Disclaimer: I own Lez and her friends and S. E. Hinton owns the Outsiders.
**Soda's POV**
I woke up hearing the shower running. I crawled out of bed to check the clock in the kitchen.
"4:35?" I mumbled, "Who the hell would be taking a shower this early?"
The water stopped and soon I heard coughing. I realized it was Celeste. I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Celeste? You ok? You sound a little sick." I heard more coughing but no reply.
"Must not have heard me," I thought to myself. I opened the door and saw Celeste throwing up.
"Celsete you ok?" I looked at her a little funny.
She coughed one more time. "Yeah. Just feel a little sick."
I walked over to her and put my hand on her forehead, kneeling next to her. "No fever. Maybe your just feeling sick because you didn't eat much dinner. Come on and eat something."
She stood up. She was an inch shorter than me and I was five, ten. She sat in the kitchen and I heated up some leftover spaghetti.
"Like spaghetti?"
"Yeah, I guess so." She looked like she was going to throw up again. I felt her forehead again.
"You sure you're ok?"
"Yeah. Like you said i'm probably just hungry."
I set a saucer of spaghetti in front of her. I thought you was gonna lose it there.
"Oh god," she said and ran to the bathroom only to resume vomiting.
"Oops," I thought eating her spaghetti.
I heard the toilet flush. She reappeared in the kitchen.
"Thanks anyway Soda. I think I'll just grab a glass of water and go to bed ok?"
"Sure. Are you absolutely positive you're ok?"
"Completely," she answered. I noticed a bit of blood running down her lip. I tried to ignore it.
"One more question before you go to bed," I said while she was getting her water.
"I figured I'd leave some hot water for you guys in the morning. Night Soda."
"Night."
**Darry's POV**
"Darry?" I heard Soda asked me.
I looked at my watch. "Hey buddy what's wrong? Can't sleep cause it's 4:47 and you're usually sound asleep."
"I'm worried about Celeste," he said sitting on the edge of my bed.
"What? Why?"
"Well, first I woke up at 4:35 to hear the shower running. Then I hear coughing and go to the bathroom. I ask her if she's ok and all I hear is more coughing. She sounded really sick. So, I opened the door and she's throwing up. I feel her forehead and she doesn't have a fever. So, then I make her something to eat because she didn't eat much at dinner."
"Soda. What are you gettin' at?"
"I set a plate of food in front of her and she runs back to the bathroom vomiting."
"Get some sleep Soda. She was probably just a little sick."
**Lez's POV**
I woke up three hours later at 7:36 to Darry calling my name.
"Ok, I'm up."
"Get dressed and come eat some breakfast."
I was already dressed so I just hopped out of bed and went to the kitchen. I sat and stared at the table for a while.
"I'm not exactly sure what you'd like for breakfast. Any suggestions?"
"I'm not really a breakfast person. I'll just get some water before I leave."
I got up and walked to my room to grab my stuff. I put down my bag and board and got a glass of water before I sat back down at the kitchen table. Soda and Pony went out to the living room to watch cartoons with Two-bit and Johnny. Steve came in.
"Hey Lez?" Two-bit asked, "Can you bring two beers when you come out?"
"Sure," I said walking to the fridge. I grabbed three and headed for the living room. I gave two of the three to Two-bit. Darry looked at me.
"He said two babe. Not three."
"I know. He's got his two and I've got my one. I'm in school for a reason ya know." I turned back to the kitched grabbed my board and told them I'd see them at school.
I rode around the front of the house drinking my beer before I left. I rode around the school doing tic-tacs and ollies and got bored. I got off my skate board and sat on the steps. I took my helmet out of my bag and put it on while running up the stairs with my board. I saw A.J. and his friends. They ran to the top to greet me.Greg looked at me and laughed.
"You're twenty-seven steps up. You expect to make it all the way down. Not even I could do that."
"Well Greg, that must be because you suck."
Some people who arrived at school early were watching me back up my skateboard. One of them was Ponyboy. Was I gonna get when I got to the bottom. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and skated up to the railing. I did a perfect rail slide to the bottom.
I did a tic-tac and an ollie while waiting for A.J. and his friends.
