VERY IMPRONTANT NOTE:
This is the longest, most intense chapter out of both stories and it will blow you away and keep you hoping for more! So I hope you like it an here it is!
Maggie yawned loudly, her arms stretching up over her head. She was still tired but she need to get to packing. The phone call she had gotten last week was enough to shake her to the bone, and that's what it had done. Now, she was leaving for Tulsa in 2 days. Val had agreed to let her stay for a week and a half before she had to come back. The rest of the Tigers, though, had fought with her constantly. They couldn't decide which members of the group got to go with her, and which had to stay behind to take care of "business". Maggie was getting sick and tired of hearing them all fight all the time. What she wanted was to go alone and not have to worry about any of the Tigers coming along with her. She didn't want any problems between the Tulsa gang and her new friends. She knew conflict was certain to happen and the Tulsa gang probably didn't need any more of it.
She listened to either Val or Bennie give a huge yawn and then shook her head. They usually weren't up till around 12:00 on Saturdays.
She pulled herself of the couch and straitened her beater before walking into the back of their apartment and entering Bennie's room. She leaned the door frame, watching his chest rise and fall. He had always been a heavy sleeper, as long as she had known him anyway. It was cute when he slept. He looked so innocent. Maggie knew that everyone said that. That every hood looked innocent when they slept, but now she knew it was true.
She padded gently across the floor and crawled into bed next to Bennie, snuggling up to his front side. She put her face next to his on the pillow so she was staring right at his closed eyes. She could tell that he was awake now because his pattern of breathing had changed. He was probably just fake sleeping.
"Psssst." she whispered, rubbing her nose against his. "Psssst."
Bennie groaned and rolled away from her a bit, putting more space between them. She smiled and poked his stomach.
"You're taking me shopping, remember?" she whispered in his ear. He groaned again and rolled over, this time on top of her. She sent out a low groan from his body weight and tried to shove him off.
"Val's taking you." he mumbled softly, throwing his head into the pillow right next to Maggie's head.
"This just doesn't look right." Val's voice said. Maggie looked towards the door the best she could to see Val standing there, looking at the two of them with an eyebrow raised.
"So you're taking me shopping today?" Maggie asked him, her voice was a little hushed but she knew Val had heard her.
"Yeah. I have some business on the streets I need to take care of." Val told her. "Bennie, get off of her. It looks really perverted. You look like a rapist."
"So?" Bennie asked, his voice muffled by the pillow. Val let out a deep sigh and walked the rest of the way in the room. After just a few steps his tall form was towering over both Bennie and Maggie, laughter in his eyes. It took one shove for him to get Bennie completely off of Maggie and before Maggie knew it she was in the arms of Val, wedding style. He carried her to the door way and then dropped her on her feet.
"Go get ready. I have to talk to Bennie-"
"About business?" Maggie cut him off, rolling her eyes. Val nodded and closed the door in her face. She crossed her arms over her chest, debating briefly whether she should listen in or just go and get ready. She finally decided on the later after a lot of hard thinking.
"You ready?" Val asked, 10 minutes later. He had finally come out of Bennie's bedroom and was now standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
"Can't you see I'm putting on eyeliner?" she said in a fake snobby voice. Val looked at her sternly, obviously wanting to go already.
"Ok, ok. I just have one more eye." she told him turning back to the mirror. She put on her black eyeliner as quickly as she could and then walked out of the apartment behind Val, sliding on a Tigers jacket as she did so.
"So, where are you taking me?" she asked, stepping out onto the sidewalk and joining the flow of people.
"The same place I always do. Debbie's." he answered shortly, making sure everyone got out of his way.
"And what business do you have to do?" she tried to ask. She was hoping to get an answer, a truthful, answer.
"You don't need to know." Val said, not even bothering to look at her but instead quickening his pace.
"Yes, I do." she argued, hoping he would just break down and tell her.
"No." he said sternly. He stopped finally, in front of Debbie's. It was Maggie's favorite little store and it had just the write style of clothes she always liked. Baggy jeans, tee shirts, hoodies, and Converse. Every greaser girls dream. Ok, well not every, but pretty close! Maggie hurried forward trying to make it to the door. She stopped when she saw a really hot guy coming towards her and quickly made up a plan. She waited for a few seconds before starting to walk again.
She ran right into him.
"Sorry." she said politely, walking passed him and towards the store.
"Maggie." Val's cold voice cut her off.
"What?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders.
"Give it back." he told her, pointing to the guy she had just run into. She knew, though, that if the guy kept walking he would be out of site and she wouldn't have to give it back.
