Teen Angel

love

Love Pov

Stumbling out of bed the next morning when the alarm went off at seven I groaned as I made my way to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. I had never been a morning person, and if I went without caffeine pick me up heads rolled. Dragging myself to the shower I dressed in a white button up, and a brown skirt I hadn't worn since I was sixteen. Mom had bought it for me on a whim, and not wanting to hurt her feelings I had worn it a couple of times before shoving it in a drawer never to see the light of day again. I had always been more of a tomboy when it came to fashion. Johnny had never minded, and being dressing more feminine had always made me feel out of place with the guys.

Taming my wavy tresses with a brush I pulled my hair back in to a high ponytail, and headed to the kitchen. Sighing as I leaned against the counter and sipped my coffee I relished the hot liquid that made its way down my throat. The house was eerily silent, and I forced myself to eat a quick bowl of oatmeal, and some toast before heading out. Darry had to work later that day, so I was going it on foot.

The training session was long, and detailed, but I knew the work would be easy. They even had a stool behind the counter for you to sit on, so I knew I was on the Socy side of town. Wouldn't want to over work the privileged I thought.

I smiled when Soda pulled up at three o'clock in a car from the DX.

"Hey Pepsi Cola," I said grinning as I climbed in.

I still couldn't get enough of looking at my brothers, almost afraid I would wake at any moment and being back in Tulsa would be a dream.

" Hey Love, You want to come back to DX with me, and Stevo?" He asked.

"Actually, can you drop me off some where?" I asked starring out the window at the houses flying by. Lord, but Soda had a lead foot.

"Sure, where?"

" The cemetery," I said refusing to meet the eyes I knew would be filled with concern.

"You sure you don't want me to get Pony, he's just sitting at home …"

" No, I need to do this by myself," I said knowing I needed to make my peace in my own way.

"Okay, just be careful on the way home," he said relenting.

The cemetery was on our side of town, and not too far of a walk from the house, so I knew I'd be fine.

Giving my brother a sad smile as we pulled in front of the gates of St. Mary's I got out of the car. Waving at him as he pulled away slowly watching me with eyes full of concern. Taking a deep breath I followed the direction Pony had given me a couple of days ago. Stopping at the still fresh grave that held what was left of my ex-boyfriend.

"Hey baby," I said sitting down near the head stone.

" Long time no talk," I said wondering if he could hear me wherever he was now.

" I miss you, but I'm proud of you for saving those kids, I read all the articles from the papers, my Johnny Cade a hero," I whispered chocking on the tears.

" I know its nice where you are, way better than anything you were ever handed here, I'm glad you're finally at peace, but … I miss you, its hard being here with you gone."

"Sometimes you were the only thing that kept me sane last year, living in that girl's home, away from the guys, and being placed with all the jd's was hard."

" I- I- I just hope you knew how much I loved you Johnny Alexander Cade," I said closing my eyes as I pictured him the way he had been that last day. Clad all in blue jean, with his hair greased to perfection, and black eyes full of love.

"God Johnny I really thought we were going to be like my parents, get married and raise some little greasers of our own," I said sobbing openly now.

" Why did you have to go? Why!" I screamed lying down beside the marker as I sobbed.

Pony POV

"Where the hell is Love?" I wondered as the sky began to darken.

Training had been over around three, and I knew for a fact Soda had gone to pick her up. I had been hanging out at the DX when he left. Calling down to the DX I frowned when Soda told me where he had dropped her off. She should have been home by now at least, it was five O'clock, and cemeteries weren't the safest place to be at night. Kids Greaser and Soc alike liked to go out there and get drunk, cause they knew they would never get caught there. Shaking my head I wrote a quick not to the guys and headed out hoping I would run into her on the way.

"Where you headed Pony?" Tim asked making me look up in shock. What was he doing near my house?

" Looking for Love, she went to the cemetery around three, and never came home."

" Oh, well I'll just help you look, I was coming to talk to you anyways," he said making me gulp.

"Look, I know my sister aint no angel, but she really digs you, more than any of the other bums she's messed around with," He said suddenly sounding a lot like Darry.

" She'd a big girl, and can handle herself real good, I'm just saying don't hurt her, just be straight you know, don't dick her around or string her along."

" I wouldn't do that Tim," I said surprised that the hood would look out for her like this.

Sure he'd beat the tar out of any one who laid a hand on her, but I had never pictured Tim as the protective type when it came to emotions. As a matter of fact I had never really seen Tim show that many emotions if they weren't related to anger.

"Long as we understand each other," he said nodding as we shook on it.

"Oh Gloria," I said aching when I spotted her small frame lying on the ground beside Johnny's tombstone.

" She must've fallen asleep here," Tim said shaking his head.

"I'll get her," he said incredibly gentle as he bent down and scooped up her limp form.

"Let's get her home before Darry gets there, he'll flip if he finds out she slept in the graveyard," I whispered watching Tim's face as we left.

He seemed softer now with my sister in his arms. But then again he had always been that way when it came to Love, and Ang when we were younger. I guess some things never really changed.

"What happened?" Soda asked worried as Tim came in with Love.

"Nothing, she just feel asleep at the grave," I said motioning Tim to the room.

"Damn," Steve said shaking his head as they paused their game of cards with Two Bit.

" You think she's going to be okay?" Steve asked.

"She's a tuff lil chic," Two Bit said sipping on an ever-present bottle of beer.

"It's just going to take time," Soda said, obviously thinking of Sandy when his eyes took on a far away expression.

"Hey thanks for carrying her home man," Soda said shaking hands with Tim.

"Hey you know Love is like one of my own," he said waving as he left as quickly and quietly as he came.

" That hood gives me the creeps man," Steve said shaking his head.

"He aint so bad once you know him," I said remembering that Steve hadn't come to the neighborhood until he was twelve, right after the Shepard's moved from the house next door to ours.

" So, you and Angela huh?" Two-Bit asked making me roll my eyes as all eyes turned to me.

" We're just going to a dance, not eloping to Mexico," I said shaking my head before they could start in on me.

" She's kind of greasy for you aint she kid ?" Steve asked raising an eyebrow.

" Nah, she's all right," Soda said making me smile. He'd always take up for me when he could.

"Pony and Love grew up with her, she's a cool ole chic, just got hoods for brothers, and a bad home life, same as most people on this side of town."