Hereafter

Chapter Three

Encounter

I don't own anything! All rights to the Outsiders goes to Susan E. Hinton.

The cold autumn air blew through the sides of my being, the wind was crisp and sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't such a great idea to go out just in shorts and a sweatshirt, but I was so lost in my own world that I didn't really take too much notice. I was jogging endlessly as it seemed. And the rhythm of my own breathing drew me into a lethargic and hypnotic daze signified by my gradual nodding.

I gazed in amazement at a new type of vandalism called Graffiti. I remember this alley alright, this the place I found him crying, holding the hand of someone, I've seen before. I remember the look on his face, an esoteric mix of hatred, guilt, and sorrow, mostly sorrow. Blood stained his shirt as I knew part of him had left with her dead spirit. I didn't really know who she was, but she sure meant a lot to him. She was his inspiration, I believe. It's not surprising when you look at his art, especially after her death.

This was his masterpiece, somewhere around 13 by 13 feet. It portrayed an open grassy field with but a few trees. The sun shined in the upper-right corner and painted the sky before it a gold shine. Simple yes, but beautiful nonetheless, but not so much now,huh? In the corner was the signature, by now it has faded; no one could really read it, but I remember the words: 'Black Cat'. The words "The Golden Dawn" were inscribed off the side as well.

Coincidentally, The sun was creeping up the sky and I want nothing more than to just run in and be swallowed up by the beautiful, yet enigmatic display of watercolors that was painted there before me. I knew never to look at the sun directly, but I couldn't help my self.

(Maybe he saw a similar event when he made Gold Dawn).

...

Perhaps I was sleep running, or something. I ended up near Two-Bit's neighborhood and I swear I could've seen him drive by me with a blonde sitting beside him. I couldn't distinguish their facial expressions, they were too far off to really tell. That or maybe my eyesight was worsening. (Oh why do sunsets have to be so pretty?)

Other than Two-Bit's place, I also passed Jay's place; I personally tried to avoid Steve's neighborhood.

For more reasons than one, this was not the first time I left the house just to run early in the morning. Once I passed by Steve's house and I heard a pretty nasty argument between Steve and his dad. That and there were a couple of people living near Steve's and Two-Bit's places that I had no intention of seeing any time soon, especially not now.

I went to stop at a DX, there emanated the dense scent of gasoline, being around cars so much (or more like being around people who love cars so much), you're around the smell a lot, and eventually, you learn to love it. This DX was not the one Soda and Steve worked in, it was another located at another side of town. Man I didn't think it would be open this early, (graveyard shift must really suck!) I pulled out a buck and got me a Pepsi. I don't know why I can't, err - don't eat so much when I could drink sodas for an eternity. Within three seconds, I was finished with the 1 liter glass bottle; I could chug a Pepsi faster than anyone I know, except maybe Soda.

I threw it into recycling bin. The dang thing was nearly empty, Greasers were never ones to care about the world as a whole; there were a couple of plastic bottles lying on the ground near the garbage, they obviously missed their target. Well I seriously had nothing better to do, I picked up a couple of them and put it in the recycling bin; I left soon after.

From then I resumed running and let my body take over while I sorted out my thoughts.

School's gonna start soon so I began walking home, I hadn't realized how far I wandered off. Dang, I should've started sooner.

But now I felt a whole lot better, since that I've stopped smoking, I still needed some way to blow off steam, and right then, books and sleep just couldn't cut it.

I was getting kinda nervous, I went real far, further than I've ever really gone before. (Unless you count when me and Johnny ran away to Windrixville). To make matters worse, I'm alone - no one I knew was nearby. I was still in Greaser territory, I could tell from the neighbor hood's condition. But when I took a town map, the shortest way back home was through a couple of Soc neighborhoods.

