The Rumble
The next night, I found myself sitting blankly in front of the windowsill, my insides churning in anxiety. I was beyond nervous-the rumble would start in just a few minutes.
Darry had made a solid, hearty dinner, one that would optimize everyone's strength but keep everyone light on their feet. While the rest of the gang gnawed down on roasted chicken and potatoes, I chewed on cinnamon gum, trying to calm my nerves. I knew that if I put a bit of food into my mouth, it would simply come back up. I couldn't handle the idea of losing anyone, didn't they understand that? To say the least, I was in a cold, bitter mood that evening.
"Is everybody ready?" Steve asked, standing up after stretching his legs under the dinner table. "Soda, grab me my blade, it's on the front table."
Soda tossed the knife to his friend gently. Steve caught it with one hand, sliding it smoothly into his back pocket. Everyone else loaded up, gathering chains, knifes, any sharp objects that were controlled enough to inflict pain on others while keeping themselves safe. My heart lurched every time another weapon was slid into their jeans...each one led to a greater chance at death, they couldn't deny that.
As everyone neared ready to go, the excitement built. Steve and Two- Bit popped open beers, chugging them down competitively, while Sodapop, Johnny, and Ponyboy ran around with giddy smiles contorting their faces. Dally remained in the background, a cool grin plastered on his lips while he sharpened his prize knife. Darry watched in an almost paternal manner as he tossed down a pair of barbells. He glanced in my direction before approaching me.
"Look, I know you ain't happy 'bout this..." he began, clearly uncertain as to how to comfort my visibly melancholy mood.
"It's all right," I interrupted, waving my hand. "Look, just watch out for everybody, all right? Specially Pony, and Johnny, they're little. And you and Soda...just watch out, all right? You know you'll have to deal with my wrath if I have to drive to the hospital in the middle of the night."
He grinned. "Yeah, and nobody wants to deal with that," he joked, messing up my hair before turning around, taking his usual role as leader. "All right, boys, you ready? Everybody got reinforcements?"
I glanced away as everyone held up their weaponry with pride. Damn men and their pride.
"Then let's go kick some Soc ass!" he exclaimed, heading out the front door, the pack following him, calling out and basically causing a neighborhood disturbance. Dally was the last to go.
"Listen..." He stopped in front of me. "I'll be fine."
I nodded before reaching out to squeeze his hand. I couldn't talk, or I'd burst out yelling or crying or something else equally embarrassing.
"I'll be home soon, kid," he continued, patting my shoulder softly before turning to run out the door. "Hey, ya'll, wait up for me!"
And then there were none. It was worse than Agatha Christie..because this was real, and they really might be gone after tonight, if things go wrong.
I forced myself not to think of that. I couldn't, it was too painful. After grabbing a drink from the fridge, I settled down to read, but to no avail. Instead, I began pacing in front of the windowsill, watching out into the dark night, wondering desperately what was going on just blocks away.
It took just moments before I made my decision. Hell would freeze over before I'd subject myself to waiting hours on end in apprehension. I had to go see what was going on for myself. Darry, and Soda, too, would kill me, but oh well. Not once had they been forced to sit around waiting just to find out that one of their friends was nearly dead. Maybe more than one. So they'd just have to accept it. And if I was careful, no one would even be aware of my presence.
I threw on Darry's jacket before heading out the door. My own blade was secured in the fist of my left hand, dug right into my pocket, just as a precaution on my way to the abandoned lot. It was actually one night that I'd be able to walk around town, at night, all alone, because every Soc in the city would be occupied for awhile, with the rumble. For once, I'd have no worries about being jumped, and this was a moment I treasured.
I arrived at the lot in record time. Apparently, I'd picked the perfect time to leave the house, too, since it took just moments for the fight to begin. After a quick look around, to check which regulars were absent from the scene (like Curly, who was still being "reformed"), I ducked into a bushy area to watch.
Surprisingly, the first punch was not delivered by Darry, but by Dally, who stepped up and pretty much just decked one of the Socs. Oh, God, I thought, as I took a closer look.
I knew that Soc.
And I knew exactly why Dally had picked him.
As soon as Dally took his hit, chaos broke out. I watched as Darry slugged at two of the larger Socs, while Soda bullrushed a medium-built guy, tossing him over his shoulder and onto the ground. Steve wasted no time in whipping out his blade, though, while Two-Bit followed suit with a chain (his weapon of choice). Ponyboy and Johnny, as usual, picked a Soc that was about Darry's size, and ganged up on him. My heart thumped wildly as everyone seemed to follow their own choreography, almost rhythmically punching and choking and kicking one another. I could barely distinguish the voices of my brothers from a group of Socs, there was so much noise.
"Dally! Over here!" came a voice through the crowd. I immediately recognized it was Johnny, and he was panicked.
I saw Dally deck a guy square in the jaw before rushing over to where Johnny was pinned down by a much larger Soc. Ponyboy had gotten separated, although he was holding his own quite nicely in a battle with a Soc about his size. Dally pulled the guy off Johnny with incredible ease before knocking him to the ground again with a swift thrust of a broken pipe.
