*** Ok Chapter 5. Thanks for the reviews they really help keep me
motivated. Oh yeah there are two characters besides the outsiders that
don't belong to me. Cordell Walker and the fiction novel character,
Nicholas Tanek. ***
~ June 12, 1966 ~
I guess you could say I found out about my cousin's fear of me becoming like him. He gave me this journal so that I would be able to get my thoughts out some way. This is the end of my second week in Tulsa and most times I don't like talkin' about what's goin' on with me. Pony is off at some track camp; Johnny follows Dally everywhere since Pony is gone for three more weeks. Two-Bit has been helpin' his mom out with his little sister. Darry, Soda, and Steve work a lot during the summer.
Sometimes I wonder if my cousin will ever invite me to go with him and Soda when they go somewhere, but when I see the look on Steve's face when Soda invites Pony to come along my hope always vanishes.
I'm writing because I'm bored. Everyone is at their jobs or camp and I'm home alone. I'm going to go try to find something to do around here so later.
Chey
Closing the journal I placed it back on the shelf before leaving the room. Walking out onto the porch I sat down a pulled my shoes on and tied them. As I walked I began to remember my life back in Texas, which was pretty much gone, but there was one person who had always believed in me, Cordell Walker. He was about Darry's age and he had come to Dallas to be an intern with the Ranger's department. He hated being called Cordell, so everyone started calling him Walker. Walker like me had lost his parents in a typical hate crime when he was twelve. Since then he lived on his Uncle Ray's reservation. After my family's death Walker had taught me karate, but he wouldn't take me in. How could I blame him? He was still young and looking for his path in life. That's how I ended up with Molly and her family.
"Hey I'm glad I found you." A menacing voice said from behind me.
I turned to find myself staring at a group of jocks with smirks on their faces. Behind them I could see their girls in their pretty little blouses and skirts giggling.
"What do ya want airheads?" I replied smoothly stuffing my hands into my pockets like I'd seen the gang do when they were in similar situations.
"We hear that you punched my girl." The blonde sneered. "I just wanted to give you your just deserts." He said taking a swing at my head.
Ducking I kicked him in the stomach and swept his feet out from under him while he doubled over in pain. With a grunt the blonde fell to the ground and cursed. The blonde with the help of his friends stood up again and glared at me.
"You're going to pay for that." He seethed.
All of a sudden another group of boys came up behind us and grabbed my arms, holding me in place they laughed as the blonde began to punch me and kick me over and over again. I wanted to cry, but I knew it would only give these jerks satisfaction. The girls were laughing now enjoying my helplessness. Bowing my head I prayed my plan that I had formulated would work.
"Aww poor baby had enough?" The blonde asked stepping back. "Come on beg for mercy you soc filth."
Ever so painfully slow I raised my head to look at him. "Ya know Blondie.. I was never a soc in the first place." I paused. "Who would want to be a low life like you guys? I mean really. If you don't like what your friend does ya ditch them no problem." My anger flared. "That's right you are the most fickle people I've ever met." I spat.
I watched his facial expressions change drastically and I knew the bait was set. "Why you little.." He bellowed coming forward.
At the right moment I brought my leg up and kicked him in the family jewels. He fell to the ground curled up in a fetal position calling me everything under the sun. That's when I heard the distinct click sound of a blade locking into place. The owner of the blade smiled a little and came forward.
"Wait.. wait help me up." Blondie choked out. The kid backed up and bent to help Blondie up.
After a moment he took the blade from his friend and turned back towards me. An evil smile was plastered on his face as he drew closer. The hands on my arms tightened with just a glance.
"Oh I almost forgot.. tell that Cade kid we're not finished with him yet." Blondie said looking back at the guys.
"Leave him alone." I whispered as I struggled.
"Its no use to struggle kid." Blondie replied and with one swift movement he plunged the blade into my ribs.
Biting back a scream they let me fall to the ground. Blondie kicked me and then turned and walked away with his friends. I lied there until I could no longer hear their laughter. I needed help. I was having trouble breathing and I was sure that my lung was punctured. Picking myself up, I carefully painfully made my way to the corner and looked for help.
