Johnny was released from the hospital a day later, and told to take it easy. Like that would ever happen.
By my second day I was rolling in the bed screaming for my cigarettes. They had taken them the second they found them, and the lighter, too. Which really pissed me off. No one touched that dragon without my permission.
Jason leaned in the doorway, looking at me as if he didn't know me. "Are you ok? You're acting like your having a seizure."
I snorted at him. "It's been what, three days, and I haven't been able to have a single smoke! And where the damn is my dragon lighter?"
He smirked. "I'll go haggle it off the nurse."
I sighed as he left. "Butthead of a brother."
He was leaving with the service in a week, and I'd be left alone again.
There came a knock on the door, and I opened my eyes again to see Johnny and Ponyboy.
I smiled and tried to sit up, but the tubes in my arms prevented that. "Hey Johnny. How are you doing?"
He smiled as they walked in and he stopped by the hospital bed. He pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards. "I'll be fine. How about you?"
I looked at the ceiling. "The docs say the scars will stay with me. And they say I should stop smoking."
"Found your stash?" he repositioned himself on the chair.
I nodded. "Unfortunately. Jason is trying to get my lighter back now."
"Anything I can get you?"
"A coke?"
He nodded and took off.
Pony watched him leave, then took his seat where Johnny was sitting. "Hey."
"Hey." I nodded to him, glancing at him. I did a double take. Then I really looked at him. I swallowed hard. He had long light-brown hair, but all the gel made it look close to black, but not nearly as dark as mine. His eyes were gray-green, and slightly smaller then Johnny's big black ones.
"How are ya doin'?" he wasn't afraid to talk to me like I was just another greaser. I wondered if he knew I was rich.
"Not so good." I whispered, rolling my eyes to the ceiling so I wouldn't stare at him. "These damn cuts hurt like hell and my stomach ain't treating me so well."
He smiled. "Your brother said he was leaving soon. Do you want to come over and stay with Darry, Soda and me? We got some real good soup that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth after puking it."
"Pony!" Johnny snapped as he came back into the room.
I laughed. "Thanks Pony. I'll think about it. I do hate staying by myself."
Johnny handed me the coke.
"Hey, look who's got some visitors." Jason said with a smirk as he came into the room.
"Shut yer trap. Did you get my dragon back?"
He shrugged. "You won't get it acting like that."
"Aw come on, J! Give it here." I whined.
He laughed and threw me the lighter.
Pony reached out and caught it before it landed on me. He put it on the stand by my head.
I blushed. "Thanks."
He nodded. "Welcome."
Jason sighed and leaned on the wall so I could see him.
"When ya leaving?" I asked as Johnny opened the soda.
"We're deporting in five days. Where are ya gonna stay?"
I blinked. "What'cha mean?"
"Dad's in France for another two weeks, I'll be gone for around five months, and mom is never home. I know how much you hate being lonesome. And in that huge house, you'll jump at every shadow the second the sun goes down." He said, and I saw him playing with something in his pocket.
"Five months, eh?" I asked, shifting on the hard bed. "Get me a pic of that hot boy. What was his name? Oh, right. Steven."
Jason groaned. "Shut up, Cal."
Johnny glanced at Pony, who was watching the ground, waiting for it to move.
Jason noticed it immediately. His eyes miss nothing. "She's just kidding. She doesn't like anyone in the military…"
"They all have shaved heads!" I snapped back. "Ugly, bumpy, ugly! Yack." I pretended to choke.
He laughed. "Right, I forgot. You only like guys with long, long hair. Like yours."
I flustered. "Shut up, Jason."
Johnny glanced from Jason and back to me. "You want it or not?"
I glared at him and shot Jason an even hotter glare. "I'll find somewhere to go. Now beat it."
He smiled and started to leave. "Miss ya loud voice already, sis. Love ya."
I nodded. "Sure ya do. Love you, too."
He waved and left.
I smiled at Johnny. "Aw, aw!" I opened my mouth.
He laughed hard and helped me drink the coke. It took a few tries, but we finally got the hang of it so I didn't spill anymore on the white nightgown the hospital made me wear.
"What kind of music do you like?" he asked out of the blue.
"Ever hear of Rammstein? He's an awesome German…eh…rock musician." I smiled wide.
Johnny laughed.
"I'll let you listen to his CD, it's just flat out awesome!"
He smiled. "Okay. As soon as you get out of here."
"Yeah, when do I get out?" I asked, shifting.
"Eh, I think tomorrow. I'll come with Two-Bit to pick you up."
I smiled. "Sweet. Thanks."
