Five for Fighting
Rated PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except people who obviously weren't in the book
S.I.X.
I woke up early the next morning, which was odd for me. Normally I slept later than all my friends until they forced their way into my house and woke me up physically.
I think it was the anxiety, though it had calmed itself under the comfort of my brothers.
However it was seven thirty on a Sunday and I was lying awake and the ceiling was getting boring.
Untangling myself from the twisted sheets and multiple arms and legs that overlapped across the bed, I managed to free myself and watched as Soda and Pony, still sleeping like logs, rolled over and quickly occupied my space.
Gosh my brothers are good looking, like angels on earth sprawled out on that bed.
Dressing myself quickly I wandered out into the living room and noticed my nagging hunger.
I still felt weird just going into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator, it was something I could never do at my friend's houses, not even Maxine's, a person's icebox is something sorta personal, it's like brushing your teeth with ten people staring at you.
However, hunger beat out nerves and I walked into the kitchen suppressing a surprised yell upon seeing the hood that I'd shared my bed with last night sitting at our kitchen table, casually drinking a cup of coffee and reading a magazine I'm sure Darry wouldn't approve of.
I guess reading isn't the best word then, more like…perusing.
"Morning Dollface"
His voice and attitude made me cringe but I tried not to show it and offered him a curt nod before taking a piece of cake and pouring myself a glass of milk.
My mom always said I was lucky to still be in that stage of life where I can eat anything and not get fat, she told me to enjoy it while I could because, well, just look at her hips.
I hurried out of the kitchen and curled up into an arm chair, turning on the TV and watched in half witted enjoyment the morning television shows.
I was dozing in the chair when Darry came into the living room, taking the plate out of my hands before I could spill anymore crumbs into the crevices in between the chair frame and the cushion.
"Morning" He greeted me as I lifted my heavy eyelids and tried to greet him with a smile.
He returned my smile, but it looked even more tired than I felt.
I watched him from the chair as he went into the kitchen and busied himself making eggs and bacon. Taking out the cake, jelly, butter. Scrambling the eggs for Ponyboy (I like mine scrambled too), Sunny-side up for Soda, an omlette for himself. I declined the invitation to eat, my stomach was a bundle of nerves. Once breakfast was over we were going to the school, if the people from the state said it was ok for me to live here. I had my doubts about that.
Soda and Pony appeared together, neither one of them bothering to brush their hair or their teeth for that matter.
Breakfast was over too quickly; the boys ate, Darry yelled at Soda for looking at the magazine that Tim had left (he must have slipped out while I was sleeping) and Ponyboy spilled his milk in what looked like an arm spasm. He had told me the night before that he ran track, and yet I had seen him trip over his own feet, now he was spilling milk and it just didn't add up. Something was wrong with my twin, and as his twin, his other half, I told myself it was my responsibility to find out and to remedy the situation.
I was right about the state, they had a lot of questions and concerns about me, so many in fact that they sent over an official an hour later to talk to us about it. It was a fast hour as we all tried to shower and clean the house and look like four people capable of living together under one roof without burning it to its foundation.
The official, Mr. Adams, had brown hair and green eyes and a bushy mustache that I can only imagine tickled Mrs. Adams when she kissed him. I knew he was married by the plain gold ring on his chubby finger.
He asked me to tell him about my previous living conditions and I looked at Darry for help, I didn't know what to say, fearing that the wrong thing would result in my being taken away. Despite the doubts about school and my "belonging" I didn't want to leave. Darry offered a supportive smile so I gave it to Mr. Adams straight. I told him I had a good home, a protective father and an eager mother. I told him about Maxine and my other friends, I told him about Ryan my ex-boyfriend who was still a good friend but I hadn't bothered to call when I left. I finished up with my parents' deaths and my mother's revealed secret and a plea to let me stay with my family now that I had really found them.
He thought a minute then turned to Darry who took a seat on the couch next to me, his arms folded, a serious, determined look on his face and asked him a lot of embarrassing questions about how he would deal with a "maturing female in a family of boys"
Darry took the questions Mr. Adams shot at him and fired back with replies filled with certainty as if he had already thought out all of this and raising a fifteen year old girl was the easiest thing in the world. I would try to make it easy, I really would
"Now Darrel be reasonable" Mr. Adams said "It's just not good for Amber to be growing up in this environment, she needs a mother, another female to help her through the rough teen years."
"She'll have us" Darry said motioning to Ponyboy and Soda.
I nodded in agreement
Mr. Adams sighed "I'm sorry Darrel, Amber, boys" He looked at each one of us in turn, "I just can't allow it, as she has no living female relatives, and her adoptive parents did nothing by way of setting up a guardianship in case of a situation such as this, Amber will have to come with me and live in a state home until she can be placed into a foster family".
My eyes went wildly to Darry and then to Ponyboy who came over and took a firm hold on my hand. Soda followed and sandwiched me in.
"I won't let you do that," Darry said evenly "I work my ass off to keep this family together and now that it's finally complete you aren't ripping it apart and sticking Amber in some home. She's lived fifteen years with the wrong family, I won't let her go"
Darry was ready to explode, he was holding it in cause if he hit Mr. Adams it would all be over, he would be in jail and Soda, Pony and I would be in a home somewhere, but not together.
"Darrel, if Amber had been living with you when your parents died there's a very good chance that all three of your siblings would have been placed into the foster care system, but because you were all males and you're such a hard worker it was overlooked and you were allowed to stay together. So be glad that you still have Soda and Ponyboy with you, and you can still see Amber, she just can't be under your care. I don't like doing this, but it has to be done."
He stood up to go with a sigh, "I'll be back in two hours to pick Amber up" He started to extend his arm to shake hands with Darry, like I was just a business deal, then thought better of it when he saw the look on Darry's face.
Boy he was angry.
I was numb and cold and buried my face into Ponyboy's chest and cried encircled by my brothers as we slowly accepted the truth, I did not belong.