Chapter forty-five:
Finally
"Tore, you hungry?" Steve asked shaking my arm.
"Yeah, what's up?" I asked looking up and yawning. The ice pack was no longer on my back. I must have fallen asleep because Soda was no longer at the table and Two-Bit was now sitting opposite me watching me with a skeptical look.
"Dinner," Steve said again. "Darry made pot roast."
"Mmmm." I answered.
After dinner Steve sat down with me on the front porch. "I know I've got to work for the next couple of days but I was hoping Saturday we could spend the day together. School starts in less than a week—"
"What do you mean less than a week?" I asked.
"On Monday." Steve answered.
"Monday? It can't be that soon." I answered.
"It's the 23 of August, it can be that soon." Steve said.
"That's a week from now." I breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you know what this means?" I asked sadly as it sank in.
"What what means?" Steve asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"School starting. It means I have to go back to Arkansas."
"What? You can't go. Tore ..." He looked away and shook his head. I cuddled up next to him and buried my face into his chest. His arms wrapped around me tight and he held me close.
"I don't want to go," I said, turning my head so my check rested against him, my arms slipping around his waist, "but I don't have a choice. There's no way my uncle is going to let me stay here. It just isn't legal."
"Then we'll enjoy the rest of the summer while we can." Steve said. "Anyway since this Saturday is the last one before school starts I thought we could go out and spend time together. I mean since I've got to work every day between now and then."
"Do you have to work Sunday too?" I asked.
"No but Soda and I wanted to—No, it doesn't matter. I can hang with him any time. I'll just tell him you're leaving and he'll understand." I held up a hand cutting him off.
"No, boys need guys only time. I understand that. Spend time with Soda; we'll hang out some other time."
"Toria, you're leaving. I want to make the most of what time we do have left. Soda's not going anywhere besides I wanted to apologize for everything Evie's put you through."
"That isn't your fault and I wish you would stop blaming yourself for her."
"Still if I had—"
"Enough. I've got nothing planned so sure I'll go with you on Saturday." I said. He smiled and kissed the top of my head.
On Wednesday Two-Bit and I were sitting on the front porch watching the world go by when suddenly he looked at me. "Do you want to tell me exactly what Dally said that made you take that cheap shot at him the other night?" Two-Bit asked.
"No, I don't. You don't need to know that just yet. I will tell you some day but that day isn't today."
"Come on, Tore." Two-Bit begged.
"No, leave it alone Two-Bit." I demanded standing up and walking away.
Friday rolled around and I was once again sitting with Two-Bit on the porch bored out of my mind. "What do you want to do?" I asked.
"I don't know what do you want to do?" Two-Bit answered.
"I don't know, what do you—Kelsey?" I asked as she walked up the walk.
"Hey Two-Bit, Tore. Guess what." She said.
"What?" I asked trying not to yawn.
"My mom thought we might be restless and a bit bored so, guess what she bought." Kelsey said bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Ice cream?" I asked.
"No, guess again." She gave me a wicked grin and I knew instantly what she was talking about.
"You don't mean ..." I trailed off.
"Oh but I do. And she's banned Shawn from using the water hose so he went out." She grinned.
"This is going to be sweet." I said.
"Can I come?" Two-Bit asked.
"No. Kels, I have to get my suit on but then I'll meet you down at your place." She nodded and left as I went back to my room to get changed. After putting my suit on I threw on a T-shirt and sandals. On my way out the door I spotted Ponyboy sitting on the couch reading a book so I let him know where I'd be and after making sure he got it, I ran down the street.
"Same rules, smaller landscape." Kelsey said when I arrived. "House is off limits so is the hose and you must stay inside the fence. All agreed?"
"Yup." I agreed.
"Good, your bucket is on the front porch, mine's on the back. Those two are also no pop zones and—"
"Suits only I know. Also no hitting innocent bystanders, though hitting Shawn is not only ok but encouraged. Also—"
"Touch my bucket you die." Kelsey finished. I nodded and we shook on it. She and I tossed out t-shirts and towels on the front porch before commencing our water balloon fight. We were down to about half a bucket total when a couple of greasers walked by and whistled. Kelsey gripped my arm and stopped me from throwing a balloon at them. "Not at the passers-by."
