Chapter 8
Shelby brought her hands up to my face from the cold chains; I draped my bare arms around her waist to bring her in closer. Then she opened her mouth and as if I had gotten permission I deepened the kiss. Pulling her in closer and closer until there was no space between us anymore. Shelby pulled away and looked at me deeply like she had before. The she gave me a small peck on the lips and sighed.
"We better get back Pony; I have to go home tonight." Shelby said with a sweet grin on her face. I nodded and let go of her so her swing swung sideways away from mine. She laughed out loud and jumped off. She shivered from the sudden chilly wind that swept through Tulsa. I draped my arm across her shoulder and she gave me a cute grin and we walked down the road in silence.
I stepped up the steps letting go of Shelby's shoulders and reaching for the door handle I walked in.
"Hey Shelby you ready to go kiddo?" Two-Bit asked her as we walked in.
"Yes, and don't call me kiddo." Shelby said stubbornly but with a slight grin. "Yeah, whatever you say kiddo." Two-Bit said not listening to Shelby whatsoever. She looked at him and rolled her eyes.
"See y'all tomorrow!" Shelby said shoving Two-Bit out of the door because his favourite song had come on the radio in our living room. She looked at me last and winked before stepping out our door.
Steve ended up staying the night again because he was pretty soused if you asked me. But Steve told Darry he got into a good fight with his dad. This wasn't out of the ordinary making it very believable. I went to bed and after about half an hour Soda came in.
I had my back to him pretending to sleep even though I had my eyes wide open. He lied down beside me and I could feel him facing me.
"Pony I know your not asleep yet." Soda said, I knew he'd be able to tell. Soda knew everything.
"Hmmm" I sort of moaned, I was tired, I just couldn't get to sleep. I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling listening to myself breathe.
"What did you and Shelby do while you were out?" He asked slyly.
"Nothing," I said, trying not to grin while I thought about it. "We went for a walk."
"I'll bet." Soda said and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Soda?" I asked
"What?" He answered sort of sleepier now.
"Soda, do you still miss Sandy?" I knew this was a touchy subject and after that one time I mentioned her I never had again. But I had to know, Soda dated other girls but did he still miss Sandy? The girl he loved, the girl he wanted to marry.
He sighed and he looked at the ceiling like me.
"Everyday Pony," Soda said. I knew it, I sort of wished I hadn't mentioned it, but I had to know. Love felt so real to me right now and I needed to know if love mattered. I needed to know that MY love was real. With that I relaxed and fell into a light dreamless sleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I woke up and Soda was already up. I looked sleepily around the room. I thought about trying to fall back asleep. Then again I highly doubted I could with the amount of noise going on. Then I heard Shelby's loud scream and a giggle. I immediately sat up and crawled out of bed. I walked into the living room in my plaid PJ pants and shirtless. I stopped and sat on the couch laughing slightly through my sleepiness.
Shelby was pinned to the ground by Sodapop while Two-Bit tickled her.
"Just say uncle, Shelby, and we will let you go!" Two-Bit yelled at Shelby who was gasping for breath and kicking and screaming.
"NO!" She exclaimed. So Two-Bit began to tickle her again, she reached over and grabbed Soda's shirt and pulled him in close enough to punch him, but just as she was about to, Two-Bit tickled her more and Soda pinned her back to the ground. "o.k.! OK I GIVE!" She ended up screaming out of breath. Two- bit laughed at her as she sat up and gave him a look of stubbornness. She smacked him over the side of the head as he stood up. He turned on her ready to pounce but Sodapop raised his hand, signalling him. He picked Shelby up and threw her on the couch beside me. She crossed her arms and made a funny face at him. He smirked and tried to cock an eyebrow at her, unsuccessfully of course. Shelby lied across my lap.
"Mornin' Pony!" She said happily.
"Get off 'a me!" I said pushing her off, jokingly.
She sat up and leaned her back against my shoulder watching the Honeymooners. During a commercial Shelby spun around and smiled at me.
"What?" I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders and blew a large pink bubble with her gum not even an inch away from my face before popping it loudly. She sprung up and jumped over the back of the couch, singing Hound Dog happily. She swung her arms around her head gleefully and her small figure followed. Whipping around in a circle so fast that she lost her balance and fell back into the wall near the table where Two-Bit and Sodapop were eating a peaceful breakfast, well as peaceful as things get around here.
"Smooth, Shelby Mustang," Two-Bit said nonchalantly. She laughed out loud and as if she had decided she enjoyed the floor she laid back and took a plate of eggs down to the ground with her. Seeing her with eggs made my stomach growl wildly. I jumped over the back of the couch as Shelby had, minus the singing and dancing and walked over to the table where I found a plate of eggs I guessed to be mine. Only they were scrambled with grape jelly on them.
"Soda! I don't like jelly on my eggs! That's you, I don't even like them scrambled like you."
"So what? Beggars can't be choosers, eat your cake." Sodapop said, enjoying his eggs, making me slightly mad. I let out a huff and sat down. I picked up my stained fork and scooped some cake into my mouth. That was WAY too much sugar for the morning.
"Jesus Soda! You even made the cake too sugary!" Even though it was sweet I had a sour look on my face. The icing had so much sugar I lost my appetite. Well not really, but I always was one to over exaggerate.
"Well Pony, no one else is complaining." Sodapop said now eating his cake without cringing in the slightest, as I had. I looked at Two-Bit who had already inhaled his cake. Then at Shelby who shrugged at me.
"I like sugar too..." She said quietly. I sighed and got up.
When I looked in the icebox I realized that there were no more eggs. They had been the last ones. I slammed it shut and spun around to see the three of them laughing at me.
"Something wrong Pony?" Asked Two-Bit with a cocky smirk on his face.
"Nope." I said shortly and brought out the cake mix. I had no idea how to make cake...Darry and Sodapop always made it. But how hard can it be?
"Ya know what your doing Pony?" Asked Shelby who was now putting her plate into the sink while I stared at the cake mix container.
"Yeah," I answered her.
"It don't look like it." She said.
"Well I do." I said getting slightly mad. Shelby blew a bubble.