"Hey! Buddy!" Val yelled running after the guy. About 30 seconds later they both appeared in front of her, stranger and all.
"Give it back." Val said again. The stranger raised an eyebrow, looking from Val to Maggie and back.
"No." Maggie said in a whinny voice. She had worked hard for what little skills she had and she didn't want to give it up, now.
"Just do it!" Val yelled again. Maggie could tell his patience was running thin and she probably didn't want to test him anymore. Maggie sighed and pulled the 20 bucks she had token from the stranger and handed it out to him. The guy looked at the money and then up at Maggie. She was surprised to find a smirk had found a way to his lips.
"Nice pick pocket. I didn't even feel it." he complimented, taking the money and putting it in his back pocket where it could be more safe.
Maggie shrugged giving him an innocent smile.
"Val." a voice called. Maggie turned her head and looked in the direction that Val was looking in. She didn't recognize this guy.
"Go in the store, Maggie." Val said sternly, still looking at the guy approaching them, the stranger long since gone.
"Why?" Maggie asked, looking at Val now. He had gone tense and his face was rigid. Which only meant one thing. That this business he was in, was also dangerous.
"Why are you doing this with me with you?" she asked him sharply, grabbing his forearm. He looked down at her, his eyes cold.
"Val." a new, even colder voice said. Maggie looked in front of her. Whoever it was that had called Val's name had just reached them. He was as tall as Val, but not as handsome. Actually he was down right ugly. And skinny. And his teeth were rotted.
"Does this come along with the package?" the guy asked Val, nodding towards Maggie. Maggie looked towards Val, fire in her eyes. She knew now. She knew what his "business" was. She knew what the Tigers were involved with.
"Is Val short for Valium?" she shot out. It was the only drug that began with a v that she could think of, so she had shot it at him. She shook her head and stormed off down the street. Headed towards no where. She didn't know where you wanted to go. She did need to go shopping but she couldn't now. She had pissed off the only guy she knew with money.
3 hours later Maggie sat in Val's apartment again. All of the Tigers sitting in front of her. They were trying to decide which of them were going to with her to Tulsa. They kept fighting about who was going and they had already ruled out Bennie, since he had business. And Saul, since he had work. Which left Pete, Val, Carson, and Dwain. But not all of them could go.
"You are no where near responsible enough to go." Val argued with Pete. Pete had said that he was the only one Maggie could really relax with and Maggie actually agreed.
"I think he should go." Maggie cut in, coming out of her daze she had found herself in. Val glared at her, kind of like that you haven no authority glare.
"I think Carson should go, too. The Tulsa gang will like him a lot. He's kind of like Johnny in his own way."
"Johnny?" Carson asked, an eyebrow raised.
"You'll meet him when we go."
"Who says you get to decide who goes?" Val barked up.
"Who says that you do?" Maggie challenged. The room feel silent, all the bickering and fighting stopping. "Just let them come, Val. It's not that big of a deal and it's not like I need protecting. I'm as strong as any of you guys and I know Tulsa better." Maggie explained herself. She knew challenging Val was a bad idea, but she couldn't help herself.
She wanted to go to back to Tulsa so bad she could taste it. She didn't even know why really. She had spent all this time in Brooklyn convincing herself that she didn't need to go back, that she didn't want to. And now here she was and she couldn't wait to get going. She just didn't get it. She didn't know if it was the Tulsa gang that was pulling her back or if it was her heart. She missed them all a lot. She knew that now. But the other problem was that she couldn't leave the Brooklyn gang either. She loved them, too. She hadn't known them for that long but they were a part of her just like the Tulsa gang was. Life was just one big ball of yarn waiting to unravel and she didn't like it at all.
"Fine." Val growled finally. "You guys can go. But I'm serious, you spend more then a week and a half there and I'll skin you and go to Tulsa to bring you back."
"Try me." Maggie sneered. She still hadn't gotten un-mad at him for lieing to her about the business. Now that she knew she was constantly thinking about it. She didn't know what to think, though. There was no doubt in her mind that the rest of the Tigers were in on it, too. Including Carson. The more Maggie thought about it the more Maggie didn't want to think about it. Every time she did think about it she felt betrayed. And every time she did think about it she had to also think about what the Tulsa gang would say if they knew. Especially Darry.
"We're going to go home and pack." Carson explained, patting Pete on the shoulder and nodding to the rest of the gang. They both got up and took turns hugging Maggie before heading out the door. They knew that an argument between Val and Maggie was going to start and they didn't want to stick around to watch.
"Yeah. I better head out, too. I have an article to write." Saul agreed, also hugging Maggie and following Pete and Carson to the door. Maggie sighed, everyone was leaving and she knew why.
