Firstly, thanks to all you awesome reviewers!
David: heehee ur first! Just cuz I feel like being nice today. thanks for ur review!! And u can feel special cuz I have soo much hw and I'm only updating cuz u asked me to like, 10 seconds ago. . . lol.
Soda-Fan2603: chills? Teeheehee~ thanks for your review! Sorry I haven't updated for such a long time!
Sarah7777: it didn't suck? *smilez* thanks!
Mandy aka Uni: thanks so much! I got a yahoo passport and joined!!
Killslay: yea~ the social worker's a maayjor bee-yatch! Hehe. cool- you're reading les miserables? Hehe. okay this is sad but I am soo crzy about that song 'a heart full of love' in the broadway version of it! omigod it's SUCH a good song!!! You don't need to tell me that I'm a sad person!
MarLyG: thanks for your encouragement! And your great review!
Pony's girl: hehe I still haven't decided what to do with Pony! Aargh~ I do have this REALLY cute scene planned when Darry and soda find out about Kevin! I can't wait to write it!!!
Lin: thanks so much for your review!!! I'll try to update faster next time! But- no promises! Sorry- I have soo much hw nowadays! Ah well. High school sucks.
Porcelain Princess: say's reeaaally quietly "it was a good chapter and I'm a good writer" with u~ hehe. lol! Thankz for your review!!!!!
Lizzy Halliwell: thanks for your review! I'm glad u didn't think the last chapter sucked! :o)
Latinagal: yup 'great' IS better than 'good'! thanks for using it to describe my story!!! And thanks for your great review!
Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING!!! *sigh*
A/N: by the way, just saying~ this is going to be another pointless chapter where nothing really happens. . . SORRY!! I can't help it! I can't really think of what else will happen before pony gets home. Ideas are welcome!
~*~SODAPOP'S POV~*~
"Hey, Soda!"
I jumped slightly as a voice abruptly brought me out of my daydream. I looked around for the source of the interruption and found myself face to face with Steve.
"What've you been doing all day?" Steve asked. "I've been looking for you."
"What time is it?" I asked, checking my watch and answering my own question. "Glory, I didn't know I've been sitting here so long."
"C'mon, let's get home before Darry finds out you've been sittin' here in the cold all day." He grabbed my arm, pulling me off the bench, ignoring my protests.
"I'm not cold!"
Steve grinned. "I swear, Soda, you're like a six year old kid sometimes."
He ducked my swing, as I knew he would, and I shot out my other fist, giving him a playful punch in the nose.
I jumped backwards as Steve laughed and tried to hit me back, and started running back home. Steve gave chase.
"CHIIIIICKEN!!!!" he shouted, making a series of high, squawking chicken noises.
"Can't catch me, Randle!" I yelled back over my shoulder.
I closed my eyes as I ran, trying to banish the image of Sandy from my head. I could feel the wind whipping past my face and Steve's hooting catcalls behind me. I blocked everything out and just ran as fast as I could, trying to get away from the misery and pain of my heartache.
Suddenly, something solid collided into me hard, knocking the air out of me. I was knocked out of my path and toppled to the cement ground.
The tumble broke my concentration and I opened my eyes, wincing a little in pain as I examined my scraped knees and elbows. I looked around, annoyed, to see who had bumped into me.
Somebody from behind me hauled me roughly up to my feet, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me hard.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Sodapop?" Steve yelled. His hair was messed up from the fall and a small trickle of blood, starting from his forehead, was trickling down his face. "Are you trying to get us both fucking killed?" Steve shouted, giving me another shake.
"W-what?" I still wasn't sure what had happened. I heard a car door behind us open and then slam shut.
"You no good hoods!" came an angry man's voice. We both spun around. A short, pudgy man shook a stubby, fat finger at me.
"Kids nowadays. Trying to get me into trouble!" his face was red with anger. "running into my car- if you want to kill yourselves next time, don't involve me!" he broke off into annoyed muttering and we caught words like "juvenile delinquents", "good-for-nothings", "dishonest", "lying, thieving, stealing". . .
Steve stepped forward, giving the man a rough shove in the chest. He stumbled backwards, his rant stopping abruptly. He stared up wide-eyed at a furious Steve. Steve leaned down, putting his face right in front of the man's. their noses were almost touching. The man tried to back away, but found himself trapped between Steve and his car.
