Five for Fighting
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing :)
F.O.U.R.T.E.E.N
I walked up the wooden stairs of the Master's house alone for the last time half an hour after Darry had released me from his hug. I could hear Peter and Alice talking in the living room below me and even though I couldn't understand what they were saying, Alice's crying was easy to comprehend. My bags were already packed with the few belongings I had come with, I didn't want to take charity, and besides, all the Madras and other expensive stuff would probably make my brothers feel bad anyway. I was going to be a Curtis and I was going to fit in even if it meant wearing Ponyboy's clothes to school instead of my own. I sat on the soft bed with a sigh, looking at the window and wishing for Dallas. I had everything now, but him.
Alice walked in a few minutes later interrupting my thoughts and sat down next to me, remaining quiet for a few minutes before picking up one of the many sweaters laid out across the bed.
"You're not taking these?" She asked in a subdued voice.
I shook my head, "My brothers aren't real rich or anything, I don't want them to feel like I'm trying to show off or something…thanks though, for everything."
She folded the sweater with tender fingers, smoothing out the wrinkles and clearing her throat, "If you ever need anything…"
Leaning over I hugged her with all my might, she was kind of like me after all, just looking for a family.
The doorbell rang and her arms went limp as Peter answered the door and the sounds of forced greetings sounded through the floor and into the room.
"I guess we best get downstairs, we don't want to keep your brothers waiting."
I nodded and picking up my bag I walked down the stairs and into the living room where my brothers were sitting, rather uncomfortably on the pristine furniture as if afraid they might ruin it. Darry was surveying the room with a slight scowl on his face, or maybe it was just longing for the chance to give this sort of room to his family. Ponyboy and
Soda simply looked awed. I didn't blame them. Their eyes only got larger when Mrs. Lynch came in and announced dinner was ready.
It was a quiet dinner and despite the delicious food and their normally insatiable appetites, my brothers didn't eat much, I didn't either.
And then it was over and I was standing outside on the front porch, my brothers waiting by the beat up Ford.
"Take care, Amber."
"If you ever need anything"
"We'll always be here"
"Goodbye"
They held each other as Darry pulled the truck away from the house, looking small and isolated under the porch light.
It was still quiet in the car, as if we were all afraid to speak and find out it was only a dream. As we pulled passed the vacant lot and reached our house (really and truly OUR house) it was all aglow, and from the street you could hear the noise of the gang inside, the music and the TV.
The party inside was loud enough to cause you to cringe and when I walked through the door not only did the noise hit me, but the people as well. The gang was all there, even Dallas.
Two-Bit picked me up and spun me around so much I thought I was going to throw up all over him, and upon telling him so, I was set down immediately.
"Don't get over excited kid," He said with a grin placing me next to Johnny, whose big brown eyes smiled at me merrily. I leaned over and hugged him tightly accepting the cigarette he offered a minute later. Leaning back on the couch I sighed happily.
"Never gonna make the team if you smoke too much" Steve said loudly over the music.
I groaned, I hadn't wanted my brothers to know I was trying out for the cheer team, since they were clearly against it.
"What team?" Darry asked
"Cheerteam…" I mumbled
"What was that?" Pony asked
"I caught her talking to that broad Cherry after school the other day, about becoming a socy cheerleader." Steve sneered
I could have killed him.
"She just offered me a chance to try-out that's all, no big deal" I said cringing under the dirty looks Dallas was sending my way.
"Gosh Amber, what do you want to be a cheerleader for?" Johnny asked
"It's fun and I like it"
"Let the kid try-out, she won't make it anyway"
Dallas
"You don't know that" I shot back "I was head cheerleader at my old school"
His eyes narrowed, "You don't get it yet do you?"
"Come on now guys, no harm in Amber trying out for the team, and what are we arguing for? This is supposed to be a celebration." Soda said, stepping into his role as mediator.
The subject was dropped as I took another cigarette to try and calm my stomach which was doing backflips over my encounter with Dallas.
The next day was try-outs, only four other girls showed up and from the looks of the audition I thought I had a pretty good shot. Cherry smiled at me as I came in and I waved nervously, sitting on the ground and stretching my legs. It was a standard audition and I could do most everything they asked. I performed a cheer from my old school and ended feeling good about my chances. The four girls and I sat together in a nervous silence as the girls on the squad went into another room to discuss.
Cherry smiled at me again when they finally returned about twenty minutes later and I knew I'd gotten it.
"Do you think you could come over to my house tomorrow so we can go over some of the cheers? You need to know them for the game next Friday, and you have a lot to learn" Cherry requested after all the other girls had congratulated me and left.
I nodded, "Sure, I'm sure someone will give me a ride over."
"Great, I'll see you then," and she was gone.
That night at dinner I kept shoving my food around my plate until Darry put a hand to my forehead to check for a fever.
"Anything wrong Amber?" He asked.
"No…But um..Darry, I made the squad." I said.
My brothers exchanged a look of surprise, "Oh, well congratulations!" Soda said "I bet you'll make a great cheerleader"
I smiled at him gratefully.
"The thing is, I need a ride, to Cherry Valance's house tomorrow, to learn the cheers…"
"I'll take you, don't worry kiddo" Darry said, "Is that why you weren't eating? Afraid we'd throw you out of the house when we found out you were a cheerleader?"
I smiled sheepishly and shrugged, digging into my food with a bit more energy as the screen door slammed and Two-Bit came in looking for people to go to the Nightly Double with him.
"Good job Amber! Really, good job!" Cherry said as we flopped down onto the soft sofas of her den after going through several cheers. Her house was huge, even bigger than the Master's. Darry drew in his breath as he dropped me off in front of it earlier that day but kept his thoughts to himself and told me to call when I needed to come home.
Her housekeeper came into the room with two glasses of water and sliced apples and as we ate Cherry asked about Pony and our living situation and really showed interest in getting to know me. She told me about her encounters with the gang a few months before and got a funny look on her face all of the sudden.
"Can I tell you a secret Amber?"
I nodded, pleased she would trust me with a secret already, I was really hoping we would be good friends.
"You promise you won't tell anyone?"
I nodded my head again.
"I'm in love with Dallas Winston."