Chapter 17
Angel dropped her books and stood frozen. How could he know about that? No one should know.... She qucikly scooped up her books and started laughing.
"That's the funniest thing I've heard all day,Soc," she said to Charles,not turning to face him. "Now,why would someone like me be a Soc?"
"I have proof. Bank checks. You're loaded. Plus when you lived here before, which you did and were born here,you lived on the Soc's side of town. You're a soc,born and bred. So I suggest that if you don't want me to tell all of your greaser friends and the other Socs that you take my every command. You'll be my personal slave."
"What do you want me to do," Angel asked in defeat. He had the proof that he might need. She was a soc,no matter how much she hated the fact.
Charles was a slave driver. It started out that she had to do his homework,since she was so smart. Then she would have to take care of Butch. She would carry his stuff all over school for him, and was late for all of her classes and constantly getting dentention. She had so many times told him where he could shove his stuff, but he still had that blackmail dangling over her head. She wanted to tell the gang herself,but they would never understand.
Less and less she saw her friends. She didn't have time to see Johnny at the hospital anymore. She couldn't go with Dally to the Dingo. Jade and Joe asked her to go places with them often,but Charles would always come up with something for her to do and she would have to cancel on her pals.
Finally the day came when Charles had her move out of the Curtis house and back in with him and Dotty. She argued with him,but lost in the end. She removed all of her stuff and when she was asked where she was going, she snapped at Soda,telling him to mind his own bussiness. Charles eventually made her stop seeing Johnny and talking to him at all. She was forbidden from contact with any of her friends. She was totally miserable. And one weekend,she snapped.
Charles was commanding her to fix him a gormet breakfast,and she finally had enough and threw the frying pan,which was full of scrambled eggs, at him,narrowly missing his head.
"That's it!," he shouted. "Time for your little friends to find out your big secret!" He ran out of the house and jumped into his car. Speeding down the road,he left Angel sputtering in his wake.
She ran as fast as she could to Soda's house. Then she remembered that Johnny was coming home today. Charles had the upper hand this time. Now everyone would know about her secret. You've gotta have faith in your friends,Angel,said a voice deep inside.
When Angel reached the Curtis house,she saw Charles's car parked on the curb. Some hoods were lifting the hubcaps and bashing the windows. Angel smiled and yelled at them to keep up the good work.
She ran in the house without even knocking. She stopped and looked around at everyone. All eyes were on her.
"What's up," she asked.
"This idiot here is talking trash about you,Angel," Dally announced,coming to stand beside her.
"What," she asked.
"He comes strolling in here like he's something then he's gonna tell us that you're a soc. That's not true. It's stupid."
Everyone looked at her. She couldn't look them in the eyes so she stared down at her shoes.
"It isn't true,is it,Angel," Dally asked in a pleading voice. "Tell us it isn't true."
Angel mumbled something.
"What's that Angel,we can't hear you," Charles said in a cheerful voice.
"It's true," Angel croaked miserably. "I'm a soc. My name is Angelina Rain Marquin. I'm rich beyond a person's wildest dreams, and I was born and raised on the West side. Lived there until I was nine. I'm a soc."
"Angel,it isn't true..." Dally kept repeating,backing away from her.
"It's true. Joe knows the whole story. Johnny knows it, but I didn't tell him that I was a soc. But you have to believe me,I gave up that life the night my parents were murdered."
"She's a soc," Two-Bit repeated lamely. "She's been one the whole time. Never even told us."
"Dally,don't look at me like that," she pleaded with tears running freely down her face. His eyes, they were filled with pain. The only other time she had seen him with that look was when Johnny was shot. She looked around wildly for anyone who believed her. Johnny and Ponyboy had sunk down onto the sofa, Two-Bit wouldn't even look at her,Soda and Jade were looking like they couldn't believe this, Darry's face had no expression, Steve also wouldn't look at her, and Dally still had that look. Charles was grinning like a Chessy cat. They didn't believe her.....That thought registered in her mind.Dally suddenly busted out the door and drove away in his car. No one,she was all alone again. She ran out of the house, followed by Charles's laughter.
Angel ran until her feet wouldn't run anymore. She finally collapsed on a football field. Crying,she turned her face towards the sky and closed her eyes tight.She cried and cried. Her eyes were puffy when she finally stopped. Not moving from that spot for hours,
she stared up at the sky and watched the clouds go by. Sometime, Dally had came by and laid down to where the top of his head touched her shoulder and her his. They laid there in silence.
