that Hannah diodn't see the label because she didn't need a reason to be any sadder than she already was. I set the package on the table, and then I dropped the bags off in the living room and tucked Hannah into bed. I knew that she'd be okay tomorrow, but she was emotionally drained. She fell asleep not too long after. I started to unpack. I tried to put the package out of my mind until I was finished.

Around four in the afternoon Ever and Two-Bit came through the front door. I stared at the package in my hands while I was sitting on the couch thinking about opening it, even though I already knew what was inside.

"Hey, Sodapop," Ever said quietly because she knew Hannah was trying to sleep.

"Hey, guys," I replied.

"What's that?" she asked nodding towards the package in my hands.

"My uniform." She got quiet and just stared at it. She changed the subject.

"I'm going to go get Hannah out of bed because she's coming out tonight whether she likes it or not!"

"I dunno if that's a good idea, Evs."

"Um, sometimes you have to push the ones that you love outta bed so that they can have some fun, Sodapop." I followed her into the bedroom and Two trailed in behind me. Ever sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook Hannah awake. She blinked her eyes opened and then stared into Ever's confused.

"Hey, Hann," Ever said softly. "I want you to come out with us tonight."

"N-no," Hannah spluttered.

"Please, Hannah. Remember what you told me on Dal's birthday? The thing that Darry told Ponyboy? You can't stop living because someone dies. For some reason our little seven person family knows that feeling more than most. There is a time and a place for mourning, but that time is over. It's time to have fun, no matter the date and time. Sometimes you need to get up, put on a brave face, dress up like the beautiful woman you are, and have fun. I know that she was your mom, and I know that you loved, and still do love, her. But I know that she would rather you be out there, having fun, than you here crying over her. Please come out with me. You don't have to get shitfaced if you don't want to, and you sure as hell can if that's what suits your fancy! I want my best friend, my sister, out there with me celebrating my twentieth birthday. Please, Hannah." Hannah gulped as Ever waited for her answer. Hannah nodded slightly and sat up to give Ever a hug.

"I'll go, but Ev, I can't drink! I'm pregnant!"

"Oh that's right!" Ever beamed as she stood. "Okay! Now you two fools skedaddle and we'll get ready! Be here at 8!"

"Maybe!" I shot back as she shooed us from the bedroom and out of the front door.

"I think we should be like one minute late just to see what she says!" Two-Bit said as we walked to my truck. I heard the door open and I turned back. Hannah was standing there with her hand on her hip.

"Don't even think about being late, Pepsi-Cola!" She turned on her heels and went back in.

"Well there goes that plan!"

"I would never be late! Ever would kill me!" I said.

"Eh you'd be a'ight!"

When we got back to my house we decided it was too early to get ready so we kicked back and watched I Love Lucy reruns. I couldn't get my mind off of the package. I wasn't ready to leave. I wanted them to say that they sent it to the wrong Sodapop Curtis. I wanted them to say that because I had a kid on the way that I didn't have to go. I didn't want to go to war, ever. I wanted to stay with Hannah and be a family.

At seven-thirty we decided that it would be a good idea to start getting ready. I decided to shave and put very little grease in my hair. I put on a black and cream plaid flannel and an old pair of blue jeans. When I walked out into the living room I saw Two-Bit wearing a dark blue and forest green plaid flannel. I was shocked because he wasn't wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt under it, just a plain white tee. We got into my truck and rode over to the girls' apartment. We were there a minute early so we decided to go up to the door. I waited until eight on the dot to knock on the door. The girls answered in no time flat. Hannah had curled her beautiful golden-blonde hair so that it fell at her waist. Her eyeliner was put on thick as well as her mascara. She wore peach lipstick or lip gloss or whatever girls put on their lips. Her dress was almost as beautiful as her. It was a strapless peach dress. The top half was covered in peach colored gems and the bottom puffed outwards a little. The bottom had the same peach colored gems scattered down it. She was wearing peach stilettos that had peach gems scattered all over them. The heels raised her a little bit higher, but she was still shorter than me. I took a same glance at Ever, enough to see that she straightened her hair and she was wearing the same dress as Hannah, but in gold, and she wore red lip stuff. I gave Hannah a kiss on the cheek and took her hand.

"Oh, yeah!" Ever said. "I forgot to say that I have to drive because I'm the only one who knows where we're going! And we have to take you're truck, Pretty Boy, because my car can't fit us all!" I groaned, but handed over the keys. Hannah gave me a kiss on the cheek and squeezed my hand, reassuring me that she was okay and tonight was going to be fun.