Okay, sorry about that semi cliffhanger thing.I really didn't mean to.
Seriously, I didn't even think about it as a cliff hanger, but I guess that
has something to do with the fact that I know what happens, eh? Anyway,
sorry bout that. Here goes!
Tensleep: Hey thanks for reading! Wow, you're telling me that you read all nine chapters at the same time? How long did that take you? I mean, they are looonng chapters. Anyway, thanks for reading. Okay, about the girls, I think individaul personalities is somewhat of an understatement, but it was designed to be that way. Every person in unique, and that was really the only way that they could fit in in the story and be believable, but its better this way. We like it at least. I am really happy to find that you are enjoying the story! Again, sorry about that cliff hanger thing.Oh, and I am soooo happy that you are catching on to the sub plots.that's what this whole first part is about. We had to develop those to get to where we are going.you'll see, its kinda confusing.but keep watching out for little details, the more you know now the better you'll understand later. Seriously, Silent Fears is only one of the many parts of this plot, but you'll find out a lot in just this one. Trust me, there are a lot of sub- plots. Thanks for reading, and heres the next chappie for ya! Thanks!
Oblivious Misconception: Okay, I understand your pain on this matter, and I get where you are coming from, but here's why.and it might get a bit complicated, Ill try really hard to keep this short. Anyway.so Darry at this point has been through much more than he had in S.E. Hintons book. This plot line extends to as early as seven or eight months before the book, I mean there is an entire other story in place there, not to mention some other things after the book. See, Darry is a lot different in this story, he had to be, with all that's happened, and you'll find all that out in.a few chapters, this is where it all starts to come together. Basically, he refrains now from jumping on things, and considering the amount of money he has spent in the last few days, he is having a hard time with what to do, sure he could pay for it if he needed to, but if he can avoid it.I know that sounds crazy too, because obviously Pony is more important than money, and Darry knows that, so why is it soo hard? It just is.and later he will find out some things that solidify his priorities in his mind, but at this point, Pony is tough, he could be just fine, they don't have the money and that stresses Darry out to point where he might not be making the best decision. I think you will understand better later on.but for now just trust that there is a reason and a history to support this. Was that too long? Sorry.thanks for reading and reviewing! Your comments are always appreciated.they make me think back to the time when I wrote this part.good memories. Anyway.Thanks!
Well, that's it, people. Have fun with this next chapter! See ya!
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Chapter 10 (Soda's POV)
I was startled awake by the sound of the phone ringing behind me. Darry. I got up and walked over, "Hello?"
"Hey, its me. You can come pick us up now."
"Yeah, sure. Give me a few minutes."
"Okay. Just hurry, I'm tired and sick of being here."
"Yeah, Bye." I hung up the phone and went back into the bathroom to wash my face. That would wake me up. Then I walked back out, drying my face in my shirt and making my way to the front room again.
"Soda?" Reesa called from my bedroom. I didn't know she was up, when did she get up? And since when was she in my room?
I walked back into my room to see Reesa looking at the empty bed a little confused like. She had been real mixed up the last few days. Nothing seemed to make a whole lot of sense to her, but she always got that way when she was sick. If she started asking stupid questions, we got worried.
"When'd you get up, girlie?" I asked.
"Did Darry take Pon to the hospital? Why are you up? Its five in the morning."
"I could ask you the same. Darry did take Pony to the hospital just to get him checked over, but I'm going to go pick them up now. You okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
"Alright, see ya. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Yup." Reesa said while slipping down in the big chair Darry had taken in by the bed. I left the room, shoving my shoes on and walking out the door.
It wasn't a long drive to the hospital, and there wasn't any traffic considering the time of day, so I was there in about ten or so minutes. Not to bad. I stopped the truck near the entrance and got out to go and find them. Slamming the door behind me, I walked into the hospital casually, pulling on my DX cap so no one would see my hair all messed up.
Darry was sitting in a set of chairs near the door with Pony beside him. Both of them were practically asleep at that point. I knew they had Pony drugged out, and Darry was real tired, but I hadn't expected to find them asleep. But when I walked up, Darry opened his eyes easily and stood.
"C'mon, Pony. We're goin home, kid." He said while pulling him up to help him walk. It wasn't that he couldn't on his own, he was just a bit too woozy to stand up straight. I thought it was pretty funny myself, seeing as he was obviously going to be fine.
I chuckled a bit and took the other side of him to help out Darry, "How many pain killers they give him?"
"A lot. I don't think he'll be feeling pain for a while. They're sending some home with us too, but not much. I told them he could tough it out after a day or two."
"Yeah." Now we were at the truck and Darry helped Pony into the truck as I went around to the other side and got in.
"So, what did they say?" I asked while turning on the truck and making my way out of the parking lot.
"Oh, he had two broken ribs and a bunch of other cracked or fractured ones. And he has a concussion but he'll be fine. Nothing to serious, really. Just the crap that hurts."
"Oh, well, good.I guess."
Within minutes we were walking through the front door, Pony walking between Darry and me while we supported him. Okay, so he wasn't really walking per say, more like stumbling along, be same difference right?
Reesa was sitting on the couch doing who knows what. It looked like she was just sitting to me, but whatever floated her boat.
As we walked into the door, Darry looked at Reesa and asked, "What are you doing up?"
"What does it look like? I'm waiting around for.I don't know, just.sitting. Hey, Pony. How ya feelin, buddy?"
"Err."
"Rees, what do you think he feels like? He feels like a drunk punching bag on dope." Soda said.
"Yeah.like I'm floating off into the sunset and.stuff." Pony added.
Reesa nodded weirdly, it wasn't like she didn't know what was going on, she knew he was real drugged up so she nodded and forgot about the question asking.
We continued into the bedroom and set Pony down. Darry looked at me, and turned walking back to his bedroom.
"G'night. Wake me up before you go to work, Soda. I want to know when you leave." Darry stiffled a yawn and stuck his head into the front room.
"Reesa, take care of Pony."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Okay. Well, you can go to sleep now if you want."