"Soda! Get this fucker off me!" That was unmistakably Steve, who looked genuinely afraid as one of the largest guys whipped him across the face with his fist, which had been conveniently wrapped up in jagged chains. Steve's cheek was immediately covered in crimson.
Soda was clearly occupied in his own duel, though, as he fought to keep an iron rod from crashing down over his skull. It was obvious that Steve would have to fight it out alone, although in just moments...it might be too late.
I could barely feel my legs, much less the rest of my body, as I ran to Steve's side. It took less than two seconds for me to whip out my blade and hold it to the Soc's throat.
"Drop it," I ordered in a low tone, praying he wouldn't instantly recognize I was a girl.
"Fuck off," the Soc muttered, giving Steve one last clog against the jaw.
That was all it took before I jammed the blade into his calf, where it would hurt like hell, but clearly not be fatal. He winced in pain, collapsing in seconds, allowing me the time to pull Steve off to the sidelines.
"Steve..Steve, wake up, c'mon," I whispered, hitting his face lightly, trying to awake him from his unconscious state. "Steve, c'mon, it's a rumble, you don't wanna miss a rumble."
It took a few minutes of pestering before he opened his eyes. God, was he bleeding hard.
"Where...Robin? Where am I?" he asked, undoubtedly confused about his whereabouts due to my presence.
"The rumble. You got knocked down pretty bad," I explained. "You up for more, or you want me to take you back?"
He shook his head, nursing his jaw with the back of his hand. "Nah, I miss never a rumble," he mumbled, his words jumbled from the sharp kick to the head. "Why're you here? You ain't fightin'.."
I shook my head. "No, but I'm sick of waitin' for ya'll to come home all bloody at midnight, just scarin' the hell outta me. I figure I can at least have some control over things if I'm here. And you'd better be thankin' me, Steven, cuz I saved your ass out there," I said, grinning. "Got 'im right in the leg."
He laughed. "Yeah, you're tough enough," he replied, finding my stabbing quite humorous. "Help me up, I'm goin' back out."
I obeyed. I watched as he jumped right on a Soc as soon as he regained his steady legs. It made me oddly proud, I suppose, to watch his strength.
It wasn't before long, though, that I heard a blood-curdling scream that made me wish I'd never stepped foot of the house that night.
It was Dally.
A/N: Exciting enough? I hope so. Thanks to all the kind reviewers, you guys make this fun for me. And I apologize to those who have found technical mistakes (e.g. Soda's age/hair color) in my writing-I guess those points were not the focus of my story. Sorry. But to all those who send very sweet reviews, thank you! Hope you're enjoying it. ;)
Much love, Ash
The next night, I found myself sitting blankly in front of the windowsill, my insides churning in anxiety. I was beyond nervous-the rumble would start in just a few minutes.
Darry had made a solid, hearty dinner, one that would optimize everyone's strength but keep everyone light on their feet. While the rest of the gang gnawed down on roasted chicken and potatoes, I chewed on cinnamon gum, trying to calm my nerves. I knew that if I put a bit of food into my mouth, it would simply come back up. I couldn't handle the idea of losing anyone, didn't they understand that? To say the least, I was in a cold, bitter mood that evening.
"Is everybody ready?" Steve asked, standing up after stretching his legs under the dinner table. "Soda, grab me my blade, it's on the front table."
Soda tossed the knife to his friend gently. Steve caught it with one hand, sliding it smoothly into his back pocket. Everyone else loaded up, gathering chains, knifes, any sharp objects that were controlled enough to inflict pain on others while keeping themselves safe. My heart lurched every time another weapon was slid into their jeans...each one led to a greater chance at death, they couldn't deny that.
As everyone neared ready to go, the excitement built. Steve and Two- Bit popped open beers, chugging them down competitively, while Sodapop, Johnny, and Ponyboy ran around with giddy smiles contorting their faces. Dally remained in the background, a cool grin plastered on his lips while he sharpened his prize knife. Darry watched in an almost paternal manner as he tossed down a pair of barbells. He glanced in my direction before approaching me.
"Look, I know you ain't happy 'bout this..." he began, clearly uncertain as to how to comfort my visibly melancholy mood.
"It's all right," I interrupted, waving my hand. "Look, just watch out for everybody, all right? Specially Pony, and Johnny, they're little. And you and Soda...just watch out, all right? You know you'll have to deal with my wrath if I have to drive to the hospital in the middle of the night."
He grinned. "Yeah, and nobody wants to deal with that," he joked, messing up my hair before turning around, taking his usual role as leader. "All right, boys, you ready? Everybody got reinforcements?"
I glanced away as everyone held up their weaponry with pride. Damn men and their pride.
"Then let's go kick some Soc ass!" he exclaimed, heading out the front door, the pack following him, calling out and basically causing a neighborhood disturbance. Dally was the last to go.
"Listen..." He stopped in front of me. "I'll be fine."
I nodded before reaching out to squeeze his hand. I couldn't talk, or I'd burst out yelling or crying or something else equally embarrassing.
"I'll be home soon, kid," he continued, patting my shoulder softly before turning to run out the door. "Hey, ya'll, wait up for me!"
