Forgive me for my horrible case of writers block. This chapter
sdoesn't really fit in exactly to my previous storyline I had planned but
knowing me, I'll get everything back on track. Now I sort of made a certain
character out to be a huge asshole in this chapter and it's so out of his
great character but don't worry, it's just a mis-understanding that will be
resolved in chapters to come. Again, sorry for the wait, hope you haven't
lost interest although most of you probably have, and if you have please
tell me and I won't continue if you want. But don't be mad ok?? Great!
Please review. Enjoy!
Chapter 17
As I reached out to take another sip of my soda, I noticed an envelope lying face down beside the glass. Picking it up I read whom it was addressed to and was surprised to find my name. Then the excitement drained from me as I read the return address.
Elle Thompson 293 Lundy's Lane Kansas City, Kansas L4K 4H9
"Where did that come from?" Sodapop asked, placing his arm around my shoulder.
I thought for a moment before saying, "I guess Jerry left it."
Gently I ran my finger under the flap and pulled out the neatly folded paper inside. I smiled as I smelt the scented paper the letter was written on thinking how that was something that Elle would buy. Pulling out the letter I quickly read it over.
Kat-
I miss you a lot. I hope that you're having a better time in Oklahoma than I'm having here, although I sincerely doubt it. Don't worry, Mark is completely miserable and still regrets ever breaking up with you. Shirley tried to ask him out but, naturally, he refused. Anyway, the girls and I thought it would be fun if we took a road trip up to see you. So, you can be expecting us, well, soon. I'll tell you what's happening here when I get there rather than writing a boring old letter. It's so 1957. Ciao.
Kisses,
Elle
I took a deep breath re-folding the letter and placing it back into the envelope. Leaning back in my chair, I tried to comprehend what was going on. They couldn't come here. They couldn't see the way I live.
"Who was it from Kat?" Soda asked me.
"Elle." I said simply looking at him. "She was my best friend back home. She said that she and a bunch of the girls are coming down here to visit."
"Well that's great honey," Soda said overly affectionate, "I'm sure if we pulled out the couch and the guys didn't sleep there, they could easily stay at our place."
I looked over at his face. I could see the excitement in his eyes. How could I let him down? But these girls weren't like me. Well they are like me but the old me. Before I realized the reality and importance of life, meaning, they were just rich high-school girls. When the boys would call, classic Socs.
"That's sweet Soda," I said trying to reason with him, "But it's hard enough on Darry with me being here, I don't want to drop this on him. Besides, they'll probably be more comfortable in a local hotel."
"I guess you're right," he said, "Well I better get back to work. I'll see you when I get home alright."
"Of course." I said smiling as I squeezed his hand. Then he leaned down kissing me lightly before returning to his customers.
The three of us sat there in an awkward silence as I sipped the water from the melted ice through my straw. The coke had been gone for some time now but I couldn't stand just sitting there. Even if I was making a horribly annoying sound, it was better than silence. Cathy gave her bubble gum one final blow and just as it popped she got up.
"I better leave too," She said in her nasal voice, "As much fun as this is, I hafta catch up with Evie; we're getting' our hair done today. You're welcome to come if you like."
I quickly glance up at her bright red hair with black roots, smothered in hairspray.
"No thanks," I said politely, "I like my hair the way it is."
She gave me a surprised look and smirked as she left, but not before planting a passionate kiss on Two-Bit. Then she walked off in her trampy little way.
Not even a second after she was gone I looked at Two-Bit across the table and blurted out the words, "We need to talk."
Just as I did, Ponyboy came out of nowhere. I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew that Pony was imaginative and I was afraid he might take this the wrong way.
"Hey Kat," he said cheerfully, "It's alright if I go over to the Dingo right, I mean, you don't mind or anything."
I looked up at him relieved that he hadn't made more assumptions. I just smiled saying, "Of course Pony. Be careful though."
Then he looked over at Two-Bit smiling at me and his smile faded simply saying, "Yeah, you too."
With that he left and I saw a hurt look in Two-Bit eyes for a brief moment, but it was soon replaced with his strong but carefree look that I had come so accustomed to.
"C'mon," he said, "I'll walk you home. I guess we can talk then."
I agreed and after saying goodbye to Sodapop once again, we were on our way home. We walked in silence for a while. I kept thinking of Cathy and how wrong she was for Two-Bit, or at least the Two-bit I knew. I mean she was rude and insensitive and she didn't seem to care for him at all.