"Nah, it wouldn't be worth it. I gotta get going anyway so I'll look semi- alive for school."
"Oh, you're going?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
She turned around on the couch and shot him a look. Enough said, I guess because he let it go.
"Well, alright. Have fun." He turned and went to bed like he wasn't able to do anything else.
I was wiped out of it by then, so I went and plopped down on the couch by the window. The next thing I knew I was waking up to the sound of Reesa yelling her lungs out. I had no idea why and was a bit miffed at it, but it was my turn to step in, I had gotten at least Isome/I sleep the night before.
"Reesa. What the hell are you yelling about? IShut up/I!" I yelled, hoping that would solve the problem. Please!
The yelling didn't even pause to me, and it continued going something like this, "Skye! Get your ass outta bed! Ya hear? Your such a lazy bum!-"
Skye cut in, "I'm not getting up! You aren't my boss! Leave me alone, God damn it!"
Okay, I had to go intervene, before Darry got up and smashed some heads in for waking him. I hated it when they did that. Girls, why are they so.awnry?
I jumped up and went into Pony's room where Skye had been asleep on the floor, "What's going on?" I asked.
"Reesa's being a frickin -"
"I am not! Your so pathetic -"
"Hey! Shut up!" I yelled. Maybe that would get their attention? I sure hoped so.
Well, so it sort of worked, Skye went quiet and turned over putting the blanket she had back over her head. Reesa looked at me, her eyes filled with pure annoyance.
"Make her get up. I'm not going to be late for school today and she's coming."
"Fine, just relax. I'll take care of it."
Rees walked past me and out the door like she was relieved to be done with that. Good, maybe she would calm down then.
I went over to Skye, nudging her with my foot, "C'mon, Skye. Get up, Rees is right, you gotta go to school and be on time."
"Soda, I cant, I'm sick." She whined through the blankets.
"Ah, how are you sick?"
"I.my stomach hurts real bad and.I just feel like crap."
"Well, okay. If your sick, then I guess you should stay home. But, maybe you should go into your own room and sleep in your bed, Hun. I mean, if you really want to stay in here, fine, but."
She didn't say anything, so I walked out and shut the door behind me. Reesa came out of her bedroom ready for school and looked at me suspiciously.
"What?" I asked.
"Is she up?"
"Nope. She's sick, she aint going."
"Soda! Get her up, she's -"
"Hey, give her a break. You stay home when your sick."
"Soda, she isnt sick! How stupid can you get?"
"Rees, c'mon. Its her problem and I'll be the one to tell Darry, not you."
"I don't care. Wake her up or I'll go get Darry!"
"Whoa, no need to threaten. I'll get her up. Calm down, if you wake Darry he'll freak unless you got a real good reason."
I went back in, "Skye, sorry but you gotta get up. If you don't then you'll get your head kicked in by Darry."
"Why? I'm sick!"
"I know, but.listen, Hun. Just get up and go and if its that bad you can come home, kay? Just give it a try. Alright?"
"No! SoIda!/I"
"I know, sorry. I'm serious."
"Fine, but I'm coming home."
"That's good by me, just at least go for one or two periods. Darry needs some sleep and he'll take it better if you go for a little while."
Skye rolled over and peeked at me through the blanket folds frowning. "Do I have ta?" If she didn't want to go that badly, why did I have to make her?
"Yes, Hun, but if you try and go, Darry can't be upset. I'll talk to him." I'd try anyway. I couldn't really promise that, but the least I could do was try, right?
"Fine," she sighed and slowly sat up. "But I'm coming home."
"Okay."
I left the room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Maybe there was actually something I could eat. someone had to go grocery shopping. Shoot, I'd go if it weren't so boring.
"Skye!" Reesa yelled from the front door. "I'm leaving in one minute whether you're ready or not!" I think she was serious, too.
"Just wait a second!" Skye snapped sounding thoroughly agitated. "Let me at least brush my teeth! Unless you want to smell morning breath." Yeah, that would be nice. See I liked that threat. mainly because it wasn't aimed at me.
I found a box of Poptarts in the top cupboard and pulled it out. It was full. "Do you guys want some Poptarts?" I asked as I saw Reesa dropping her backpack and come to the kitchen. Apparently she has seen me, or something, and decided she was hungry.
"Sure." She grabbed a package and started back out again.
"Wait. Give this to Skye. She'll probably want some also." I held another one out to her, waving it up and down.
She snatched it from me. "Whatever." What is with her? Someone major has crawled up her ass for sure this morning.
"Bye, Rees." I watched her as she picked her backpack up again and went out the door.
"Bye, Soda," she called lightly behind her and shut the door. Ohhh, Skye was going to be mad if she doesn't hurry.
I went back in the kitchen to toast my Poptarts when Skye came barreling out of the bathroom and ran through the living room to catch up to Reesa. "Bye, Sodapop!"
"Bye, Skye."
(A/N: I know that there weren't probably Poptarts then.but humor me.really, I couldn't think of anything better, and sorry but I didn't live in that time period so I really don't know.)
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(Skye's POV)
Ah, hell. I can't Ibelieve/I Soda made me come. Okay, so I was probably the most minor case of sick imaginable, but still! People should listen to me! I have my reasons for not wanting to come. How come whenever any of the others want to stay home and fake sick, no one makes them go? Well, okay, Pony's the only one that does that besides me, but is he that much more believable? Even if I Idon't/I fake sick they make me go.
I walked down the hallway beside Reesa towards Steve's locker where everyone was hanging around. You can always guarantee that that's where they'll be. Steve's got his mirror and his extra tubs of hair grease and for some odd reason the boys think it's the perfect hangout. Whatever.
"Hi, guys," I sighed as we reached them. As I predicted, Steve and Two-Bit were fighting over the mirror and Johnny was standing back idolly waiting for his turn, not that he cared all that much. "Hi, Johnny!"
"Hi," he smiled. He looked me up and down taking in my clothing choices. "Running late?"