"I can make you a cake...all ya hafta' do is ask." She replied then began making it without an answer from me. I looked at her and then sort of helped her. That's a lie; I sat on the counter top watching her. Talking about everything we could think of. Everything leading into another topic. Shelby took the cake out of the oven and put it on the table. Although I did get my fair share of a piece I wouldn't have if I waited another second. Two-Bit and Soda both grabbed hungrily at the cake...faster than Shelby could hand out slices.
"God, guys try to get some in your mouth." Shelby said watching us eat the cake faster than we could think. I was eating just as fast as them. The cake was overly sugary but it was fine for me. Shelby gave up trying to calm us down and threw her hands in the air; she turned on the radio and sang along with it.
We finished the cake and I felt satisfied.
"Well me and Soda are going out, see you later." Two-Bit said.
"Wait!" Shelby yelled from the couch. "Doesn't Aunt Sherri go to work today?"
Two-Bit looked at her strangely, "Yeah...so?"
"So...who's watching Shannen...remember your little sister the one with brown hair?" Shelby said.
"Oh...yeah I dunno. I 'spose you are." Two-Bit said slowly. "O.K. fine...because it's not like I have a life." Shelby said sarcastically, a little annoyed.
"Don't kid yourself Shelby Sugarcane... you don't have a life." He said while walking out the door with Sodapop on his heel.
"Well that means I gotta git going... Sorry." Shelby said.
"Can I come with you?" I inquired, wondering if it was a good idea to ask.
"Uh...yeah sure. If you want to I guess. It sure would make it better for me." She said grabbing a pack of smokes I assumed Two-Bit left behind.
Without another word we walked out of the house on the way to Two-Bit's.
We walked in silence the whole time. It's almost like we didn't need to talk. She needed my lighter, I gave it to her. She didn't know which way to turn, I showed her. When we got there she walked inside.
I saw Two-Bit's mom standing in the doorway waiting for someone to come and watch Shannen. Glancing at her watch, I think if the milkman showed up she would've left Shannen with him.
"Oh Shelby...? Two-Bit was supposed to watch Shannen today." She said sympathetically.
"Well Aunt Sherri you know Two-Bit...always reliable." Shelby said sarcastically.
"Oh... well thanks because I have no one else to watch Shannen if he didn't show up." Then she noticed me standing there. I grinned slightly.
"Oh...hello Ponyboy...I haven't seen you in a while!" She said gleefully putting a hand on my shoulder and giving me a good natured grin.
"Yeah...is it ok that I stay with Shelby while she baby-sits?" I inquired.
"Of course! It's the least I can do, considering how much time Two-Bit spends at your house." She said. I nodded and she turned to Shelby.
"Alright I'm going now. I will be back around three because I have the short shift today. You can have the food in the fridge if you haven't eaten because I just got groceries. I will be home soon...and be good." She said looking down at Shelby.
"I know, I know, I know..." Shelby said shutting the door behind Sherri. She turned around.
"Shannen! Shannen me and Pony are here!" She yelled not really anywhere in particular. Suddenly a small girl came running out of the doorway to the living room.
"HI SHELBY!" She said, she ran and jumped into the air, confident her cousin would catch her. Shelby did and she spun her around before setting her down. She looked at me. She smiled and she looked nothing like Two-Bit. She had dark brown ringlet's sitting on her shoulders. She had a round face with Two-bits eyes. That's all she had of Two-Bit's was his eyes. They were hysterical like his but they were bluer. She smiled like him too, but that was out of habit not gene.
"Hi Ponyboy." She said shyly looking at me and then at Shelby and running back into the living room. Shelby and I followed and we flopped onto the couch. Shannen sat on the floor and watched the TV so close it made my eyes hurt thinking about it.
"Baby don't sit so close...your going to go blind." Shelby said to Shannen.
"Am not!" Shannen protested not pulling her eyes away from Mickey Mouse. Maybe she was more like Two-Bit than I thought.
"Whatever..." Shelby said. I looked at her and she was staring at the TV screen. Maybe she was looking at the TV, but her mind was something else. She was sitting with one foot up on the couch and she pulled in her leg close to her chest. She had her chin rested on her knee and her eyes are wide. She didn't notice I was looking at her like she usually does...that was weird. I found myself reaching over for her hand without thinking.
I enclosed her fingers into mine and held them tight. She linked them with mine and held them tight. She didn't look at me, just kept pretending to watch the TV screen. Her eyes were filling with tears threatening to spill over. I didn't ask her what was wrong. I wanted to know...but I didn't need to. She was probably thinking about stuff that wasn't the type of thing you talk about with someone you barely know. Although I don't think I would be classified as someone she barely knows. I moved closer to her and ran my finger through her long soft hair. She took her chin off of her knee and sat up straight to hold back the tears. Shannen got up and left to her bedroom. I moved a little bit closer and ran my finger through her hair again and down her spine. She finally looked at me and then looked away again, afraid I would see her cry. Suddenly she advanced on me, swinging one leg over my stomach and turning my head towards her she held my face and kissed me. It wasn't as passionate as last time it was just a quick kiss, because Shannen came downstairs, while our lips were still touching I felt her break into a smile. She took her leg back and leaned against my shoulder.
"I'm hungry," Shannen said.
"Well what do you want?" Shelby asked the tiny girl standing in front of us. She pondered.
"A peanut butter sandwich." She said.
"You got it...I will be right back Pony." Shelby said running her hand through my hair playfully while she took Shannen's hand and led her into the kitchen. I heard cupboards banging and opening, and then they walked back in Shannen with a sandwich Shelby with a paper towel in her hands.
"Don't make a mess!" Shelby said giving her the paper towel. Shannen gave her a look and stuck out her tongue, Shelby stuck hers out back at her.
Shannen lied on her stomach eating her sandwich. She ended up falling asleep while we watched TV.
"Aw crap..." Shelby said noticing Shannen on the floor.
"Come on hunny ...you still have to get to the bedroom!" Shelby said shaking her slightly. Shannen didn't show any sign of waking up. Shelby bent down again whispering to her and shaking her harder and harder. I walked over to Shannen and scooped her up.
"No...Pony its ok I can get her up." Shelby said grabbing my arm.
"It's alright... she doesn't weigh much anyway." I said to her, which was the truth. Shannen was incredibly light. We walked up the three steps and down the small hallway and into Shannen's room. It was a small square bedroom with light pink walls. Toy horses littered the floor everywhere with legs broken off and stables set up around them. I had to concentrate to not trip on any of the toys.
