Wow! This one took forever to write! I hope you enjoy! Any ideas for upcoming chapters? I love to hear your ideas!
Dustin was curled up at my feet and I was sipping hot chocolate when the phone rang. It startled me so badly, I almost dropped my drink.
"Hello? Rose Residence," I said formally.
"Carmen?" That's when I dropped my mug. Dustin jumped up and started licking my leg.
"Dad?" my voice wavered slightly. In the five-and-a-half months since I moved to Oklahoma I had not spoken to my father. Not once. He sent a letter to my mom asking about me but she did not reply to it. That was three months ago. A month after I quit calling him.
"Hey, kiddo…" his voice was just as I remembered, deep with a Southern accent from growing up in South Carolina. "How ya doin?"
I let my mouth hang open in pure shock. I couldn't reply. All that came out was a sigh-like breath.
"Carmen… Look, I'm sorry about what happened. With your mother and with Austin…" his voice sounded tight and desperate. "Carmen? Please just hear me out! I was a fool for letting you two go!" His voice came out in a wail.
"Daddy?" I finally managed. I'm only thirteen. I had lost my brother due to marriage (and stupidity) and almost lost my mother to alcohol (do I even need to mention the stupidity of this?). I was alone as far as family goes.
"Yes, baby girl. I want you to come home." The phone slipped from my ear and I held it against my chest like a weapon. I was no longer speechless.
"I can't Dad, I have a life here…" I protested. My fist clenched. How dare he! Just let up and leave and then beg for us to come back? Does he expect me to drop everything here and go?
Dad launched into a begging speech and I listened morosely. The front door banged open and happy-go-lucky voices filled the house.
"Carmen?" Ponyboy called softly.
"Dad, I'll have to call you back…" I said.
"No, no, darling. Not just yet! I feel like you'll forget me."
"I'll call you back." I replied simply and put the phone back on the receiver.
"Who was that?" Sodapop asked.
"My father," my voice burned with unshed tears. It went silent. Ponyboy's hand slid up my arm and gripped my shoulder. I smiled.
"That explains why you look like you just saw a ghost!" Two-Bit shouted and grinned like the goof-ball he is. Pony's arms slid around my shoulders and I leaned my back against his chest. Sodapop walked over put his hands between us and moved us about a foot apart.
"And that was for..?" I trailed off.
"None of that, ever." Sodapop reprimanded lightly. His tone was joking but his eyes were serious.
Kathy and Sandy came barging into my kitchen. "Have you tried those new jammies yet?" Kathy asked while nudging my in the ribs.
I blushed and shook my head 'no'.
"Pajamas? What kind of jammies?" Steve asked.
I must have blushed or something because Dallas grinned and said "Oh! Those kinds of things. I've always wondered what you wear in bed…"
"Dally!" I cried, mortified. Kathy snickered.
"Dude, that's my girlfriend," Ponyboy complained. That was the first time he'd called me that. His words echoed in my head like I was in a cave.
"Like you don't think the same things!" Dally put his fist against his hip and smirked.
"Not in my bed!" Soda exclaimed.
Ponyboy blushed right up to the roots of his hair. He stuttered out a denial and blushed some more. I giggled and whacked Dallas on the head with a wooden spoon.
"Breakfast anyone?" I asked, thankfully ending that topic.
February third: the day before my birthday, Ponyboy and I were watching movies in my living room when he asked me what I wanted as a present.
"Why would I want anything when I have you?" I murmured in his ear. It was a bit mushy but true all the same. He pulled me onto his lap and nuzzled against my neck.
"There has to be something. Please tell me?" he asked. I tried to clear my thoughts to no avail. It is awfully hard to think with his lips against my neck….What was the question again?
"You're turning fourteen! You'll be the same age as me," he grinned brightly at this fact.
"For four months," I pointed out. He turned fifteen at the beginning of June! He nodded and buried his face in my hair.
"So, seriously, what's caught your eye? A new jacket? A record?"
"Nope." I shrugged. Actually I hadn't been out since I went shopping with Kathy and Sandy, so nothing could catch my eye.
Ponyboy sighed in defeat. He moved his mouth to my cheek and then to the corner of my mouth…I turned so I could face him without breaking my back and our lips met with such force! His hands moved to my back and mine to his neck.
For some odd reason, nothing interrupted us this time. Normally by now we would be broken apart by something. Ponyboy took that as a sign to keep going. He shifted his weight till I was pressed into my couch and he was hovering over me. That's when he stopped. He blushed madly and apologized repeatedly while getting up. Not long after, Ponyboy made up some excuse where he had to leave.
I was shocked at how hurt I was that he left. I was even more shocked to realize how badly I didn't want him to leave…
I didn't write in my diary that night. Nor did I call my father back. I forgot about both. I showered and dressed rhythmically, like any other night. While lying in my bed though, excitement rushed through my veins. Tomorrow was my birthday! Dustin prowled into my room and sprawled out at the foot of my bed. The incident with Ponyboy earlier left adrenaline pulsating through me and new fantasies to posses my dreams.