"Why didn't you tell me," he asked miserably,finally breaking the silence.
"In New York,all of this didn't matter. Socs...Greasers...Those were the good ol' days. I think that we've always been greasers at heart,even before this whole thing started. I'm not sure why I didn't tell you. I would have said something sooner or later....Probally later. Like I said before,I gave up that life long ago. But no one seems to believe me."
"New York," Dally said in a dreamy voice. "Those were the good ol' days. Never had such fun. I remember it all like it was yesterday. The gang fights..."
"Juvie...."
"Being free to do what we wanted...."
"Us together," Angel said absent-mindedly. She then clamped her hand over her mouth. They had never talked about that since they had broken up. But,after being together for two years, that's not something you'll forget anytime soon.
"I remember those times. You were so timid and shy back then. Just learning the
ropes. Anything that I would ask you to do,you'd do it,no problem.Why was that?"
"Hero-worship," Angel replied. "I looked up to you. I thought you and Joe were the most amazing people in existance. To me,you could walk on water and so much more."
"You really loved me back then,didn't you," Dally asked,turning his head and looking into her eyes.
"Yes. I loved you more than anything. And then you left. It broke my heart to see you go,and I became bitter because of it. Then Joe shook some sense into me, telling me that I should just forget about you and get on with my life because you were never coming back. And you didn't."
"I was turning you into something that wasn't you. You're a good person,and I was corrupting you. I loved you so much,and I still do. Now Johnny has you. You bless his life. His face lights up when you walk into a room. The same thing used to happen to me. When I ran into you when you were walking to school that day,I thought that life was giving me a second chance with you. But then you said you were with Johnny. Now I have to suffer, seeing you with him,wishing it was me instead. But Johnny loves you more than the waking world. And I'm sure that you feel the same about him. Just promise me that somewhere,deep in your heart,there will be a place for me, for all time."
"I promise," Angel said, smiling. "But the others....."
"It'll take time for them to understand. Just stay away from them for awhile. Play out the Soc role. You can be our little spy,huh?"
"Do you hate me," she asked fearfully. Dally and Johnny and the greasers meant the world to her. If even one of them hated her,she couldn't live with herself.
"How could I hate you? I don't hate you and I never have. I bet Johnny doesn't either. Just give them some breathing room and time to adjust to this."
"Why did you leave me there by myself if you believe me," she asked,her eyes glazing over.
"That hit me hard. I probally shouldn't have left and it bugs me something awful that I abandoned you."
"Dally," she said,trying to hold back her smile,"you're caring. Gloy,I never thought I'd see the day when Dallas Winston actually spoke aloud about his feelings!"
"Don't you go telling everyone all over tarnation that I have a soft spot for some people. I have a reputation to protect,you know?"
"You ever gonna get married," she asked,going serious again.
"Maybe,maybe not. The way I see it,I don't need some broad telling me what to do and tying me down my whole life. Guess I won't."
As he stood and helped her to her feet,a Mustang pulled up on the field. Six big Scos climbed out and started walking towards Angel and Dally. Among them was Charles.
"Is this her," one soc asked Charles,pointing at Angel.
"Yup," Charles nodded."And this is the guy that filled her head with junk," he said,
pointing at a very confused but angered Dally.
"What are you babbling about," Dally growled.
"You've stolen one of our women,grease," one of the socs shouted. "She's coming back with us."
"I doubt that," Dally said. Angel could see it in his eyes. He would fight them. He made a grab for her wrist,but the soc who had talked to Charles was too quick. Angel was hauled behind his back before she could even think. Another soc held her arms behind her back. Dally swung and his fist connected with a soc's jaw. The fight was on. Angel was screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Shut her up," someone yelled. "For the love of God,shut her up. Gloy,but she's a pretty thing."
The guy holding her clamped his huge hand over her mouth. Dumb move. She opened her mouth and bit down as hard as she could. The soc howled in pain and suddenly released her. She caught a glimpse of his hand. There were bloody teeth marks that cut through two layers of skin. Angel decided that it was probally a good idea to get off the ground before someone stepped on her or kicked her. She quickly joined Dally, swinging punches and blocking those she could.
She saw Charles come up behind Dally. She screamed for him to move. Too late. Just as he turned and started to move,Charles pulled out a knife and stabbed Dally. Angel let out a blood-curtling scream. Dally fell to the ground,clutching the knife hilt. The socs scattered. Someone grabbed her,but she kicked them in the groin and ran to Dally's side. Vaguely,she heard the socs yelling and the car drive away.