Shelby was leaned against the doorway when I turned around from putting Shannen in her bed. She was looking at me with a smirk on her face.
"What?" I asked feeling my cheeks burn.
"Nothing...let's go superman." She said laughing and taking my hand leading me downstairs.
She had called me superman...no one ever called me that. Darry was always superman and I was superman's kid brother. I liked being the superman.
We walked into the kitchen and Shelby took both of my hands but she was walking with her back to me. She turned around letting go of my hands and looked into my eyes. I swallowed and took her hands back again she pulled me in closer. I smiled down at her and she exhaled and I wrapped my arms around her waist lifting her up slightly I pulled her into me. When her lips touched mine and the kiss began she jumped up and wrapped her legs around my waist. Her arms were draped around my neck holding her up. I pushed her up against the cupboards and set her on the counter while we were still kissing. She brought her hands away from my neck and ran them through my hair then brought them down to my face holding it lightly. I leaned into her more and more while the kiss got more intense. Its weird how our kisses start, we don't get into it knowing... it just sort of flows. I can never tell when we are going to kiss until Shelby gives me that look. Even if we were mad at each other if she made that face it would change everything. Things would be different.
We made out for what felt like a long time, then Two-Bit's mom came home.
"I'm home." She yelled and the door shut. Shelby pushed me away quickly and giggled. I smiled and she quickly pulled me in for another kiss. It was so fast I barely realized it happened. I was kind of light headed from kissing that long. Shelby jumped off the counter still looking at me and skipped out of the kitchen with me behind her.
"Heya Aunt Sherri!" Shelby exclaimed. Sherri looked beat and she gave Shelby a tired look.
"Get outta my house!" She said shoving me and Shelby of the door. I barely had time to grab for my jacket as Shelby grabbed for her worn leather one. We both stumbled out of the house and onto the peeling wooden porch. Shelby hopped over the cracking, steep grey concrete steps that lead to the porch. I jumped off the last three steps and me and Shelby stood at the end of the driveway. Silently deciding where to go. Suddenly from far off in the distance Shelby pointed I saw a red car up the street.
"Isn't that Steve's T-bird?" Shelby asked me. It sure sounded like Steve's; he had just got it real cheap because there was something wrong with the muffler. It sounded horrible but it sure could lay some rubber.
"Yeah I think it is." I said to her shielding my eyes from the bright setting sun. Shelby grabbed my arm and started running down the sidewalk getting ready to wave him down. She began to wave.
"Steve! Hey Soda and Steve!" She said. Soda tapped Steve's shoulder and jerked his thumb towards us. Steve pulled over reluctantly with a heated look on his face. I knew Steve didn't mind Shelby but the thought of driving around with two teenage kids probably made him annoyed.
"Hey guys!" Shelby said hopping into the car without opening the door. Shelby loved convertibles and that's what it was. She sat on the back of the seat and I jumped in sitting beside her, just not on the back I sat on the seat.
"Jesus, you moron! Get the hell off of my seats your gonna wreck them I just redid them!" Steve yelled giving Shelby a hard smack across her legs. Shelby let out a huff and made a frustrated look and slid down sitting beside me.
"You guys going back to our place?" Sodapop asked us.
"Yeah I guess," I said with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. I passed it to Shelby as I noticed she was out. She took a long drag and then lied back giving it back to me. Suddenly she jumped up and looked around. Then she jumped forward knocking Soda's Pepsi onto his lap.
"What are you doing Shelby?!" He asked trying to dry it up with his sleeve. Shelby reached forward to the dashboard and twisted the knob making the music go really loud, slightly hurting my ear drums. It was 'A Little Less Conversation' by Elvis Presley. Shelby sure liked Elvis. I did too, but not to her extent.
"A little less conversation a little more action please, all this aggravation aint satisfactionin' me!" Shelby yelled receiving a glare from Soda and Steve. Shelby wasn't a very good signer. She just belted the words and screamed like the girls you see at his concerts. They go crazy. I like watching those concerts. Imagining I was Elvis Presley and beautiful girls were screaming at the sight of me. Look at me in a good way, not because they were scared of me or my friends.
"Well I can't wait until I drive with you guys again some time..." Shelby said rolling her eyes, the words dripping with sarcasm.
We were almost in my driveway but Shelby jumped out before we stopped and ran into the house. I followed when the car had stopped and jumped up our steps and leaned against the door to open it. Shelby was already downing a Pepsi.
"Make yourself at home." I said to her kind of sarcastically.
"Will do," Shelby said out of breath from drinking a whole Pepsi and she wiped the Pepsi away from her lips and looked at me. I gave a half smile as I walked into the bedroom. I walked into the room and looked in the mirror above mine and Soda's dresser. My hair was horrible. I sort of gasped and took out a handful of grease and my comb. I worked carefully so my hair was its usual tuff self. It didn't take a long time or much grease. My hair was almost back to normal, except for my bleached ends. They weren't that bad I guess. It looked real bad after about six months; my hair was half blonde half brown. Two-Bit would go up to girls at the DX and stuff and say "You girls like blondes or brunettes?" and when they would either answer or just look at him he would point to me and say "Well you know you can have both! With this greasy little hood over here!" And mess up my missed match hair accordingly. It got real annoying. I haven't been to the DX with just Two- Bit anymore...
"Ponyboy?!" Shelby yelled, whether from the kitchen or living room I couldn't tell.
"What?" I screamed back and then put my comb down and walked out of my door. When I didn't receive an answer I said to her again,
"What?" I saw her lying on the couch with her feet up watching TV.
"Oh," she said turning to look at me, "Nothing, its just I wanted to make sure you were still here...I couldn't remember." Shelby smiled and turned back to the TV. I sort of stood there wondering how you could not notice if someone was here.
I started to clean the kitchen. Shelby didn't offer to help. I didn't expect her to either. I knew her, she was lazy. Sort of like Two-Bit but not to his extent. Shelby did help if she was bored but I don't count on her help. After about twenty minutes Darry walked into the door and threw his heavy jacket at the coat rack. He landed his coat on it perfectly. He was the only one who used that coat rack. I never see any other coats on there.
"Pony? Pony I'm home!" Darry said. "Hi Shelby, Ponyboy here?" I heard Darry ask.