"Are you ok kid?" A voice asked beside me.
At that moment my legs grew weak and I collapsed. The man was beside me in an instant. Carefully he placed me on the ground. "Someone call an ambulance!" he called to a woman.
"I.. I was stabbed." I whispered.
"Shh, be quiet save your strength." The man whispered.
Ignoring him I went on. "Can you call my cousin.. his name's Steve Randle? He's working at the DX station." I grew quiet as the darkness was caving in around me.
"Hey, hey don't fall asleep on me." He quickly responded. "I'm Nicholas Tanek. What's your name?" He asked.
"It's Chey Taylor.. please will ya call Steve Randle?" I pleaded.
"Yeah Chey.. I'll call your cousin. He's at the DX right?" He answered.
I nodded as the ambulance rounded the corner and stopped in front of us. Everything was a blur as the medics worked on me and then loaded me. My eyes grew heavier and heavier until I slipped into the welcoming darkness.
*** Tanek's POV ***
I followed the ambulance to the hospital to make sure the kid was alright. Heading straight for the desk I caught the attention of one of the nurses.
"Excuse me miss, by any chance do you have a phone book?" I asked putting a smile on my face.
She nodded and pulled out a thick book. "Thank you." I replied as I flipped through the listings for gas stations. Finally finding the number I found a phone and dialed.
"Hello, DX this is Sodapop speaking how can I help ya?" someone answered on the third ring.
"Hello I need to speak with a Steve Randle." I answered. "It's really important." I added.
A few moments later the voice was replaced. "This is Steve." A rather annoyed voice said.
"You don't know me, but I'm Nicholas Tanek. Your cousin, Chey was stabbed a little while ago and brought to the hospital. I'm calling you because she asked me to." I replied
"Chey.. is she ok?" He asked.
"I'm not hundred percent positive." I responded. "She passed out in the ambulance."
"Ok I'll be there in a few minutes. What do ya look like?" He asked.
"An average guy, brown hair, brown eyes. I'm wearing a white button down shirt and blue jeans." I answered.
"Alright bye." The phone went dead.
Replacing the receiver back on the hook I sat down to wait. No more then ten minutes later two boys about seventeen raced into the emergency room. I stood knowing that these boys were here for Chey.
"Boys, over here." I called above the noise.
"Where is she?" One asked as soon as they made their way over to me.
"They just took her up to surgery. I'll take you up to the surgery waiting room." I said.
Up in the waiting room we sat down to wait. Steve's friend Soda called his brothers and told them what happened while Steve paced the room. Soon after five more boys showed up in the waiting room with worried expression clearly present on their faces.
"How is she?" the oldest boy asked Steve.
Steve shrugged and looked away. They then noticed me for the first time.
"Hi I'm Darry these are my friends and kid brother; Pony, Johnny, Two-Bit, and Dally." He finished introducing.
"I'm Nicholas Tanek." I responded shaking Darry's outstretched hand. "I brought your friend, Chey here." I added.
Hours passed before a weary surgeon came into the room. "Are you Miss Taylor's family?" He asked looking at us.
Steve stood and nodded. "Is my cousin ok?" He asked searching for the answer in the doctor's eyes.
"She made it through surgery, but the next forty eight hours are critical. It doesn't look good son." The surgeon sighed.
"Can we see her doc?" Darry asked.
"Yes, but only for a moment." Came the response.
*** Steve's POV ***
We stood up and headed down the hall towards the Pediatrics ICU. That Tanek guy followed us, but didn't enter the room. There on the bed in front of us lay Chey. Machines surrounded her bed and tubes entered her body. Her skin was deathly pale almost as white as the starched sheets. Her black hair stood out against all that damn white. Behind me I could hear Dally curse and step out of the room.
"Oh god.." I whispered pulling the chair closer to the bed. Never in my life had I felt this helpless. "Chey please pull through.." I choked. "I need ya kid."
The guys left the room silently to give me space. I couldn't believe this. "Whoever did this is going to pay. I promise ya Chey I'll get those basterds if it's the last thing I do." I whispered before slowly getting up and leaving the room.
