Chapter Eleven

Owen and I cruised into my neighborhood, but failed to take the most logical turn to my house. "Owen? Where are you going?"

"I thought we'd drop by the DX station and pick up some Pepsis to take to the game."

I cocked an eyebrow and looked at him. "We must have passed a dozen stores along the way where you could have stopped. Why are you going to the DX where my brother works?"

A smile spread across Owen's face. I noticed his eyes pore over over me in his letterman's sweater. "I was thinking it might be a good idea to let Sodapop know about you agreeing to be my girl. I figure if he accepts it there's a better chance your other brothers will accept it too."

I threw my head back with a smile then looked back at the boy. "That's true. I guess you know me and my family better than I think you do."

"You know it!"

Owen pulled into the parking lot at the station. I tossed my winter jacket into the backseat while my boyfriend held my car door open for me. I took his hand and the two of us walked inside to the counter to find Sodapop sitting behind it with his feet on the desk. I leaned towards my brother, "Slow day at work, or are you just being lazy?"

"A little of both, I think," Soda smiled and stood up. "Well... would you take a look at the new sweater." I could barely contain my happiness as I stepped back to model my new digs. Sodapop leaned back on his heels, looked through the door to the garage, and yelled, "Hey Steve, come check this out!"

Steve Randall walked into the station lobby. With a greasy hand he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked to his friend. Soda's face greeted his friend with a smile and my brother pointed in my direction. Steve rested his hands on his hips and sized me up. "Sissy, I'm not surprised to see you looking like that. When did all this happen?"

I stuffed my hands into the pockets of the sweater. "This afternoon after Owen took me to the Country Club for lunch."

Soda playfully shook his head. "Wow! Owen my friend, I don't think you know what trouble you have got yourself into!"

"Soda!" I scolded.

Owen wrapped his arm around me as a sign of solidarity. "I'm sure I can handle her."

Steve laughed. "I don't know about that. She's tougher than she looks."

"That's what I hear." Owen said and walked over to pick up a wooden case of Pepsi bottles. "I'm about to see it for myself though. The two of us are headed over to Morrison's Park to play some football with a few of my friends. Scout says she's pretty good."

"Best girl who ever played," Sodapop boasted and pushed the metal buttons on the cash register to ring up Owen purchase. Owen looked over at me and smiled with pride.

"I'll catch you two love birds later!" Steve called out, and turned to head back to the car he was working on. "And Scout, don't hurt any of those pretty boys. Okay?"

I laughed. "Okay, I'll try not to."

Owen paid Sodapop, the money for the soda pop, and my brother looked over at me. "Did you tell Ponyboy or Darry about this?" Soda motioned to my new sweater.

"Nope. You're the first."

"Playing it safe. Huh?" Soda grinned, and hoisted the heavy case of bottles from the counter to carry them to Owen's car.

I looked up at my brother. "Do you blame us?"

Soda shook his head no. Owen held the station door open for my brother and me. We headed across the lot to the Camaro. "You two have fun at the game, and don't worry about what Pony or Darry have to say about this. They'll get used to it." Sodapop put the case of glass bottles into the car behind the driver's seat. Owen opened the door for me, I pulled my new sweater shut and sat down.

Pulling away from the station I noticed Sodapop pause at the door to watch the two of us drive away. I looked over at Owen as he checked for oncoming traffic. Just then the wind pulled his bangs from his face and he pulled out of the driveway. I relaxed back in my seat.

Suddenly, the rumble of a large truck reverberated in my ears. I looked to my right hand side in the direction of the sound. My eyes grew wide at the sight of a large rusty truck grill bearing down on Owen's little sports car. I let out a terror filled scream just before the collision threw my body forward into the windshield. The world around me grew fuzzy as the rusty truck continued forward; forcing the wheels of the sports car to buckle underneath itself. Sounds of metal crashing and screeching on the pavement sent out a deafening sound just before the new car flipped through the air, ejecting its passengers, and sending a shower of Pepsi bottles smashing to the ground.

"SCOUT!" Sodapop screamed and ran across the lot to the scene of the accident. He dropped to his knees when he reached the area where my body had laid to rest. There was no response as the blood began seep from my injuries. Steve hadn't made it from the garage to the scene of the accident before Sodapop looked up to command him. "Steve call for an ambulance! Call for an ambulance!"

Steve turned on his heels to obey his friend.

"Scout? Scout?" Soda spoke as soft and gentle as he did when he held Johnny in his arms after the boy had been jumped. I made no sound. My brother pushed the bloody strains of hair away from my battered face and pleaded. "Come on baby girl, come on!" He leaned his cheek close to my mouth and could feel a slight breaths still exhaling from my lungs.

Steve quickly returned as a crowd gathered. "Soda! Soda is she alright?"

"I don't know?" Sodapop cried out, tears streaming from his eyes. Remembering that I hadn't been alone, Soda lifted his head to look around. "Owen… where is he?"

Steve twisted his body around to find the blond haired boy a few dozen feet away. He was wiggling around and crying in pain. A passerby was with him urging the football star to stay still and wait for help to arrive. Owen's thoughts turned to me and he began to panic. "Scout? Where's Scout?" Hearing the distress, Steve ran to the boy's side to lie to him. To tell him I would be fine.

My eyes opened to find Sodapop leaning over me, his eyes filled with tears, and his words to me filled with panic. Hoping to calm him down I spoke softly to him. "Don't worry Soda, I'll be fine. I feel fine." My brother acted as if he didn't hear me. Wanting to relieve his fears, I gradually sat up and turned towards him. I rested my hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Settle down, Soda…" I interrupted myself when my peripheral vision noticed the bloody body still cradled in my brother's arms. Taking a closer look I clearly recognized the young girl's face. It was me!

Instantly, I jumped to my feet and dread filled my mind as I tried to figure out how I could feel just fine while my body laid, presumably dead, at my feet. In the distance, I heard the sad sound of approaching police officers and ambulances. I examine the scene around me to find Owen laying on the ground in agony. His arms were outstretched in my direction. His voice was filled with pain as he called out for me. I looked down at myself. My other body didn't move.

I started to walk towards Owen when Steve rushed by me on the way to comfort my brother. I reached out for him but he didn't stop. I yelled his name, but he didn't hear me. Anxiety built up inside me and I ran back to Sodapop's side in time to hear his shaky, barely audible words to Steve. "I think she's going to die. Go call Pony and Darry." It took every ounce of strength Steve had to leave his friend and make the phone calls, but obediently he did.

"Sodapop! I'm not dead!" I cried out for his attention over the noise of the crowd and emergency vehicles approaching. "I'll be alright. Don't give up on me! I'm going to come back to you!"

"Baby girl?" A familiar voice called out from behind me. "Baby girl, is that you?"

My ears went deaf to the commotion. I looked behind me to identify the man's voice. He looked exactly as I had remembered him. He stood as tall as my oldest brother; his stance was gentle, and his eyes sparkled with hope. I felt my mouth drop open as my mind tried to piece everything together. With doubt in my voice I leaned my head forward, just a little, to ask, "Daddy?"