"Uh...yeah he's in the kitchen." Shelby answered slightly clearing her throat. I heard some things being cleaned up. He wasn't home for one minute and he was cleaning up already I thought.
"Ponyboy is this your homework?" Darry asked and I saw him come around the corner with my overflowing backpack in his hands.
"No its Sodapop's" I said sarcastically. I immediately bit my lip knowing I shouldn't have said that.
"Don't get mouthy Ponyboy Michael Curtis, why haven't you started this yet?" He said gesturing to my backpack.
"Because it's spring break, who wants to do homework?" I said rhetorically.
"It's not a question of why don't you want to do your homework, its why didn't you?" He said getting slightly mad.
"Darry it's not due until next Monday!" I yelled getting upset at Darry for bickering at me about something this stupid.
"Well your going to be busy all week and weekend aren't you? I have told you before I really want your homework done the first night you are free. You aren't going to want to do this all week and you are not leaving it to the last minute!" Darry yelled, not that loud but nevertheless getting mad. I didn't want to do my homework now; I wanted to do it later. But he was right and I knew it. I always put it off until the last minute.
"Fine." I said giving in. I took my bag from Darry's hands and as if his mood suddenly changed he smiled down at me as I walked into the dining room. I sat down and opened up my math book to begin my work in Algebra. I was on question forty-six when Steve and Two-Bit busted into the room interrupting the almost silence. Two-Bit was swaying slightly showing he was slightly drunk. Steve looked stable but his eyes were blood shot and his face was red.
"You guys want to come out with us?" Two-Bit asked slurring his words together slightly. Me and Shelby looked at each other.
"Yeah sure," Shelby said, "Am I working tomorrow Steve?" Shelby asked.
"Naw you only work um...weekends and...Thursdays" Steve said humming and fidgeting as if he couldn't stay still.
"Yeah ok I will come too." I said getting up. Shelby was already at the door.
"Oh your done your homework already Ponyboy?" Darry asked me drying of his hands. He knew I wasn't done. He always did that.
"No...but Darry..." I began but Darry stopped me and pointed to the table. I sat back down at the table and picked up my pencil.
"Shelby I don't think you should go either. They will be drinking and you don't handle hangovers all that well." Darry said forgetting he didn't need to nag at kids who weren't his own.
"Don't worry Darry. I am just going out because I'm bored. After Saturday night I don't plan on doing any more drinking for a while." Shelby said seriously and with a loud laugh from Two-Bit as he swung his arm around her shoulder they were gone. Leaving me to do my homework. I moved onto the couch and lied on my stomach with my books piled around me. The TV was playing softly as I wrote in the dim bluish light of the TV screen. I felt my eyes getting heavy and was blinking to stay awake. I fell into a light uncomfortable sleep with my books on my stomach at around one in the morning.
Suddenly I heard the door creak open and heavy footsteps walking into the house. I heard Two-Bit's hyena laughter and Shelby's small screams and laughs. I heard Sodapop yell for them to hurry up and other girl's loud giggles. I sat up slightly so I could see the clock; it was 3:30 in the morning. What were they doing here this late? Two-Bit walked over to the end of a couch with a girl kissing his neck and holding Shelby up under her armpits. She was limp and laughing with the other girls around her and Two- Bit. Two-Bit laughed loudly and threw Shelby down on top of me.
"She's so blitzed" Two-Bit laughed "She had more than me!" He laughed loudly and harshly because of the alcohol and with that they were gone leaving Shelby on top of me.
"Hi Ponyboy" Shelby said drowsily and slurred. I just looked at her. She began to kiss me and I could taste the liquor and felt it burning my nose. She began to kiss my cheek and then my neck.
"Shelby...Shelby I thought you weren't going to drink..." I said sadly to Shelby. It was sort of disappointing that she drank again. She ignored it and kissed me again.
"Shelby, come on Shelby your drunk." I pleaded with her.
"Not really..." Shelby said running her cold hands up my sweatshirt. I kissed her back because I liked her. But I didn't want to do this when she was drunk. I tried to push her up by pushing up on her stomach and I felt a cold wet spot. She must have spilled alcohol on herself, I thought. She was shivering from the cold and I ran my hands up her arms, they were freezing because she must have lost her jacket. I pulled away from the kiss and I just wrapped her up in my arms she didn't object anymore, she struggled but then relaxed. The alcohol smell on her was so strong it was as if I smelt it from the bottle. She kept shivering and mumbling. I ran my fingers silently through her hair and then she suddenly got up and ran to the bathroom. I followed stumbling slightly over my books and papers. As the door swung open I saw Shelby leaned over the toilet, the contents of her stomach being forced into the toilet. I walked over and pulled her hair back behind her neck. I stroked her back absent minded, feeling worse and worse for her.
After about five or six minutes she sat up and she was crying, she was pale white almost green but she was getting her colour back. Her face had broken out in a cold sweat and she was shivering so violently that her teeth were chattering. She leaned against the wall and shut her eyes tight. She was sliding down the wall because she couldn't hold herself up. I ran a face cloth through warm water and began to clean her face and she played with the hair on the back of my neck crying and sort of grinning at the same time. I realized she must have been so cold partly because of her sopping wet shirt. I hadn't realized it was this wet. I didn't know if I should let her go and change it herself. She could barely sit up let alone stand.
"Shelby? Shelby I think you need to change your shirt..." I said running my fingers through her hair. She barely nodded and began to slide her shirt off. I helped her and discarded it into the tub for now. I noticed her black bra was damp too, but it wasn't that bad. I slipped my grey t-shirt off of my chest and over her head. It practically consumed her small figure but she embraced it. I took her arms and placed them around my neck; I scooped up her torso and legs and carried her into my bedroom. I set her down on the bed and she was almost immediately asleep so I pulled the thick cotton covers overtop of her and me. I wrapped my arms around her and she put her head on my chest. After her breathing was regular I fell into a peaceful sleep to the rhythm of her breathing. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Well what do you guys think? I really hope you liked it I spent almost three days writing and proofreading it. This was a really long chapter, but after writing this one I realized that I think every chapter will be this long. Thank you SO much to everyone who reviewed, I really loved them. It encouraged me to keep going with this story. Please review this chapter and tell me what you think, I was kind of sceptical about writing the whole drinking part but I think it sort of brought it together. Well thank you so much for reading!
