I do not own The Outsiders.
. . .
Steve's Pov.
As I left Evie's room and walked into the waiting room I felt like a
huge weight had been lifted off my chest; I could fill my lungs fully
and not even feel a twinge of the mass that engulfed my stomach
before. Well not as much as before anyways.
It still got to me that they had tried...I mean it's good they didn't,
golly I don't what I'd do if they had of, but someone tried to. I
blamed myself, I should've just told her to run the second the car
pulled up.
Soda stood when I walked in the waiting room, Evie's little brother
latched onto him.
He walked up to me, Sam dropping off of him and running to his mom a
few short steps behind me. I greeted Soda with a small grin.
On the car ride back Soda kept shooting me looks from behind the
wheel. I sighed, I knew he'd want to know the deal. "The doctor
said...he said that there was evidence that she might've
been...raped," I finally got out and glanced at Soda to see his
reaction. Although calm I could see his hands tighten on the wheel.
"Might've been, so was she?" he asked finally.
I nodded my head no. "She said they tried to though never did, but. . ."
"You don't know if she's telling the truth." he finished. I nodded in
agreement.
"I mean the doc said there was evidence, so why'd there be evidence if
they didn't?" I asked, both to Soda and to me. I didn't know too much
about how these things worked, what even would count as evidence?
Soda shrugged. "Beats me, but I don't think this is the type of thing
people would lie about, right? I mean it's a pretty big deal."
After a minute of thinking I nodded my head in agreement. I mean Evie
wouldn't hide something like this from me...unless maybe they were
threatening her. What if-
No what ifs, I scolded myself. Your acting like Ponyboy, letting your
imagination running away from you like that.
I looked back out the window convinced that nothing happened; or maybe
just convinced that I was convinced.
. . .
I waved bye to Soda as he peeled the truck away from the curb after
letting me off at my place. Turning around I walked towards the front
door of my house.
It was small, smaller than the Curtis', and three times more run down
looking. At their place they had Darry to fix up the roof and yard,
but here the only person that could replace the missing shingles or
fix the broken shutters was me, maybe Dad but the dead would be
walking before he choose to do work, and even with that I was no
Darry. Maybe sometimes I gave myself the illusion I cared; but
honestly what was a few shingles?
Despite the fact the Curtis' had three, practically seven, boys living
in it, the inside of their place was cleaner than mine. They all had
enough decancy to clean up after themselves, most the time at least.
And when they didn't someone else would. Here beer bottles, both
broken and intact, covered the floors and table surfaces, along with
whatever else had been collected over the years. I didn't clean, there
was no point, it would be just as messy as it was in a few days.
Sometimes I caught ma cleaning a little, but that was only once or
twice, and back before she looked old and weary, before her eyes were
dead.
I made my way up to my room as quiet as a church mouse; I didn't know
where my folks were and I don't think I wanted to spend the night at
the Curtis', too many questions, and even worse, pity.
Pity. The thing I hated most in the world. The way people looked at
you; the way they spoke, it makes me want to scream at them and yell
that I'm not some kid.
Once when I was younger, middle school, I went to school without my
homework. Sure I didn't do it too much then, I don't now either, but
the point was I did do it, it was just at home. When your old man is
chasing you out of the house waving a beer bottle, let me tell you,
your homework is at the very back of your mind.
When the teacher asked us to hand it in everyone went to the front of
the class, absolutly everyone, but me. Sometimes if almost no one in
your class does the work there's no punishment, but since I was the
only one I knew I was going to get stuck with a detention.
So after everyone else I made it to the front of the class and told
the teacher not only that I did do it, but why I didn't have it. I
remember being half way through the sentance when that sinking feeling
went through my stomach and I wondered why the hell o was telling her
that.
After a few stutters and meshed together words I finally finished, red
faced and sweaty. She just looked at me and told me to sit down. I
might have got out of detention, but with all her silent pity looks
she shot me from her desk while she thought I was working I would have
rathered dententions for the rest of the year.
As I flopped out onto my mattress and watched the ceiling I heard the
front door open and shut. Not even a minute later they started
yelling; cussing and threatening at eachother like they were at war.
I shut my eyes and tried to block out the voices. Sleep didn't come
easy but it did eventually come, though it was filled with such
dangerous visions and thoughts that I wish I was awake and listening
to my folks go at it instead.
After a long night of tossing and turning I finally awoke to a rising
sun and silent house. I breifly wondered when they stopped.
I didn't have anywhere I really needed to go so I slipped on my shoes
and walked aimlessly through the neighbourhood and sorted out my
thoughts. I knew I'd have to see the gang again eventually so I'd grab
some breakfast there, maybe see what Soda was up to. I'd visit Evie
later in the day and then get to the DX for my shift.
My day planned I headed for my first destination. A set mind is in my
opinion the best to have; when there's too much room left there's
space for memories best forgotten to sneak up on you.
. . .
Evie Pov.
I took a sharp intake of breath when I was sure something move beside me,
but nothing did. It was just another shadow, scaring me to death on
just another night.
The days have gone by slowly, the nights even slower. I never felt
safe, I always felt exposed, like he was watching me, waiting for his
chance.
The only times I felt safe was when someone was with me, which was
rather often. Everyday I could count on Steve and sometimes Soda,
Sandy and Sam (sometimes dragging ma behind him) to pop in. Nurses and
doctors always filtered in and out of my room, all day long.
Even with my friends I wasn't completly at ease though, what if they
saw through my paper thin lies and found out the truth? What would
they think of me? Everytime I caught Steve studying me with his dark
eyes my heart caught in my throat, did he know, or was I suddenly so
utterly repulsive looking he changed his mind, realized he'd didn't
want a pig for a girlfriend, like they'd said? I couldn't shake my
worried away, the daytime was hell.
But then the nights. The nights were different. The nights were long
and lonesome, the outside world as dead to me as I was to them. The
nights were were filled with demons and ghouls.
I was scared to close my eyes, because when I did I'd see him, but
with them open I saw the looming shadows that seemed to shift and move
that froze me to my soul in fear.
Hopefully that'd all change when I go home tommorrow. The doctors said
I could, at nine o'clock AM tomorrow I could go home with my own bed
and room and house...
But until then I'm here, all alone with my nightmare.
. . .
I couldn't add much else without making it too long.
Evie returning home next chapter! How badly has this really
effected her?
Thank you so much:
-wishuy
-Believe In Something Bigger
-Independance Undervalued
-Diehardoutsiderfan
For reviewing! You guys really are my inspiration!
Please review :)