"Excuse me," a nurse stepped into the room, making all three of us look up. "I'm sorry, visiting hours are over."
I nodded. "K."
She nodded, smiled sweetly, and left.
"I'll see ya'll tomorrow," I said to them.
Johnny smiled and stood up.
Ponyboy waved and walked out of the room.
"Hey, Johnny?"
He looked at me. "Yeah?"
"Ponyboy, he's fifteen, right?"
He nodded. "Right."
"Okay. See ya tomorrow."
He waved and left.
I sighed and slumped against the pillow. "It's only seven…at least I can watch TV." I turned on the TV and flipped through the few channels.
*
When I woke up, it was already nine o'clock and I heard voices out in the halls. I sighed and blinked my eyes to adjust to the light. I watched TV for another two hours till one of the boys jumped into the room, holding some kind of wrapped box. I turned the TV off and turned to him. "Hey."
He smiled. "Hey! I don't believe Johnny mentioned my name…" he pulled Johnny into the room by the collar. "Name's Two-Bit!"
I smiled. "He mentioned you, I just never… Wait, you were the one that gave me back my knife and lighter."
He blinked like he had forgotten. "Oh ya!"
I rolled my eyes. How could someone forget another that quickly and easily?
Johnny glared at Two-Bit then looked back at me. "How'd ya sleep?"
"Terribly." I whispered. The bags under my eyes confirmed it.
"Lonely?" he asked quietly.
I nodded. "Scared. Both."
Two-Bit held up the box. "Guess what it is."
"Your brain?" I asked.
He blinked and gave me a funny look. "Very funny."
Johnny took the box. "It took all my money, and some of Two-Bit's, too. Here."
"Oh, you shouldn't have gone and done that!" I said as I took the box.
"I wanted to." He shrugged.
The stupid tubes weren't in my arms anymore, so I could slowly sit up and open the box. I almost fell out of the bed when I saw what was in it. "You must have had a lot of money, Johnny."
He smiled. "Take it out."
I pulled the necklace from the box and held it in my palm. It was a silver necklace with a dolphin pursuing a blue topaz. Sprays of crystals dangled off one of its fins. My eyes glistened as I looked it over. "This must have cost you a fortune…" I whispered, grazing a finger over it.
He smiled. "You like it?"
I looked up at him. "I love it."
He slowly took it from me and put it around my neck.
I pulled back my hair so he could fasten it.
"Oh ya, get dressed!" Two-Bit said. "We're leaving here as soon as possible."
I could tell he hated hospitals more then I did. "All right, I'll be out in a minute."
They both nodded and left.
I slowly got up and got dressed in my leather outfit. I sighed when that was all I had. Two-Bit was gonna flip out. "I'll have to have them take me home first." I sighed, looking at myself. I fixed my belly button dragon ring and grabbed my lighter off the stand. I opened the door and stepped out.
Two-Bit turned to me and looked me up and down.
"Don't you say a word, or I'll pound you. We should stop by my house so I can change."
Johnny nodded without a word and left.
I followed behind him, with Two-Bit behind me.
I got into the backseat what must have been Two-Bit's car, and Johnny and Two-Bit got up front.
"My house first."
Two-Bit nodded. "Which would be where?"
"Keep going straight. Hang a right on the next street." I leaned back in the chair as he followed the directions. "See the driveway on the right? That huge hill? Up there."
He turned right on the hill and went right up it. He froze and almost forgot to put the car in park when we go to the top. "Eh, did I take a wrong turn?"
I laughed as I jumped out of the car. "Nope. This is my house. You want to come in? I'll only be two minutes."
They got out of the car and followed me into the house.
"Be right back!" I called, and ran up the stairs to my room. I changed into my baggy pants and a loose tank top that showed off my belly button. I grabbed a case of cigarettes and jogged back downstairs. "Ready!"
"Sweet house." Two-Bit said as he started the car to leave.
"Thanks."
"What do you're parents do?"
"My mom's the CEO of a clothing chain, and my dad is the CEO of a traveling business." I said casually.
"That's a lot of money." He said.
I nodded and glanced around. "So where're we going?"
"Pony's place." Johnny said. "The seven of us were gonna go see a movie. You want to come, too?"
I nodded. "Sure, I'd love to. I'll pay my way, though. You've spent enough of me."
Johnny blushed and Two-Bit laughed.
I shrugged it off.
Two-Bit pulled up at a house not to long later, and they got out.
I opened my door and followed them up to the house.
Two-Bit opened the door as if it were his house, and went into the front room.
I stayed close to Johnny and swallowed as I glanced around.