Greg stared at me. "How can you do that? We we're twenty-seven steps up."
"Greg," I said putting my arm around his shoulder, "Let me clue in on something. That was like grinding a kiddie slide to me."
The doors to the school opened and I took off my helmet and headed in with Johnny. Two-bit walked past me and bumped into me on purpose.
"Showoff."
"Am not. I just like to board. If you can't handle that, it's not my fault. I was just warming up anyways."
"Warming up for what? You're in Tulsa. That's probably the highest railing you'll find for miles."
I sighed and walked to my locker stashing my board halmet and bag.
"Celeste?"
"Here," I grumbled.
A.J. Looked at me."What? Don't let him get to you. There's much bigger rails in Tulsa. Trust me. Hey why don't you come by today? Got something to show you."
"Sure."
Before I knew it, it was lunch. I was sitting with A.J., but Pony came over and sat in the space left from me stradling the seat.
"Eat."
"You weren't hungry yesterday either. Eat. Or I'll tell Darry."
"What? I'm not hungry."
"I know why you were really thr-"
I put my hand over his mouth. "Fine I'll eat but don't have high hopes for dinner."
He shrugged and walked away. Jim who was sitting on the other side of my punched me in my arm.
"What was that for?"
"Hm. You didn't say ow." He punched me again harder.
I stared at him. "Uh, ow?"
He shrugged, "Good enough."
"What was that for?" I repeated.
"Being anorexic."
"I'm not hungry!" I yelled in his face.
"What was Ponyboy saying Lez?" Eddie asked me.
"Something." I took a bite of my salad to fill my mouth.
"Uh, I'll be right back. Gotta use the bathroom." I started to get up.
Jim grabbed my arm. "And do what."
I jerked my arm away from him. "What I normally do when I use the bathroom."
"Which is?"
"What do you do when you go the bathroom?"
"It's not sticking my finger down my throat and making myself throw up like you."
I stared at him, "You think I'm gonna do what!?" I got mad and walked off for the bathroom. Five minutes later I resumed my seat, stradling the bench.
"Bit your lip?" Chris asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Liar," Jim mumbled handing me a napkin.
"What?"
"Your bleeding."
"Oh." I use the napkin to wipe the blood away from my mouth.
The bell for sixth period rang. I walked to art with Kevin. Twentysix minutes into class the teacher got a note saying they wanted me in the office.
"Great, now what'd I do?" I mumbled to Kevin before leaving.
I saw the principle. He asked me if I was feeling ok.
"Kind of, why do you ask?"
"A girl said she heard you throwing up in the bathroom. She said you looked a little sick."
"Just ate too much I guess. I threw up last night too."
He sighed, "Go get your things. Is anyone home?"
"No."
"Is there someone in school who will be there later?"
"Yes. Ponyboy Curtis."
"Do you have a way to get home?"
"Skateboard or walk it's not to far."
He handed me a piece of paper. "Here's a slip for your teacher."
"Thankyou," I said bolting for the door.
I walked back into art and gave the teacher the slip.
"Just take a seat. There's only ten minutes in the period left."
I walked back to my seat next to Kevin.
"Throw up to get out of school?" he said coloring his picture with pastels.
"No. I threw up last night too. I'm sick, thank you very much."
"Sure. You keep telling yourself that," he said focused on his picture.
"Abstract?"
"Yes. You are, if you're talking about my picture, that too."
I picked up a yellow crayon and drew scribbly lines all over the paper. I did it with each color crayon I had. the teacher walked over to me as I was finishing up blue. She looked at it and smiled.
"Have a name for it."
I looked at Kevin who looked at me. "I don't trust you," I said to him.
"Lovely name for such lovely art. May I hang it?"
"Uh, sure. I was just being kind of angry but, ok."
She patted my back and smiled at Kevin and I.
"I hate you," I mouthed to him.
The teacher walked away to hang my picture.
"I hate you," I repeated out loud.
"You, A.J., Jim, and all your stupid friends."
He looked back down at his paper. He flipped it and wrote. The bell rang.
"Here, take it."
I took it and collected my books to leave.
I went to my locker and rode to the DX.
"Sodapop?"
He turned to me. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in school."