Shelby brought her hands up to my face from the cold chains; I draped my bare arms around her waist to bring her in closer. Then she opened her mouth and as if I had gotten permission I deepened the kiss. Pulling her in closer and closer until there was no space between us anymore. Shelby pulled away and looked at me deeply like she had before. The she gave me a small peck on the lips and sighed.
"We better get back Pony; I have to go home tonight." Shelby said with a sweet grin on her face. I nodded and let go of her so her swing swung sideways away from mine. She laughed out loud and jumped off. She shivered from the sudden chilly wind that swept through Tulsa. I draped my arm across her shoulder and she gave me a cute grin and we walked down the road in silence.
I stepped up the steps letting go of Shelby's shoulders and reaching for the door handle I walked in.
"Hey Shelby you ready to go kiddo?" Two-Bit asked her as we walked in.
"Yes, and don't call me kiddo." Shelby said stubbornly but with a slight grin. "Yeah, whatever you say kiddo." Two-Bit said not listening to Shelby whatsoever. She looked at him and rolled her eyes.
"See y'all tomorrow!" Shelby said shoving Two-Bit out of the door because his favourite song had come on the radio in our living room. She looked at me last and winked before stepping out our door.
Steve ended up staying the night again because he was pretty soused if you asked me. But Steve told Darry he got into a good fight with his dad. This wasn't out of the ordinary making it very believable. I went to bed and after about half an hour Soda came in.
I had my back to him pretending to sleep even though I had my eyes wide open. He lied down beside me and I could feel him facing me.
"Pony I know your not asleep yet." Soda said, I knew he'd be able to tell. Soda knew everything.
"Hmmm" I sort of moaned, I was tired, I just couldn't get to sleep. I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling listening to myself breathe.
"What did you and Shelby do while you were out?" He asked slyly.
"Nothing," I said, trying not to grin while I thought about it. "We went for a walk."
"I'll bet." Soda said and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Soda?" I asked
"What?" He answered sort of sleepier now.
"Soda, do you still miss Sandy?" I knew this was a touchy subject and after that one time I mentioned her I never had again. But I had to know, Soda dated other girls but did he still miss Sandy? The girl he loved, the girl he wanted to marry.
He sighed and he looked at the ceiling like me.
"Everyday Pony," Soda said. I knew it, I sort of wished I hadn't mentioned it, but I had to know. Love felt so real to me right now and I needed to know if love mattered. I needed to know that MY love was real. With that I relaxed and fell into a light dreamless sleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I woke up and Soda was already up. I looked sleepily around the room. I thought about trying to fall back asleep. Then again I highly doubted I could with the amount of noise going on. Then I heard Shelby's loud scream and a giggle. I immediately sat up and crawled out of bed. I walked into the living room in my plaid PJ pants and shirtless. I stopped and sat on the couch laughing slightly through my sleepiness.
Shelby was pinned to the ground by Sodapop while Two-Bit tickled her.
"Just say uncle, Shelby, and we will let you go!" Two-Bit yelled at Shelby who was gasping for breath and kicking and screaming.
"NO!" She exclaimed. So Two-Bit began to tickle her again, she reached over and grabbed Soda's shirt and pulled him in close enough to punch him, but just as she was about to, Two-Bit tickled her more and Soda pinned her back to the ground. "o.k.! OK I GIVE!" She ended up screaming out of breath. Two- bit laughed at her as she sat up and gave him a look of stubbornness. She smacked him over the side of the head as he stood up. He turned on her ready to pounce but Sodapop raised his hand, signalling him. He picked Shelby up and threw her on the couch beside me. She crossed her arms and made a funny face at him. He smirked and tried to cock an eyebrow at her, unsuccessfully of course. Shelby lied across my lap.
"Mornin' Pony!" She said happily.
"Get off 'a me!" I said pushing her off, jokingly.
She sat up and leaned her back against my shoulder watching the Honeymooners. During a commercial Shelby spun around and smiled at me.
"What?" I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders and blew a large pink bubble with her gum not even an inch away from my face before popping it loudly. She sprung up and jumped over the back of the couch, singing Hound Dog happily. She swung her arms around her head gleefully and her small figure followed. Whipping around in a circle so fast that she lost her balance and fell back into the wall near the table where Two-Bit and Sodapop were eating a peaceful breakfast, well as peaceful as things get around here.
"Smooth, Shelby Mustang," Two-Bit said nonchalantly. She laughed out loud and as if she had decided she enjoyed the floor she laid back and took a plate of eggs down to the ground with her. Seeing her with eggs made my stomach growl wildly. I jumped over the back of the couch as Shelby had, minus the singing and dancing and walked over to the table where I found a plate of eggs I guessed to be mine. Only they were scrambled with grape jelly on them.
"Soda! I don't like jelly on my eggs! That's you, I don't even like them scrambled like you."
"So what? Beggars can't be choosers, eat your cake." Sodapop said, enjoying his eggs, making me slightly mad. I let out a huff and sat down. I picked up my stained fork and scooped some cake into my mouth. That was WAY too much sugar for the morning.
"Jesus Soda! You even made the cake too sugary!" Even though it was sweet I had a sour look on my face. The icing had so much sugar I lost my appetite. Well not really, but I always was one to over exaggerate.
"Well Pony, no one else is complaining." Sodapop said now eating his cake without cringing in the slightest, as I had. I looked at Two-Bit who had already inhaled his cake. Then at Shelby who shrugged at me.
"I like sugar too..." She said quietly. I sighed and got up.
When I looked in the icebox I realized that there were no more eggs. They had been the last ones. I slammed it shut and spun around to see the three of them laughing at me.
"Something wrong Pony?" Asked Two-Bit with a cocky smirk on his face.
"Nope." I said shortly and brought out the cake mix. I had no idea how to make cake...Darry and Sodapop always made it. But how hard can it be?
"Ya know what your doing Pony?" Asked Shelby who was now putting her plate into the sink while I stared at the cake mix container.
"Yeah," I answered her.
"It don't look like it." She said.
"Well I do." I said getting slightly mad. Shelby blew a bubble.