I was unsure of how to get through - running would attract a bit more attention while allowing me to leave here as soon as possible. Walking gave the Socs more time to notice me but it also showed that I have no fear, a statement like, Yeah, I'm in Soc territory, so what?. And that was usually enough to scare them off. Most Socs aren't so great at fighting, they have strength in numbers, and that's pretty much. Greasers making fighting a life style, if you aren't good and you're a Greaser, then you'd better get good. Most of us Greasers could take on a one or two of Socs by ourselves. But in any case, being in uncharted, enemy territory is never a good idea.

It may have been a stupid choice, but I settled for walking through the classic, Greasy way: Head dark and low, a very slightly hunched back, and thumbs in my pockets.

Needless to say, there aren't a whole lot of people out on the streets at six in the morning. But I still passed a couple, apparently some Socs go to their cars and just drive. It seemed stupid to me, they're just wasting gasoline; if Darry ever caught me doing that... But who knows, it might be to blow off steam like me and walking - or it's just to show off their tuff cars. I had a sinking feeling it was the latter. It was their own fault that so many of their cars get busted up. But hey, more money for Steve and Soda, right?

I was pretty close to getting outta here but I spotted a blue car headed towards me, a Corvair maybe, I'm into cars like Soda is. But he told me that I will eventually, that and girls.

"Hey grease," a boy with blond hair and green eyes stepped out of the Corvair, there were three more still in it. My stance showed no signs of changing, it wasn't like I was really surprised, or anything."It was you wasn't it?" His voice was shaking and his eyes couldn't hide the look of desperation. Just great, I thought, he's drunk.

I glared at him with a puzzled expression (Oh what does he want?)

"You're the reason why my girlfriend's gone all the time, aren't you?"

"What?" I asked incredulously and aggravated.

"You can't fool me you filthy Grease, I see you and her talking in school," he was swaying slightly from side to side.

(...I don't really talk to any Socs at school...)

"Her friend even said that she went to the park one day just to see you."

That statement kinda gave it away. (Oh it better not be who I think it is.) It was, I can tell.

"What the hell are you talking about? I don't know who your girlfriend is," this time it was his turn to glare. I kept my composure intact. They were sizing me up, we all knew what was gonna happen. I was fully cognizant of the juncture; there was absolutely no escape from it, no matter what I'd do. So I signed plaintively and accepted it, my fate, that is.

My face formed a unreal grin and I cocked an eyebrow much like Two-Bit's. "But damn, how desperate was she when she chose you to be her boyfriend?"

XX

I put up a good fight, I would've easily beat one or two of them on the account of them being drunk. But you know the score, Socs can't be alone, ever. A lone Soc is like a dead one, unlike us Greasers. Most of us didn't really mind it so much, some of us made the point that being alone was a way to live. Tim Shephard...Dally... But we're still human - I think.

But it didn't take too long before I was restrained on the ground, they had their knees to hold my arm, and the others held down my legs. The blond one was pretty much giving my a full on beat-down.

Oh, c'mon, I didn't bring any weapons with me, I'm not that kind of person y'know?

I think that my left cheek was badly bruised, I probably had a black eye by now. I was slugged in the chest at least 10 times, by then I was hollering out the top of my lungs. The fact that I was already tired from running didn't help, one of them tried to place like a big handkerchief over my head and smother me underneath it. It bit it and broke it from his grip and spat it out. By now I couldn't really feel his hits much, but my lungs were burning up. I kept yelling knowing full well that doing so was as good as useless.

I yelled out for Darry, Soda, for anybody really. Though not in the same inflection that I had done so just a few months ago, in a similar situation, if I recall correctly. Now that I think about it, I must've sounded like a psychopathic murderer hollering on the names of those I'm actually out to get. I didn't see anybody pass by, even if they did, they probably wouldn't have helped anyway with the words (just walk away, just walk away) being replayed in their heads in an endless juncture.

...

"Scott!" A voice cried out, it belonged to a girl. It was a familiar voice, but I've never heard it in that tone before.

Two figures came up towards me. I couldn't see anything though, I felt dizzy and really want to fall asleep.

"Scott, stop this right now!" The Socs, as if by magic, got off me. Three of them walked away slowly, but after reaching a distance of like 20 feet away from us, sprinted away. The other kid, the blond one, stayed behind and was talking to the girl.

