Chapter Nine

Scar POV

"I'm sorry..."

I turned my attention away from my book, not that I could concentrate on it, anyways... It was the night before Uncle Pony was leaving. He'd ended up postponing the tour for a week to spend time with his boys.

"It's fine."

He came and sat on the edge of my bed while I turned on my side away from him.

"I didn't mean it... I don't know why I got so mad at you that day. You didn't do anything."

"It happens."

"You okay?"

To be honest, I felt like hell, but didn't wanna say anything.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

I finally sat up and faced him.

"We're cool. I promise."

And I meant it. I gave him a hug and went to bed. The next morning, I felt someone shaking me.

"Come on, you gotta get up."

"Nooo..."

"I was hoping this day would come."

I opened my eyes to see a smiling Sodapop. I whined.

"Let Keegan take a shower first."

"I did. This is my third time trying to wake you up. Come on."

I made myself get up. I felt awful, like I'd puke at any moment. I even let James drive my truck to school that morning while I laid in the back. I was sitting in second block when it hit.

"Oh, no..."

"Scarlett, what're you...?"

But I was out of the room and down the hall before she could finish. I barely made it to the bathroom.

"Scar?"

"I'm fine, Heather..."

I walked out of the stall.

"You're not fine..."

She told the teacher. The nurse ended up calling Soda. They must've known each other because they hugged when he walked in.

"Looks like a virus, Sodapop. She'll be fine by tomorrow, but keep her home just in case it's still in her. It takes about 24 hours for a virus to be gone."

"Thanks, Katy. Tell James to drive her truck home. You got the keys?"

I handed them over to the nurse. On the ride home, we had to pull over a couple of times.

"You should've told me you were sick this morning."

"Sorry... I didn't think I was this bad."

When we walked in, I was immediately fussed over.

"You poor thing! I'll make you some soup!"

"I didn't know you were back, Aunt Lydia."

I sat at the table.

"Just for a couple of days. Gotta head back. This trial is taking forever."

I didn't bother asking her about it. She was a real stickler for not saying anything until a trial was over.

Keegan POV

"Where's Scar?"

"The nurse called me in to give me the keys. Guess she got sick."

When we got to Jason's, we were expecting him to be disappointed that she couldn't come.

"It's a good day for her to be sick."

"Huh?"

I was confused. Extremely confused.

"We need to talk."

We all gathered in our usual places. Jason, Mikey, and Cam all looked really serious.

"The people that are mad at Darry are getting worse. They keep going to my dad..."

"I thought your dad didn't..."

"He doesn't, but they know he knows, knew Darry... They haven't threatened anybody yet, but my dad says to be on guard."

"So... Why is it good that Scar's sick?"

Danny has a point. I didn't get it either.

"Since when has she ever listened to me? If I tell her not to go anywhere alone, she'll do it just to piss me off."

Jason was scowling. The rest of us were trying to hide smiles.

"True."

"This isn't funny..."

He sat down and ran his hands down his face. I'd never seen Jason this way.

"These guys... They're no joke. If they threaten us. Well, it won't be pretty..."

A thought occurred to me.

"Wait, why would they threaten us if they're mad at Scar's dad?"

"Except Cam, we all have connections to the Curtis name. Hell, three of the gang are Curtis kids, and Mikey and Danny might as well be."

"But, if they do threaten... Does that mean they'll come after us? I mean..."

"I don't know. My dad's waiting to see what happens before he tells Sodapop and Ponyboy. Just... Just don't go anywhere alone, tell us if you notice anything weird, and don't tell Scar about this."

"What about Matt and Nicky?"

"Watch out for Nicky, but I think Matt's in the clear. He's not here, so they probably wouldn't touch him."

"I don't like the probably part..."

I still told Matt to be careful. He didn't need an explanation. He knew if I was telling him anything at all, that it was pretty serious.

Scar POV

I felt better the next day, so Soda and Lydia went to work. I actually liked being in the house by myself. I smoked my weed, and just relaxed. The knocking I heard scared me.

"Mikey? What're you doing here?"

"Soda asked me to..."

He paused and just stared at me.

"Asked you to..."

I couldn't finish before he came in grabbing my arm.

"Ow! What're you doing?!"

He didn't answer, just looked me in the eyes. He let go and left.

"Weird..."

I went back to reading when I heard the door open. Mikey came in with his dad.

"Hey, Steve."

"Come here."

I walked up to him and he examined my face.

"Shit... What'd you do, kid?"

"Huh?"

My heart started beating out of my chest.

"What'd you do? Don't make me ask again."

I just looked at him wide eyed. He started walking around the house and walked out on the back porch then looked at me with his arms crossed.

"Smells like weed."

He went through my room and found my stash. They ended up staying. I finally got a second alone with Mikey.

"Why'd you do that? I never would've ratted you out!"

"You're an idiot. How'd you even...?"

He groaned.

"How'd I even what?"

"It was Matt, wasn't it?"

"What? No."

"Cut the crap. I've known you long enough. We may not be close, but you're high. I thought you've been a couple times but never could really tell. I never noticed you looking that way until after Christmas."

I looked down. I'd been caught. He sighed.

"Listen. Matt's not good. Okay? He used to be an alright guy, but he let school get to him. He's barely passing and Soda's thinking about pulling him out."

"Thanks a lot..."

When I heard the door slam later, I knew.

"Scar! Get down here!"

I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. My stash was on the table.

"Where'd you get it?"

"A friend at school..."

"Bullshit! You got something in the mail the other day. It was this, wasn't it? From Matt?"

I didn't want him to get in trouble.

"No. No, it..."

"Dammit!"

He slammed his hands down on the table."

"Tell me the truth, Scarlett! Tell me now!"

I winced. I'd never heard him yell this way.

"Yeah... It was Matt..."

I was grounded for a month, and I heard Sodapop on the phone yelling for an hour.

"Why'd you do it?"

"What's it matter? I can't do it anymore..."

"Come on..."

"Just leave me alone, Keegan!"

"No! I won't leave you alone!"

He took a deep breath and came into my room and sat on my bed. I turned away from him in my desk chair.

"I just thought you'd be smarter than this... Especially after all the shit your mom put you through..."

That broke me. I took down my tough face and turned towards him.

"Why'd you have to play that card?"

"Because it's true. I saw what she did to you... You've seen what Matt's done to us."

I sighed.

"Okay."