The two of them raced towards Darry's Ford pick-up. Whisper was now
trembling from the rain. Darry turned the heater on full blast and pulled
out of the parking lot without speaking. Whisper was lost in her own
thoughts, mainly concentrating on the job she had probably just blown. She
promised herself she would no longer give into instinct, knowing damn well
it was a promise she could not keep.
"What's a California girl like you doing in a place like here," Darry asked as he looked straight ahead.
"I needed a new start, a new life. All in all, I needed a way to forget." She watched to water trickle down the window, overwhelmed with sadness and hurt. Darry didn't have to look at her to know this. Her voice was her ultimate betrayer. His first reaction would have been to laugh, to call her a drama queen, but he wasn't Dallas Winston.
He winced at the thought of her meeting Dallas. The others would be uncomfortable at first around her, he knew, but he wouldn't know Dally's reaction until he saw it. Something told him it would not be a warm one. 'That's the last thing this girl needs right now, rejection. What the hell am I doing? Ponyboy's supposed to be the one who doesn't use his head, not me.' Darry pushed these thoughts away, willing himself to believe things would work themselves out. He hoped, he prayed.
"Who is Ponyboy anyway?" She was peering at him curiously now, he noticed from the corner of his eye. She had somehow managed to conceal her hurt for the time being.
"He's my younger brother, a good kid for the most part. Then there's Sodapop, Soda for short. He's the happy-go-lucky one."
"I could have guessed from the name. They both sound very unique. What about you, Darry? Which type are you?" It was the first time she had called him by his nickname. He liked the way it sounded in her southern accent. He thought a minute before giving her the answer.
"I'm the realist." There was an edge to his voice as he said it, like it caused him pain. A moment went by as they each let the statement sink in. Now it was Darry's turn to ask questions.
"You said my brothers sound unique based on their names. What about yours, Whisper?"
She smiled; her tone gentle. "A lot of people have asked me that. I've learned to appreciate my name because of the meaning behind it. My parents were very young, but very much in love with each other. I was told by my father many times how passionate they were towards one another while making love," her eyes closed as she leaned her head back, "and every time they found other, he would never talk to my mother above a whisper. She named me in her last breathe."
"And your father?" They were just pulling up to the house. 'The moment of truth,' Darry thought.
"I lost him last year to cancer." He looked at her and gave a small smile. His eyes were still ice, untrusting. That was okay by Whisper, she didn't fully trust him either. After Dominic, how could she trust anyone anymore?
"The guys and I lost ours in a car accident. You're not alone," he turned off the engine, "now brace yourself. You're about to meet the gang." They both got out at the same time, running up the steps and inside, Whisper following Darry.
People were lounging all around. A young girl with blonde hair and turquoise eyes was the first to look in their direction, not seeing Whisper immediately.
"Hey Darry, ya feelin'-" She stopped short as he stepped aside to reveal his companion. Everyone - Soda, Ponyboy, Angel, Heaven, Johnny, Jade, Two-Bit, Steve, and finally Dallas - saw both of them, two soaked people, one of them who would change their destiny forever.
"What's a California girl like you doing in a place like here," Darry asked as he looked straight ahead.
"I needed a new start, a new life. All in all, I needed a way to forget." She watched to water trickle down the window, overwhelmed with sadness and hurt. Darry didn't have to look at her to know this. Her voice was her ultimate betrayer. His first reaction would have been to laugh, to call her a drama queen, but he wasn't Dallas Winston.
He winced at the thought of her meeting Dallas. The others would be uncomfortable at first around her, he knew, but he wouldn't know Dally's reaction until he saw it. Something told him it would not be a warm one. 'That's the last thing this girl needs right now, rejection. What the hell am I doing? Ponyboy's supposed to be the one who doesn't use his head, not me.' Darry pushed these thoughts away, willing himself to believe things would work themselves out. He hoped, he prayed.
"Who is Ponyboy anyway?" She was peering at him curiously now, he noticed from the corner of his eye. She had somehow managed to conceal her hurt for the time being.
"He's my younger brother, a good kid for the most part. Then there's Sodapop, Soda for short. He's the happy-go-lucky one."
"I could have guessed from the name. They both sound very unique. What about you, Darry? Which type are you?" It was the first time she had called him by his nickname. He liked the way it sounded in her southern accent. He thought a minute before giving her the answer.
"I'm the realist." There was an edge to his voice as he said it, like it caused him pain. A moment went by as they each let the statement sink in. Now it was Darry's turn to ask questions.
"You said my brothers sound unique based on their names. What about yours, Whisper?"
She smiled; her tone gentle. "A lot of people have asked me that. I've learned to appreciate my name because of the meaning behind it. My parents were very young, but very much in love with each other. I was told by my father many times how passionate they were towards one another while making love," her eyes closed as she leaned her head back, "and every time they found other, he would never talk to my mother above a whisper. She named me in her last breathe."
"And your father?" They were just pulling up to the house. 'The moment of truth,' Darry thought.
"I lost him last year to cancer." He looked at her and gave a small smile. His eyes were still ice, untrusting. That was okay by Whisper, she didn't fully trust him either. After Dominic, how could she trust anyone anymore?
"The guys and I lost ours in a car accident. You're not alone," he turned off the engine, "now brace yourself. You're about to meet the gang." They both got out at the same time, running up the steps and inside, Whisper following Darry.
People were lounging all around. A young girl with blonde hair and turquoise eyes was the first to look in their direction, not seeing Whisper immediately.
"Hey Darry, ya feelin'-" She stopped short as he stepped aside to reveal his companion. Everyone - Soda, Ponyboy, Angel, Heaven, Johnny, Jade, Two-Bit, Steve, and finally Dallas - saw both of them, two soaked people, one of them who would change their destiny forever.
