Chapter Fifteen
"You're not gonna tell me what your girlie chit chat was about, are you?" Darry sighed loudly for about the tenth time.
It was seven o'clock on Monday morning and I was quite determined that I was going to ditch school for my plan to work. Of course I wasn't planning on telling this to my three brothers, my boyfriend or Stevie so that would be the hard part, the whole ditching thing. Kate had stuck to my word and not a word was leaked and she swore on her life that Alice would help but we had to delay Emily without Two-Bit sticking around like he might do, or skipping too.
"Darry, if I was I would have already told you," I told him for the eighth time, the first two times I had simply ignored him, it gets harder to ignore someone the third time after he decides to get Soda to sit on you. "Now seriously, go to work."
"How are you planning to get to school if I don't take you along with Ponyboy?" he asked me seriously as he picked up his keys and stood up. "It is cold and wet outside."
"Two-Bit." I said simply.
"I thought you valued your life?" Darry asked dryly as Ponyboy walked in. "Come on Pony, the nut is riding with the even nuttier."
"See you at school then," Ponyboy said without a second thought as Darry shared a smile with me. "Oh and I found Sodapop's shoe in the shower somehow," Ponyboy said with a laugh as Darry shoved him out the door.
"You mean he ain't got a shoe on?" I called out and giggled.
"I reckon so!" Shouted Ponyboy as the front door opened and closed leaving me alone in the house. Taking a deep breath as soon as I heard the truck take off down the street I grabbed the telephone and called Two-Bit to inform him I was sick and wouldn't be at school so to just leave without me.
After that I felt so guilty for lying yet when I did lie it at times felt so easy, which made me feel worse. But he obeyed me and even said he'd go to school just to tell the hag off for Friday, I admit that was another reason I'd scheduled this action plan for Monday. I wasn't too keen on facing my consequences if you get me.
Before I could start feeling too guilty there was a large knock at the door and I jumped with a start. I'd told Kate to just walk right in, as that is what everyone does but for a second there I'd forgotten I'd instructed her to bring her little sister, and Emily's friend, Alice along. And of course she'd knock, and to be honest I really wanted to see what she looked like, after all as my little brother's friend you never know she could be potential dating material. Then again I'm not sure if he's discovered girls yet, let alone would confide in me in the first place.
"Coming," I called out running to the door and grabbing a scarf as I yanked it open and stared into the eyes of a rather tall and skinny fourteen year old girl with long brown hair with a stunning resemblance to Kate. "Hello, you must be Alice."
"And you're Pixie." She smiled warmly pulling open the screen door. "Shame we're meeting on such awful reasons."
"Yeah, basically, how tall are you?" I was curious to know, she was rather tall but she just laughed and blushed. "Did Kate tell you what's happening?"
"Yes, that was the first thing Katie told me when she got home last night," Alice said as I followed her down to the rather nice white car I presumed was Kate's, "It's our dad's," Alice added almost as soon as I thought that and stepped inside.
"I'm not that rich," Kate smiled to me turning around in the front to look at me. "You ready?" she asked solemnly and I nodded, she glanced at her sister who nodded too and sighed sadly. "I suppose that means I have to be too."
"Would be helpful," Alice smiled softly. "Out of curiosity does anyone know if she has the faintest idea what's about to happen?"
"She's your friend," was Kate's reply as I shrugged and Alice frowned.
"I don't, she's not exactly talking to me. But can I just say right now I will scream at her," I said flushing slightly as Alice gave me an odd look. "Trust me; I've known her my whole life I only get angry at her when it's serious. This is serious."
"Very." Alice agreed as she leant her head against the window as the nice sleek white car fell into silence.
Taking a cue from Alice I leant my own head against the other window and stared out at the bleak weather. Its funny how the weather often matches my mood, most likely due to the fact winter does make me feel miserable and summer always makes me happy. So it's not that much of a coincidence but this bleak weather was quite dismal even for December in Tulsa.
As Kate pulled onto the Mathews's street I half expected Two-Bit to come leaping out and drag me to school or something but his car and Mrs. Mathews wasn't there and it looked rather empty. For a moment there I really feared that maybe Emily had gotten a ride with her brother but before I could panic too much the door flew open and Emily bounded out grinning broadly as she called out to Alice.