"Well," I looked down at myself clad in my light blue silk pajamas and fuzzy pink slippers, ''yeah. Rees wouldn't give me enough time to change. It's a good thing I was actually wearing pajamas, huh?"
Johnny went red and replied, "Yeah, sure is." Then he turned away and went to look at himself before Steve or Two-Bit took over the mirror again.
"Pony not up to coming?" Steve asked as he turned around to face us. I just glared at him. How stupid could he get?
"No," Reesa said nicely, seeing as she has more patients with him then I have. "They took him this morning to the ER and he's all drugged up and he's still sore. He'll probably be back on Monday or Tuesday, though."
"They waited that long?" Two-Bit asked curiously. "What for?"
I shrugged because I didn't even know that they had taken him period. And again Reesa answered for the both of us. "Yeah, I guess Darry waited until he woke up. I don't know why. No one was thinking last night apparently. I didn't even realize that they should've taken him until they got back."
Two-Bit sort of nodded and turned back to the mirror. "Are you done, Johnny?"
"Yeah." He stepped aside and Two-Bit went to check himself one more time before the bell rang to go to first period.
"Steve?" I asked, trying to be nice. "Will you take me home after first period?"
"No."
That took me aback slightly. "Why not?"
"Do I look stupid, Skye?" Does he really want me to answer that? Not one thing he was wearing matched.
"No. But I need to go home."
"Why?"
"Because.I feel sick." And I want to avoid any more contact with Miles that I have to have. We already have first period together.
"Did you tell that to Darry?"
"He was sleeping."
"Soda?"
"He made me come."
"Then no."
"But he said I could go home after first or second!"
"Too bad."
My mouth gaped open. How rude! "Do you want me to get attacked again from walking by myself?"
"You weren't attacked in the first place, kid. Just stick it out." Oh, right. I forgot. Little did he know.
The bell rang and there was a sudden scurrying of people trying to make it to their first class before the five minutes were up. I didn't bother keeping up my conversation with Steve and left everyone still standing there. No one was on my side today. Maybe Soda was a little, but no one else. I don't know if anyone else realized how badly that sucked. It never seemed to be that anyone else had no support. Just me. Stupid boys thinking that they are smarter. If only they knew. The thought almost made a lump in my throat, but that was the last thing I needed before facing Miles, so I swallowed it and walked faster.
I was sitting in my seat at the back of the room in Mr. Thorp's tenth grade English class before I knew it. I hate school. I hate this class. The teacher was a crack fiend or something. It wasn't even funny how stupid he was. It used to be, but it got old real fast.
I was one of the first students in the classroom, which seemed to surprise Thorp. He decided to strike up another conversation with me. He always did that and it always bugged me. "Miss Curtis?"
"What?"
"What, may I ask, are you wearing?" He stood up and went to erase the black board.
"They're called pajamas, sir." I didn't feel up to talking, can you tell?
"I'm well aware of that, Miss Curtis. But are Iyou/I aware that it's against the dress code for young ladies to wear anything but dresses or skirts to --" he stopped short as he broke into a coughing fit from all the chalk dust.
"No, it's not," I answered anyway.
After a moment of coughing he turned back to me. "Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not." You could keep this up forever with him and he wouldn't realize it.
"Yes, it is."
"No. It's. Not." To tell you the truth, it probably was but I could've cared less and he wasn't about to do anything about it. He never did anything about anything.
He was about to repeat his part of the conversation when Stacy Norton approached his desk and proceeded to ask him a question about last night's homework. "We'll have this conversation later, Miss Curtis."
"Sure we will." I leaned down to my backpack and pulled out some lipstick. Then changing my mind I put it back and pulled out a brush and started to run it through my partly brushed hair.
Around that time, Miles came in. Actually, he peeked in, saw I was there, and then decided to come in. God I hate him. He only came if I came. If I was gone, so was he. Surprise, surprise.
And most fortunately for me, his seat was right next to mine. That was the one thing that people liked about Mr. Thorp. In the beginning of the year he let us sit by whom ever we wanted to and that was our seating chart. We were stuck there until the end of the term when he'd change it again. Naturally, Miles and I sat next to each other, because back then -- last month -- we were both stupid and thought nothing would be better than sitting next to each other. Please, gag me now.
"Hey, Skye." He sat sideways in his chair, facing me, his elbows on his knees.
I didn't look at him and continued to brush my hair. "What?"
"Hey! I just wanted to talk. That's all." He said it as if he were talking to some little kid. He probably thought he was too. He had been held back a year and was forced to repeat the tenth grade, the idiot.
I didn't saying anything back to him. I simply put my brush away, found a hair tie, and pulled my hair back into a ponytail at the base of my neck. I knew ignoring him wouldn't get rid of him, but it was worth it if it meant I didn't have to talk to him.
The bell rang and Mr. Thorp started to pass out papers to everyone.
"How's Ponyboy?"
"Wonderful."
"Really? 'Cause I was worried that we might have. you know. gotten him too badly." Worried my ass. He was just trying to kiss up in his own sickening way.
"Psh. Yeah, right." I still didn't look at him.
"'Eh! No need to --"
"No talking, Mr. Johnson!" Mr. Thorp said as he stopped at his row and began to count papers to send out. Poor Mr. Thorp. He thought he was so intimidating. I was sort of wishing he was at that point.
Miles just glanced at him and continued to talk, trying to lure me in. "You know I did it for you.." What?! Did he think that he was being attractive or something by saying that?
"Damn it, Miles! Leave it --"
"Miss Curtis, keep your voice down! No talking in my class." Which one was it? Talk quietly or not at all? Make up your mind! I decided to just stop talking. I had nothing to prove to Miles.
"He was standing in my way. I couldn't let that happen," Miles picked up again. "He should've known better than to do that."
I went back to ignoring him even though my muscles were twitching and I wanted so badly to hurt him.
"But you ran. Why? I was doing it for you."
Oh hell no. I can't believe he said that. The kid in front of me pass me my paper and I gently put it down on my desk and went to fish for a pencil in my bag.