"Dally," she asked,pleading,putting his head in her lap. "Please answer me. Dally?"
"Yeah,I hear ya," he said. He was bleeding bad. Angel had never seen so much blood in her life. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"It's gonna be alright,Dally," she said assuringly,trying to make herself believe the same thing. Tears were running down her face again.
"It'll be alright," he said. "Just don't leave me here," he pleaded.
"Help!," she screamed. "HELP! SOMEONE! HELP US!"
Luckily,someone heard her. Soda,Darry,Ponyboy,Jade,Two-bit,Johnny,and Steve all came running. They rushed towards them.
"What happened," someone asked.
"Some socs came and jumped Dally,trying to take me. Someone pulled a knife and stabbed Dally," she managed through her tears. She held Dally's hand. He gave her's a ressuring squeeze.
"I'll be alright," he said,trying to smile. "This is nothing. Remember that time when that police officer shot me in the head? No one thought I'd live,but I did. Are ya gonna give up hope on me yet?"
"No," she said,smiling through her tears and sniffling once more. She knew she shouldn't be crying in front of the gang. Greasers shouldn't let their feelings show,a voice said to her. Screw you, was her response to that. Someone ran to call 9-1-1. Soon the ambluance arrived and they put Dally on a stretcher. The peramedics wouldn't let her ride with Dally.
"You better live through this,Dally," She shouted as they closed the door. "If you don't I swear that I'll never forgive you!"
As the ambulance drove away,tears still silently rolled down her cheeks. Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Johnny looking at her with pity. But she didn't care. She collapsed into his embrace and cried into his jeans jacket.
"It's gonna be alright," he kept saying,stroking her hair. "Dally's a tough guy. He won't give up."
Not hearing his words, Angel shut her self up in her mind. She didn't cry anymore and she didn't talk. She looked up at Johnny. Tears were welling up in his eyes,but he was trying his best to hold them back. Tenderly,she wiped them away. He hugged her tightly. They walked back to Soda's house and drove to the hospital. Angel was quiet and reserved the whole way. She rested her head on Johnny's shoulder and stared off into space.
Angel dropped her books and stood frozen. How could he know about that? No one should know.... She qucikly scooped up her books and started laughing.
"That's the funniest thing I've heard all day,Soc," she said to Charles,not turning to face him. "Now,why would someone like me be a Soc?"
"I have proof. Bank checks. You're loaded. Plus when you lived here before, which you did and were born here,you lived on the Soc's side of town. You're a soc,born and bred. So I suggest that if you don't want me to tell all of your greaser friends and the other Socs that you take my every command. You'll be my personal slave."
"What do you want me to do," Angel asked in defeat. He had the proof that he might need. She was a soc,no matter how much she hated the fact.
Charles was a slave driver. It started out that she had to do his homework,since she was so smart. Then she would have to take care of Butch. She would carry his stuff all over school for him, and was late for all of her classes and constantly getting dentention. She had so many times told him where he could shove his stuff, but he still had that blackmail dangling over her head. She wanted to tell the gang herself,but they would never understand.
Less and less she saw her friends. She didn't have time to see Johnny at the hospital anymore. She couldn't go with Dally to the Dingo. Jade and Joe asked her to go places with them often,but Charles would always come up with something for her to do and she would have to cancel on her pals.
Finally the day came when Charles had her move out of the Curtis house and back in with him and Dotty. She argued with him,but lost in the end. She removed all of her stuff and when she was asked where she was going, she snapped at Soda,telling him to mind his own bussiness. Charles eventually made her stop seeing Johnny and talking to him at all. She was forbidden from contact with any of her friends. She was totally miserable. And one weekend,she snapped.
Charles was commanding her to fix him a gormet breakfast,and she finally had enough and threw the frying pan,which was full of scrambled eggs, at him,narrowly missing his head.
"That's it!," he shouted. "Time for your little friends to find out your big secret!" He ran out of the house and jumped into his car. Speeding down the road,he left Angel sputtering in his wake.
She ran as fast as she could to Soda's house. Then she remembered that Johnny was coming home today. Charles had the upper hand this time. Now everyone would know about her secret. You've gotta have faith in your friends,Angel,said a voice deep inside.
When Angel reached the Curtis house,she saw Charles's car parked on the curb. Some hoods were lifting the hubcaps and bashing the windows. Angel smiled and yelled at them to keep up the good work.