"I threw up again. They told me to go home."
"Well, i'm busy and this isn't home."
"Can I take that advice literally and go home Like, New York home?"
"No," he turned to me. "Sit here," he said sitting me in a chair. "Listen," he said taking my hand, "It'll take some time to get used to us. Us and Tulsa."
I took myhand away from his gentle grip. "Oh, save it. You don't like me. None of you do. You think i'm weird cause I'm a girl and I skateboard. And you all think i'm ANOREXIC! I don't know why you people think that but, whatever, I'm outta here." As I skated away I turned my head, "Tell Darry not to wait up for me tonight.Or any other night for that matter."
I stopped a block away. I snapped my board in half on a porch railing and left it by the sidewalk. I ran for the house and waited until 3:30 to go to my room. I had left a suicide note on the counter. I took out Kevin's picture and hd in the closet. For the first time I noticed how beautiful it was. I looked on the back. He wrote a note.
Lez,
Sorry. I was being a jerk. We all were. We shouldn't have made that assumption. Just don't do anything stupid because of it ok? I know at least one of us is sorry. Me. Call me later ok? 576-867-2213 - Call around 4:00 if you don't I'll come over there and find you ok? See you either tomorrow or later.
Kev
I heard voices and made myself small. Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry were arguing.
"Soda, How could you not go after her?" Darry yelled.
"It's probably Ponyboys fault. He's the one that thinks she anorexic."
"It is not my fault! You heard her throwing up last night!"
"Pony, Soda, stop yelling."
"Hey guys. Get this," Soda said. Obviously he had discovered my suicide letter.
"'Hey guys,
It's not anybody's fault. I'm just a burden a down deserve to live. Soda, Sorry I yelled at you. Pony, you're so wrong. I'm sick ok? Obviously mentally as much as pyhsically. Darry, thanks alot for taking me in but, right now I'm probably burning in hell. Suicide was the only answer. Once again thanks you three.
Love,
Lez '"
"There are tear stains all over this letter."
Ponyboy sounded tired, "Nothing we can do now."
I fell asleep in my closet.
**Darry's POV**
"Pony's right. Least we can do is check her room."
"Go right ahead. I'm getting a shower," Soda told me and headed for the bathroom.
"Homework."
I walked to Lez's room and looked around. I was about to give up when I heard a rustle in the closet. I opened the door and pick up Lez. I carried her out to the living room. Ponyboy looked up from his homework and the doorbell rang. Pony answered it.
"Lez here?"
"Sure," he answered and let the guy in.
"What happened to her?"
"She fell asleep, In her closet."
"Oh, ok. Well."
***Lez's POV**
I woke up and Darry was holding me. I wasn't expecting it and I screamed. It freaked him out and he dropped me.
"Oops."
Kevin extended his hand to help me up. I took it and he pulled me to my feet.
"Ready?" he asked me.
"I uh, kinda." As if on que Darry handed me the two pieces of board I had left.
"Darry, I'll be back before the A.M. hours"
"12:59 p.m. No later."
"Ok," I said following Kevin out the door.
I got home at 9:36. They were all sitting in the living room eating and watching TV.
Darry looked up at me, "Hungry."
"Ate at A.J.'s thanks." I grabbed an apple from the kitchen and headed for my room.
I worked on my homework for two hours and Darry came in with a sandwhich.
"Figured you might be hungry."
"Thanks Darry, Goodnight."
"Night Lez," he said shuting the door.
I stared at the sandwhich. I got a pocket knife from my drawer and cut up the apple. I ate the apple quickly and then the sandwhich. I sat staring at the empty plate a minute then ran for the bathroom. Soda was still on the couch watching TV and jumped up. He ran over to me and grabbed my waist.
"Oh, no. You're not gonna throw it up." He dragged me to the couch. He sat me on his lap and I cried.
"It hurts Soda. It hurts."
"Just because you ate to much and your stomach doesn't know what's going on."
I settled down. He started stroking my hair and loosened his grip. I took advantage of the moment and ran for the bathroom. I spent over an hour purging in the bathroom. I came out and Soda was standing there frowning at me shaking his head. I frowned back and whiped my mouth on my pajama sleeve. I looked down. There was blood.