"Get back into your fucking car," Steve hissed, "and carry on with your fucking pathetic life, and don't you ever fucking dare to insult me or my friend here, or--"
He grabbed a handful of the man's shirt and raised a clenched fist threateningly.
Feeling that things had already gone too far, I quickly took Steve's arm, lowering his fist, which was so tightly clenched it was shaking.
"Steve," I tried. "Let the guy go."
He turned to glare at me, but released the man's shirt. Once free, the man ran back as fast as his fat legs could carry him.
We watched silently as he quickly started up his car and drove off. Steve swore angrily.
"Why the hell did you stop me, Soda?" he growled. "I wanted to stomp that bastard's ass-"
"Which wouldn't have improved the situation at all," I finished off for him. Steve redirected his anger to me.
"And what the hell were you doing, Sodapop?"
"What? I still don't know what happened!" I said, a little bewildered.
Steve looked at me disbelievingly for a second. Then, he sighed. "You ran straight into the road and that car almost fucking crashed into you." Steve paused.
"I dunno," I said uncomfortable. "I had my eyes closed. Anyway, thanks for saving me."
Steve raked a hand through his hair in frustration. "You had your eyes closed? Look man, you don't need to go around trying to kill yourself just because of the sneaking broad-"
He stopped, sighing, as he saw my hurt expression. "Let's get you home," Steve finished off in a slightly gentler tone. He started walking, and I followed him.
We were both silent for a while.
"Hey, Soda," said Steve suddenly, looking at me uncomfortably. "I'm sorry for calling Sandy a . . ."
I swallowed the lump in my throat that had appeared when Steve said her name.
"It's okay." I looked down at my shoes.
There was another long silence. I knew Steve was waiting for me to talk. That was the thing I liked best about him. I know he seemed bitter and hard- with the life he had to live, who wouldn't? But, I knew he had a good side- a gentler side. He rarely showed it, and only to people he really knew.
"I don't know," I started miserably. "she wasn't just any girl, y'know?" I sighed. "There was something about her . . ." I stopped, at a loss for words. Steve didn't say anything.
"I just can't stop lovin' her," I said, so softly that I wasn't sure Steve had even heard me.
"Why don't you just give her a call?" said Steve after a pause. I shook my head.
"She doesn't want to marry me. She made that part clear enough. I've gotta respect her wishes."
We reached my house. I saw Steve open his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the front door opened.
We both looked up. It was Dally.
"Hey," he said lazily, flicking a cigarette out of his back pocket and lighting it.
"Hey Dally," Steve said. "Where'r you going?"
"Drive-in. You two want to come along?"
I started to say no, but Steve interrupted me.
"Sure. We'll come. Right, Soda?"
I sighed. "Okay."
~*~PONYBOY'S POV~*~
The rest of the month passed in a blur. Sometimes the hours seemed to fly by, and other days, the seconds seemed to drag by gradually.
Social workers came and went, all of them cold and uncaring. I didn't mind; I had given up hope that a social worker would come and save me from Kevin's hold. The only thing that sustained me through his constant beatings and mistreatment was the thought that, soon, very soon, I would be back in Tulsa with Soda, Darry and the gang.
I almost didn't care anymore. I didn't even cry anymore. There were no more tears left to shed. They had run dry weeks ago. I had learned to hold in the tears, the wails of anguish. Kevin's beatings were always much worse when I showed pain.
I wasn't sure if I even remembered how to cry. Greasers didn't cry. Most had forgotten how to. Was I now a greaser? Did that quality make me a true one? I hardly knew who I was anymore, or who I wanted to be. Sunsets and the many joys and beauty of Nature were now strangers to me.
I went through each day mechanically, telling myself that each second brought me nearer to my brothers. I didn't think of what would happen if the state didn't let me return to Tulsa; I just couldn't. I wouldn't be able to take it if I wasn't allowed back.
Sighing tiredly, I marked off another day on a small, cheap calendar I had bought. Only two more days. . .
PLEEAAASE review!!! Pwweeez? I'm not updating until I get. . . hm. . . let's see. . . 15 reviews.