I stretched and yawned, awoken by sunlight, not someone's yelling. It was a first. Curious as to why no one was here yet, I tip-toed through the hallway and into the kitchen. No one. "Guys?" I whispered warily. My voice echoed back to me. I snuck into the hallway and into my mother's bedroom.
"Mom?" Her bed was unmade and clothes were strewn across the ground.
"In here Sweetheart!" She called from the bathroom, where I could faintly hear the shower running. "What are you doing up so early? Couldn't contain your excitement?"
"I'm fourteen!" I cried happily. I heard her chuckle and the water shut off.
"Get dressed and I'll take you out for breakfast and shopping!"
I was dressed and ready in twenty minutes.
We entered the shopping center in Owasso, ten minutes north of Tulsa, and were delightfully surprised. The town was not quite as crowded as we were used to and the people were a bit nicer. My mother led me to a café that boasted it's 'family favorite pancakes.' My stomach growled in hunger. When I shushed it my mother laughed.
"You know, Austin did that when he was your age too."
"No, I didn't know that." I replied flippantly. Up until Austin was in high school, I was his shadow. We did everything together; it was more enjoyable with your other half. When the waitress came with our meals she must have over heard my mom praising my birthday, for my chocolate-chip pancakes had whipped cream and a candle on top. I blushed when everyone in the restaurant sang 'Happy Birthday' and congratulated me when I left.
"Four score and fourteen years ago…" my mother laughed then continued. "You were born at eleven-o'-six on February 4, 1949. You were supposed to be a boy…" Mom smiled wistfully. "We had to bring you home in a blue jumper with trains on the front."
I laughed at this too. She said the same thing every year, and I knew the speech by heart. "Your brother was so jealous that you took up all of our time, but he was also protective.
Once, someone from you dad's work called you a boy, and Austin threw the biggest fit!"
I grinned and continued for her, "He convinced you to put a pink bow in my hair until people could get my gender right."
We passed by store after store, talking about my past. When we had caught up to the present, Mom dabbed her eyes with a napkin. Her tears shinned like crystal on her cheeks.
"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked once we had gone through the mall.
"To the dress store!" I swear I heard the charge horn in my head. Du dun-du dun-du dun…charge!
We arrived at a shabby little store on the out skirts of Tulsa. "Half-off!" my mother cried in joy.
"Why do I need a dress anyways?" I complained as she dragged me into the shop.
"Cuz' a certain young man is taking you out to dinner on your first date!" she exclaimed. I halted. My first date? Oh, no! Not a date!
"A dinner date?" I squeaked.
"Just a special occasion, a birthday out with your boy," Mom shrugged indifferently.
Dresses lined the aisles with a shoe section and a jewelry one. It was like I was going to prom!
"What about this one?" my mother called.
"No! Do you know me at all mother?" I wailed, for she held up a pink puffy dress. I'd be called Princess Cotton-candy till the day I died.
I pawed through aisle after endless aisle…nothing. They were all floor-length with hoop skirts and in pastel colors. I was off to the ball; all I needed was the glass slippers. Oh, I should look to see if they sold glass slippers! Wouldn't that be awesome!
"This one?" I turned to find Mom holding up a flowing violet dress with a black satin sash. It didn't have the hoop skirt and would flow freely around my calves. The sash came up just under my bra and I could adjust how tight I wanted it.
I nodded in agreement and raced to the fitting rooms. It was perfect! The neck wasn't too low or too high, and it had a child-like aura to it.
"Here, honey! I grabbed a few more you might like." Suddenly, I was bombarded by skirt folds. Red, orange, black, and navy blue. I sighed, already content with what I had on but complied and tried on the others. Yet none pleased Mom. The red one was too tight. The black one was too low. The blue one I didn't like because it made me look huge. So, I had it narrowed down: the orange one and the violet one.
The orange one was the vibrant color of the sunset and had golden swirls along the skirt. The neck twist to the right, to make me look thinner and more mature. Other than that it was the same dress, with a gold sash too! I tried on both and twirled before the full length mirror. The skirt was the same on both, and both had the magical fairytale feeling.
"Shoes?" my mom called and threw two pairs of Converse over the door, one pair purple, and one pair gold.
"Ouch!" I muttered when one whacked me in the forehead.
We walked out of the store after almost two hours of indecision.
Mom unlocked our front door and let me in first. I could tell something was up before I even entered the house. Mom had seemed tense the entire way home. Her eyes flickered nervously before we entered. I was suddenly blinded as all the lights in my house turned on, as if by magic. "SURPRISE!"
I jumped back into my mother, startled. The gang, the girls, and a few friends from school grinned at my shocked expression. "Happy Birthday Carmen!"
I turned and whacked my mom playfully. "You knew about this?!"
She nodded and pointed at Sodapop. "He planned it. His idea."
I threw myself at Soda and practically knocked him to the ground. "Thank you! I've never had a surprise party before!"
"I know, you told me."
I didn't remember ever telling him that. I must have told him a while ago. We had orange birthday cake, my favorite. They sang and I blew out my fourteen candles.
