Five For Fighting
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything )
F.I.V.E.
The guys left that night around twelve thirty, Dally and Two-Bit to go to a guy named 'Buck's place to "Catch some action and maybe a broad or two".
I tried not to show my disappointment in Dallas's leaving, especially in his leaving to pick up girls. Johnny was brought home by Steve who was on his way to his girlfriend's house and I was left alone with my brothers again.
"Tomorrow we'll call the people from the state and tell them about you, make sure there aren't any complications in your being here, then we can bring you to the school and get you registered," Darry said as he moved slowly around the living room picking up cans, bottles and cigarette butts which were in plentiful supply and constantly being added to by Ponyboy, who, I could see was quite the cigarette addict.
"About school, Darry" I started, "I don't think I should go, what with my being another mouth to feed and us not having a lot of money, I think I should go to work instead, earn my keep"
Darry leveled his eyes "Don't be stupid Amber, you're going to school, I won't have you dropping out. There isn't much of a market for uneducated teenage girls anyway, except pregnancy and welfare"
"I could waitress" I countered
"No you can't, no Curtis is going to cater to a bunch of people with their noses in the air thinking they're better than us"
"I could be a secretary" I offered
"Not if you can't read and write"
"I can so read and write, I don't know why you're so into my going to school, it's my choice."
Pony and Soda were watching mine and Darry's exchange of words, our first battling it out with avid interest like they were even enjoying it, but at this retort they both looked subdued.
"You're right it's your choice, but I'll skin you alive if you don't go"
oh boy, what an ultimatum.
Based on the fact that I'm writing this, I think you know the choice I made.
"Well does the school at least have a cheerleading team?" I asked. I had been head cheerleader of my junior high team in Arizona.
Another troubled look passed between the boys and Darry avoided the question by going back to picking up the trash around the room.
"Yeah, but you don't want anything to do with those girls," Ponyboy said
"Why?"
I could tell that he was dreading the inevitable question, I was starting to realize they were dreading a lot of things concerning me.
"They're just….not nice," he finished lamely.
"Well I'll just see about that," I stated crossing my arms in front of me a little indignant about being forced to go to school.
I was always pretty ok in school, made the dean's list despite my math deficiencies but I never liked it. I took it for granted I guess, it was just something to be done and since I was throwing in the towel to the loving parent bit, why not ditch school while I was at it?
"Well I guess it'll be ok, having you and Soda with me huh?" I asked
"Uh…well you'll have Pony with you…I dropped out after mom and dad…you know cause you might as well know it now, I'm dumb, I work at the DX downtown," Soda mumbled.
Darry walked out of the living room and slammed the door to his room with such a great force the house shook.
"Darry still hasn't really forgiven me for it, see Amber he wants the world for us and he's taken it upon himself to give it to us even though it means roofing house after house instead of sticking us in a home and going to college himself. Darry is real smart, and he knows you and Pony are too which is why it's so important for him that you go, you see Kid? You gotta go, for Darry"
I turned red. I had acted like a child. There was so much I didn't know about my brothers, so much I had to learn about them, and about life in general.
I ran over to Darry's door knocking on it and letting myself into the stormy blue room where Darry lay on his back staring at the ceiling from atop a bed he was too tall for.
Throwing myself on top of him I hugged him tightly
"I'll go to school, and I'll become really smart and make you proud of me," I promised.
"I know you will" He said holding me next to him in a crushing embrace like he was afraid if he let go I'd disappear on the spot.
"Darry, why does Pony want me to not be on the cheer team?" I asked
"I can't lie to you Amber, you are different than us, I can't describe it but you'll see, things are bad right now, one day they'll get better and maybe then it'll be ok for you to be on the cheerleading squad"
It wasn't much of an answer, in fact it left me more confused than before, and I scrambled off the bed as Soda and Pony came into the room, a hurt and dejected feeling creeping deep down into me.
"I'm tired, I think I better go to bed"
It was a lie, after all the Pepsi I'd had to drink that night I wasn't tired at all, but I had to get out of that room and be by myself to review the emotional rollercoaster that I had ridden that day and just crashed off of into a pit of despair.
"'Night" I mumbled rushing out of the room and across the hall to the safety of the shag carpet and locked door.
I don't know what time I finally fell asleep that night, my mind wouldn't stop working it's way around that night's events. I didn't belong here. That was made abundantly clear, but how could I not belong when like Johnny said, I was a Curtis, same as Pony, Soda and Darry?
Johnny
I would talk to Johnny tomorrow, he could explain things to me.
I fell asleep thinking "Tomorrow I'll talk to Johnny and things will be ok, I do belong here, I do"
I woke up not much later with the distinct feeling that I was not alone.
The green quilt was moving on its own and there was the unmistakable sound of another person breathing next to me.
Curled up facing the wall I hugged my pillow to myself, scared to turn around I counted to three and peered over my shoulder.
A boy with unruly hair and a twisted face with a bent nose lay next to me, scars over both his eyebrows and a snarl on his lips.
Jumping out of the bed with a scream I fell into the corner of the room still hugging the pillow to myself
Darry came rushing in followed closely by Soda and Pony, all looking groggy and unkempt.
"Amber what is it?"
I pointed to the bed "I was in bed with a hoodlum!" it was a shouted whisper and obviously heard by the boy who was now sitting up.
"Why the hell are ya'll waking me up when I just got to sleep?" He asked before noticing me sitting in the corner.
"I ain't no hoodlum baby…I'm just your average JD, I don't know what you're getting so worked up about, come get back into bed, I'm tired"
"Get up Shepard," Darry commanded dragging the kid off the bed by his right arm and shoving him towards the door.
He wasn't wearing a shirt, or pants, or much of anything bar a pair of shorts and socks. His legs were scrawny and hairy but more attractive then the hate that was written all over his face.
It took me a minute to realize that Ponyboy and Soda were laughing at me
"What the hell is so funny?" I demanded.
"Nothin, 'cept you being in bed with Tim Shepard," Pony snickered, though the next day he told me that if ever caught me in bed with Tim under any other circumstances he'd personally kill him.
"I don't think it's very funny, he could have killed me!" I objected crawling out of the corner and dusting myself off. God but that room was dusty.
"I told you, guys just drop in" Pony said with a shrug "They're not dangerous, not really"
"Comforting" I muttered.
"You'll get used to it," Soda said throwing himself on the bed crossing his arms behind his head.
"Thanks a lot for your love and protection, big brother" I said smacking him with my pillow, "Your concern for my wellbeing is overwhelming"
He grinned up at me, that irresistible grin that made me grin back.
"Shove over, this is my bed too"
"My bed first," Soda retorted but moved over so that I could slide in next to him.
"Come on Pony, there's room for one more," I offered, lifting the covers so he could join us.
We barely fit.
"What you don't mind sharing your bed with these hoodlums?" Darry asked from the door
"You guys aren't hoodlums, you're my brothers" I said with a sleepy smile curled happily in between Pony and Soda.
A sad smile came across Darry's face as he shut the door, or maybe it was just a shadow.