Chapter Seven

Scar POV

We walked into Jason's rec room, and everybody was already there. Heads turned, as did my stomach. I really don't do stress.

It's easy to see why everyone's pissed. Except Cam, all of them had connections to my family.

"Sit."

Normally, I'd roll my eyes at Jason, but I didn't. I did exactly what I was told.

"When Keegan told us your mom was gone, I was pissed. When he told us you were living alone, I was pissed. Finding out that you're a Curtis? There's not even a word that matches what I'm feeling."

He points at Keegan.

"And you. You didn't tell us. Not a damn thing. You knew she was your cousin."

He looked back at me.

"I'm not even gonna ask you why you did it cause you won't tell me, but you better not do it again. Next time, we need to know something this big."

I nodded, but didn't mean it. He chewed me out for a good thirty minutes. Even Mikey said a couple of things. It was always amazing how Jason never yelled, but getting scolded by him was the worst. Finally, it was over and we were all just hanging out. My book was ripped out if my hands and I looked up to see Cam looking pissed.

"You should've told me."

"But I didn't. I can't change that..."

He sighed and sat beside me.

"Are you okay?"

I don't answer him.

The next day, me, Sodapop, and Lydia are all sitting in front of Mrs. Bridges.

"As you could probably understand, I wanted to see for myself that you would come."

Soda nods. Lydia speaks.

"Of course."

"I don't understand what kind of a mother could..."

"Now, wait a minute. It doesn't matter anymore. None of it does. She was awful, but she was mine and you're not gonna talk about her that way. She just died a week ago. Seriously?"

"Young lady..."

"She's right. That's none of your business. It's settled, we've got her, and her grades are good. You can't just say whatever."

She apologized for her behavior. I'd never been so glad to get out of school in my life.

Soda POV

All I see are people falling, their faces contorted in pain. Blood stains on the grass. Holding a gun and just firing. When I pull the trigger, there's a scream so loud, that it shakes me.

I woke up with a jolt, still hearing the screaming. It took me a second to get my head clear before I bolted out of my room and down the hall. When I got to the door, the screaming has stopped. I saw Ponyboy sitting at the edge of the bed while Keegan was holding her. James came up beside me.

"What happened?"

"I guess a nightmare."

Keegan looked worried while she took shaky breaths. Pony's eyes met mine.

After getting everyone back to bed, me and Pony went to the kitchen.

"Man, I'll be honest, Pone. I don't miss those."

"I've never seen it happen. Being on this side... That was..."

"Scary?"

"Yeah. But, it looks like Keegan has his dad's touch."

I smile.

"Yeah. He's a good kid, so I guess I'll keep him."

"When's Lydia get back?"

"Hopefully a week. It just depends."

Lydia's a lawyer, one if the best in the state. She was in Oklahoma City preparing for a trial.

I still work at the DX, but I'm a manager. I was happy with that. It didn't bother me that Lydia made the bacon.

"It's funny, her screams actually floated into my nightmare."

"Vietnam?"

"Yeah..."

I didn't have them very often, but I did have nightmares about my experiences over there every once in a while. I wasn't even there long, and it still haunted me. It always would.

Cam POV

It was our last day of school before Christmas break when Keegan and Janes tell us about the nightmares.

"Her screams have scared Nicky, but I think he's getting used to it. He's slept through them the last couple of days..."

"What're they about?"

"She won't say. Uncle Pony and dad said that Pony'd lived with them for years. That they would go away... Eventually..."

When we told Jason and Mikey, we all agreed not tell her we knew.

"We've got bigger things to talk about, anyways."

"Like what?"

"Protection."

Mikey spoke up next.

"Someone found out who's kid she is. They know who her dad is. Was..."

Danny spoke up.

"And that calls for protection how?"

"They want revenge on Darry. He did something to piss him off."

"But, Darry's dead."

"The guy doesn't think so... We don't think he'd touch anyone, but we all need to stay close just in case. Anyone even associated with the Curtis name could be a target. Don't go anywhere alone."

Scar POV

I was happy it was the break. I could stay up all night and sleep all day. In fact, I did. Sleeping during the day, made the nightmares stop. I'd never been so thankful for my uncles making me quit my job.

At night, I did my chores and read. I'd go to sleep when the sun was coming up and sleep until around noon. I wasn't getting much sleep, but I was doing the best I could.

One day, while I was reading on my bed, James came in fuming. He slammed the door.

"Um... Come in?"

"My dad's going away again."

He slumped into my desk chair.

"For how long?"

"Six months. Europe."

He sighed.

"I hate it. It wasn't so bad when mom was alive, but it's just so much harder now."

"Have you told him that?"

He looked at me like I was stupid.

"Are you kidding me? I put on my best happy face and tell him how happy I am for him. And I am, it's just... Ugh!"

"It'll be okay..."

"No, it won't. Nicky doesn't need that..."

"You should tell him. Tell him the truth."

His eyes shot yo to meet mine.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black! Tell me, did you tell your mom not to go?"

My jaw dropped and I stood up.

"That's not the same. I didn't know my mom left or where she'd gone! I would've begged her not to leave and she still would've! Uncle Pony would stay if you asked him!"

"It is the same! You didn't do it when she came home for Thanksgiving. You could've done it then!"

"We were suppose to talk about it, and she bailed! Stop being an ass."

"Stop getting in my business!"

I gawked at him.

"You're the one who came in here talking about how mad you were about your dad leaving! If you're not gonna tell him the truth, then just be glad you'll know where he is and be able to talk to him!"

"You're gonna tell me all if this shit when you didn't listen to it yourself?!"

"I'm trying to help you, here!"

"You're such a damn, stubborn smartass, I see why your mom hated you, now!

We'd been standing in each other's, but when he said that, I took a steep back. His eyes widened and he shook his head.

"Scar, I..."

I spoke barely above a whisper, turning away from him.

"Get out of my room, James... Just get the hell out..."