"Finally, you're here!" Emily cried out swinging around Ashley excitedly when she stepped out, "I'm actually looking forward to school today, I've got soo much to tell you," Em giggled and for a moment I felt a pang of jealously. She really didn't share as much with me as she used to.
"Great, I have something to tell you too," The brunette told her seriously stopping her friend's cheerful sort of dancing.
"Hey," Emily said her voice suddenly losing its spirit as she stared into the car, straight at my face, unnerving if anything. "Why are you here? Two-Bit said you were sick, aren't you?"
The way she said it was in an almost haughty manner and I felt my face burn but out of the corner of my eye I glanced Kate grip the steering wheel even tighter as she yanked the keys out and stepped out of the car. Gulping slightly I followed her out and stood slightly in front of her mustering up some power as I stared down to Emily, which is hard to do when this girl has so much confidence it almost radiates out of her.
"What are you two doing?" Emily demanded looking like she'd lost her guard instantly as her eyes flickered. "Aren't you going to take us to school? Ali, Alice, what are you doing?"
Alice looked quite upset as she held her best friend's hand and spoke slowly. "Emily, they're here because we all need to talk. About your…problem."
"What problem?' Emily cried out looking very angry now as she yanked her arm away from Alice. "I don't have a problem, thank you very much! What lies have you been telling? You're meant to be my best friend!"
"I am! Emily, I am!" Alice cried out tearfully as Kate wrapped an arm around her. "But you aren't getting those bruises from nothing, Em!"
"Excuse me?" she hissed angrily turning around and stomping up her porch steps.
"Emily, stop being silly!" I told her seriously as I marched right up there behind her, "And don't you dare, dare even ignore me now Emily!"
"Oh why don't you just go away, Pixie?" Emily said, for a moment I could have sworn she was going to go off her head but as her head spun around my green eyes met with her blue ones and they looked incredibly fearful. Like they did that summer. "All you do is interfere!"
"Because I care about you, Alice cared enough to tell Kate. Ponyboy cared enough to tell me!" I wailed holding onto her wrist. "Hell Emily, even Evie cared enough to tell me! She and Steve ain't even goin' out no more now 'cause he thought Tom was some kinda fling!" I tightened my grip and made her look me in the eye. "Gosh Emily, we all care about you, we ain't interfering we're all trying to help. One week doesn't make it love, or a relationship."
"Please just tell us if he's hurting you," Kate whispered and I felt her presence behind me. "Emily, honest to God we are all here because we are worried. If it is nothing I can tell you right now we're sorry but ya gotta understand we're doing this because we thought something was wrong and that's just not good, Emily."
"Please let go off my arm, Pixie." She said softly turning away from me. "I don't know what you three have a problem with but I assure you that I am perfectly happy with my boyfriend and I am getting bruises because I'm turning into a klutz like Pixie is."
"Em, you swear on your life?" Alice wanted to know.
"When she gets bruises you don't question her at all," She said indignantly. "Yes I swear, I am perfectly happy, I have no problems but I swear if you three do not move from here I will call the cops."
"Liar," I said coolly. "And I swear to God Emily, if that boy is touching you in any way that he shouldn't be I am telling your mom, your brother, Darry and every man and their dog. I swear I will, I am not kidding. Last time we never knew and we couldn't stop it, Em we know now and if you aren't letting us stop it then kid, you belong in a mental home."
"Go away, please." She said bluntly walking into her house.
I groaned quite loudly and was half tempted to follow her and wring her neck but Kate wouldn't let me. First off she told Alice she was going to school and told me I was coming with her. Throwing a dirty look in the direction of what I hoped was Emily I followed Kate into the car feeling rather dejected and lied to. I don't care if those two believed a word Emily said but I for one didn't believe a single word she said to me.
Every single sentence that came out of her mouth was an outspoken lie and she knew it. I can tell. It was all in her eyes. And she was now going to pay. Pixie isn't keeping quiet now, Emily had her chance she blew it and now I'm telling Darry.