"So are we gonna talk here or what?" Two-Bit said jokingly, "or was this just an excuse for me to walk you home."
"What?" I said still deep in thought, "Oh right. Well," I didn't exactly know where to begin, "It's Cathy, Two-Bit."
"What about her." He said with a hint of defense in his voice.
"Well it's just that," I thought for a moment trying to find the words. "She's not right for you. You need someone caring and sweet and just someone who truly loves you, for you, not just because they think it's necessary."
He paused for a second as if to take it all in then said, "And Cathy isn't any of those things." "Well, no." I said, "I mean I'm not one to judge but-"
"No you're not Kat," He said cutting me off. "I mean you don't even know Cathy. How do you know she's not perfect for me."
"Don't get me wrong," I said surprised to hear the anger in his voice, "I just thought-"
"No Kat, that's just it," He said, again not letting me finish, "you didn't think. I mean, where do you come off telling me who's good for me and who isn't. Your not allowed to do that. You can't break my heart and then bash every girl that's not as good as you were. I tried to move on but your making this pretty damn hard. I happen to like that girl and just because she ain't as nice or pretty as you doesn't make her any worse. Jesus, Kat, your acting like a world class, prime example of a super-soc."
We stood there just stating at one another. I looked up at his angry face and didn't know what to think. Rage was building inside of me. All I had wanted to do was help. I mean it was clear that the girl would one day hurt him. Right now that's what I wanted. I wanted someone to hurt him as he'd just hurt me. I took a deep breath and then calmly said, "I thought you were different Two-Bit Mathews. I thought you were special. But now I can clearly see that you're just another jackass that I've had to put up with who doesn't know help when it's being offered to them. You obviously don't care about this girl, since you fell back in love with her so quickly. Hell, how do I know you even loved me. You seemed to have recovered rather quickly. It was probably all just some huge plan wasn't it." I cut him off before he could answer, "I know men like you. I've lived with them all my life. Well I'll be damned if I end up being friends, or even more, with someone like that again."
I gave him one last look and then proudly walked down the street not once looking back. Thank god I didn't or else he would've seen the tears that were rolling down my face. As I turned the corner I ran as fast as I could to get back to the house. I opened the door not once looking up to see if anyone was there and went directly to my room closing the door and flopping down on my bed. There I just cried thinking of how mad I was that I jeopardized my relationship with Soda for him, how mad I was that I had poured my heart out to him thinking he actually cared, but most of all how mad I was that I still loved that asshole.
*Please Review*
Chapter 17
As I reached out to take another sip of my soda, I noticed an envelope lying face down beside the glass. Picking it up I read whom it was addressed to and was surprised to find my name. Then the excitement drained from me as I read the return address.
Elle Thompson 293 Lundy's Lane Kansas City, Kansas L4K 4H9
"Where did that come from?" Sodapop asked, placing his arm around my shoulder.
I thought for a moment before saying, "I guess Jerry left it."
Gently I ran my finger under the flap and pulled out the neatly folded paper inside. I smiled as I smelt the scented paper the letter was written on thinking how that was something that Elle would buy. Pulling out the letter I quickly read it over.
Kat-
I miss you a lot. I hope that you're having a better time in Oklahoma than I'm having here, although I sincerely doubt it. Don't worry, Mark is completely miserable and still regrets ever breaking up with you. Shirley tried to ask him out but, naturally, he refused. Anyway, the girls and I thought it would be fun if we took a road trip up to see you. So, you can be expecting us, well, soon. I'll tell you what's happening here when I get there rather than writing a boring old letter. It's so 1957. Ciao.
Kisses,
Elle
I took a deep breath re-folding the letter and placing it back into the envelope. Leaning back in my chair, I tried to comprehend what was going on. They couldn't come here. They couldn't see the way I live.
"Who was it from Kat?" Soda asked me.
"Elle." I said simply looking at him. "She was my best friend back home. She said that she and a bunch of the girls are coming down here to visit."
"Well that's great honey," Soda said overly affectionate, "I'm sure if we pulled out the couch and the guys didn't sleep there, they could easily stay at our place."
I looked over at his face. I could see the excitement in his eyes. How could I let him down? But these girls weren't like me. Well they are like me but the old me. Before I realized the reality and importance of life, meaning, they were just rich high-school girls. When the boys would call, classic Socs.
"That's sweet Soda," I said trying to reason with him, "But it's hard enough on Darry with me being here, I don't want to drop this on him. Besides, they'll probably be more comfortable in a local hotel."
