I know I said i'd put this up on tuesday but ... i decided to put it on today!! haha. Enjoy!
Chapter Four
We stood outside the drug store with Pepsis and chips. This was our idea of a meal. After we ate, we just roamed around town, fooling around, and at midnight Pony headed home. Johnny and I lay sprawled out on the grass in the park. We all were sure spending a lot of time there lately, mostly because the Lot was too hard to lie on. I fell into sleep thinking of my life and hating it.
I jerked awake hearing happily screaming little kids. I opened my eyes to meet the bright full-blown sun. What time is it? I sat up quickly, unsticking my shirt from my back.
The park was full of little kids playing and lovers walking hand-in-hand. How stupid we must have looked sleeping on the ground. I looked over and Johnny was facing the opposite direction and blinking the sleep out of his eyes. Confused, he sat up too.
"What the …"
I got to my feet and realised I was completely soaked. Stupid morning dew! Now fully awake, Johnny followed suit and stretched.
"What now?" he muttered.
"Gotta check on Jen and Sam!"
He stopped and stared at me with big sad eyes. "River …"
Then I remembered and almost burst out in tears. "Oh …" I moaned, rubbing my face.
"I'm sorry," he basically whispered.
He was so quiet! But I couldn't complain (not that I was) 'cause I was just as quiet! People bugged me about it everywhere I went but they didn't know what I went through. That was something I liked about the guys Johnny hung around – they understood and didn't bug us. And they basically adopted me. They always told me I was part of the gang but I felt like I was intruding. Johnny and Pony assured me they liked having me there but the part of my brain that just couldn't trust people convinced me they lied.
"Wanta go to Pony's?"
I nodded.
We didn't even knock, just walked in. Pony was in the kitchen, Two-Bit was sitting on the floor in front of the TV, and Dally was lying on the couch. They all looked over and grinned widely. Dally jumped from the couch and came over to us.
"Hey Johnnycake, how're you doing?" he asked eagerly.
Two-Bit and Pony appeared behind him.
"Fine," Johnny muttered, getting uncomfortable with all the attention.
"So River, how you dealing?" Two-Bit asked seriously (very rare).
I shrugged, avoiding all eye contact.
"Are you living with an aunt or something?"
"My uncle."
Dally glanced over at me then back to Johnny. "Haven't seen you in about two weeks, huh? Yeah, damn cops!"
Two-Bit ignored him telling his story. "Ever notice the similarities between all our dads? I mean either they're not in our lives or they junky, right? I mean, Darry, Soda, and Pony's Dad is dead," (Pony hung his head), "Steve's Dad kicks him out basically every night they fight so much, Johnny's Dad beats him up, my Dad just up and left," (he glared), "who knows where Dally's Dad is, and yours …" He faded off.
Though I appreciated Two-Bit calming down for a second and coming to a conversational level with others, I wished everyone would quit talking about me and my … family.
I think he got the hint though because he nodded and sat back down in front of the television. Pony had headed into the kitchen so I followed him. He stood at the sink washing dishes.
"Can I help?" I asked calmly.
He looked up. "Ah, no, I got it!"
"Seriously, I can get it done real quick!" I exclaimed, rolling up my sleeves, "I had to learn to do them fast 'cause I was too scared to take my eyes off Sam and Jen for too long or …" I stopped and shifted my eyes.
"Uh … Really, I can do this!"
"Fine! I just … wanted to … do something."
He nodded understandingly. "Well, you can eat some cake!"
I smiled, grabbed a plate and fork, and sat down at the table. Johnny entered when I was halfway done and sat across from me looking sad.
"Do you think your uncle noticed you're gone now?" he asked gently.
My fork froze in midair. "Probably," I muttered, looking out of the corner of my eye at the floor, "He's probably gone through my … stuff … by now. He probably wants me to cook for him and … stuff." I sighed heavily, shivering at the thought. Then suddenly I realised all the prized possessions I'd taken (puppet socks, book, and pillow case) were at that house in that room with that guy!! I dropped the fork and sat up straight, my eyes wide. "I gotta go get …" I couldn't even finish; I was already halfway out of the chair before Johnny figured out I was leaving.
"Wait, where are you going?"
I didn't reply, heading for the door quickly.
"I'll come!!" he exclaimed and caught up to me.
"Er … Bye!" I said softly to Two-Bit, Dally, and Pony, as I ripped open the door and bolted out.
"River, where are you going?" Johnny asked as he trailed me.
"My … uncle's!"
"Why?"
"You'll see."
When we finally reached the house, we were both gasping for air. Johnny was a smoker and I was not in the best shape ever. I was a stick and all but that was from lack of food not exercising. I motioned to Johnny to be quiet as I peeked in the window. Rick (uncle) was lying on the couch with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other, watching TV. I raced across and climbed up onto the porch roof.
"Just stay there!" I whispered to Johnny, "I'll be right back!"
Just as he nodded, my foot broke through the old and dirt cheap roof. Johnny jumped, startled.
"No!" I groaned, trying to free my leg.
I could hear Rick swearing and rustling around inside. Johnny climbed up and tried to help.
"No, no, no …" I spat as I heard the front door open, "What if he … No … Run! Johnny run!"
He stared at me with big eyes. "What?"
"He might …"
But I was interrupted by a loud, "Who are you, boy!!"
All the blood drained from Johnny's face and his eyes grew the hugest I'd ever seen them.
"No!!" I cried as Rick ran over, grabbed the collar of Johnny's jean jacket, and ripped him off the side of the porch.
Awww ... poor Johnny!! 'Kay, thanks for reading, and please review!!