**Soda's POV**
I woke up hearing the shower running. I crawled out of bed to check the clock in the kitchen.
"4:35?" I mumbled, "Who the hell would be taking a shower this early?"
The water stopped and soon I heard coughing. I realized it was Celeste. I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Celeste? You ok? You sound a little sick." I heard more coughing but no reply.
"Must not have heard me," I thought to myself. I opened the door and saw Celeste throwing up.
"Celsete you ok?" I looked at her a little funny.
She coughed one more time. "Yeah. Just feel a little sick."
I walked over to her and put my hand on her forehead, kneeling next to her. "No fever. Maybe your just feeling sick because you didn't eat much dinner. Come on and eat something."
She stood up. She was an inch shorter than me and I was five, ten. She sat in the kitchen and I heated up some leftover spaghetti.
"Like spaghetti?"
"Yeah, I guess so." She looked like she was going to throw up again. I felt her forehead again.
"You sure you're ok?"
"Yeah. Like you said i'm probably just hungry."
I set a saucer of spaghetti in front of her. I thought you was gonna lose it there.
"Oh god," she said and ran to the bathroom only to resume vomiting.
"Oops," I thought eating her spaghetti.
I heard the toilet flush. She reappeared in the kitchen.
"Thanks anyway Soda. I think I'll just grab a glass of water and go to bed ok?"
"Sure. Are you absolutely positive you're ok?"
"Completely," she answered. I noticed a bit of blood running down her lip. I tried to ignore it.
"One more question before you go to bed," I said while she was getting her water.
"I figured I'd leave some hot water for you guys in the morning. Night Soda."
"Night."
**Darry's POV**
"Darry?" I heard Soda asked me.
I looked at my watch. "Hey buddy what's wrong? Can't sleep cause it's 4:47 and you're usually sound asleep."
"I'm worried about Celeste," he said sitting on the edge of my bed.
"What? Why?"
"Well, first I woke up at 4:35 to hear the shower running. Then I hear coughing and go to the bathroom. I ask her if she's ok and all I hear is more coughing. She sounded really sick. So, I opened the door and she's throwing up. I feel her forehead and she doesn't have a fever. So, then I make her something to eat because she didn't eat much at dinner."
"Soda. What are you gettin' at?"
"I set a plate of food in front of her and she runs back to the bathroom vomiting."
"Get some sleep Soda. She was probably just a little sick."
**Lez's POV**
I woke up three hours later at 7:36 to Darry calling my name.
"Ok, I'm up."
"Get dressed and come eat some breakfast."
I was already dressed so I just hopped out of bed and went to the kitchen. I sat and stared at the table for a while.
"I'm not exactly sure what you'd like for breakfast. Any suggestions?"
"I'm not really a breakfast person. I'll just get some water before I leave."
I got up and walked to my room to grab my stuff. I put down my bag and board and got a glass of water before I sat back down at the kitchen table. Soda and Pony went out to the living room to watch cartoons with Two-bit and Johnny. Steve came in.
"Hey Lez?" Two-bit asked, "Can you bring two beers when you come out?"
"Sure," I said walking to the fridge. I grabbed three and headed for the living room. I gave two of the three to Two-bit. Darry looked at me.
"He said two babe. Not three."
"I know. He's got his two and I've got my one. I'm in school for a reason ya know." I turned back to the kitched grabbed my board and told them I'd see them at school.
I rode around the front of the house drinking my beer before I left. I rode around the school doing tic-tacs and ollies and got bored. I got off my skate board and sat on the steps. I took my helmet out of my bag and put it on while running up the stairs with my board. I saw A.J. and his friends. They ran to the top to greet me.Greg looked at me and laughed.
"You're twenty-seven steps up. You expect to make it all the way down. Not even I could do that."
"Well Greg, that must be because you suck."
Some people who arrived at school early were watching me back up my skateboard. One of them was Ponyboy. Was I gonna get when I got to the bottom. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and skated up to the railing. I did a perfect rail slide to the bottom.
I did a tic-tac and an ollie while waiting for A.J. and his friends.
Greg stared at me. "How can you do that? We we're twenty-seven steps up."