"I can make you a cake...all ya hafta' do is ask." She replied then began making it without an answer from me. I looked at her and then sort of helped her. That's a lie; I sat on the counter top watching her. Talking about everything we could think of. Everything leading into another topic. Shelby took the cake out of the oven and put it on the table. Although I did get my fair share of a piece I wouldn't have if I waited another second. Two-Bit and Soda both grabbed hungrily at the cake...faster than Shelby could hand out slices.
"God, guys try to get some in your mouth." Shelby said watching us eat the cake faster than we could think. I was eating just as fast as them. The cake was overly sugary but it was fine for me. Shelby gave up trying to calm us down and threw her hands in the air; she turned on the radio and sang along with it.
We finished the cake and I felt satisfied.
"Well me and Soda are going out, see you later." Two-Bit said.
"Wait!" Shelby yelled from the couch. "Doesn't Aunt Sherri go to work today?"
Two-Bit looked at her strangely, "Yeah...so?"
"So...who's watching Shannen...remember your little sister the one with brown hair?" Shelby said.
"Oh...yeah I dunno. I 'spose you are." Two-Bit said slowly. "O.K. fine...because it's not like I have a life." Shelby said sarcastically, a little annoyed.
"Don't kid yourself Shelby Sugarcane... you don't have a life." He said while walking out the door with Sodapop on his heel.
"Well that means I gotta git going... Sorry." Shelby said.
"Can I come with you?" I inquired, wondering if it was a good idea to ask.
"Uh...yeah sure. If you want to I guess. It sure would make it better for me." She said grabbing a pack of smokes I assumed Two-Bit left behind.
Without another word we walked out of the house on the way to Two-Bit's.
We walked in silence the whole time. It's almost like we didn't need to talk. She needed my lighter, I gave it to her. She didn't know which way to turn, I showed her. When we got there she walked inside.
I saw Two-Bit's mom standing in the doorway waiting for someone to come and watch Shannen. Glancing at her watch, I think if the milkman showed up she would've left Shannen with him.
"Oh Shelby...? Two-Bit was supposed to watch Shannen today." She said sympathetically.
"Well Aunt Sherri you know Two-Bit...always reliable." Shelby said sarcastically.
"Oh... well thanks because I have no one else to watch Shannen if he didn't show up." Then she noticed me standing there. I grinned slightly.
"Oh...hello Ponyboy...I haven't seen you in a while!" She said gleefully putting a hand on my shoulder and giving me a good natured grin.
"Yeah...is it ok that I stay with Shelby while she baby-sits?" I inquired.
"Of course! It's the least I can do, considering how much time Two-Bit spends at your house." She said. I nodded and she turned to Shelby.
"Alright I'm going now. I will be back around three because I have the short shift today. You can have the food in the fridge if you haven't eaten because I just got groceries. I will be home soon...and be good." She said looking down at Shelby.
"I know, I know, I know..." Shelby said shutting the door behind Sherri. She turned around.
"Shannen! Shannen me and Pony are here!" She yelled not really anywhere in particular. Suddenly a small girl came running out of the doorway to the living room.
"HI SHELBY!" She said, she ran and jumped into the air, confident her cousin would catch her. Shelby did and she spun her around before setting her down. She looked at me. She smiled and she looked nothing like Two-Bit. She had dark brown ringlet's sitting on her shoulders. She had a round face with Two-bits eyes. That's all she had of Two-Bit's was his eyes. They were hysterical like his but they were bluer. She smiled like him too, but that was out of habit not gene.
"Hi Ponyboy." She said shyly looking at me and then at Shelby and running back into the living room. Shelby and I followed and we flopped onto the couch. Shannen sat on the floor and watched the TV so close it made my eyes hurt thinking about it.
"Baby don't sit so close...your going to go blind." Shelby said to Shannen.
"Am not!" Shannen protested not pulling her eyes away from Mickey Mouse. Maybe she was more like Two-Bit than I thought.
"Whatever..." Shelby said. I looked at her and she was staring at the TV screen. Maybe she was looking at the TV, but her mind was something else. She was sitting with one foot up on the couch and she pulled in her leg close to her chest. She had her chin rested on her knee and her eyes are wide. She didn't notice I was looking at her like she usually does...that was weird. I found myself reaching over for her hand without thinking.
I enclosed her fingers into mine and held them tight. She linked them with mine and held them tight. She didn't look at me, just kept pretending to watch the TV screen. Her eyes were filling with tears threatening to spill over. I didn't ask her what was wrong. I wanted to know...but I didn't need to. She was probably thinking about stuff that wasn't the type of thing you talk about with someone you barely know. Although I don't think I would be classified as someone she barely knows. I moved closer to her and ran my finger through her long soft hair. She took her chin off of her knee and sat up straight to hold back the tears. Shannen got up and left to her bedroom. I moved a little bit closer and ran my finger through her hair again and down her spine. She finally looked at me and then looked away again, afraid I would see her cry. Suddenly she advanced on me, swinging one leg over my stomach and turning my head towards her she held my face and kissed me. It wasn't as passionate as last time it was just a quick kiss, because Shannen came downstairs, while our lips were still touching I felt her break into a smile. She took her leg back and leaned against my shoulder.
"I'm hungry," Shannen said.
"Well what do you want?" Shelby asked the tiny girl standing in front of us. She pondered.
"A peanut butter sandwich." She said.
"You got it...I will be right back Pony." Shelby said running her hand through my hair playfully while she took Shannen's hand and led her into the kitchen. I heard cupboards banging and opening, and then they walked back in Shannen with a sandwich Shelby with a paper towel in her hands.
"Don't make a mess!" Shelby said giving her the paper towel. Shannen gave her a look and stuck out her tongue, Shelby stuck hers out back at her.
Shannen lied on her stomach eating her sandwich. She ended up falling asleep while we watched TV.
"Aw crap..." Shelby said noticing Shannen on the floor.
"Come on hunny ...you still have to get to the bedroom!" Shelby said shaking her slightly. Shannen didn't show any sign of waking up. Shelby bent down again whispering to her and shaking her harder and harder. I walked over to Shannen and scooped her up.
"No...Pony its ok I can get her up." Shelby said grabbing my arm.
"It's alright... she doesn't weigh much anyway." I said to her, which was the truth. Shannen was incredibly light. We walked up the three steps and down the small hallway and into Shannen's room. It was a small square bedroom with light pink walls. Toy horses littered the floor everywhere with legs broken off and stables set up around them. I had to concentrate to not trip on any of the toys.