The two were arguing and I tried to make out what they were saying, but utterly failed.

"I don't ever want to see you again!" the girl screamed almost yelping the words out her mouth. If this girl was indeed his girlfriend, then for some unfathomable reason, she cared about the guy a whole lot.

"But..." she turned around and slapped away his extending hand.

The boy walked away leaving me with the girl and another guy. My vision was failing me, as of now, I could only make out the shape of the two.

I was as good as dead to the world, my head was spinning and I couldn't get a clear thought through my head. I was about to lose consciousness and the girl knew it.

"Hey, bring him to the car." the other turned at her, "why should I help him?"

"Because you're my brother," it seemed like that was an answer that she could use to get the guy to do whatever she wanted.

...

I awakened in a bed and I was in a house that wasn't mine. Well I didn't really wake up yet, I could barely move, my head and chest ached like hell, and I could still barely see. I knew it wasn't my house because just by looking, the room I was in was at least twice as big as any of the rooms at our place. That and it didn't reek of stale tobacco or dirty clothes; it smelled way too nice to be my place.

I heard a voice that belonged to a girl, "...Yeah...He's in my house now...Please, I'm not lying...I haven't done anything to him but he's in pretty bad shape...Okay...Thank you." If I had to guess, she was on the phone. But with who? I have a pretty good idea.

In a few minutes, my head was feeling a whole lot better and I could see again. The room still felt like it was spinning but I managed to stand up.

At the sight of me standing up, she ran to me and we hugged.

"Thank God you're okay, I was so worried," her voice came with genuine concern. Her body was warm, her skin was soft and delicate. I knew who it for quite a while now, again I wasn't sure to whether to be happy or not - least of all, surprised.

It was Cherry.

Obviously the blond guy from before is - or was - her boyfriend. But now, I had no recollection of his face, even so, I'd be able to recognize him if I ever saw him again.

(Dammit Cherry, why can't you fall for a nice guy for once!) I wanted to say so badly but I couldn't bring myself to do so. Besides, I don't think I've ever cussed in front of a girl before. Well, not to a nice girl at least.

"What happened, Cherry?" I tried to add some feeling to it, but my voice only came out prosaic and vapid. I could remember but I really wanted someone or something to reaffirm my memories, I especially wanted to hear it from her.

Her smile melted away and our arms untangled. Her eyes welled up and glistened with guilt. She looked away searching for the right set of words to say, "Umm...you got beat up by a couple of guys." She replied plaintively.

(Yeah, no duh.)

"But I broke up the fight and brought you here," she looked at me and came closer as if pleading for me to believe her. Oh I believe her alright, but I noticed she left out some very specific details. Though at the moment I didn't really care so much.

There was a long silence after those words were said, neither of us really wanting to say sorry first, of course I was the one to start.

"Look Cherry, I'm sorry if I was being a jerk to you, I-" She cut me off, her face was grim and dark.

"Your sorry? I'm sorry Ponyboy." She looked back again trying to mask her face with her hair there to help.

The first thoughts that ran in my mind were (Oh hell you should be!)

"First Bob, then Dylan, and now Scott!" A tear ran down the side of her cheek.

I stood petrified with an expressionless face.

"I'm serious Ponyboy, getting me involved with your life will only things worse for you."

"And you don't deserve that from me." Cherry was right after all that's happened, what has she done for me? Be a friend? And that's worked out just fine, hasn't it? After all, she's done a great job, right? ...When all is said and done, she's really only made me miserable.

Cherry was shaking slightly.

...

She continued trying real hard not to bawl. "...My friends, the things I said...I'm sorry. I should've done something about it."

I felt bad for her, although the thoughts in my head told me otherwise, (Yeah you should have! Are we friends or not!) The conflicting thoughts put a strain on my headache.

My mind trailed off for a while...I sighed - (but Cherry is Cherry) I thought. (She's a girl, a friend too). I thought completely devoid of doubt.