Ponyboy came trotting down the stairs. "Steve and Dally aren't here yet." He said, and froze when he saw me.
I swallowed. "It's ok if I come, isn't it?"
He nodded. "Yeah, sure. Hey, cool necklace."
I blushed as I pushed it with my finger. "Johnny got it for me."
Two-Bit cleared his throat, making me redder.
"And Two-Bit, of course."
Darry and Soda came into the room, followed by Natalie.
I froze. I had totally forgotten about her. I swallowed and she froze when she saw me, too. "Hey." I whispered.
She licked her lips and nodded, ignoring the scars on my face. "Hey NTG."
I winced. She was still mad at me. I turned quickly to Johnny, hoping to forget Natalie. "What movie are we seeing?"
"Anything they're playing." Soda said with a huge smile.
I sighed. "Oh brother."
Seconds later, Dally came into the house with a guy that was probably Steve, since he was the only one I didn't know.
"Well, let's go." Darry said. He grabbed his keys and we all left for the movies.
The nine of us made a big hoopla going into the movies, throwing popcorn at each other and an occasional curse was thrown, as well. I had my CD player headphones blaring around my neck with Slim Shady rapping in them. But no one seemed to care.
I grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed it right at Two-Bit.
"Hey! Save some to eat!" Darry snapped.
I glared at him. "I'm rich, who cares? I'll buy the whole movie theater out of popcorn, if you'd like!"
Natalie laughed at that. "She's got ya there!" she grabbed some popcorn and threw it back at me.
I laughed as it got caught all over in my hair. "Hey! Not the hair, girlfriend!"
Johnny picked a piece out and ate it.
I rolled my eyes. "Boys."
"Hey, shh!" Pony snapped. "Movie's starting."
I settled back into my seat between him and Johnny and messed up Pony's hair.
He glared at me.
I smirked triumphantly. "Mess with me, I'll mess with your hair!"
He rolled his eyes. "That makes no sense."
"Who said it would?"
About half way into the movie, I looked behind Johnny to see Natalie and Soda, kissing. I would have puked I had a bag with me. I nudged Pony with my elbow, and he slowly turned to look at me. I motioned to the two with my head.
He looked up at them and blinked.
I smirked and winked at him. I took a handful of popcorn and tossed it at them. I whirled before they even looked up.
"Callisto NTG!" Natalie gasped quietly.
I snickered, but Pony didn't look so comfortable.
Natalie rapped me on the back of my head with her hand. "You so much as turn to look at me again, and I'll chop your head right off!"
"Better then my hair." I mumbled.
She fumed, but settled back into her seat.
"Spoiled sports." I muttered to Pony.
When the movie ended, I was the only one to stand up.
I yawned and stretched. I looked at the guys as they stayed seated. "I'm going down to the snack bar,"
"Count me in." Johnny said quickly but quietly.
I walked down the aisle and went to the snack bar. "Why are they all staying there?" I asked Johnny as I got a coke.
He shrugged. "Pony always does that. Why the others did, I'm just as puzzled as you are."
"Are we missing something?" I asked, turning to him.
He shrugged. "I don't think so."
I sighed and yawned again. "I need some sleep."
Johnny looked at me and touched the tip of one of my scars. "Did it hurt bad?"
I yawned again, but this time covered my mouth with my hand. "I don't know. But when he did it, yeah."
As we stayed in the lobby and talked, a group of Socs were coming out of a movie, and behind them were Ponyboy and the others.
I licked my teeth and looked up at the Socs as they walked by.
The boys looked at me and scowled.
The girls just flat out ignored me.
"You know them?" Johnny asked quietly.
"Na. Not a single one." I said plainly, and looked up at the guys as they stopped in front of us. "Done? Already?"
Natalie scowled.
"Did you even see any of the movie?"
She burned at that. "Shut your hole, Miss NTG."
I jumped to my feet and grabbed her collar. "You want to run that by me again?" I shook her hard.
Two-Bit grabbed my wrist. "Hey, hey! Calm down. Let her go."
I dropped her shirt and pulled my arm from Two-Bit. I brushed down my jacket and snorted. "Watch that motor mouth of yours, Natalie."
She snorted. "Look who's talking. You're already getting gifts off the boys and they don't even know you. Hmm."
I snarled, baring my teeth. "You wanna try that again?"
She smirked. "Deaf, are we?"
"You're gonna be!" I yelled, and jumped on her.
She screamed as we crashed to the ground.
"Natalie!" Soda yelled.
I punched her in the face and slugged her again in the stomach.
"Callisto! Stop it!" Johnny yelled.