Shelby was leaned against the doorway when I turned around from putting Shannen in her bed. She was looking at me with a smirk on her face.
"What?" I asked feeling my cheeks burn.
"Nothing...let's go superman." She said laughing and taking my hand leading me downstairs.
She had called me superman...no one ever called me that. Darry was always superman and I was superman's kid brother. I liked being the superman.
We walked into the kitchen and Shelby took both of my hands but she was walking with her back to me. She turned around letting go of my hands and looked into my eyes. I swallowed and took her hands back again she pulled me in closer. I smiled down at her and she exhaled and I wrapped my arms around her waist lifting her up slightly I pulled her into me. When her lips touched mine and the kiss began she jumped up and wrapped her legs around my waist. Her arms were draped around my neck holding her up. I pushed her up against the cupboards and set her on the counter while we were still kissing. She brought her hands away from my neck and ran them through my hair then brought them down to my face holding it lightly. I leaned into her more and more while the kiss got more intense. Its weird how our kisses start, we don't get into it knowing... it just sort of flows. I can never tell when we are going to kiss until Shelby gives me that look. Even if we were mad at each other if she made that face it would change everything. Things would be different.
We made out for what felt like a long time, then Two-Bit's mom came home.
"I'm home." She yelled and the door shut. Shelby pushed me away quickly and giggled. I smiled and she quickly pulled me in for another kiss. It was so fast I barely realized it happened. I was kind of light headed from kissing that long. Shelby jumped off the counter still looking at me and skipped out of the kitchen with me behind her.
"Heya Aunt Sherri!" Shelby exclaimed. Sherri looked beat and she gave Shelby a tired look.
"Get outta my house!" She said shoving me and Shelby of the door. I barely had time to grab for my jacket as Shelby grabbed for her worn leather one. We both stumbled out of the house and onto the peeling wooden porch. Shelby hopped over the cracking, steep grey concrete steps that lead to the porch. I jumped off the last three steps and me and Shelby stood at the end of the driveway. Silently deciding where to go. Suddenly from far off in the distance Shelby pointed I saw a red car up the street.
"Isn't that Steve's T-bird?" Shelby asked me. It sure sounded like Steve's; he had just got it real cheap because there was something wrong with the muffler. It sounded horrible but it sure could lay some rubber.
"Yeah I think it is." I said to her shielding my eyes from the bright setting sun. Shelby grabbed my arm and started running down the sidewalk getting ready to wave him down. She began to wave.
"Steve! Hey Soda and Steve!" She said. Soda tapped Steve's shoulder and jerked his thumb towards us. Steve pulled over reluctantly with a heated look on his face. I knew Steve didn't mind Shelby but the thought of driving around with two teenage kids probably made him annoyed.
"Hey guys!" Shelby said hopping into the car without opening the door. Shelby loved convertibles and that's what it was. She sat on the back of the seat and I jumped in sitting beside her, just not on the back I sat on the seat.
"Jesus, you moron! Get the hell off of my seats your gonna wreck them I just redid them!" Steve yelled giving Shelby a hard smack across her legs. Shelby let out a huff and made a frustrated look and slid down sitting beside me.
"You guys going back to our place?" Sodapop asked us.
"Yeah I guess," I said with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. I passed it to Shelby as I noticed she was out. She took a long drag and then lied back giving it back to me. Suddenly she jumped up and looked around. Then she jumped forward knocking Soda's Pepsi onto his lap.
"What are you doing Shelby?!" He asked trying to dry it up with his sleeve. Shelby reached forward to the dashboard and twisted the knob making the music go really loud, slightly hurting my ear drums. It was 'A Little Less Conversation' by Elvis Presley. Shelby sure liked Elvis. I did too, but not to her extent.
"A little less conversation a little more action please, all this aggravation aint satisfactionin' me!" Shelby yelled receiving a glare from Soda and Steve. Shelby wasn't a very good signer. She just belted the words and screamed like the girls you see at his concerts. They go crazy. I like watching those concerts. Imagining I was Elvis Presley and beautiful girls were screaming at the sight of me. Look at me in a good way, not because they were scared of me or my friends.
"Well I can't wait until I drive with you guys again some time..." Shelby said rolling her eyes, the words dripping with sarcasm.
We were almost in my driveway but Shelby jumped out before we stopped and ran into the house. I followed when the car had stopped and jumped up our steps and leaned against the door to open it. Shelby was already downing a Pepsi.
"Make yourself at home." I said to her kind of sarcastically.
"Will do," Shelby said out of breath from drinking a whole Pepsi and she wiped the Pepsi away from her lips and looked at me. I gave a half smile as I walked into the bedroom. I walked into the room and looked in the mirror above mine and Soda's dresser. My hair was horrible. I sort of gasped and took out a handful of grease and my comb. I worked carefully so my hair was its usual tuff self. It didn't take a long time or much grease. My hair was almost back to normal, except for my bleached ends. They weren't that bad I guess. It looked real bad after about six months; my hair was half blonde half brown. Two-Bit would go up to girls at the DX and stuff and say "You girls like blondes or brunettes?" and when they would either answer or just look at him he would point to me and say "Well you know you can have both! With this greasy little hood over here!" And mess up my missed match hair accordingly. It got real annoying. I haven't been to the DX with just Two- Bit anymore...
"Ponyboy?!" Shelby yelled, whether from the kitchen or living room I couldn't tell.
"What?" I screamed back and then put my comb down and walked out of my door. When I didn't receive an answer I said to her again,
"What?" I saw her lying on the couch with her feet up watching TV.
"Oh," she said turning to look at me, "Nothing, its just I wanted to make sure you were still here...I couldn't remember." Shelby smiled and turned back to the TV. I sort of stood there wondering how you could not notice if someone was here.
I started to clean the kitchen. Shelby didn't offer to help. I didn't expect her to either. I knew her, she was lazy. Sort of like Two-Bit but not to his extent. Shelby did help if she was bored but I don't count on her help. After about twenty minutes Darry walked into the door and threw his heavy jacket at the coat rack. He landed his coat on it perfectly. He was the only one who used that coat rack. I never see any other coats on there.
"Pony? Pony I'm home!" Darry said. "Hi Shelby, Ponyboy here?" I heard Darry ask.