*** Hey how'd ya like it? I had a snow day so I was able to finally update. The character, Cordell Walker won't be physically present in the story just in Chey's memories. Should I have Tanek stay awhile? ***
~ June 12, 1966 ~
I guess you could say I found out about my cousin's fear of me becoming like him. He gave me this journal so that I would be able to get my thoughts out some way. This is the end of my second week in Tulsa and most times I don't like talkin' about what's goin' on with me. Pony is off at some track camp; Johnny follows Dally everywhere since Pony is gone for three more weeks. Two-Bit has been helpin' his mom out with his little sister. Darry, Soda, and Steve work a lot during the summer.
Sometimes I wonder if my cousin will ever invite me to go with him and Soda when they go somewhere, but when I see the look on Steve's face when Soda invites Pony to come along my hope always vanishes.
I'm writing because I'm bored. Everyone is at their jobs or camp and I'm home alone. I'm going to go try to find something to do around here so later.
Chey
Closing the journal I placed it back on the shelf before leaving the room. Walking out onto the porch I sat down a pulled my shoes on and tied them. As I walked I began to remember my life back in Texas, which was pretty much gone, but there was one person who had always believed in me, Cordell Walker. He was about Darry's age and he had come to Dallas to be an intern with the Ranger's department. He hated being called Cordell, so everyone started calling him Walker. Walker like me had lost his parents in a typical hate crime when he was twelve. Since then he lived on his Uncle Ray's reservation. After my family's death Walker had taught me karate, but he wouldn't take me in. How could I blame him? He was still young and looking for his path in life. That's how I ended up with Molly and her family.
"Hey I'm glad I found you." A menacing voice said from behind me.
I turned to find myself staring at a group of jocks with smirks on their faces. Behind them I could see their girls in their pretty little blouses and skirts giggling.
"What do ya want airheads?" I replied smoothly stuffing my hands into my pockets like I'd seen the gang do when they were in similar situations.
"We hear that you punched my girl." The blonde sneered. "I just wanted to give you your just deserts." He said taking a swing at my head.
Ducking I kicked him in the stomach and swept his feet out from under him while he doubled over in pain. With a grunt the blonde fell to the ground and cursed. The blonde with the help of his friends stood up again and glared at me.
"You're going to pay for that." He seethed.
All of a sudden another group of boys came up behind us and grabbed my arms, holding me in place they laughed as the blonde began to punch me and kick me over and over again. I wanted to cry, but I knew it would only give these jerks satisfaction. The girls were laughing now enjoying my helplessness. Bowing my head I prayed my plan that I had formulated would work.
"Aww poor baby had enough?" The blonde asked stepping back. "Come on beg for mercy you soc filth."
Ever so painfully slow I raised my head to look at him. "Ya know Blondie.. I was never a soc in the first place." I paused. "Who would want to be a low life like you guys? I mean really. If you don't like what your friend does ya ditch them no problem." My anger flared. "That's right you are the most fickle people I've ever met." I spat.
I watched his facial expressions change drastically and I knew the bait was set. "Why you little.." He bellowed coming forward.
At the right moment I brought my leg up and kicked him in the family jewels. He fell to the ground curled up in a fetal position calling me everything under the sun. That's when I heard the distinct click sound of a blade locking into place. The owner of the blade smiled a little and came forward.
"Wait.. wait help me up." Blondie choked out. The kid backed up and bent to help Blondie up.
After a moment he took the blade from his friend and turned back towards me. An evil smile was plastered on his face as he drew closer. The hands on my arms tightened with just a glance.
"Oh I almost forgot.. tell that Cade kid we're not finished with him yet." Blondie said looking back at the guys.
"Leave him alone." I whispered as I struggled.
"Its no use to struggle kid." Blondie replied and with one swift movement he plunged the blade into my ribs.
Biting back a scream they let me fall to the ground. Blondie kicked me and then turned and walked away with his friends. I lied there until I could no longer hear their laughter. I needed help. I was having trouble breathing and I was sure that my lung was punctured. Picking myself up, I carefully painfully made my way to the corner and looked for help.
"Are you ok kid?" A voice asked beside me.