"C'mon, stop ignoring me!" He was starting to sound angry. "I know you liked it."
What? He's kidding right?
"Okay, so it was probably awkward in front of your brother. I can see how that would be. But now we don't have to worry about him. I'll make sure of --"
"Shut up! Damn it, Miles! What makes you think --"
I was cut short by Mr. Thorp's angry voice. "Miss Curtis! I thought I told you there was no talking in my classroom."
"Sorry," I snapped and went to try and concentrate on my assignment. Shows you how desperate I was to block out Miles.
"Ahh, I see." Miles nodded his head as if he had just caught on to something. "Don't worry about it. I'll be more careful next time. Hopefully he won't be around then." It amazed me how little information penetrated his thick skull.
I was seriously determined this time to not answer him.
"What I don't understand is why you are so upset. I mean, we can always do it whenever you want. I won't reject you."
I felt my jaw line grow tight and my fingers wrapped around my pencil so tightly it almost snapped in half. No, he wouldn't reject it, because I never gave it to him. He did that all on his own.
"Tell you what. How about --"
I couldn't contain myself. I exploded, and this time for real. "Stop it! I swear to God if you ever touch him again or --" I yelled but, not surprisingly, got cut off.
"Miss Curtis! Come here," Mr. Thorp put down his chalk and went to sit behind his desk. He opened his top drawer and pulled out a yellow pad of paper. I wasn't stupid. I knew what it was. Thank God he was sending me out. I don't think I could've stood another minute listening to Miles.
I shoved my stuff back into my bag and swung it over my shoulder and stormed to the front of the room. Thorp was writing briskly on the paper and I could make out the words dress code, disrupting, swearing, and disrespect. What else was new?
"Take this to the office and they'll know what to do." Ha. Did he Ireally/I think I'd go? I took it and headed to the door. I looked behind my shoulder and saw Miles still in the same position, but slowly unfolded himself and sat back in his seat.
I yanked the door open and left to the sound of a few people laughing and shouting farewells. They all knew it was as stupid as I thought it was. Mr. Thorp went out of his way to get rid of students.
I crumpled the paper and threw it in a trashcan as I walked down the hall. I was home free, except the fact that I had to go on my own. I didn't care. I could make it home before the class was over and I'd be just fine.
"Skye?" Someone called from behind me. I turned to see who it was and saw Reesa coming down the hallway towards me, swinging a hall pass from one hand. "What are you doing out of class?"
"I got kicked out," I replied simply and kept walking.
"Wait. Where are you going?" She ran to catch up to me.
"Home. Where else?"
"Don't you think you should stick around a little while longer? Darry ain't gonna believe any excuse you make up." She was trying to be helpful, but I wasn't taking it.
"So?"
"Whatever. Good luck."
"Sure." I came to a door that led outside and pushed it open. "See ya."
"Bye," she called as she went up some stairs near the door.
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To make a long story short, I didn't get very far before being stopped. Let me clarify that. I made it several blocks away before, to my astonishment, Miles drove up along side me. Clay wasn't with him that time. How Miles got out of class so fast and found me as quickly as he did, was beyond me. I should've taken into consideration that he was in Thorp's class too and could very easily leave, but it didn't accure to me until it was too late. Anyway, size and strength took its advantage and I didn't have any choice but to go with him. God I hate him.
An hour and a half later I found myself walking away from his house. Between his house and my house was the DX so I stopped there. I knew Soda would be at work by then and I didn't feel like going home. Soda wouldn't mind if I visited. Besides, I wanted to get inside somewhere as fast as I could.
I pushed the door of the DX open and went in. I didn't see Soda anywhere. I know he wasn't outside, because I would've seen him, but I didn't see him in there either. "Soda?" I called out as I went to the counter.
"Just a minute," he yelled from the back room. He was probably restocking or something. I leaned on the counter and dropped my head to rest on my folded arms waiting for him to come out.
I found myself feeling slightly sicker than that morning. Stress can do that to you I suppose. I was tired, too. I could've, and probably would've, fallen asleep right there if Soda hadn't come out and woke me up real fast.
"That wasn't very long," he said as he returned behind the counter and sat on a stool. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I don't wanna go home yet." I shrugged as I lifted my head. "Did you tell Darry I was going to come home?"
"Yeah, and he was fine with it. I figure either he was still too tired to realize what I was saying or he thinks that he couldn't stop it anyway, so he didn't bother to argue about it." He took a swig from his Pepsi. "What some?" He held it out to me but I shook my head no. "Okay. Actually, I thought you would leave sooner than you did. What changed your mind?" He wasn't dumb.
"Nothing. I just. took my time."
"Huh." He didn't seem to think on it one way or another and pulled out a radio from under the counter. He plugged it in and turned it to a rock and roll station. "Well, if you want anything, help yourself."
"No one else is here?"
"Well, just Bud, but he's outside working on that Chevy. He never comes in. He spends too much time on those cars. He's good but he takes too long. Steve's better, of course, but he doesn't get here early enough to work on the ones that really need it." He kept going but I stopped listening. I wasn't very interested in who was better than who and why and how they did their own things. I just didn't care.
I went behind the counter and sat on the floor by Soda's stool and leaned against the counter. I didn't feel like standing anymore.
"What are you wearing?" Soda asked, laughing a little bit. "Don't tell me you went to school like that."
"Yeah. Why?"
He laughed more. "Sweet. That's great."
"Does it surprise you?"
"Nope. I just think it's cool. Rees really didn't give you any time, huh?"
"Not really. It's okay, though. This is more comfortable anyway." It really was. I ought to do it more often. I probably won't because I have too much pride to, but I wouldn't not ever do it if the situation arose again. I didn't care that much. I could sacrifice a day or two of not looking my best.
"I'll bet."
After that it went quiet for a while, minus the music. It didn't matter though. I was tired and the music was somewhat relaxing. I allowed my eyes to droop and I fell asleep not too much longer after that.
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A/N: Okay, have any of you caught on to this yet? If you think you know whats going on, let me know. I want to know if you guys get it. If you don't, don't worry, you will.just not yet.but this is the first chapter that really shows anything clearly. Anyway.just wondering. ( Please review!