"Uh...yeah he's in the kitchen." Shelby answered slightly clearing her throat. I heard some things being cleaned up. He wasn't home for one minute and he was cleaning up already I thought.
"Ponyboy is this your homework?" Darry asked and I saw him come around the corner with my overflowing backpack in his hands.
"No its Sodapop's" I said sarcastically. I immediately bit my lip knowing I shouldn't have said that.
"Don't get mouthy Ponyboy Michael Curtis, why haven't you started this yet?" He said gesturing to my backpack.
"Because it's spring break, who wants to do homework?" I said rhetorically.
"It's not a question of why don't you want to do your homework, its why didn't you?" He said getting slightly mad.
"Darry it's not due until next Monday!" I yelled getting upset at Darry for bickering at me about something this stupid.
"Well your going to be busy all week and weekend aren't you? I have told you before I really want your homework done the first night you are free. You aren't going to want to do this all week and you are not leaving it to the last minute!" Darry yelled, not that loud but nevertheless getting mad. I didn't want to do my homework now; I wanted to do it later. But he was right and I knew it. I always put it off until the last minute.
"Fine." I said giving in. I took my bag from Darry's hands and as if his mood suddenly changed he smiled down at me as I walked into the dining room. I sat down and opened up my math book to begin my work in Algebra. I was on question forty-six when Steve and Two-Bit busted into the room interrupting the almost silence. Two-Bit was swaying slightly showing he was slightly drunk. Steve looked stable but his eyes were blood shot and his face was red.
"You guys want to come out with us?" Two-Bit asked slurring his words together slightly. Me and Shelby looked at each other.
"Yeah sure," Shelby said, "Am I working tomorrow Steve?" Shelby asked.
"Naw you only work um...weekends and...Thursdays" Steve said humming and fidgeting as if he couldn't stay still.
"Yeah ok I will come too." I said getting up. Shelby was already at the door.
"Oh your done your homework already Ponyboy?" Darry asked me drying of his hands. He knew I wasn't done. He always did that.
"No...but Darry..." I began but Darry stopped me and pointed to the table. I sat back down at the table and picked up my pencil.
"Shelby I don't think you should go either. They will be drinking and you don't handle hangovers all that well." Darry said forgetting he didn't need to nag at kids who weren't his own.
"Don't worry Darry. I am just going out because I'm bored. After Saturday night I don't plan on doing any more drinking for a while." Shelby said seriously and with a loud laugh from Two-Bit as he swung his arm around her shoulder they were gone. Leaving me to do my homework. I moved onto the couch and lied on my stomach with my books piled around me. The TV was playing softly as I wrote in the dim bluish light of the TV screen. I felt my eyes getting heavy and was blinking to stay awake. I fell into a light uncomfortable sleep with my books on my stomach at around one in the morning.
Suddenly I heard the door creak open and heavy footsteps walking into the house. I heard Two-Bit's hyena laughter and Shelby's small screams and laughs. I heard Sodapop yell for them to hurry up and other girl's loud giggles. I sat up slightly so I could see the clock; it was 3:30 in the morning. What were they doing here this late? Two-Bit walked over to the end of a couch with a girl kissing his neck and holding Shelby up under her armpits. She was limp and laughing with the other girls around her and Two- Bit. Two-Bit laughed loudly and threw Shelby down on top of me.
"She's so blitzed" Two-Bit laughed "She had more than me!" He laughed loudly and harshly because of the alcohol and with that they were gone leaving Shelby on top of me.
"Hi Ponyboy" Shelby said drowsily and slurred. I just looked at her. She began to kiss me and I could taste the liquor and felt it burning my nose. She began to kiss my cheek and then my neck.
"Shelby...Shelby I thought you weren't going to drink..." I said sadly to Shelby. It was sort of disappointing that she drank again. She ignored it and kissed me again.
"Shelby, come on Shelby your drunk." I pleaded with her.
"Not really..." Shelby said running her cold hands up my sweatshirt. I kissed her back because I liked her. But I didn't want to do this when she was drunk. I tried to push her up by pushing up on her stomach and I felt a cold wet spot. She must have spilled alcohol on herself, I thought. She was shivering from the cold and I ran my hands up her arms, they were freezing because she must have lost her jacket. I pulled away from the kiss and I just wrapped her up in my arms she didn't object anymore, she struggled but then relaxed. The alcohol smell on her was so strong it was as if I smelt it from the bottle. She kept shivering and mumbling. I ran my fingers silently through her hair and then she suddenly got up and ran to the bathroom. I followed stumbling slightly over my books and papers. As the door swung open I saw Shelby leaned over the toilet, the contents of her stomach being forced into the toilet. I walked over and pulled her hair back behind her neck. I stroked her back absent minded, feeling worse and worse for her.
After about five or six minutes she sat up and she was crying, she was pale white almost green but she was getting her colour back. Her face had broken out in a cold sweat and she was shivering so violently that her teeth were chattering. She leaned against the wall and shut her eyes tight. She was sliding down the wall because she couldn't hold herself up. I ran a face cloth through warm water and began to clean her face and she played with the hair on the back of my neck crying and sort of grinning at the same time. I realized she must have been so cold partly because of her sopping wet shirt. I hadn't realized it was this wet. I didn't know if I should let her go and change it herself. She could barely sit up let alone stand.
"Shelby? Shelby I think you need to change your shirt..." I said running my fingers through her hair. She barely nodded and began to slide her shirt off. I helped her and discarded it into the tub for now. I noticed her black bra was damp too, but it wasn't that bad. I slipped my grey t-shirt off of my chest and over her head. It practically consumed her small figure but she embraced it. I took her arms and placed them around my neck; I scooped up her torso and legs and carried her into my bedroom. I set her down on the bed and she was almost immediately asleep so I pulled the thick cotton covers overtop of her and me. I wrapped my arms around her and she put her head on my chest. After her breathing was regular I fell into a peaceful sleep to the rhythm of her breathing. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Well what do you guys think? I really hope you liked it I spent almost three days writing and proofreading it. This was a really long chapter, but after writing this one I realized that I think every chapter will be this long. Thank you SO much to everyone who reviewed, I really loved them. It encouraged me to keep going with this story. Please review this chapter and tell me what you think, I was kind of sceptical about writing the whole drinking part but I think it sort of brought it together. Well thank you so much for reading!