She ran in the house without even knocking. She stopped and looked around at everyone. All eyes were on her.
"What's up," she asked.
"This idiot here is talking trash about you,Angel," Dally announced,coming to stand beside her.
"What," she asked.
"He comes strolling in here like he's something then he's gonna tell us that you're a soc. That's not true. It's stupid."
Everyone looked at her. She couldn't look them in the eyes so she stared down at her shoes.
"It isn't true,is it,Angel," Dally asked in a pleading voice. "Tell us it isn't true."
Angel mumbled something.
"What's that Angel,we can't hear you," Charles said in a cheerful voice.
"It's true," Angel croaked miserably. "I'm a soc. My name is Angelina Rain Marquin. I'm rich beyond a person's wildest dreams, and I was born and raised on the West side. Lived there until I was nine. I'm a soc."
"Angel,it isn't true..." Dally kept repeating,backing away from her.
"It's true. Joe knows the whole story. Johnny knows it, but I didn't tell him that I was a soc. But you have to believe me,I gave up that life the night my parents were murdered."
"She's a soc," Two-Bit repeated lamely. "She's been one the whole time. Never even told us."
"Dally,don't look at me like that," she pleaded with tears running freely down her face. His eyes, they were filled with pain. The only other time she had seen him with that look was when Johnny was shot. She looked around wildly for anyone who believed her. Johnny and Ponyboy had sunk down onto the sofa, Two-Bit wouldn't even look at her,Soda and Jade were looking like they couldn't believe this, Darry's face had no expression, Steve also wouldn't look at her, and Dally still had that look. Charles was grinning like a Chessy cat. They didn't believe her.....That thought registered in her mind.Dally suddenly busted out the door and drove away in his car. No one,she was all alone again. She ran out of the house, followed by Charles's laughter.
Angel ran until her feet wouldn't run anymore. She finally collapsed on a football field. Crying,she turned her face towards the sky and closed her eyes tight.She cried and cried. Her eyes were puffy when she finally stopped. Not moving from that spot for hours,
she stared up at the sky and watched the clouds go by. Sometime, Dally had came by and laid down to where the top of his head touched her shoulder and her his. They laid there in silence.
"Why didn't you tell me," he asked miserably,finally breaking the silence.
"In New York,all of this didn't matter. Socs...Greasers...Those were the good ol' days. I think that we've always been greasers at heart,even before this whole thing started. I'm not sure why I didn't tell you. I would have said something sooner or later....Probally later. Like I said before,I gave up that life long ago. But no one seems to believe me."
"New York," Dally said in a dreamy voice. "Those were the good ol' days. Never had such fun. I remember it all like it was yesterday. The gang fights..."
"Juvie...."
"Being free to do what we wanted...."
"Us together," Angel said absent-mindedly. She then clamped her hand over her mouth. They had never talked about that since they had broken up. But,after being together for two years, that's not something you'll forget anytime soon.
"I remember those times. You were so timid and shy back then. Just learning the
ropes. Anything that I would ask you to do,you'd do it,no problem.Why was that?"
"Hero-worship," Angel replied. "I looked up to you. I thought you and Joe were the most amazing people in existance. To me,you could walk on water and so much more."
"You really loved me back then,didn't you," Dally asked,turning his head and looking into her eyes.
"Yes. I loved you more than anything. And then you left. It broke my heart to see you go,and I became bitter because of it. Then Joe shook some sense into me, telling me that I should just forget about you and get on with my life because you were never coming back. And you didn't."
"I was turning you into something that wasn't you. You're a good person,and I was corrupting you. I loved you so much,and I still do. Now Johnny has you. You bless his life. His face lights up when you walk into a room. The same thing used to happen to me. When I ran into you when you were walking to school that day,I thought that life was giving me a second chance with you. But then you said you were with Johnny. Now I have to suffer, seeing you with him,wishing it was me instead. But Johnny loves you more than the waking world. And I'm sure that you feel the same about him. Just promise me that somewhere,deep in your heart,there will be a place for me, for all time."
"I promise," Angel said, smiling. "But the others....."
"It'll take time for them to understand. Just stay away from them for awhile. Play out the Soc role. You can be our little spy,huh?"
"Do you hate me," she asked fearfully. Dally and Johnny and the greasers meant the world to her. If even one of them hated her,she couldn't live with herself.