Tensleep: Hey thanks for reading! Wow, you're telling me that you read all nine chapters at the same time? How long did that take you? I mean, they are looonng chapters. Anyway, thanks for reading. Okay, about the girls, I think individaul personalities is somewhat of an understatement, but it was designed to be that way. Every person in unique, and that was really the only way that they could fit in in the story and be believable, but its better this way. We like it at least. I am really happy to find that you are enjoying the story! Again, sorry about that cliff hanger thing.Oh, and I am soooo happy that you are catching on to the sub plots.that's what this whole first part is about. We had to develop those to get to where we are going.you'll see, its kinda confusing.but keep watching out for little details, the more you know now the better you'll understand later. Seriously, Silent Fears is only one of the many parts of this plot, but you'll find out a lot in just this one. Trust me, there are a lot of sub- plots. Thanks for reading, and heres the next chappie for ya! Thanks!
Oblivious Misconception: Okay, I understand your pain on this matter, and I get where you are coming from, but here's why.and it might get a bit complicated, Ill try really hard to keep this short. Anyway.so Darry at this point has been through much more than he had in S.E. Hintons book. This plot line extends to as early as seven or eight months before the book, I mean there is an entire other story in place there, not to mention some other things after the book. See, Darry is a lot different in this story, he had to be, with all that's happened, and you'll find all that out in.a few chapters, this is where it all starts to come together. Basically, he refrains now from jumping on things, and considering the amount of money he has spent in the last few days, he is having a hard time with what to do, sure he could pay for it if he needed to, but if he can avoid it.I know that sounds crazy too, because obviously Pony is more important than money, and Darry knows that, so why is it soo hard? It just is.and later he will find out some things that solidify his priorities in his mind, but at this point, Pony is tough, he could be just fine, they don't have the money and that stresses Darry out to point where he might not be making the best decision. I think you will understand better later on.but for now just trust that there is a reason and a history to support this. Was that too long? Sorry.thanks for reading and reviewing! Your comments are always appreciated.they make me think back to the time when I wrote this part.good memories. Anyway.Thanks!
Well, that's it, people. Have fun with this next chapter! See ya!
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Chapter 10 (Soda's POV)
I was startled awake by the sound of the phone ringing behind me. Darry. I got up and walked over, "Hello?"
"Hey, its me. You can come pick us up now."
"Yeah, sure. Give me a few minutes."
"Okay. Just hurry, I'm tired and sick of being here."
"Yeah, Bye." I hung up the phone and went back into the bathroom to wash my face. That would wake me up. Then I walked back out, drying my face in my shirt and making my way to the front room again.
"Soda?" Reesa called from my bedroom. I didn't know she was up, when did she get up? And since when was she in my room?
I walked back into my room to see Reesa looking at the empty bed a little confused like. She had been real mixed up the last few days. Nothing seemed to make a whole lot of sense to her, but she always got that way when she was sick. If she started asking stupid questions, we got worried.
"When'd you get up, girlie?" I asked.
"Did Darry take Pon to the hospital? Why are you up? Its five in the morning."
"I could ask you the same. Darry did take Pony to the hospital just to get him checked over, but I'm going to go pick them up now. You okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
"Alright, see ya. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Yup." Reesa said while slipping down in the big chair Darry had taken in by the bed. I left the room, shoving my shoes on and walking out the door.
It wasn't a long drive to the hospital, and there wasn't any traffic considering the time of day, so I was there in about ten or so minutes. Not to bad. I stopped the truck near the entrance and got out to go and find them. Slamming the door behind me, I walked into the hospital casually, pulling on my DX cap so no one would see my hair all messed up.
Darry was sitting in a set of chairs near the door with Pony beside him. Both of them were practically asleep at that point. I knew they had Pony drugged out, and Darry was real tired, but I hadn't expected to find them asleep. But when I walked up, Darry opened his eyes easily and stood.
"C'mon, Pony. We're goin home, kid." He said while pulling him up to help him walk. It wasn't that he couldn't on his own, he was just a bit too woozy to stand up straight. I thought it was pretty funny myself, seeing as he was obviously going to be fine.
I chuckled a bit and took the other side of him to help out Darry, "How many pain killers they give him?"
"A lot. I don't think he'll be feeling pain for a while. They're sending some home with us too, but not much. I told them he could tough it out after a day or two."
"Yeah." Now we were at the truck and Darry helped Pony into the truck as I went around to the other side and got in.
"So, what did they say?" I asked while turning on the truck and making my way out of the parking lot.
"Oh, he had two broken ribs and a bunch of other cracked or fractured ones. And he has a concussion but he'll be fine. Nothing to serious, really. Just the crap that hurts."
"Oh, well, good.I guess."
Within minutes we were walking through the front door, Pony walking between Darry and me while we supported him. Okay, so he wasn't really walking per say, more like stumbling along, be same difference right?
Reesa was sitting on the couch doing who knows what. It looked like she was just sitting to me, but whatever floated her boat.
As we walked into the door, Darry looked at Reesa and asked, "What are you doing up?"
"What does it look like? I'm waiting around for.I don't know, just.sitting. Hey, Pony. How ya feelin, buddy?"
"Err."
"Rees, what do you think he feels like? He feels like a drunk punching bag on dope." Soda said.
"Yeah.like I'm floating off into the sunset and.stuff." Pony added.
Reesa nodded weirdly, it wasn't like she didn't know what was going on, she knew he was real drugged up so she nodded and forgot about the question asking.
We continued into the bedroom and set Pony down. Darry looked at me, and turned walking back to his bedroom.
"G'night. Wake me up before you go to work, Soda. I want to know when you leave." Darry stiffled a yawn and stuck his head into the front room.
"Reesa, take care of Pony."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Okay. Well, you can go to sleep now if you want."
"Nah, it wouldn't be worth it. I gotta get going anyway so I'll look semi- alive for school."