"Maggie, can I talk to you for a second?" Val asked, his face and his eyes were stony like they often were when he was made, and Maggie knew what was coming. She nodded to Val and followed him to the back of the apartment until they reached his room. Val closed the door behind him and paused there for a moment. Probably thinking up his attack.
"What is your problem?" he started, looking at her with stern eyes.
"Well, I just don't see why you have to try so hard to stop me from going to Tulsa." she said with a shrug. She thought he had already known that.
"That's not your only problem and you know it!" he snapped back, taking a step towards her.
"I know its not my only problem, but you should know my other problem by now, Val." she sneered, taking a step back from him. She hated it when he got that close, he reminded her too much of Dallas...and that frightened her.
"Let me guess, you're mad at me because I didn't tell you what me and the gang are into?" he asked, hitting the nail right on the head. Maggie simply nodded, not feeling the urge to say anything more.
"Look, Maggie, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I was afraid you wouldn't trust us if you knew."
"Well, you're right. But now I trust you even less then I did before! I mean, come on, Val! Think about it! How am I supposed to trust drug dealers?" she yelled at him, throwing her hands up in the air.
"We do what we have to to survive." he yelled back.
"Well, I guess you guys aren't very smart then because there's a lot more that you could do then just sell drugs. How about get jobs? Did you guys ever think of that? Or go to college, or finish high school. There is so much you guys could do but you choose the easy way out. It's your stupidity that I don't trust, and you really shouldn't blame me." she explained to him. She knew she was right, and he knew it, too. Val just didn't want to admit it.
"I'm done fighting with you, Val. I just want to get to Tulsa. We can deal with this when I get back." Maggie told him, stepping around him and opening the door. She took one last look behind her before walking out and back down the hall way.
"You ready?" Maggie asked Pete and Carson 2 days later. It was 5:30 in the morning and they were already at the airport, getting ready to board their flight. It was a 10 hour flight from New York City to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Maggie planned on sleeping the whole way through. She was tired as hell, spending the whole night before tossing and turning in bed. She had went over a whole lot of scenarios of what could happen when she got to Tulsa, and none of them were exactly happy or merry.
"Yeah. We're ready." Carson said, letting out a huge yawn. Maggie nodded and lead the way. This was going to be a long trip.
"Maggie! Maggie, wake up!" Pete's voice slowly faded into her head, followed by poking at her side. She groaned and turned over, or at least tried to.
"Maggie, wake up." this time it was Carson's voice and Carson's finger poking her. So she had 2 fingers poking her and 2 voices telling her to get up. It just wasn't right!
She groaned and tried to swipe their hands away, mumbling that she was too tired to wake up.
"You have to. The plane already landed." Pete told her. Maggie's head shot up and she looked around. People were getting their baggage out of the upper compartments and heading down the isles to get off the planes.
"Why didn't you wake me sooner?" she snapped crawling out of her seat tiredly, stumbling every now and then.
"We tried." Pete chuckled out, watching her as she tried standing on her tip toes to get her luggage.
"You're so short." he told her, reaching up and getting it down for her. She scowled at him. It was no time for joking around. She was about to see the people she had been running away from for about the last year. Butterflies had settled themselves in her stomach and her head ache was growing stronger and stronger. She was too nervous to joke around with either of them. All she could think about was the worst possible thing that could happen. Well the second worst possible, anyway. The first worst possible was the plane crashing and that had clearly not happened.
"Let's go. He's going to be wondering where we are." she told Carson and Pete pushing them into the isle behind all the rest of the people. They both sighed at her but did what they were told like good little puppies.
When they were finally off of the plane and in the airport Maggie slowed down, but only because she felt like she was going to throw up.
"You ok? You're looking green." Carson said, turning up a lip in disgust.
"I'm fine." Maggie reassured him. She didn't even believe her own words. She was not fine. She was NOT fine!
"He said he'd meet us some where around in here..." Maggie trailed off, searching the near by areas for that familiar guy she was used to seeing.
Strong arms wrapped themselves around her a few minutes later, not even giving her a warning. She couldn't make up her mind as to whether to turn around or run in the other direction. Was she ready for this? Was she ready to face one of the very guys she had been running away from all this time? Was she ready to finally admit where her home was.
No.
But she was going to do it anyway.
"Hi there." she whispered, turning around in his strong arms. She looked up at the guy that had always taken care of her and always worried about her. He smiled down at her, that fatherly/brotherly smile.
"Hey, Maggie." he answered back. Maggie was surprised that he hadn't immediately yelled at her for running of like she did because it seemed like one of things he would want to do the most, knowing him.
