Ch.3
I woke to the sound of pounding rain and the radios going off in the plane. I rubbed my eyes and glanced out the window. All I could see was the lights of some city and steam mixed with dust coming off of the ground, creating an eerie haze. The rain was torrential and I hoped that who ever was going to pick me up would be on time. I didn't want to get stuck at the airport alone.
Just my luck. No one was there. I sat on the cold metal bench and watched the small crowd diminish. It wasn't a very big airport and I was soon one of the only ones there. It was about 6 pm. I glanced around at the bright blue walls around me and the shiny counter in front of me. I groaned, as a security guard started staring at me strangely. "You lost kid?" he asked with a weird accent. I shook my head and he shrugged but didn't take his eyes off me. I finally got up and walked out of there. That guy was scaring me. I dug through my pockets and found the slip of paper with my cousin's address and glared at it. I looked though towards the soaked world outside the airport and wondered if going by myself was the greatest idea in the world. The dust had subsided and it was just gray and wet. I grabbed my bag, pulled up the hood on my sweatshirt and braced myself for the wet, cold blast I knew was coming. I shoved the door open and plunged into the rain. I had no idea where I was going and I was frozen. I trudged forward, glancing up at street signs. The roads was almost no one on the road, except for an occasional Mustang or ancient Cadillac. I looked at the paper but the rain had made it bleed. I threw it down. I at least had remembered the street name.
About 10 minutes later I was ready to cry. I was drenched, frozen and lost. I stopped at a corner and crossed the street. I felt the tears slide down my cheeks and didn't stop them. I was alone, no one cared, I would have to spend the night outside tonight...but what did I care? Did I care. I just didn't know anymore.
A blast from a car horn and bright lights brought me back into the real world. I turned and saw an old chevy racing towards me, but try as I might I couldn't move. Dazed I just stared at the oncoming car as its brakes screamed. It stopped about a foot away from me and I guess that's when I finally snapped out of my daze. I screamed, jumped back and felt my whole body start to shake. "Damnit kid! Glory, why the hell didn't ya move!" A tall blonde boy jumped out of the car and was storming towards me. I shoved a wet piece of hair out of me eyes and for once in my life I didn't have a smart remark to say. I bit my lip to keep from crying. I was so tired and I knew that I better keep my mouth shut or I'd say something stupid. This guy didn't look like he was in the mood to be messed with. I didn't feel so tough anymore. I was cold, wet, and hungry and wanted to go home.
"Blast it, ya just stood there staring. What the hell is wrong with you? Damn!" His light blue eyes bore into me. He sighed and backed up, cringing against the rain. "Sure glad I didn't though, I ain't lookin' for a court case on my hands because of a damn broad." He had the same accent that the security guard did. I nodded. "What the hellsa girl like you doin' out in this weather anyway?"
I put my cold attitude on again. I was no softy. "I'm from Jersey, I'm here to see my cousin, my flight came in late and there was no one there to pick me up so I decided to walk." He was already halfway back in his car. "Couldn't you have waited to get in the car before giving me a novel?" he asked. In the car with him? No way. There was something about his hard look, set jaw, that scared me. He glared at me from behind the window as I walked to the side of the car. He scowled and motioned for me to get in. I frowned right back. He rolled his eyes and looked like he was going to drag me in. The pain in my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten since last night. I slouched and got in the back seat regretfully.
"You don't sound like you're from around here kid. Where ya from?" he asked me. "Jersey," I mumbled. I had already told him that but he hadn't noticed. "Where ya headed?" I told him the address...his facial expression changed from angry to an easy going one. "You need to be careful around these parts dressed like you are. You're lucky you didn't get jumped."
Jumped? Ok then...he looked like the kind of kid to jump someone...and here he is warning me about being jumped. "They wouldn't hurt you or nothin', just rob you. Some greasers don't have too much and they like to get their hands on chick's like you, for stuff, so they can give it to their broads." I sighed. "You're lucky I picked you up, I know just where you're goin' and I know the people pretty well too." My uncle was friends with a kid like this?
"You do? This is a dumb question...but is my uncle a decent guy? I mean I don't want to get stuck with some bastard for the year..." He stared at me from the corner of the rear view mirror and looked disoriented.
"Was. He was one of the best guys you could hope to meet. Strict, but a good guy. Honest as anything. His wife was amazing. She could make anyone smile. Even me." He smirked at his own comment. "The only ones left are their three kids :Darrel, Sodapop and Ponyboy." Darry, about 20. I don't think that your parents realized that you're uncle is dead. Or they just wanted to get rid of you so they sent you anyways. Oh, by the way I'm Dallas Winston." He turned into a small, littered driveway. The house next to it was small and white. There was a single light bulb hanging from the lowly porch.
"Well, we're here." I got out and dragged my soggy bag out into the rain after me. I ducked as we both ran the few feet to the porch. "Hey DARRY!" Dally yelled into the house. The next thing I knew I was greeted by a barrage of boys and that made me a little nervous. I wasn't good around boys. I always got nervous and antsy and... "Hey, I'm Darry and this is Sodapop, Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-bit, Steve, and it looks like you already met good ole' Dally. What's your name again? Your dad told me but I kinda forgot." He had that weird accent.
"I'm Demi. Its just a nick name but that's what I'm called." I was then shoved into the house by an impatient Dallas Winston who was tired of standing out on the cold porch. Some one grabbed my bag and some one grabbed my arm and I was pulled down the hall.
"This can be your room for now. Pony and Sodapop sleep over there. There should be any problems with you in here so just make yourself comfortable." I heard a snicker from the door way. "Y'all is cousins so Darry's right. No trouble at all." I felt my face flush as I glanced over at the red-headed kid in the doorway. "
"Don't mind Two-bit. He's the biggest idiot you'll ever meet. All he does is blab. I'll leave you to get settled and then we'll get a bite to eat."
The big ripped kid stepped out of the tiny room and closed the door behind him. I got my stuff out of my bag and into a tiny bureau in a matter of two minutes. I flopped onto the creaky bed and stared at the ceiling. This was going to be different. Living with a bunch of boys my age. Who knows, this trip could be better than I thought. For the first time in ages I looked in the modest mirror on the wall and attempted to fix my hair. Key word here: attempted. I sighed and went out to the noisy living room cautiously.
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