Author's Note: This chapter is written by taylor519 (user id 2770779). I wrote chapter 9 and will write from here on out.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.
Emma Leah was worried about him. It had been just over a week since the funeral. It made sense for him to be upset. Yet the only time he showed it was when he was asleep. She could hear him whimpering from his room when she went to bed. When he fell asleep on the couch one night he had tossed and turned. She didn't know if she should wake him from it, since he would probably just fall back asleep and have another nightmare.
But she was sick of hearing him upset. She didn't stop at her doorway tonight, she moved right along to his. She knocked lightly and spoke his name, even though she knew he was asleep.
Tip-toeing her way into the room, she sat gently on the side of his bed so as not to startle him in his sleep.
"Johnny," she called, a little louder. She put her hand on his arm and he jumped awake, breathing hard and looking around. "Sorry, it's just me, you were having a nightmare." She told him quickly. She didn't like seeing him so panicked.
He let out a sigh of relief and lay back down.
"You've been having a lot of nightmares..." She told him, even though he already knew. "You know it's good sometimes, to talk about them. Also, if you say a dream out loud to someone, you can never have that exact dream again."
Johnny smiled at her superstition. He liked that about her, she believed in things. He was going to shake his head no, tell her he was fine. But then he thought of Ponyboy and how he used to have nightmares all the time. He thought about how Darry and Soda were so worried about him and Soda would sit on the side of Pony's bed the way she was now.
Again he was overwhelmed with the feeling that he had a real family. A family who actually cared about him. It still felt so surreal to him. And he couldn't just tell her to go away.
"My dad," he told her, his eyes moving to meet hers. "He comes to find me. Sometimes he comes here; sometimes he goes to Pony's. It's always a little different. But he gets his hands on me and no one stops him." His eyes darted away, "no one can stop him."
She noticed the tremor in his voice. Without realizing what she was doing, she brushed his hair back out of his face. He looked so scared half hidden under the covers with those huge black eyes looking up at her.
"It's good that you told me. Honey, I want you to know that will never come true. I won't let it." She gave him her best re-assuring smile.
He didn't believe her. No one can stop that man, no matter how hard they try. But he returned her smile anyways and thanked her. Then they said goodnight and she left.
And Johnny couldn't help that overwhelming sense of happiness that hit him again. When he went back to sleep, he didn't have a nightmare.
XXX
It was Tuesday night; she wouldn't have to go to work. She lounged around the Curtis' living room, although not many people were there. Just Ponyboy and Johnny. The rest had gone off to some party an hour ago. She hadn't been feeling much in the partying mood, so despite the protests of the older boys she had decided to stay back and take it easy.
"Were thinking of heading off to go see a movie, want to come?" Ponyboy asked her. She liked him, he really was a sweet kid. And Johnny was right when he said Ponyboy was going to get out of there, she always saw him with his nose in a book or studying.
"Naw, you two go. I need to talk to Darry." She told them. She was glad when he didn't pry.
She didn't see Darry all that much, mostly because he worked during the day and she worked at night, but on their few days off they would get to hang around. Today he was working late, he didn't usually have to work late, but of course on the day she needed him he was.
The boys left her sitting on the couch. It was a while before the door opened again.
"Hey." Darry greeted, carrying a big brown bag of groceries. He was a little off-put by the lack of noise and chaos. She smiled at him.
"Jeez, when you said you were working late you weren't kidding. I've been waiting here forever." She teased.
"You were waiting for me?" He asked.
"Yeah, I need to talk to you about something..." She followed him into the kitchen where he was unloading the groceries he had grabbed on his way home. She picked up a few and started to help him put them away.
"Well, what is it?"
Darry watched as she reached up to put something on the top shelf. He couldn't help noticing the way her shirt lifted up just a little, revealing just a small portion of her flat, tan stomach. He turned away, trying to focus on the groceries and what she was saying.
"Johnny told me that Ponyboy used to have nightmares." She told him. He turned around to face her, a confused look on his face. "Well, I was just wondering... what you did about that?"
She didn't really want to tell him about Johnny having nightmares, because that was Johnny's personal business. But she had to know what to do about it. It had been a few nights since their talk and he was still having nightmares. She hated hearing him whimper helplessly in the night and seeing him so tired in the morning.
"Why?"
She bit on her bottom lip, and Darry had to stop himself from turning away again. She looked so adorable all worried like that. "Well, just don't tell the guys." Darry nodded. "Johnny's been having nightmares. About his dad. And they're freaking me out and I'm worried about him and I don't know what to do." Her confession was rushed but after saying it out loud she felt a little better. Darry could help her with this now.
"Oh." He watched her push herself up onto the counter to sit down. "Well with Ponyboy, the doctor told us to wear him out so he is too tired to dream. Like have him play football or read books or do homework until he is too exhausted to dream. Also we have to make him feel like he's safe, you know? That's why Soda sleeps in his room."
She didn't know how well that would work for Johnny, since she never saw him pick up a book before, but figured it was worth a shot.
Darry put some milk in the fridge then turned to look at her. She was giving him the happiest smile, the two little dimples showing on her cheeks. He tore his gaze away from her lips, full and pouty and so kissable. It had really been too long since he'd had a girl around.