I had about enough of that, I couldn't stand to see a girl cry, especially not a nice one. I firmly grabbed she shoulders and turned her around to face me. I looked at her endearingly, my eyes met with hers with purpose of calming her down.

"You dig okay, Cherry." My grin reassured her, she couldn't help but smile back at me.

Cherry was pretty high up in the Social ladder, her family is rich, she's pretty and nice. She had respect and pride. In that sense, Greasers and Socs weren't so different, they both thrived on those two things. Sure we had different ways of obtaining them, but pride is still pride, and respect is still respect. They were the reasons why she acted the way she did in school, they had to be. She's afraid to lose them.

I remembered what I said to her a long time ago. (You're a traitor to your own kind and not loyal to us). She knew that by supporting us publicly, she'd lose them. But even if she did, the Greasers would still never accept her, regardless. (It makes since - I guess)

I forgive her anyway: even though she didn't need it, even though I know she could live without it. But I didn't, she'd lose another thing that we all wanted and needed. By the way she described most Socs, I could tell she didn't have a lot of those things. She'd miss out on a great friendship, a real one, that is. Who knows? She probably has a lot of friends out there but, she probably really didn't care for them that much. The kind of friend that if they died now, she'd be sad now but in like a week, she'll be like who? That kind of friend.

A real friend, one that sticks by you not because they have something to gain, that is, other than a friend. They want to be your friend just for the sake of being friends; to have a tie that's not so easily splintered and broken; one that truly shines when they're needed most. That kind.

Now that I think about it, not a lot of people really had that much friends, especially not a lot of Greasers. I remember Darry and Soda had been real popular when they were in school. I remember them having loads and loads of friends, or popularity, a trait that I never had. (And quite frankly, I'm glad about that). But they were just people who were there friends to gain something from them; the idea that 'If you know somebody popular, then you are too!' was far from uncommon, even so then. Darry caught on so he avoiding getting close to really anybody, but Soda not so much. In fact, I know he's had to pay for not realizing it sooner. (They were no friends of theirs', my brothers'.)

So looking at Soda, Two-Bit, and Darry (maybe Steve), I have real friends, no rather, a real family.

...I must be real lucky, huh?

...But then, why don't I feel like it?

My thoughts trailed out...

I saw Cherry's smile lead into a giggle, and I returned it with an even great smile. (So that's how that feels like), I mused about Soda and how he makes girls giggle like that.

She embraced me a little tighter.

"Thanks Ponyboy."

Man could her eyes shine.

I heard a car honk and headed towards the door. I saw not too far away, my two brothers! At the sight of them my eyes began to well up, but remembered I where I was. And that I was in a Soc neighborhood and that Steve and Two-Bit were there. All traces of tears disintegrated instantly. I walked over to the car, without so much as wincing for a moment.

I figured out why Cherry didn't just drive me home, all kinds of crazy rumors would've surfaced if someone saw me getting driven home by a Soc girl, me being beaten up doesn't help at all. By leaving me here to rest, she could wait and see it I was okay. Not to mention, I basically refused every other opportunity she had to talk with me before. By now, most people in High School are already there, no one would really see me leave her house. Cherry was gonna be late for school, but she's a Soc so it hardly mattered. I'm not being prejudiced here, that much I know is true.

There was no way in hell that I would be going to school today, not in this condition: I knew it, she knew it, and they knew it.

They looked unto me with an awkward mix of unlike expressions. Darry with a strange mix of incredulous enmity but with undying anguish. Two-Bit snickering at something (I had that one coming), and of course Steve with his usual acrimony. Soda came with elated relief that was not so well hidden. (Does this mean he forgives me already?)

I sat beside Soda and he placed his arm over my shoulder. For the moment, we just sat still, nonchalant. As we left the Soc neighborhood, all eyes and the attention that they accompanied gravitated towards me, shaking my composure.

My head was hurting real bad.

Oh, this is gonna be a LONG ride home.

Author's Note:

The story will not revolve around Cherry so much, but there will be someone else who will be a little more important.