"Oh, you're going?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
She turned around on the couch and shot him a look. Enough said, I guess because he let it go.
"Well, alright. Have fun." He turned and went to bed like he wasn't able to do anything else.
I was wiped out of it by then, so I went and plopped down on the couch by the window. The next thing I knew I was waking up to the sound of Reesa yelling her lungs out. I had no idea why and was a bit miffed at it, but it was my turn to step in, I had gotten at least Isome/I sleep the night before.
"Reesa. What the hell are you yelling about? IShut up/I!" I yelled, hoping that would solve the problem. Please!
The yelling didn't even pause to me, and it continued going something like this, "Skye! Get your ass outta bed! Ya hear? Your such a lazy bum!-"
Skye cut in, "I'm not getting up! You aren't my boss! Leave me alone, God damn it!"
Okay, I had to go intervene, before Darry got up and smashed some heads in for waking him. I hated it when they did that. Girls, why are they so.awnry?
I jumped up and went into Pony's room where Skye had been asleep on the floor, "What's going on?" I asked.
"Reesa's being a frickin -"
"I am not! Your so pathetic -"
"Hey! Shut up!" I yelled. Maybe that would get their attention? I sure hoped so.
Well, so it sort of worked, Skye went quiet and turned over putting the blanket she had back over her head. Reesa looked at me, her eyes filled with pure annoyance.
"Make her get up. I'm not going to be late for school today and she's coming."
"Fine, just relax. I'll take care of it."
Rees walked past me and out the door like she was relieved to be done with that. Good, maybe she would calm down then.
I went over to Skye, nudging her with my foot, "C'mon, Skye. Get up, Rees is right, you gotta go to school and be on time."
"Soda, I cant, I'm sick." She whined through the blankets.
"Ah, how are you sick?"
"I.my stomach hurts real bad and.I just feel like crap."
"Well, okay. If your sick, then I guess you should stay home. But, maybe you should go into your own room and sleep in your bed, Hun. I mean, if you really want to stay in here, fine, but."
She didn't say anything, so I walked out and shut the door behind me. Reesa came out of her bedroom ready for school and looked at me suspiciously.
"What?" I asked.
"Is she up?"
"Nope. She's sick, she aint going."
"Soda! Get her up, she's -"
"Hey, give her a break. You stay home when your sick."
"Soda, she isnt sick! How stupid can you get?"
"Rees, c'mon. Its her problem and I'll be the one to tell Darry, not you."
"I don't care. Wake her up or I'll go get Darry!"
"Whoa, no need to threaten. I'll get her up. Calm down, if you wake Darry he'll freak unless you got a real good reason."
I went back in, "Skye, sorry but you gotta get up. If you don't then you'll get your head kicked in by Darry."
"Why? I'm sick!"
"I know, but.listen, Hun. Just get up and go and if its that bad you can come home, kay? Just give it a try. Alright?"
"No! SoIda!/I"
"I know, sorry. I'm serious."
"Fine, but I'm coming home."
"That's good by me, just at least go for one or two periods. Darry needs some sleep and he'll take it better if you go for a little while."
Skye rolled over and peeked at me through the blanket folds frowning. "Do I have ta?" If she didn't want to go that badly, why did I have to make her?
"Yes, Hun, but if you try and go, Darry can't be upset. I'll talk to him." I'd try anyway. I couldn't really promise that, but the least I could do was try, right?
"Fine," she sighed and slowly sat up. "But I'm coming home."
"Okay."
I left the room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Maybe there was actually something I could eat. someone had to go grocery shopping. Shoot, I'd go if it weren't so boring.
"Skye!" Reesa yelled from the front door. "I'm leaving in one minute whether you're ready or not!" I think she was serious, too.
"Just wait a second!" Skye snapped sounding thoroughly agitated. "Let me at least brush my teeth! Unless you want to smell morning breath." Yeah, that would be nice. See I liked that threat. mainly because it wasn't aimed at me.
I found a box of Poptarts in the top cupboard and pulled it out. It was full. "Do you guys want some Poptarts?" I asked as I saw Reesa dropping her backpack and come to the kitchen. Apparently she has seen me, or something, and decided she was hungry.
"Sure." She grabbed a package and started back out again.
"Wait. Give this to Skye. She'll probably want some also." I held another one out to her, waving it up and down.
She snatched it from me. "Whatever." What is with her? Someone major has crawled up her ass for sure this morning.
"Bye, Rees." I watched her as she picked her backpack up again and went out the door.
"Bye, Soda," she called lightly behind her and shut the door. Ohhh, Skye was going to be mad if she doesn't hurry.
I went back in the kitchen to toast my Poptarts when Skye came barreling out of the bathroom and ran through the living room to catch up to Reesa. "Bye, Sodapop!"
"Bye, Skye."
(A/N: I know that there weren't probably Poptarts then.but humor me.really, I couldn't think of anything better, and sorry but I didn't live in that time period so I really don't know.)
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(Skye's POV)
Ah, hell. I can't Ibelieve/I Soda made me come. Okay, so I was probably the most minor case of sick imaginable, but still! People should listen to me! I have my reasons for not wanting to come. How come whenever any of the others want to stay home and fake sick, no one makes them go? Well, okay, Pony's the only one that does that besides me, but is he that much more believable? Even if I Idon't/I fake sick they make me go.
I walked down the hallway beside Reesa towards Steve's locker where everyone was hanging around. You can always guarantee that that's where they'll be. Steve's got his mirror and his extra tubs of hair grease and for some odd reason the boys think it's the perfect hangout. Whatever.
"Hi, guys," I sighed as we reached them. As I predicted, Steve and Two-Bit were fighting over the mirror and Johnny was standing back idolly waiting for his turn, not that he cared all that much. "Hi, Johnny!"
"Hi," he smiled. He looked me up and down taking in my clothing choices. "Running late?"
"Well," I looked down at myself clad in my light blue silk pajamas and fuzzy pink slippers, ''yeah. Rees wouldn't give me enough time to change. It's a good thing I was actually wearing pajamas, huh?"