"The rule is bystanders not passers-by." I argued. "Please?" I asked.
"No." She stated firmly.
"Fine." I sulked. "Ten seconds, run." I said.
By the time we were down to a balloon a piece Kelsey had had enough of the whistlers. I was 90 percent sure that the first two groups were just coincidental and the rest had been told by the first two. From what I could tell there wasn't a local pool and it seemed like there weren't many girls that would be willing to lay out and tan in their front yards. Usually Kelsey and I would tan in her back yard if we weren't tanning by the riverside, but I guess city folk had different ways of tanning. "The next two get it." Kelsey said furiously.
"So be it." I answered. I wasn't going to question her willingness to break a rule. So we spread out our towels and laid down on them to tan. Just as we predicted two guys walked by and whistled. Unfortunately it wasn't until the balloons hit them that we noticed there were three of them and that it was Shawn, Soda, and Steve. Thankfully we only hit Shawn. I really didn't want Steve mad at me. I was sure Soda wouldn't be but since I couldn't guarantee that I was glad it was just Shawn that was now soaking wet.
"You girls better run." Shawn said. So we ran but he cornered us in the back yard against the shed. Shawn turned the hose on full blast and drenched us.
"No fair that water is freezing." I squealed.
"Sucks don't it?" He said. I looked at Kelsey and she smirked. We looked back at Shawn then let out war cries rushing him. He dropped the hose and we raced to the garage.
"Look what I've got." I said holding up an empty balloon.
"Great but one problem. Shawn's still guarding the hose." Kelsey pointed out. I thought for a moment then looked around the garage.
"Then we'll have to fill it with something else." I answered.
"But what?" She answered. We looked around the garage and then my eyes landed on some old paint cans. "Water-soluble." She said following my gaze.
"And wasn't he wearing an old shirt?" I asked.
"Absolutely." So we filled the balloon with green paint. We crept out of the garage and saw Shawn talking to the boys near the front gate. Kelsey went up to them and got them distracted while I snuck up behind Shawn and dropped the balloon on his head managing to cover him with green paint. He shouted sounding a bit surprised and spun around. I ran to the front porch.
"I will get you back for that." Shawn said catching up to me. Then he touched the shoulder strap of my suit. "You don't particularly like this swimsuit do you?"
I swallowed hard but remembered all the paint they had was water-soluble. I swallowed hard staring up at him. "You wouldn't hurt a sweet little girl, would ya?"
"No, but I know you better than that."
"It was just a joke." He only smirked. Thankfully before he could do anything Steve was calling my name. I smirked at Shawn then walked to my boyfriend. "Hi there." I said.
"You know, if you wanted to show off your pretty little body all you had to do is say the word. I know this perfect spot by the river all the guys go when it gets hot."
The harsh tone and snappy comeback were on the tip of my tongue but I held it in for some reason. I softened my tone as I answered but it was nearly the same sentence. "I wasn't so much showing off, it was more having fun. We were having a water balloon fight."
"Tore, you want some ice cream?" Kelsey called from the porch. She had two ice cream cones in her hands.
"I could take you to Dairy Queen for some." Steve suggested.
"I think I'm going to hang here. It's a great offer Steve, but I'm leaving in two days. I want to spend time with my friends before I have to go. We have all day tomorrow." I explained as gently as I could.
"I get it. Later then." I watched as they walked off to Soda's then retrieved my ice cream from Kelsey. A bit of time passed as Kelsey and I were eating ice cream on the back porch. I had just finished mine when Shawn came up. Next thing I know Kelsey and I were drenched in red paint.
"Shawn." Kelsey squealed.
"That's what you get. I know you helped her." Shawn said. I however snuck off and grabbed the hose. I turned it on full blast and hosed off both Shawn and Kelsey.
"Tore." Kelsey whined.
