Disclaimer:The Outiders is not mine. Its a shame, but true. Very true.
A/N: Was anyone surprised to find that Emily was Two-Bit's sister mentioned in the book? I'm glad you liked the chapter! thanks for reviewing, as always. As for the question question regaurding John, what he's really like is up to you to decide! It makes me GRIN! This one is important as well. Pay attention for hints!
Babygirl
"Yep, it's an original name, but my dad was an original person."
Chapter 7: The Truth
My chance to payback Eugene came a days later. I was in the kitchen, and Milly was trying to teach me how to bake cupcakes. I knew how to bake cake, but this was new. It could have been fun; it should have been fun; but it wasn't. While getting bored with miss perfect, I noticed Eugene slide a few coins off the counter top. Then he put them in his pocket. I said nothing. It wasn't my money. Besides it was only a few cents, they'd never miss it. While Darry may have warned me not to steal, I knew plenty of people that did (like Two-Bit) and knew that with us from the south side sometimes you needed to. That may pay for his grandkid's lunch or some milk for his neice's newest baby.
Milly turned around and asked me to help clean up, so I began wiping down the counter. A few moments later John came in and sort of gave a weary smile. He watched us for a minute and then got his keys and reached for the counter. He stopped dead. I hoped he wasn't looking for the change.
"Where is that change that I put down earlier?" Darn.
"What dear?" asked a happy sounding Milly.
"The change on the counter, where is it?"
"I don't remember any change, do you honey?" That was directed at me. Weird, I know. She was in a good mood. I risked a glance at Eugene who looked like he may drop dead at any instant.
"I, erm, may have accidentally knocked it into the trash cleaning off the counter." I hung my head so he wouldn't see my face. I'm no better a liar than Ponyboy. "Sorry." I added trying to look extra pitiful. "I can get it out if you want."
"No." said Milly quickly. "I'm sure you have money with you John, no need to dig through the trash. This isn't the other side of the tracks after all."
Well, my plan had worked but I was so angry with that old hag over that comment I just wanted to punch her right on the nose. Bop!
"Try not to be so careless." John sighed. Geez. He left. I felt pretty crumby, but at least I had paid back Eugene.
The next day was a day I got to go to Emily's house. Eugene dropped me off a little ways away so it didn't look suspicious. The only problem was, when I got there no one was there. She must be out somewhere, I thought. Well, what on earth would I do now?
I strolled down the alley and slunk around like I was on a great spy movie. Coming out of a day dream made for the movies, I was surprised to find myself before my old backyard. It wasn't odd, not really. I had walked these street thousands of times and ended up, without thinking, exactly where I intended to be. No one was there and, although that made my heart fall a peg or two, I happily realized that going back inside my home would not actually qualify as breaking my word to Eugene. After looking around nervously, I hopped the fence. It's strange to think, even now, that I had been that close all along. It had felt worlds away. Even though I had started the morning on the south side,-just like that- I was home!
Not a thing about the yard had changed. I ventured around, noticing Darry's truck gone, and went in the front door cautiously.
I walked from room to room seeing that the t.v. was left on, and Mickey Mouse was golfing with Pluto. On the kitchen table was a messy plate where chocolate cake had been. Now there were just crumbs and smeared icing. Next to it was a map, which was odd. Even stranger still, was that it was open to a page reading: "Texas". Mom and Dad's picture was still in place, still smiling, with just a little dust around the edges. The fridge was pretty bare, except the necessities of eggs and beer. Towels were on the bathroom floor, the mirror still fogged up from the door being left shut, and the toilet seat was, of course, up. The beds were neatly made. I saw that now there was room for everyone to have their own rooms since Darry took mom and dad's room and the other would have taken mine.
Not wanting to see if my room was changed, I sat myself down on the couch that smelled like cigarettes and my brothers and watched good Ol' Mickey. For the first time, I thought about how life had changed for them. The truth was not pretty- specifically for me. This way of living took less money and less trouble, while they had more room and less responsibilities. Maybe they didn't fight for me for a reason. Maybe they are better off without me. Suddenly, I found myself hating being in my own home. I don't know if you've ever felt that way, but it's a terrible feeling. In fact, it makes you kind of scared. It's like: "If I don't belong here, where can I belong? Anywhere?" It gives you the feeling like you're in a nightmare running without direction when you need a place to hide from the monster at your heels.
I went into Pony's room where I used to go if I had nightmares. Pictures of Elvis and Paul Newman were taped to the wall. There were some drawings on his desk, mostly of sunsets and a dangerous looking Dally by the looks of it. His usual mess of clothes was no where in sight.
That's when I jumped at hearing the front door slam behind somebody. There were voices and commotion coming from the body of the house. It sounded like the whole gang was there. I bravely risked poking my head around the corner for just a second. Stupid, I know, but sometimes you can't even pretend to resist temptation.
Darry looked like he was arguing with Dally in the kitchen. Steve and Soda were throwing their DX clothes around and kicking off their shoes. I ducked as one nearly hit me. Two-Bit was sitting where I had been only seconds ago, watching mickey and reading something that I couldn't see. Ponyboy and Johnny were no where in sight.
I don't know what I could have been expecting that I was disappointed not to find. I thought they might show some sign of missing me. I hoped things might be different. I was wrong. They looked normal. How can they be normal? Can I be normal?
Then I thought, why would they miss me? I was always in the way, I recalled resentfully. I was always a bother or worry. It seemed, not being able to always wear boys hand-me-downs, that I had costed the most money. I was girl, and girls weren't tough enough to look after themselves. More room. More money. More freedom. I leapt out of Pony or Soda's room window and ran all the way back across town.
I should say I tried to run all the way back, but I got lost. Tulsa is a big city and I'm only a kid. That became real clear as the sun began to set. Walking up main street, I noticed a black Lincoln pull up beside me. An angry looking John had rolled down the window and demanded that I get in. Needless to say, I did.
He then proceeded to yell: "What in God's name do you think you were doing?"
"Sorry. I went to spy on my brothers and..."
"Your brothers? Babygirl, you know you're not supposed to go to your brothers!" he snapped.
"I wasn't gonna talk to em'. I just wanted to see them."
"Well, like what you saw?" he asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"They're okay. They're doing ...well, better without me."
"Well, I didn't want to tell you but that's the way it is. Your brothers couldn't afford you. We want you all separated for the good of you and them. This is the court's decision. We take you in, out the Christian kindness of our hearts, and you repay us by running around town alone where you could get killed?"
"I wouldn't have gotten killed!" I knew I wasn't in the position to argue, but that comment really irked me.
"It's not safe!" John was practically hysterical. I just didn't understand. My eyes burned and watered.
"Look!" he shouted. "Look at this!" he threw a paper into my lap and I held it up and read the big print. There was a picture of Johnny and my brother, Ponyboy. Above was the headline: "Soc Gets Greased."
It was terrible. Some kid soc, Bob, had been stabbed in the park and Pony and Johnny ran off. They were prime suspects.
"You think your brothers are different from those other delinquents just because they're nice to you? Do you think they can protect you on this side of town? They can't. They let you go. Return the favor!" he finished.
I turned away. I was furious with my family, with John, with myself, with everyone. I hated the whole world like I hated the hot tears pouring down my chapped face, but could stop neither.
A/N: So do you believe John's version of the truth? Want to know what happened to get her to the south side? Review and I'll tell you! Thanks for reading!