REVIEW!
David: heehee ur first! Just cuz I feel like being nice today. thanks for ur review!! And u can feel special cuz I have soo much hw and I'm only updating cuz u asked me to like, 10 seconds ago. . . lol.
Soda-Fan2603: chills? Teeheehee~ thanks for your review! Sorry I haven't updated for such a long time!
Sarah7777: it didn't suck? *smilez* thanks!
Mandy aka Uni: thanks so much! I got a yahoo passport and joined!!
Killslay: yea~ the social worker's a maayjor bee-yatch! Hehe. cool- you're reading les miserables? Hehe. okay this is sad but I am soo crzy about that song 'a heart full of love' in the broadway version of it! omigod it's SUCH a good song!!! You don't need to tell me that I'm a sad person!
MarLyG: thanks for your encouragement! And your great review!
Pony's girl: hehe I still haven't decided what to do with Pony! Aargh~ I do have this REALLY cute scene planned when Darry and soda find out about Kevin! I can't wait to write it!!!
Lin: thanks so much for your review!!! I'll try to update faster next time! But- no promises! Sorry- I have soo much hw nowadays! Ah well. High school sucks.
Porcelain Princess: say's reeaaally quietly "it was a good chapter and I'm a good writer" with u~ hehe. lol! Thankz for your review!!!!!
Lizzy Halliwell: thanks for your review! I'm glad u didn't think the last chapter sucked! :o)
Latinagal: yup 'great' IS better than 'good'! thanks for using it to describe my story!!! And thanks for your great review!
Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING!!! *sigh*
A/N: by the way, just saying~ this is going to be another pointless chapter where nothing really happens. . . SORRY!! I can't help it! I can't really think of what else will happen before pony gets home. Ideas are welcome!
~*~SODAPOP'S POV~*~
"Hey, Soda!"
I jumped slightly as a voice abruptly brought me out of my daydream. I looked around for the source of the interruption and found myself face to face with Steve.
"What've you been doing all day?" Steve asked. "I've been looking for you."
"What time is it?" I asked, checking my watch and answering my own question. "Glory, I didn't know I've been sitting here so long."
"C'mon, let's get home before Darry finds out you've been sittin' here in the cold all day." He grabbed my arm, pulling me off the bench, ignoring my protests.
"I'm not cold!"
Steve grinned. "I swear, Soda, you're like a six year old kid sometimes."
He ducked my swing, as I knew he would, and I shot out my other fist, giving him a playful punch in the nose.
I jumped backwards as Steve laughed and tried to hit me back, and started running back home. Steve gave chase.
"CHIIIIICKEN!!!!" he shouted, making a series of high, squawking chicken noises.
"Can't catch me, Randle!" I yelled back over my shoulder.
I closed my eyes as I ran, trying to banish the image of Sandy from my head. I could feel the wind whipping past my face and Steve's hooting catcalls behind me. I blocked everything out and just ran as fast as I could, trying to get away from the misery and pain of my heartache.
Suddenly, something solid collided into me hard, knocking the air out of me. I was knocked out of my path and toppled to the cement ground.
The tumble broke my concentration and I opened my eyes, wincing a little in pain as I examined my scraped knees and elbows. I looked around, annoyed, to see who had bumped into me.
Somebody from behind me hauled me roughly up to my feet, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me hard.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Sodapop?" Steve yelled. His hair was messed up from the fall and a small trickle of blood, starting from his forehead, was trickling down his face. "Are you trying to get us both fucking killed?" Steve shouted, giving me another shake.
"W-what?" I still wasn't sure what had happened. I heard a car door behind us open and then slam shut.
"You no good hoods!" came an angry man's voice. We both spun around. A short, pudgy man shook a stubby, fat finger at me.
"Kids nowadays. Trying to get me into trouble!" his face was red with anger. "running into my car- if you want to kill yourselves next time, don't involve me!" he broke off into annoyed muttering and we caught words like "juvenile delinquents", "good-for-nothings", "dishonest", "lying, thieving, stealing". . .
Steve stepped forward, giving the man a rough shove in the chest. He stumbled backwards, his rant stopping abruptly. He stared up wide-eyed at a furious Steve. Steve leaned down, putting his face right in front of the man's. their noses were almost touching. The man tried to back away, but found himself trapped between Steve and his car.