"You're clean now." I answered. Shawn took the hose from me and sprayed all the paint off of me. The three of us collapsed on the back porch and waited for the sun to dry us off. "Shawn..."
"Nothing needs to be said Tore. You're like a kid sister to me. What did you mean you're leaving in two days?" I told them about school starting and how I was sure I wouldn't be allowed to stay in Oklahoma. "That's terrible but we understand." Both he and Kelsey looked sympathetic.
"Thanks." I said. He just grinned.
"Hey, I heard you fought with Dally." Kelsey said.
"Yeah." I sighed. I explained to them the fight and then looked at both of them. They wouldn't say anything too horrible and I'm sure they would feel my pain. So I told them what he said. Shawn bolted upright from lying on his back and Kelsey sprang to her feet then knelt behind me.
"He said that?" Kelsey demanded. "About his own kid sister?"
"Yeah, can you believe it?" I asked.
"I couldn't do that to my own kid sister, let alone someone I despise. Sure sometimes I say it that I just want to but never like that. She knows I never could. I get angry but ... The way you're describing it ... are you sure he said that?" Shawn said looking at me and taking my hand.
"Dead sure. That's why I took that cheap shot and kneed him in the groin but ... how could he say something like that?" I asked.
"Have you said anything to anyone?"
"No. Maybe I am making too much out of nothing. What if he didn't mean it and just said it in the heat of the moment?" I asked.
"No one says things like that in the heat of the moment." Shawn said. "No one, not even between a brother and a sister."
"Have you seen him since?" Kelsey asked.
"No, but I guess maybe you're right, Shawn." I sighed and tried to smile. Eventually I went back home just in time for dinner. We had hot dogs and French fries. Slowly the night drug on and I got tired so I went to bed.
The next morning after breakfast Steve and I went wandering and ended up on The Ribbon. We stopped by a few places talking with a few guys Steve knew from the station before continuing onward. Eventually we got bored with bumming around so he took me to a movie. It didn't really matter what was playing and to this day I don't remember what we saw because most of what I saw was either Steve's bright green eyes or the inside of my eyelids as we kissed.
It was close enough to lunch by the time we left the movie and made it to Jay's I was more than hungry and we were able to get service nearly right away. Although it was a mainly drive up diner there were also picnic tables scattered around in case you didn't feel like sitting in your car or, like in our case, you just walked. After we got our food we ate and talked though mainly it was about Evie.
Finally I had had enough. "Steve, enough already. No more mentioning her. She can't get over it and constantly bringing her up will let her come between us. She's in the past leave it there." I demanded.
"I'm sorry. You're right."
"Good." I said smirking a bit.
"God doll and you thought I was bad." I looked up at the voice to see someone I really didn't want to see. He had dark wavy hair, startling green eyes, and a slight build. Even just looking at him you could tell he was a real cowboy. I sighed trying not to let him get to me.
"Go away." I muttered. This could escalate fast and I really didn't want to deal with him.
"Now that's no way to treat your favorite boyfriend." I looked up from my plate to see Steve looking at me curiously.
"Least favorite. Ex-boyfriend." I snapped glaring at the cowboy.
"Aw doll, I wasn't that bad."
"You damn near pushed me down a flight of stairs but Robby grabbed my shirt."
"I told you I tripped. At least I never had to apologize for something—"
I had had enough of his talk. "Because you refused to." I snapped cutting him off.
"Look sweetie it's in the past. Forgive and forget right?"
I rubbed my forehead not really wanting to deal with him anymore. "Tommy..." I trailed off.
"What, beautiful? I'm still deeply attracted to you and I want you back. Besides what can this ... greaser give you? Obviously nothing but trouble. Dump him." Tommy demanded.
"For you? Never. He has more honor and integrity in one finger than you have in your entire body. Leave us alone."
"Or what?"
"You'll find out why Ridder and Anderson both respect him." I answered nodding to Steve.
"I will have you back in my arms one day." Tommy said.
"When Hell freezes over." I said.
"It's a city in Michigan. It freezes over once a year."
"Then the fifth of never." I spat.