"I figured you'd get it bad enough from everyone else." he answered, as if reading her mind. She smiled sadly and jumped into his arms. She felt safe in his arms. She felt like she belonged...Stop, she told herself. She didn't want to get attached again. Not when she was only staying for a week and a half. She couldn't put herself through the goodbye process again.
"How ya been, Superman?" Maggie asked, looking at him now. He looked older then ever, and more stressed then ever, too. His eyes were more sad then cold and his hair looked like it had already started to go gray. He looked bad. He looked worn out.
"Well you know." he said with a shrug. "Working, keeping on Pony's back. The usual." he said with a nod. Maggie nodded back, a sad smile finding its way to her lips.
A cough sounded from behind her and she turned around to look at Carson and Pete. She smiled at them both and stepped away from Darry.
"This is Pete and Carson. They're just a few of the guys I met in Brooklyn." she told Darry.
"Hey." Pete said, sticking his hand out to Darry. Darry looked at him, anger flashing in his eyes for a brief moment before it was gone. He stuck his hand out and clasped it firmly in Pete's, squeezing his hand to give him a glimpse of how strong he really was. Pete's smile faltered but remained on his face until Darry drew away.
"Nice to meet you." Carson said, also sticking out his hand. Darry seemed to look at him and Maggie knew that Darry knew why she had brought Carson along. Darry shook his hand, a lot less tougher then he had with Pete's. Maggie was just happy Darry hadn't said anything drastic yet. Like "She belongs to us." or something.
"Let's get going. Soda and Steve have work so we have to catch them before we leave." Maggie nodded and took her bag from Pete before following Darry out to the truck. She smiled when she saw it. It was still the same old beat up truck as it had been.
She threw her bag in the back, telling Pete and Carson to do the same. She jumped in, squeezing herself between Darry and Carson. She knew it was going to be an uncomfortable tense ride back to the Curtis'. But somehow she didn't mind.
"How do you like Brooklyn?" Darry finally asked. They were only a few blocks away from their house but Maggie figured it was better late then never.
"It's great. There's lots there to see. And lots there to do. You never run out of things to do or places to go. And the shopping there is great." at the last sentence Darry turned to stare at her. Giving her that look that asked her if she had lost her mind and gone crazy. It made Maggie laugh a bit. Darry was still half way the same anyway.
Maggie's nausea got even worse when they pulled up in front of the house. It was a little run down then it used to be but it was still the same old place. The butterflies started to flap their wings and fly around inside her stomach then, making her feel like she wanted to puke even more. Her hands seemed to shake in her lap and her bottom lip quivered. She didn't know if it was because of nervousness, sadness, or happiness. Or maybe it was a combination of all three. She just wasn't sure.
She turned and watched Pete and Carson get out of the truck and hesitated before she did the same.
"Leave the bags in the truck for now." she told them both, her gaze locked on the house in front of her. The sound of Mickey Mouse was coming from inside, but no loud voices or laughing could be heard. Something was different. She could tell and she hadn't even been inside.
She took one shaky step after the other until she reached the door. She stopped though, when her hand was on the knob. Did she really want to do this? She was facing so much and putting herself through so much. Could she bare to see them again? She had caused them so much pain and hurt. She had left them to fend for themselves.
It wasn't my job to take care of them, she argued with herself. She shook her head to get rid of her thoughts though. She was going to do this. She had come all this way. She wasn't going to turn back now.
She turned the knob of the door and threw it open. Her eyes fought to get used to the light change and she saw big black dots for a moment. Her feet seemed to move on their own as they took her inside and towards the living room. And when she finally got there she almost collapsed.
There they were. All 5 of them. Minus Dally and Darry. They were there, waiting for her to get there. Someone reached forward and turned off the t.v making the room completely silent. She looked from one to the other, not able to take in any of this. She couldn't believe she was back in Tulsa. It was impossible.
She felt her eyes prickle and burn a bit, but she shook it off.
"Hi." she mumbled, looking at her feet.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Carson and Pete at her side. They gave her a bit of comfort, but not much.
"Maggie, before we start to visit and catch up..." Darry's voice started but trailed off. He appeared in front of her standing next to the couch.
"There's something I gotta tell you." he told her with a nod of his head.
"What?" Maggie asked, her voice was shaky and fear had over taken her nervousness. Was Dally dead?
"Dallas..." he trailed off again and looked at the rest of the gang and Maggie's heart fell. She needed to hear him say it though.
"Say it." she told him.
"Dallas is awake." Steve blurted out from beside Soda on the couch.