"Want to help me bake a cake?" He offered, digging in the cupboard for some flour.
"Sounds fun!" She jumped off the counter to help.
A few hours later, with the cake done and the dishes washed, the phone rang. It was Ponyboy and Johnny calling for a ride home.
"I'll go get them," Emma offered, grabbing her keys. "I'm going home now anyways."
"Do you know where it is?"
"Sure I do. I haven't been there before but Johnny told me where it is." She was confident she knew where to go. "Thanks for the cake!" She hollered as she headed out the door.
Darry watched her get into her car and drive off. He hated that he was staring after her. He hated feeling like a boy with a crush. He was twenty-one now, he was old enough to just ask a girl out, without feeling all nervous.
He actually had a date coming up this weekend. A guy he worked with had set him up with a friend. Normally, he would say no to a blind date, but the thing is he hadn't been on a date in a while. He had been so busy, working two jobs. But after his promotion he could quit his second job and he had a lot more spare time.
XXX
Emma Leah drove down the street, humming along to a song on the radio. She knew the movie house was around here somewhere, Johnny had told her it was just past Elm Street. She took a left turn onto Boston Ave and tried that way. But when the street got a little darker and longer, she wondered if she should have asked Darry for directions. She was sure she had driven past the theater at least once. It was down this way.
Finally, she admitted to being lost and stopped. She pulled into the parking lot of a little bar and stepped out of her car. She would just go inside and ask for directions. The street was dark and it was the only place around that looked open; otherwise she never would have picked such a shady place.
Holding her purse close, she walked in. The whole place smelled like smoke, liquor and piss. It made her want to throw up. She made her way over to the bar; ignoring all of the creepy eyes she could feel watching her. They were all men, and she knew she looked incredibly out of place in her decent clothes.
"'Scuse me?" She called to the bartender, even though he was already looking at her. "Do you know how I can get to the movie house from here?"
The few drunken men, hearing that she was just here for directions, went back to their drinks and card games and cursing. She was glad the attention was off her.
"Sure." His breath smelled stale and he had grease stains on his shirt. But at least he wasn't hitting on her. "You go back to Elm Street, from there turn right onto Robet, and it'll be on your left."
"Thanks," she smiled curtly, then turned to hurry out of there.
She reached out to push the door open when a man stepped in front of her. She jumped back, but quickly composed herself. These type of people prey on fear. Her fingers played with the button of her purse as she pictured the little gun in there. She always had it with her.
But her brave facade slipped away when she looked up to see who it was. She swore her heart stopped beating in that second.
Her Uncle Jim stood there, tall and fat and mean. The angriest look sat on his face.
"Where'd you take that little shit? Huh?" He demanded of her.
She looked around but no one seemed to care.
"I..." She stuttered. She gripped her purse tighter. If there was a way she could get it out without him knocking her out first...
"I know you took him!" He slammed his fist into the wall beside him, not taking his eyes off her.
She was shaking now, her entire body trembling. She took a step back. He grabbed hold of her arm before she could make a run for it though. She gasped aloud at how much it hurt.
"His mothers gone. He's gone. What the fuck am I supposed to do!? Huh?" He shook her.
She didn't understand what he was talking about.
"Do... When?" She didn't know why she asked him. Why she bothered to say anything. Maybe she was afraid if she didn't say anything he would hit her.
"When I need to smash someone's face in!" He shouted. With a loud growl he let his hand come down on her, smacking against her face and sending her to the ground.
She lay crumpled, face down, on the ground. Her purse was under her, her hand still on it. This was her chance. With as little movement as possible she opened her purse and pulled out her gun.
"Get up!" He demanded, but didn't wait for her to do as he said. He grabbed her arm again, in the same spot. She winced but stood up tall once she was on her feet. She held the gun to his gut.
"Let go." She demanded, her voice shaking. But not from fear anymore, from rage. And in that moment, had he not let go, she would have shot him. She used the gun to direct him out of the way then slid out the door, not turning her back to him until she was at her car.
She jumped in and drove off speedily. Her hands were still shaking, and tears were falling freely from her eyes. She shook her head to stop it.
She was almost at the movie house. She stopped before she got there. Looking in the mirror, she brushed back her hair and wiped at her eyes. She composed herself really well. She picked the gun off the seat beside her and slid it back into her purse. The bruise where he hit her was barely visible, especially in the dark under her dark complexion.
Happy with her appearance, she drove a little further and stopped where Johnny and Ponyboy were waiting for her.
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late. I got lost." She explained. Her voice was rushed and still a little shaky, but she thought it sounded pretty normal to her.
"You alright?" Johnny asked, easily recognizing something was off as she drove away.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She left it at that.
She couldn't tell Johnny. Not yet anyways. He was already having nightmares, she didn't need him on edge all day.
She dropped Ponyboy off at his house without a word and drove herself and Johnny home. She was worried he would notice in the light her forming bruise. When she got inside, she kept her face turned, so that he wouldn't see, and headed straight for her room.
Johnny was off-put by her strange behaviour, and wondered if it had something to do with Darry. He had noticed Darry stealing glances at her, and saw the way she looked at him back. He didn't have a problem with it, they seemed like they'd make each other happy to him. But if she was going to come home crying like that, well then maybe he should have a problem with it.