"Rearrange the letters in November and you get never. Of course you would also have to drop the o, m, and b, but it works the same." He smirked.
"GO AWAY." I nearly screamed. Steve stood and Tommy walked away with his hands in his pockets. Steve sat back down and touched my hand.
"It'll be ok." He said gently.
"Yeah sure. At least now I know why you got tired of all those girls."
"Uh oh." He said. "Don't look now but Tommy's talking to Evie." I looked around casually to see him leaning in the window of Evie's mom's pink Cadillac.
"Which part of no doesn't she understand?" I asked.
"Filly, maybe you should let it drop." Steve suggested.
"No because no means no and she needs to understand that." Tommy walked away from the Cadillac and I walked over to it. I leaned on the window frame and looked past Sylvia and at Evie. "No means no Ross, get that through your thick head."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Dragging up all these ex-girlfriends and boyfriends ... it makes you look like a two year old throwing a tantrum 'cause she didn't get her way. I really want to know which part of no you don't understand. He is mine Ross; understand that and you'll be a lot better off." I snapped.
"I don't think you understand. You aren't his type, girly and one day he's going to make that painfully obvious. You'll see. I'm always right."
"Well girly," I spat, "Personally I know you're wrong. His type has changed since the last time you were with him so why don't you stay away or I'll make you." She glared at me but didn't say anything so I walked away. I sat back down across from Steve staring at my mostly eaten burger. I couldn't bring myself to finish it or my fries so I pushed the basket away.
"Toria, don't let her get to you. I'll always be here for you as long as you'll have me. She's just being a spoilt brat." Steve said rubbing the back of my hand.
"I know." I looked at his food and saw he was finished. "Do you want to get out of here?"
"Not hungry?" He asked sympathetically.
"Not after that." I said. He nodded and paid the bill then we went back to walking.
We found ourselves at the arcade where he played pinball for a while then we went down to get malts but my heart really just wanted to go home. We finished our malts, well my malt and his shake since he claimed he didn't like the taste of malted milk, and then we went home. On the front porch Steve wrapped me in a tight hug and rubbed my back. I leant against him and sighed relishing the hug. It felt so nice to be hugged like that and not have to worry about anything.
All too soon though it was over and I was inside reading my book. I let myself get carried away by the action and romance of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy so much so that I almost missed Darry calling that dinner was ready. I put my book down and sniffed the air. It smelled familiar but different. I couldn't figure out for the life of me where I had smelled it before but knew it wasn't in that house. So I asked Darry, "What's for dinner?"
"Grilled fish and—" He started but I flew to the bathroom as bad memories and my lunch came back up. "What?" I heard him ask. "What did I say? All that I think I said was grilled—"
"Fish." Dally said. Again my lunch was coming up. "It ain't your fault. Our old man took us and our mom camping when Lizzie was barely four. He had this idea that the wilderness would be good for us. Instead of bringing peanut butter and food Lizzie would actually eat he took us down the river. He caught, killed, cleaned, skinned, and fried up three big catfish for dinner. Lizzie can barely stand the mention of that word and I don't think she's ever eaten it."
I wiped my mouth off and gargled some water before flushing the toilet and walking back to the dinning room. I held my stomach as I looked at the guys. "Every time I see one all I can see is him taking a knife to that poor, innocent creature." I said.
"Innocent? You eat beef, chicken, pork, turkey—" Steve started.
"Yeah, but I've never had to watch them slaughter one. That poor fish was just looking for dinner and he becomes one." My stomach started turning again and I could feel my face going pale.
"Come on, kid, let's go get some real food." Dally said. "Somewhere they don't serve ... that." I grinned and followed him out the door. "So what do you want?"
I climbed in the passenger seat of my truck as he started the engine. "Dairy Queen?" I asked gently.
"Sure kid." He said. I found it a little odd that he was acting so nice and not saying a word about what he said the other night but if he wasn't then neither would I. At least not while I was trapped in a moving car with him.
Will Dally say anything? Will Tore? I guess you'll just have to find out.