"How could I hate you? I don't hate you and I never have. I bet Johnny doesn't either. Just give them some breathing room and time to adjust to this."
"Why did you leave me there by myself if you believe me," she asked,her eyes glazing over.
"That hit me hard. I probally shouldn't have left and it bugs me something awful that I abandoned you."
"Dally," she said,trying to hold back her smile,"you're caring. Gloy,I never thought I'd see the day when Dallas Winston actually spoke aloud about his feelings!"
"Don't you go telling everyone all over tarnation that I have a soft spot for some people. I have a reputation to protect,you know?"
"You ever gonna get married," she asked,going serious again.
"Maybe,maybe not. The way I see it,I don't need some broad telling me what to do and tying me down my whole life. Guess I won't."
As he stood and helped her to her feet,a Mustang pulled up on the field. Six big Scos climbed out and started walking towards Angel and Dally. Among them was Charles.
"Is this her," one soc asked Charles,pointing at Angel.
"Yup," Charles nodded."And this is the guy that filled her head with junk," he said,
pointing at a very confused but angered Dally.
"What are you babbling about," Dally growled.
"You've stolen one of our women,grease," one of the socs shouted. "She's coming back with us."
"I doubt that," Dally said. Angel could see it in his eyes. He would fight them. He made a grab for her wrist,but the soc who had talked to Charles was too quick. Angel was hauled behind his back before she could even think. Another soc held her arms behind her back. Dally swung and his fist connected with a soc's jaw. The fight was on. Angel was screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Shut her up," someone yelled. "For the love of God,shut her up. Gloy,but she's a pretty thing."
The guy holding her clamped his huge hand over her mouth. Dumb move. She opened her mouth and bit down as hard as she could. The soc howled in pain and suddenly released her. She caught a glimpse of his hand. There were bloody teeth marks that cut through two layers of skin. Angel decided that it was probally a good idea to get off the ground before someone stepped on her or kicked her. She quickly joined Dally, swinging punches and blocking those she could.
She saw Charles come up behind Dally. She screamed for him to move. Too late. Just as he turned and started to move,Charles pulled out a knife and stabbed Dally. Angel let out a blood-curtling scream. Dally fell to the ground,clutching the knife hilt. The socs scattered. Someone grabbed her,but she kicked them in the groin and ran to Dally's side. Vaguely,she heard the socs yelling and the car drive away.
"Dally," she asked,pleading,putting his head in her lap. "Please answer me. Dally?"
"Yeah,I hear ya," he said. He was bleeding bad. Angel had never seen so much blood in her life. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"It's gonna be alright,Dally," she said assuringly,trying to make herself believe the same thing. Tears were running down her face again.
"It'll be alright," he said. "Just don't leave me here," he pleaded.
"Help!," she screamed. "HELP! SOMEONE! HELP US!"
Luckily,someone heard her. Soda,Darry,Ponyboy,Jade,Two-bit,Johnny,and Steve all came running. They rushed towards them.
"What happened," someone asked.
"Some socs came and jumped Dally,trying to take me. Someone pulled a knife and stabbed Dally," she managed through her tears. She held Dally's hand. He gave her's a ressuring squeeze.
"I'll be alright," he said,trying to smile. "This is nothing. Remember that time when that police officer shot me in the head? No one thought I'd live,but I did. Are ya gonna give up hope on me yet?"
"No," she said,smiling through her tears and sniffling once more. She knew she shouldn't be crying in front of the gang. Greasers shouldn't let their feelings show,a voice said to her. Screw you, was her response to that. Someone ran to call 9-1-1. Soon the ambluance arrived and they put Dally on a stretcher. The peramedics wouldn't let her ride with Dally.
"You better live through this,Dally," She shouted as they closed the door. "If you don't I swear that I'll never forgive you!"
As the ambulance drove away,tears still silently rolled down her cheeks. Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Johnny looking at her with pity. But she didn't care. She collapsed into his embrace and cried into his jeans jacket.
"It's gonna be alright," he kept saying,stroking her hair. "Dally's a tough guy. He won't give up."
Not hearing his words, Angel shut her self up in her mind. She didn't cry anymore and she didn't talk. She looked up at Johnny. Tears were welling up in his eyes,but he was trying his best to hold them back. Tenderly,she wiped them away. He hugged her tightly. They walked back to Soda's house and drove to the hospital. Angel was quiet and reserved the whole way. She rested her head on Johnny's shoulder and stared off into space.