Johnny went red and replied, "Yeah, sure is." Then he turned away and went to look at himself before Steve or Two-Bit took over the mirror again.
"Pony not up to coming?" Steve asked as he turned around to face us. I just glared at him. How stupid could he get?
"No," Reesa said nicely, seeing as she has more patients with him then I have. "They took him this morning to the ER and he's all drugged up and he's still sore. He'll probably be back on Monday or Tuesday, though."
"They waited that long?" Two-Bit asked curiously. "What for?"
I shrugged because I didn't even know that they had taken him period. And again Reesa answered for the both of us. "Yeah, I guess Darry waited until he woke up. I don't know why. No one was thinking last night apparently. I didn't even realize that they should've taken him until they got back."
Two-Bit sort of nodded and turned back to the mirror. "Are you done, Johnny?"
"Yeah." He stepped aside and Two-Bit went to check himself one more time before the bell rang to go to first period.
"Steve?" I asked, trying to be nice. "Will you take me home after first period?"
"No."
That took me aback slightly. "Why not?"
"Do I look stupid, Skye?" Does he really want me to answer that? Not one thing he was wearing matched.
"No. But I need to go home."
"Why?"
"Because.I feel sick." And I want to avoid any more contact with Miles that I have to have. We already have first period together.
"Did you tell that to Darry?"
"He was sleeping."
"Soda?"
"He made me come."
"Then no."
"But he said I could go home after first or second!"
"Too bad."
My mouth gaped open. How rude! "Do you want me to get attacked again from walking by myself?"
"You weren't attacked in the first place, kid. Just stick it out." Oh, right. I forgot. Little did he know.
The bell rang and there was a sudden scurrying of people trying to make it to their first class before the five minutes were up. I didn't bother keeping up my conversation with Steve and left everyone still standing there. No one was on my side today. Maybe Soda was a little, but no one else. I don't know if anyone else realized how badly that sucked. It never seemed to be that anyone else had no support. Just me. Stupid boys thinking that they are smarter. If only they knew. The thought almost made a lump in my throat, but that was the last thing I needed before facing Miles, so I swallowed it and walked faster.
I was sitting in my seat at the back of the room in Mr. Thorp's tenth grade English class before I knew it. I hate school. I hate this class. The teacher was a crack fiend or something. It wasn't even funny how stupid he was. It used to be, but it got old real fast.
I was one of the first students in the classroom, which seemed to surprise Thorp. He decided to strike up another conversation with me. He always did that and it always bugged me. "Miss Curtis?"
"What?"
"What, may I ask, are you wearing?" He stood up and went to erase the black board.
"They're called pajamas, sir." I didn't feel up to talking, can you tell?
"I'm well aware of that, Miss Curtis. But are Iyou/I aware that it's against the dress code for young ladies to wear anything but dresses or skirts to --" he stopped short as he broke into a coughing fit from all the chalk dust.
"No, it's not," I answered anyway.
After a moment of coughing he turned back to me. "Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not." You could keep this up forever with him and he wouldn't realize it.
"Yes, it is."
"No. It's. Not." To tell you the truth, it probably was but I could've cared less and he wasn't about to do anything about it. He never did anything about anything.
He was about to repeat his part of the conversation when Stacy Norton approached his desk and proceeded to ask him a question about last night's homework. "We'll have this conversation later, Miss Curtis."
"Sure we will." I leaned down to my backpack and pulled out some lipstick. Then changing my mind I put it back and pulled out a brush and started to run it through my partly brushed hair.
Around that time, Miles came in. Actually, he peeked in, saw I was there, and then decided to come in. God I hate him. He only came if I came. If I was gone, so was he. Surprise, surprise.
And most fortunately for me, his seat was right next to mine. That was the one thing that people liked about Mr. Thorp. In the beginning of the year he let us sit by whom ever we wanted to and that was our seating chart. We were stuck there until the end of the term when he'd change it again. Naturally, Miles and I sat next to each other, because back then -- last month -- we were both stupid and thought nothing would be better than sitting next to each other. Please, gag me now.
"Hey, Skye." He sat sideways in his chair, facing me, his elbows on his knees.
I didn't look at him and continued to brush my hair. "What?"
"Hey! I just wanted to talk. That's all." He said it as if he were talking to some little kid. He probably thought he was too. He had been held back a year and was forced to repeat the tenth grade, the idiot.
I didn't saying anything back to him. I simply put my brush away, found a hair tie, and pulled my hair back into a ponytail at the base of my neck. I knew ignoring him wouldn't get rid of him, but it was worth it if it meant I didn't have to talk to him.
The bell rang and Mr. Thorp started to pass out papers to everyone.
"How's Ponyboy?"
"Wonderful."
"Really? 'Cause I was worried that we might have. you know. gotten him too badly." Worried my ass. He was just trying to kiss up in his own sickening way.
"Psh. Yeah, right." I still didn't look at him.
"'Eh! No need to --"
"No talking, Mr. Johnson!" Mr. Thorp said as he stopped at his row and began to count papers to send out. Poor Mr. Thorp. He thought he was so intimidating. I was sort of wishing he was at that point.
Miles just glanced at him and continued to talk, trying to lure me in. "You know I did it for you.." What?! Did he think that he was being attractive or something by saying that?
"Damn it, Miles! Leave it --"
"Miss Curtis, keep your voice down! No talking in my class." Which one was it? Talk quietly or not at all? Make up your mind! I decided to just stop talking. I had nothing to prove to Miles.
"He was standing in my way. I couldn't let that happen," Miles picked up again. "He should've known better than to do that."
I went back to ignoring him even though my muscles were twitching and I wanted so badly to hurt him.
"But you ran. Why? I was doing it for you."
Oh hell no. I can't believe he said that. The kid in front of me pass me my paper and I gently put it down on my desk and went to fish for a pencil in my bag.
"C'mon, stop ignoring me!" He was starting to sound angry. "I know you liked it."
What? He's kidding right?
