Disclaimer: I dont own The Outsiders.
Chapter 8
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The next few days went by slow. Pony became sick, and I had to stay and watch after my twin. We both missed school, only he had a lot more makeup work than me. It turns out some soc kicked him in the head and gave him a concussion. Anytime the words 'Johnny', 'Dally', or 'bologna' were said, he'd get either sick, or panic.
Since Ponyboy wasn't feeling well, and Soda and Darry worked, I had to go pickup our school work that we've missed. I'd rather not go into the school after what's happened, but I knew I had to. I decided to wait until Pony fell asleep, seeing as when he did fall asleep, he slept for a long time, and never woke up easily.
As soon as Pony went back asleep, I wrote a note explaining to him where I was going, and then I left. I took a detour towards one of the second hand stores. In the display was an old slightly beat up guitar. It didn't look fancy or anything like the pro's had, but somehow it just seemed to fit my personality.
Music's always been something I loved, ever since I was little. It started when I was five, when mom taught me to play the piano. She taught me the basics, and from there I built upon other instruments, from what I've learned with the piano. I wanted to try drums after piano, but mom forbid me to learn drums. She said with Sodapop in the house, it'd be a migraine from hell.
Months later I was at one of Darry's school concerts, and instantly, I fell in love with the guitar. I just loved the way how you could do so much with one instrument. Mom tired to find lessons, but all of the lessons were too expensive. I took a few with the school, but I could never afford a guitar, or professional lessons.
I stared at the piece of wood, then I touched it, and plucked some strings. I knew it was out of tune. I didn't care though, I just wanted that guitar more than anything. But I knew better than to want something I don't need. Or have Darry and Soda spend money on something that won't help us.
"You buying anything missy?"
I turned around to find the store owner staring at me. I must've been staring in the window for a while. "N-no sir. I was just looking."
"Then quit lookin and buy something. That guitar there's on sale. Only 39.95 It's in pretty bad shape, but it don't effect the tune much."
"I have to go." I walked out the door and on my way to the school to pick up the work.
I went into the office and waited as a secretary was filing papers.
"May I help you?" She asked.
"May I have the makeup work for Ponyboy Curtis?"
She handed me the folder's with his work, and as I left I heard a familiar voice call out.
"Misty!"
I turned to see who it was. It was Dani.
"Hey."
" I didn't see you in class where were you?"
" oh I was picking up Pony's makeup work. We're not going to be in school this week. Because of what happened." I said staring at the floor.
" Im terribly sorry about your friends. I heard about the court case. Do you think your gonna be able to stay?"
I was beginning to get uncomfortable " I hope so. I love living with my brothers. I wouldn't want anything to be any other way. Listen I have to go." I began to walk away as she called my name again.
"Misty?"
"Yea?"
"My mom said if you ever need a 'motherly figure' that you can always talk to her."
Dani handed me her number and walked off.
I stuck the number in my pocket and left the building. It was getting annoying how people would tell me " You poor dear, if you ever need motherly advice just call." It'd be from random people I don't even know. They always sounded as if me living with my brothers was going to have an effect on my growing up or something. Many girls only have fathers, and they turn out fine.
When I got home, I found Pony sitting on the couch watching tv. It was a weird sight, seeing as Pony didn't watch much tv. The doctors said though, that he shouldn't read for the first few days seeing as it'd make him dizzy or something.
Later that night the four of us had a more talkative dinner than we've had in a while. Darry was instructing us at what to do and not do in court tomorrow. It was the usual talk we'd get before something like this. He'd tell Soda to sit still, Pony was told to not bit his nails, or crack his knuckles, or any of his habits. He wasn't even aloud to bring his cigarette anywhere near the court. I was told to not talk unless spoken too, no sassing back, or anything like that. That night, the 3 of us were told to go to bed early. Really early.
"Darry! Its too early. Its only 9:15! half the town's still awake!"
"Misty go to sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow."
I sighed. I was the only only one fighting back. Soda already went to sleep, seeing as he had a really long day at work , and Pony was sick and had been sleeping on and off all day. I gave in and crawled under the covers and fell asleep.
The next morning I was awaken, as what felt as if too soon. It was only 6 in the morning, which was too early for me, seeing as the case started at 10. Darry pulled the covers off my bed, and opened the blinds in my room. The sun shone brightly into the darken room.
"Rise and shine Mist."
I pulled the covers back on and groaned, as Darry pulled them off again.
"Darrel let me sleep." I whined trying to reach for the covers. He pulled them completely off my bed and threw the covers on the floor, so I couldn't get them.
"Mistina Curtis, get up now." He said in a stern voice, "We leave in an hour and a half"
I obeyed, getting up grumpily. I hated him using my full name. My name sounded really stupid put together like that, but its even worse when he adds in my middle name.
When Darry left the room, I went over to the closet, and pulled out one of my nicest dresses. It was one of my mom's old dresses, that was pale blue. I didn't like dresses much, but I managed to wear one anyways. I then brushed my hair, and secured the blond locks with a barrette. Staring into the mirror, I knew the person staring back looked no where near how I'd dress.
I went into the living room where Darry was inspecting us. He was making sure we looked our best and was appropriate. Soda and Pony were dressed in their best suits(and only), and had very little grease in their hair.
After "inspecting" us we got into the truck and headed to the court. As childish as it sounds, Pony and I fell asleep, and didn't wake up until we got there.
When we got there we walked up the marble stair case to the room we were supposed to be in. It was almost 10 as everyone else came in. A little after ten the Judge came in, and I could see Pony tense up.
I started to zone out, ignoring everything that the judge said. Every once in a while I would hear the words "Ponyboy" and "socs" and sometimes "jumped". I wasn't paying attention though. I tired, but somehow I started to count ceiling tiles or something and I got distracted. I didn't have a very good attention span, which never helped.
The last half hour was where I started to stop zoning out. I payed better attention, and I found that it was self defense. Ponyboy was off the hook. The real worry though, was where they were going to put him.
"Case closed, I put him in the care of his older brother, Darrel"
The three of us cheered, and ran out to go hug our brother. Darry was in a very good mood that day, as was the rest of us. He told us after court, that he planned a "Curtis day". He said it was a day where the gang wasn't going to interfere, and we were going to do things as a family.
None of us asked why or anything like that. We were just glad to be all together.
Our first stop was to The Dingo. We haven't ate there in a while and we could kinda afford it, so we ate there anyways. I always ordered a burger and fries, and usually a mountain dew or Coke. Darry and Soda said if we were eating with the queen of England, I'd probably order the same thing.
We were just swapping stories and being as random as we possibly could get. I have to admit, it felt good to be acting more like siblings than feeing like Darry was our "parent". It felt good to watch Sodapop be care free, and to see Darry cracking a smile every now and then. It felt like old times.
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Im sorry if it took so long. I had exams, then a mix of writers block kicked in.Followed by new classes. So if the end of the chapter felt "incomplete" its because of the writers block. Now, I did have ideas, just..they were too far down the road to be included into this chapter.
-Comsie