"Greg," I said putting my arm around his shoulder, "Let me clue in on something. That was like grinding a kiddie slide to me."
The doors to the school opened and I took off my helmet and headed in with Johnny. Two-bit walked past me and bumped into me on purpose.
"Showoff."
"Am not. I just like to board. If you can't handle that, it's not my fault. I was just warming up anyways."
"Warming up for what? You're in Tulsa. That's probably the highest railing you'll find for miles."
I sighed and walked to my locker stashing my board halmet and bag.
"Celeste?"
"Here," I grumbled.
A.J. Looked at me."What? Don't let him get to you. There's much bigger rails in Tulsa. Trust me. Hey why don't you come by today? Got something to show you."
"Sure."
Before I knew it, it was lunch. I was sitting with A.J., but Pony came over and sat in the space left from me stradling the seat.
"Eat."
"You weren't hungry yesterday either. Eat. Or I'll tell Darry."
"What? I'm not hungry."
"I know why you were really thr-"
I put my hand over his mouth. "Fine I'll eat but don't have high hopes for dinner."
He shrugged and walked away. Jim who was sitting on the other side of my punched me in my arm.
"What was that for?"
"Hm. You didn't say ow." He punched me again harder.
I stared at him. "Uh, ow?"
He shrugged, "Good enough."
"What was that for?" I repeated.
"Being anorexic."
"I'm not hungry!" I yelled in his face.
"What was Ponyboy saying Lez?" Eddie asked me.
"Something." I took a bite of my salad to fill my mouth.
"Uh, I'll be right back. Gotta use the bathroom." I started to get up.
Jim grabbed my arm. "And do what."
I jerked my arm away from him. "What I normally do when I use the bathroom."
"Which is?"
"What do you do when you go the bathroom?"
"It's not sticking my finger down my throat and making myself throw up like you."
I stared at him, "You think I'm gonna do what!?" I got mad and walked off for the bathroom. Five minutes later I resumed my seat, stradling the bench.
"Bit your lip?" Chris asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Liar," Jim mumbled handing me a napkin.
"What?"
"Your bleeding."
"Oh." I use the napkin to wipe the blood away from my mouth.
The bell for sixth period rang. I walked to art with Kevin. Twentysix minutes into class the teacher got a note saying they wanted me in the office.
"Great, now what'd I do?" I mumbled to Kevin before leaving.
I saw the principle. He asked me if I was feeling ok.
"Kind of, why do you ask?"
"A girl said she heard you throwing up in the bathroom. She said you looked a little sick."
"Just ate too much I guess. I threw up last night too."
He sighed, "Go get your things. Is anyone home?"
"No."
"Is there someone in school who will be there later?"
"Yes. Ponyboy Curtis."
"Do you have a way to get home?"
"Skateboard or walk it's not to far."
He handed me a piece of paper. "Here's a slip for your teacher."
"Thankyou," I said bolting for the door.
I walked back into art and gave the teacher the slip.
"Just take a seat. There's only ten minutes in the period left."
I walked back to my seat next to Kevin.
"Throw up to get out of school?" he said coloring his picture with pastels.
"No. I threw up last night too. I'm sick, thank you very much."
"Sure. You keep telling yourself that," he said focused on his picture.
"Abstract?"
"Yes. You are, if you're talking about my picture, that too."
I picked up a yellow crayon and drew scribbly lines all over the paper. I did it with each color crayon I had. the teacher walked over to me as I was finishing up blue. She looked at it and smiled.
"Have a name for it."
I looked at Kevin who looked at me. "I don't trust you," I said to him.
"Lovely name for such lovely art. May I hang it?"
"Uh, sure. I was just being kind of angry but, ok."
She patted my back and smiled at Kevin and I.
"I hate you," I mouthed to him.
The teacher walked away to hang my picture.
"I hate you," I repeated out loud.
"You, A.J., Jim, and all your stupid friends."
He looked back down at his paper. He flipped it and wrote. The bell rang.
"Here, take it."
I took it and collected my books to leave.
I went to my locker and rode to the DX.
"Sodapop?"
He turned to me. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in school."
"I threw up again. They told me to go home."