"What did ya wish for?" Steve asked.
I grinned brightly and told him I would never tell. What did I wish for? The night to go smoothly and for me not to make a complete fool of myself.
"Present time!" Two-Bit yelled, just as excited as me. You would think it was his birthday too.
Boxes of all shapes and sizes were pilled by the fireplace, wrapped in bright, cheery colors. I greedily grabbed the largest one, wrapped in green with a pink bow on top. "That's from us!" Catherine grinned. Catherine, Sally, and Jessie were my best friends from school. I smiled back and tore of the paper as quickly as humanly possible. Everyone had gathered around, sitting cross-legged before me.
I opened the box and shrieked with delight. Inside were framed, black-and-white pictures. The ones I wanted to hang on my walls: One of the Empire State building in New York City, one of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and one of the Hollywood sign in California. I thanked her profusely and continued trough the presents. Sally had gotten me a new diary with a set of dog stickers to decorate it with. I enjoyed the simplistic childishness of the gift.
From a gray and white box, I revealed a new camouflage jacket with faux fur in the hood. "Do you like it?" Jessie asked anxiously.
"Ick! It's hideous!" I put my hand to my forehead dramatically. Her blue eyes widened and teared up. "Just kidding Jess! Don't cry!"
The gang all pitched in and bought me a necklace. It was gorgeous! A simple heart shaped pendant hung from a gold chain. I'll admit I welled up at the gift. Johnny had picked it out, I later discovered.
I picked up the next gift, a rectangular dark red one. Sylvia put her hand on mine and said quietly, "Don't open this until the guys leave." I put the box back down with shaking hands. I could only guess what lay inside.
My mother beamed and handed me two shopping bags. When we were out, she had sent me away while she went into shops alone. Now I knew why. "What is it? What is it?" Two-Bit cried, jumping up and down.
I pulled the tissue paper from the larger one and peered inside. On the bottom was a golden clutch-styled purse.
"Open it!" my mother urged. In the area for money, I pulled out a twenty dollar bill.
"I'm rich!" I laughed. I thanked Mom and grabbed the second bag. Inside were two of the books I wanted. "Thank you!" I cried, delighted.
"And these came in the mail." Mom handed me two UPS mail slips. The first one was addresses from California. Dad. I carefully opened the package and pulled out an envelope. Inside was a birthday card signed by my father…and a first class flight ticket to California. I'm not saying you need to stay, just visit your old man for a few days. I grinned, already planning what to pack.
The second mail slip was from Florida. Who could that be? I put my hand inside and grabbed hold of the smaller envelope. Why couldn't they just mail the damn envelope? It would cost less money!
My dearest sister was scrawled across the purple envelope in elegant hand-writing. Austin. With more force than necessary I pulled the card from its sheath. Inside, was a twenty and a picture of Austin and his new wife in front of a cottage. Wishing you a marvelous fourteenth! Visit any time!
I had to try very hard not to rip it to pieces. Pain in my ass.
Ponyboy smiled and sat down to my right, handing me a long, blue, velvet jewelry box. I opened the lid and my breathe caught.
Nestled inside was a charm bracelet, complete with charms. I gently fingered the chain, moving the charms. Near the clasp was a silver and red book; to the right was a black Mickey Mouse head. A dog bone, a golden heart and a horse. "What's the horse for?" asked Sodapop, who was leaning over my shoulder.
"It's a pony not a horse." I replied. Ponyboy smiled and put the bracelet on my left wrist.
"I knew you'd get it," Ponyboy said.
Everyone stayed for awhile, until my mother and the girls ushered me into my room. "Cinderella! It's time for the ball!" Kathy grinned.
"Where is he taking me anyway?" I asked.
"To La Chateau," my mother replied while shoving me into my dress.
"La who?" I questioned. I hissed in pain as Sylvia burned my scalp with a curling iron.
"Chateau!" Mom answered, looking at me as if I had lost my sanity.
"It's this fancy Italian place on Fokker Boulevard. It's really romantic and it has a dance floor, and everything!" Sandy sighed, lost in thought.
"Oh! Two-Bit took me there a few weeks ago! Try the Peach Sparkler!" Kathy suggested. I nodded, that sounded good…whatever it was.
"And the chocolate mousse is divine," Sylvia purred.
"Carmen! We're dying out here!" Steve called, banging on the door.
"In a minute!" I snapped.
I was finally aloud to leave the confines of my prison. I had chosen the orange and gold dress, complete with my golden shoes, new necklace, and charm bracelet. My clutch firmly in my right hand. .Sandy had done my make-up this time. Gold eye shadow had been dusted on my eyelids, and I had been poked in the eye numerous times while she outlined my eyes in black.
Ponyboy's mouth just about hit the floor. He took my arm and led me out the door.
"Not too late you two! I'll be there at midnight, Cinderella!" my mother called as she followed us closely. She had volunteered to drive us and pick us up, but she was going to work once she dropped us off at home. I was going to be all alone tonight…just great.
Review, review, review! Pretty please...