"Okay, so it was probably awkward in front of your brother. I can see how that would be. But now we don't have to worry about him. I'll make sure of --"
"Shut up! Damn it, Miles! What makes you think --"
I was cut short by Mr. Thorp's angry voice. "Miss Curtis! I thought I told you there was no talking in my classroom."
"Sorry," I snapped and went to try and concentrate on my assignment. Shows you how desperate I was to block out Miles.
"Ahh, I see." Miles nodded his head as if he had just caught on to something. "Don't worry about it. I'll be more careful next time. Hopefully he won't be around then." It amazed me how little information penetrated his thick skull.
I was seriously determined this time to not answer him.
"What I don't understand is why you are so upset. I mean, we can always do it whenever you want. I won't reject you."
I felt my jaw line grow tight and my fingers wrapped around my pencil so tightly it almost snapped in half. No, he wouldn't reject it, because I never gave it to him. He did that all on his own.
"Tell you what. How about --"
I couldn't contain myself. I exploded, and this time for real. "Stop it! I swear to God if you ever touch him again or --" I yelled but, not surprisingly, got cut off.
"Miss Curtis! Come here," Mr. Thorp put down his chalk and went to sit behind his desk. He opened his top drawer and pulled out a yellow pad of paper. I wasn't stupid. I knew what it was. Thank God he was sending me out. I don't think I could've stood another minute listening to Miles.
I shoved my stuff back into my bag and swung it over my shoulder and stormed to the front of the room. Thorp was writing briskly on the paper and I could make out the words dress code, disrupting, swearing, and disrespect. What else was new?
"Take this to the office and they'll know what to do." Ha. Did he Ireally/I think I'd go? I took it and headed to the door. I looked behind my shoulder and saw Miles still in the same position, but slowly unfolded himself and sat back in his seat.
I yanked the door open and left to the sound of a few people laughing and shouting farewells. They all knew it was as stupid as I thought it was. Mr. Thorp went out of his way to get rid of students.
I crumpled the paper and threw it in a trashcan as I walked down the hall. I was home free, except the fact that I had to go on my own. I didn't care. I could make it home before the class was over and I'd be just fine.
"Skye?" Someone called from behind me. I turned to see who it was and saw Reesa coming down the hallway towards me, swinging a hall pass from one hand. "What are you doing out of class?"
"I got kicked out," I replied simply and kept walking.
"Wait. Where are you going?" She ran to catch up to me.
"Home. Where else?"
"Don't you think you should stick around a little while longer? Darry ain't gonna believe any excuse you make up." She was trying to be helpful, but I wasn't taking it.
"So?"
"Whatever. Good luck."
"Sure." I came to a door that led outside and pushed it open. "See ya."
"Bye," she called as she went up some stairs near the door.
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To make a long story short, I didn't get very far before being stopped. Let me clarify that. I made it several blocks away before, to my astonishment, Miles drove up along side me. Clay wasn't with him that time. How Miles got out of class so fast and found me as quickly as he did, was beyond me. I should've taken into consideration that he was in Thorp's class too and could very easily leave, but it didn't accure to me until it was too late. Anyway, size and strength took its advantage and I didn't have any choice but to go with him. God I hate him.
An hour and a half later I found myself walking away from his house. Between his house and my house was the DX so I stopped there. I knew Soda would be at work by then and I didn't feel like going home. Soda wouldn't mind if I visited. Besides, I wanted to get inside somewhere as fast as I could.
I pushed the door of the DX open and went in. I didn't see Soda anywhere. I know he wasn't outside, because I would've seen him, but I didn't see him in there either. "Soda?" I called out as I went to the counter.
"Just a minute," he yelled from the back room. He was probably restocking or something. I leaned on the counter and dropped my head to rest on my folded arms waiting for him to come out.
I found myself feeling slightly sicker than that morning. Stress can do that to you I suppose. I was tired, too. I could've, and probably would've, fallen asleep right there if Soda hadn't come out and woke me up real fast.
"That wasn't very long," he said as he returned behind the counter and sat on a stool. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I don't wanna go home yet." I shrugged as I lifted my head. "Did you tell Darry I was going to come home?"
"Yeah, and he was fine with it. I figure either he was still too tired to realize what I was saying or he thinks that he couldn't stop it anyway, so he didn't bother to argue about it." He took a swig from his Pepsi. "What some?" He held it out to me but I shook my head no. "Okay. Actually, I thought you would leave sooner than you did. What changed your mind?" He wasn't dumb.
"Nothing. I just. took my time."
"Huh." He didn't seem to think on it one way or another and pulled out a radio from under the counter. He plugged it in and turned it to a rock and roll station. "Well, if you want anything, help yourself."
"No one else is here?"
"Well, just Bud, but he's outside working on that Chevy. He never comes in. He spends too much time on those cars. He's good but he takes too long. Steve's better, of course, but he doesn't get here early enough to work on the ones that really need it." He kept going but I stopped listening. I wasn't very interested in who was better than who and why and how they did their own things. I just didn't care.
I went behind the counter and sat on the floor by Soda's stool and leaned against the counter. I didn't feel like standing anymore.
"What are you wearing?" Soda asked, laughing a little bit. "Don't tell me you went to school like that."
"Yeah. Why?"
He laughed more. "Sweet. That's great."
"Does it surprise you?"
"Nope. I just think it's cool. Rees really didn't give you any time, huh?"
"Not really. It's okay, though. This is more comfortable anyway." It really was. I ought to do it more often. I probably won't because I have too much pride to, but I wouldn't not ever do it if the situation arose again. I didn't care that much. I could sacrifice a day or two of not looking my best.
"I'll bet."
After that it went quiet for a while, minus the music. It didn't matter though. I was tired and the music was somewhat relaxing. I allowed my eyes to droop and I fell asleep not too much longer after that.
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A/N: Okay, have any of you caught on to this yet? If you think you know whats going on, let me know. I want to know if you guys get it. If you don't, don't worry, you will.just not yet.but this is the first chapter that really shows anything clearly. Anyway.just wondering. ( Please review!