And then there were none. It was worse than Agatha Christie..because this was real, and they really might be gone after tonight, if things go wrong.
I forced myself not to think of that. I couldn't, it was too painful. After grabbing a drink from the fridge, I settled down to read, but to no avail. Instead, I began pacing in front of the windowsill, watching out into the dark night, wondering desperately what was going on just blocks away.
It took just moments before I made my decision. Hell would freeze over before I'd subject myself to waiting hours on end in apprehension. I had to go see what was going on for myself. Darry, and Soda, too, would kill me, but oh well. Not once had they been forced to sit around waiting just to find out that one of their friends was nearly dead. Maybe more than one. So they'd just have to accept it. And if I was careful, no one would even be aware of my presence.
I threw on Darry's jacket before heading out the door. My own blade was secured in the fist of my left hand, dug right into my pocket, just as a precaution on my way to the abandoned lot. It was actually one night that I'd be able to walk around town, at night, all alone, because every Soc in the city would be occupied for awhile, with the rumble. For once, I'd have no worries about being jumped, and this was a moment I treasured.
I arrived at the lot in record time. Apparently, I'd picked the perfect time to leave the house, too, since it took just moments for the fight to begin. After a quick look around, to check which regulars were absent from the scene (like Curly, who was still being "reformed"), I ducked into a bushy area to watch.
Surprisingly, the first punch was not delivered by Darry, but by Dally, who stepped up and pretty much just decked one of the Socs. Oh, God, I thought, as I took a closer look.
I knew that Soc.
And I knew exactly why Dally had picked him.
As soon as Dally took his hit, chaos broke out. I watched as Darry slugged at two of the larger Socs, while Soda bullrushed a medium-built guy, tossing him over his shoulder and onto the ground. Steve wasted no time in whipping out his blade, though, while Two-Bit followed suit with a chain (his weapon of choice). Ponyboy and Johnny, as usual, picked a Soc that was about Darry's size, and ganged up on him. My heart thumped wildly as everyone seemed to follow their own choreography, almost rhythmically punching and choking and kicking one another. I could barely distinguish the voices of my brothers from a group of Socs, there was so much noise.
"Dally! Over here!" came a voice through the crowd. I immediately recognized it was Johnny, and he was panicked.
I saw Dally deck a guy square in the jaw before rushing over to where Johnny was pinned down by a much larger Soc. Ponyboy had gotten separated, although he was holding his own quite nicely in a battle with a Soc about his size. Dally pulled the guy off Johnny with incredible ease before knocking him to the ground again with a swift thrust of a broken pipe.
"Soda! Get this fucker off me!" That was unmistakably Steve, who looked genuinely afraid as one of the largest guys whipped him across the face with his fist, which had been conveniently wrapped up in jagged chains. Steve's cheek was immediately covered in crimson.
Soda was clearly occupied in his own duel, though, as he fought to keep an iron rod from crashing down over his skull. It was obvious that Steve would have to fight it out alone, although in just moments...it might be too late.
I could barely feel my legs, much less the rest of my body, as I ran to Steve's side. It took less than two seconds for me to whip out my blade and hold it to the Soc's throat.
"Drop it," I ordered in a low tone, praying he wouldn't instantly recognize I was a girl.
"Fuck off," the Soc muttered, giving Steve one last clog against the jaw.
That was all it took before I jammed the blade into his calf, where it would hurt like hell, but clearly not be fatal. He winced in pain, collapsing in seconds, allowing me the time to pull Steve off to the sidelines.
"Steve..Steve, wake up, c'mon," I whispered, hitting his face lightly, trying to awake him from his unconscious state. "Steve, c'mon, it's a rumble, you don't wanna miss a rumble."
It took a few minutes of pestering before he opened his eyes. God, was he bleeding hard.
"Where...Robin? Where am I?" he asked, undoubtedly confused about his whereabouts due to my presence.
"The rumble. You got knocked down pretty bad," I explained. "You up for more, or you want me to take you back?"
He shook his head, nursing his jaw with the back of his hand. "Nah, I miss never a rumble," he mumbled, his words jumbled from the sharp kick to the head. "Why're you here? You ain't fightin'.."
I shook my head. "No, but I'm sick of waitin' for ya'll to come home all bloody at midnight, just scarin' the hell outta me. I figure I can at least have some control over things if I'm here. And you'd better be thankin' me, Steven, cuz I saved your ass out there," I said, grinning. "Got 'im right in the leg."
He laughed. "Yeah, you're tough enough," he replied, finding my stabbing quite humorous. "Help me up, I'm goin' back out."
I obeyed. I watched as he jumped right on a Soc as soon as he regained his steady legs. It made me oddly proud, I suppose, to watch his strength.
It wasn't before long, though, that I heard a blood-curdling scream that made me wish I'd never stepped foot of the house that night.
It was Dally.
A/N: Exciting enough? I hope so. Thanks to all the kind reviewers, you guys make this fun for me. And I apologize to those who have found technical mistakes (e.g. Soda's age/hair color) in my writing-I guess those points were not the focus of my story. Sorry. But to all those who send very sweet reviews, thank you! Hope you're enjoying it. ;)
Much love, Ash