"Get back into your fucking car," Steve hissed, "and carry on with your fucking pathetic life, and don't you ever fucking dare to insult me or my friend here, or--"
He grabbed a handful of the man's shirt and raised a clenched fist threateningly.
Feeling that things had already gone too far, I quickly took Steve's arm, lowering his fist, which was so tightly clenched it was shaking.
"Steve," I tried. "Let the guy go."
He turned to glare at me, but released the man's shirt. Once free, the man ran back as fast as his fat legs could carry him.
We watched silently as he quickly started up his car and drove off. Steve swore angrily.
"Why the hell did you stop me, Soda?" he growled. "I wanted to stomp that bastard's ass-"
"Which wouldn't have improved the situation at all," I finished off for him. Steve redirected his anger to me.
"And what the hell were you doing, Sodapop?"
"What? I still don't know what happened!" I said, a little bewildered.
Steve looked at me disbelievingly for a second. Then, he sighed. "You ran straight into the road and that car almost fucking crashed into you." Steve paused.
"I dunno," I said uncomfortable. "I had my eyes closed. Anyway, thanks for saving me."
Steve raked a hand through his hair in frustration. "You had your eyes closed? Look man, you don't need to go around trying to kill yourself just because of the sneaking broad-"
He stopped, sighing, as he saw my hurt expression. "Let's get you home," Steve finished off in a slightly gentler tone. He started walking, and I followed him.
We were both silent for a while.
"Hey, Soda," said Steve suddenly, looking at me uncomfortably. "I'm sorry for calling Sandy a . . ."
I swallowed the lump in my throat that had appeared when Steve said her name.
"It's okay." I looked down at my shoes.
There was another long silence. I knew Steve was waiting for me to talk. That was the thing I liked best about him. I know he seemed bitter and hard- with the life he had to live, who wouldn't? But, I knew he had a good side- a gentler side. He rarely showed it, and only to people he really knew.
"I don't know," I started miserably. "she wasn't just any girl, y'know?" I sighed. "There was something about her . . ." I stopped, at a loss for words. Steve didn't say anything.
"I just can't stop lovin' her," I said, so softly that I wasn't sure Steve had even heard me.
"Why don't you just give her a call?" said Steve after a pause. I shook my head.
"She doesn't want to marry me. She made that part clear enough. I've gotta respect her wishes."
We reached my house. I saw Steve open his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the front door opened.
We both looked up. It was Dally.
"Hey," he said lazily, flicking a cigarette out of his back pocket and lighting it.
"Hey Dally," Steve said. "Where'r you going?"
"Drive-in. You two want to come along?"
I started to say no, but Steve interrupted me.
"Sure. We'll come. Right, Soda?"
I sighed. "Okay."
~*~PONYBOY'S POV~*~
The rest of the month passed in a blur. Sometimes the hours seemed to fly by, and other days, the seconds seemed to drag by gradually.
Social workers came and went, all of them cold and uncaring. I didn't mind; I had given up hope that a social worker would come and save me from Kevin's hold. The only thing that sustained me through his constant beatings and mistreatment was the thought that, soon, very soon, I would be back in Tulsa with Soda, Darry and the gang.
I almost didn't care anymore. I didn't even cry anymore. There were no more tears left to shed. They had run dry weeks ago. I had learned to hold in the tears, the wails of anguish. Kevin's beatings were always much worse when I showed pain.
I wasn't sure if I even remembered how to cry. Greasers didn't cry. Most had forgotten how to. Was I now a greaser? Did that quality make me a true one? I hardly knew who I was anymore, or who I wanted to be. Sunsets and the many joys and beauty of Nature were now strangers to me.
I went through each day mechanically, telling myself that each second brought me nearer to my brothers. I didn't think of what would happen if the state didn't let me return to Tulsa; I just couldn't. I wouldn't be able to take it if I wasn't allowed back.
Sighing tiredly, I marked off another day on a small, cheap calendar I had bought. Only two more days. . .
PLEEAAASE review!!! Pwweeez? I'm not updating until I get. . . hm. . . let's see. . . 15 reviews.
REVIEW!