Dally grabbed my arm and pulled me up. "Save that for the Socs."
I snarled and tried to pull away from him.
Soda helped Natalie up.
She snorted at me. "That's all you can do, isn't it?"
My top lip curled up and my eyebrows went down inwards. "You're just a little wimp, got no muscle on ya puny body."
She glared at me, but she was hurt. "Words, that's all they are NTG. Words."
"Well hell, they wouldn't only be words if these boys weren't here!" I snapped.
She rolled her eyes and stalked out of the theater with Soda.
"COWARD!" I yelled after her as Dally kept his grip.
"I don't think you should ride in the same car as her." Two-Bit mused.
I huffed and ripped my arms from Dally. "Chicken, that's all she is." I rolled my shoulders and looked at Johnny, who was pale. "You ok kid?"
He nodded. "Fine."
"Good. Let's go." I pulled out my cell as we left the theater.
Natalie and Soda were waiting by Two-Bit's car.
I flipped open the phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"Hey J, it's me." I looked at my watch. "Where are ya right now?"
"Home. You?"
"Theater, downtown. Can you pick me up? I wanna talk."
"No problem." He hung up, and so did I.
"Why are you having your brother pick you up?" Two-Bit asked.
"So I don't have to ride with people." I said as I sat myself down on the curb and pulled out a cigarette.
Johnny sat down next to me.
I handed him a cigarette and lit both of them.
Pony looked down at us. "You can ride with Darry."
I shook my head as I let out the smoke through my nose.
Pony looked up at Two-Bit and back down at me. "Is Johnny going with you?"
"If he doesn't mind yelling and screaming and punches being thrown." I shrugged.
Johnny swallowed. "I don't mind. I'll keep my mouth shut good."
"Good. Then he's coming." I said, and took a long drag on the cigarette.
Two-Bit nudged Pony with his elbow. "Go with her."
Pony blinked. "I don't think she wants any of us along."
"She doesn't mind Johnny going."
"She knows Johnny."
"Then she can get to know you!" Two-Bit shoved him down on the curb on my other side. "Ponyboy wants to go too," and before anything was set up, he went to his car.
I handed Pony a cigarette. "No matter what happens when I get home, don't open your mouth or show protest. Got it?"
He nodded as he took the cigarette.
We waited for about ten minutes until my brother pulled up in his Porsche.
I got up and pulled the seat forward so Pony and Johnny could in the back. I pushed the seat back into place and sat down in the front. "Socs?" I asked my brother.
He seemed far off. He didn't protest when all three of us got in with cigarettes, and he didn't even seem to notice that I was there. "It's the Coolers. And I suggest you go right to your room, with your friends."
I blinked. "You mean you want me to…"
"Take them to your room. Not the guests. Yours."
I nodded. "All right."
Pony glanced at Johnny, but Johnny didn't seem the least bit concerned.
"I ain't gonna try to protect you…"
"Don't bother explaining. I know the game. I've played it and won before."
"Once. You lost the other three times."
"I know. Let's not discuss what happens when I lose, shall we?"
He nodded as we pulled up the hill to the house. He stopped the car and turned to look at Johnny and Pony. "Not a word, not a sound. Follow Cal, don't hesitate, and don't look back. Got it?"
They nodded.
I got out of the car and let the boys out. I followed Jason to the door and started to head right to my room.
In the front room were five boys, and Jason went right to them as I led the boys up the stairs to my room.
I closed the door behind us and locked it. "Better keep it down." I said as I flicked the light on and pulled the curtains closed.
Johnny and Pony looked around the big room.
"I don't want you guys to sleep on the floor or anything. So you guys can decide on who has the bed. I'll get some blankets and pillows." I went into my closet and they turned to each other.
"You get the bed." Johnny said.
I blinked as I tossed a round of blankets and pillows onto the floor. "Eh?"
"We don't mind." Pony said as he fixed the blankets.
I scratched my head. "Mind if I suffer with you guys, then?"
They both laughed.
"Not at all." Pony said with a smile.
"So who are those guys?" Johnny asked as he laid his head down on a pillow.
"My worst nightmare." I muttered as I lay down next to him, and Pony sat on the other side of me.
"Oh? They beat you up?" Pony asked, looking down at me.
I touched my necklace and took it off. "Sort of." I put the necklace on my nightstand and put my head on the pillow. I closed my eyes and whispered, "Night you guys."
"Night." Pony said.
Johnny turned his eyes to me. He reached up ever so slowly and cautiously, and brushed back my bangs from my face. "Goodnight." He whispered.