"I guess you're right," he said, "Well I better get back to work. I'll see you when I get home alright."
"Of course." I said smiling as I squeezed his hand. Then he leaned down kissing me lightly before returning to his customers.
The three of us sat there in an awkward silence as I sipped the water from the melted ice through my straw. The coke had been gone for some time now but I couldn't stand just sitting there. Even if I was making a horribly annoying sound, it was better than silence. Cathy gave her bubble gum one final blow and just as it popped she got up.
"I better leave too," She said in her nasal voice, "As much fun as this is, I hafta catch up with Evie; we're getting' our hair done today. You're welcome to come if you like."
I quickly glance up at her bright red hair with black roots, smothered in hairspray.
"No thanks," I said politely, "I like my hair the way it is."
She gave me a surprised look and smirked as she left, but not before planting a passionate kiss on Two-Bit. Then she walked off in her trampy little way.
Not even a second after she was gone I looked at Two-Bit across the table and blurted out the words, "We need to talk."
Just as I did, Ponyboy came out of nowhere. I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew that Pony was imaginative and I was afraid he might take this the wrong way.
"Hey Kat," he said cheerfully, "It's alright if I go over to the Dingo right, I mean, you don't mind or anything."
I looked up at him relieved that he hadn't made more assumptions. I just smiled saying, "Of course Pony. Be careful though."
Then he looked over at Two-Bit smiling at me and his smile faded simply saying, "Yeah, you too."
With that he left and I saw a hurt look in Two-Bit eyes for a brief moment, but it was soon replaced with his strong but carefree look that I had come so accustomed to.
"C'mon," he said, "I'll walk you home. I guess we can talk then."
I agreed and after saying goodbye to Sodapop once again, we were on our way home. We walked in silence for a while. I kept thinking of Cathy and how wrong she was for Two-Bit, or at least the Two-bit I knew. I mean she was rude and insensitive and she didn't seem to care for him at all.
"So are we gonna talk here or what?" Two-Bit said jokingly, "or was this just an excuse for me to walk you home."
"What?" I said still deep in thought, "Oh right. Well," I didn't exactly know where to begin, "It's Cathy, Two-Bit."
"What about her." He said with a hint of defense in his voice.
"Well it's just that," I thought for a moment trying to find the words. "She's not right for you. You need someone caring and sweet and just someone who truly loves you, for you, not just because they think it's necessary."
He paused for a second as if to take it all in then said, "And Cathy isn't any of those things." "Well, no." I said, "I mean I'm not one to judge but-"
"No you're not Kat," He said cutting me off. "I mean you don't even know Cathy. How do you know she's not perfect for me."
"Don't get me wrong," I said surprised to hear the anger in his voice, "I just thought-"
"No Kat, that's just it," He said, again not letting me finish, "you didn't think. I mean, where do you come off telling me who's good for me and who isn't. Your not allowed to do that. You can't break my heart and then bash every girl that's not as good as you were. I tried to move on but your making this pretty damn hard. I happen to like that girl and just because she ain't as nice or pretty as you doesn't make her any worse. Jesus, Kat, your acting like a world class, prime example of a super-soc."
We stood there just stating at one another. I looked up at his angry face and didn't know what to think. Rage was building inside of me. All I had wanted to do was help. I mean it was clear that the girl would one day hurt him. Right now that's what I wanted. I wanted someone to hurt him as he'd just hurt me. I took a deep breath and then calmly said, "I thought you were different Two-Bit Mathews. I thought you were special. But now I can clearly see that you're just another jackass that I've had to put up with who doesn't know help when it's being offered to them. You obviously don't care about this girl, since you fell back in love with her so quickly. Hell, how do I know you even loved me. You seemed to have recovered rather quickly. It was probably all just some huge plan wasn't it." I cut him off before he could answer, "I know men like you. I've lived with them all my life. Well I'll be damned if I end up being friends, or even more, with someone like that again."
I gave him one last look and then proudly walked down the street not once looking back. Thank god I didn't or else he would've seen the tears that were rolling down my face. As I turned the corner I ran as fast as I could to get back to the house. I opened the door not once looking up to see if anyone was there and went directly to my room closing the door and flopping down on my bed. There I just cried thinking of how mad I was that I jeopardized my relationship with Soda for him, how mad I was that I had poured my heart out to him thinking he actually cared, but most of all how mad I was that I still loved that asshole.
*Please Review*