At that moment my legs grew weak and I collapsed. The man was beside me in an instant. Carefully he placed me on the ground. "Someone call an ambulance!" he called to a woman.
"I.. I was stabbed." I whispered.
"Shh, be quiet save your strength." The man whispered.
Ignoring him I went on. "Can you call my cousin.. his name's Steve Randle? He's working at the DX station." I grew quiet as the darkness was caving in around me.
"Hey, hey don't fall asleep on me." He quickly responded. "I'm Nicholas Tanek. What's your name?" He asked.
"It's Chey Taylor.. please will ya call Steve Randle?" I pleaded.
"Yeah Chey.. I'll call your cousin. He's at the DX right?" He answered.
I nodded as the ambulance rounded the corner and stopped in front of us. Everything was a blur as the medics worked on me and then loaded me. My eyes grew heavier and heavier until I slipped into the welcoming darkness.
*** Tanek's POV ***
I followed the ambulance to the hospital to make sure the kid was alright. Heading straight for the desk I caught the attention of one of the nurses.
"Excuse me miss, by any chance do you have a phone book?" I asked putting a smile on my face.
She nodded and pulled out a thick book. "Thank you." I replied as I flipped through the listings for gas stations. Finally finding the number I found a phone and dialed.
"Hello, DX this is Sodapop speaking how can I help ya?" someone answered on the third ring.
"Hello I need to speak with a Steve Randle." I answered. "It's really important." I added.
A few moments later the voice was replaced. "This is Steve." A rather annoyed voice said.
"You don't know me, but I'm Nicholas Tanek. Your cousin, Chey was stabbed a little while ago and brought to the hospital. I'm calling you because she asked me to." I replied
"Chey.. is she ok?" He asked.
"I'm not hundred percent positive." I responded. "She passed out in the ambulance."
"Ok I'll be there in a few minutes. What do ya look like?" He asked.
"An average guy, brown hair, brown eyes. I'm wearing a white button down shirt and blue jeans." I answered.
"Alright bye." The phone went dead.
Replacing the receiver back on the hook I sat down to wait. No more then ten minutes later two boys about seventeen raced into the emergency room. I stood knowing that these boys were here for Chey.
"Boys, over here." I called above the noise.
"Where is she?" One asked as soon as they made their way over to me.
"They just took her up to surgery. I'll take you up to the surgery waiting room." I said.
Up in the waiting room we sat down to wait. Steve's friend Soda called his brothers and told them what happened while Steve paced the room. Soon after five more boys showed up in the waiting room with worried expression clearly present on their faces.
"How is she?" the oldest boy asked Steve.
Steve shrugged and looked away. They then noticed me for the first time.
"Hi I'm Darry these are my friends and kid brother; Pony, Johnny, Two-Bit, and Dally." He finished introducing.
"I'm Nicholas Tanek." I responded shaking Darry's outstretched hand. "I brought your friend, Chey here." I added.
Hours passed before a weary surgeon came into the room. "Are you Miss Taylor's family?" He asked looking at us.
Steve stood and nodded. "Is my cousin ok?" He asked searching for the answer in the doctor's eyes.
"She made it through surgery, but the next forty eight hours are critical. It doesn't look good son." The surgeon sighed.
"Can we see her doc?" Darry asked.
"Yes, but only for a moment." Came the response.
*** Steve's POV ***
We stood up and headed down the hall towards the Pediatrics ICU. That Tanek guy followed us, but didn't enter the room. There on the bed in front of us lay Chey. Machines surrounded her bed and tubes entered her body. Her skin was deathly pale almost as white as the starched sheets. Her black hair stood out against all that damn white. Behind me I could hear Dally curse and step out of the room.
"Oh god.." I whispered pulling the chair closer to the bed. Never in my life had I felt this helpless. "Chey please pull through.." I choked. "I need ya kid."
The guys left the room silently to give me space. I couldn't believe this. "Whoever did this is going to pay. I promise ya Chey I'll get those basterds if it's the last thing I do." I whispered before slowly getting up and leaving the room.
*** Hey how'd ya like it? I had a snow day so I was able to finally update. The character, Cordell Walker won't be physically present in the story just in Chey's memories. Should I have Tanek stay awhile? ***