"Well, i'm busy and this isn't home."
"Can I take that advice literally and go home Like, New York home?"
"No," he turned to me. "Sit here," he said sitting me in a chair. "Listen," he said taking my hand, "It'll take some time to get used to us. Us and Tulsa."
I took myhand away from his gentle grip. "Oh, save it. You don't like me. None of you do. You think i'm weird cause I'm a girl and I skateboard. And you all think i'm ANOREXIC! I don't know why you people think that but, whatever, I'm outta here." As I skated away I turned my head, "Tell Darry not to wait up for me tonight.Or any other night for that matter."
I stopped a block away. I snapped my board in half on a porch railing and left it by the sidewalk. I ran for the house and waited until 3:30 to go to my room. I had left a suicide note on the counter. I took out Kevin's picture and hd in the closet. For the first time I noticed how beautiful it was. I looked on the back. He wrote a note.
Lez,
Sorry. I was being a jerk. We all were. We shouldn't have made that assumption. Just don't do anything stupid because of it ok? I know at least one of us is sorry. Me. Call me later ok? 576-867-2213 - Call around 4:00 if you don't I'll come over there and find you ok? See you either tomorrow or later.
Kev
I heard voices and made myself small. Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry were arguing.
"Soda, How could you not go after her?" Darry yelled.
"It's probably Ponyboys fault. He's the one that thinks she anorexic."
"It is not my fault! You heard her throwing up last night!"
"Pony, Soda, stop yelling."
"Hey guys. Get this," Soda said. Obviously he had discovered my suicide letter.
"'Hey guys,
It's not anybody's fault. I'm just a burden a down deserve to live. Soda, Sorry I yelled at you. Pony, you're so wrong. I'm sick ok? Obviously mentally as much as pyhsically. Darry, thanks alot for taking me in but, right now I'm probably burning in hell. Suicide was the only answer. Once again thanks you three.
Love,
Lez '"
"There are tear stains all over this letter."
Ponyboy sounded tired, "Nothing we can do now."
I fell asleep in my closet.
**Darry's POV**
"Pony's right. Least we can do is check her room."
"Go right ahead. I'm getting a shower," Soda told me and headed for the bathroom.
"Homework."
I walked to Lez's room and looked around. I was about to give up when I heard a rustle in the closet. I opened the door and pick up Lez. I carried her out to the living room. Ponyboy looked up from his homework and the doorbell rang. Pony answered it.
"Lez here?"
"Sure," he answered and let the guy in.
"What happened to her?"
"She fell asleep, In her closet."
"Oh, ok. Well."
***Lez's POV**
I woke up and Darry was holding me. I wasn't expecting it and I screamed. It freaked him out and he dropped me.
"Oops."
Kevin extended his hand to help me up. I took it and he pulled me to my feet.
"Ready?" he asked me.
"I uh, kinda." As if on que Darry handed me the two pieces of board I had left.
"Darry, I'll be back before the A.M. hours"
"12:59 p.m. No later."
"Ok," I said following Kevin out the door.
I got home at 9:36. They were all sitting in the living room eating and watching TV.
Darry looked up at me, "Hungry."
"Ate at A.J.'s thanks." I grabbed an apple from the kitchen and headed for my room.
I worked on my homework for two hours and Darry came in with a sandwhich.
"Figured you might be hungry."
"Thanks Darry, Goodnight."
"Night Lez," he said shuting the door.
I stared at the sandwhich. I got a pocket knife from my drawer and cut up the apple. I ate the apple quickly and then the sandwhich. I sat staring at the empty plate a minute then ran for the bathroom. Soda was still on the couch watching TV and jumped up. He ran over to me and grabbed my waist.
"Oh, no. You're not gonna throw it up." He dragged me to the couch. He sat me on his lap and I cried.
"It hurts Soda. It hurts."
"Just because you ate to much and your stomach doesn't know what's going on."
I settled down. He started stroking my hair and loosened his grip. I took advantage of the moment and ran for the bathroom. I spent over an hour purging in the bathroom. I came out and Soda was standing there frowning at me shaking his head. I frowned back and whiped my mouth on my pajama sleeve. I looked down. There was blood.
