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Chapter 9

Banging from the door wakes me the next morning. "Darry I can't…WHAT THE HELL?!" The door slams back shut as Darry jerks up beside me, guarding me from that direction. Soda's nervous voice comes through the door. "Uh…sorry…Darry where did you put the clean pressed clothes?"

Darry shakes his head, flopping back down on the bed with an arm over his eyes. "Clean uniform is in your closet, on the back of the door. Socks and shoes are by the front door."

"Thanks!" Footsteps fade as Soda heads away from the door and down the hall to his room to get ready for work. Darry just lays there unmoving. I hesitantly touch his bicep, which flexes under my touch before relaxing at my voice. "Darry…?"

He lifts his arm from his face. "Well that sucked."

"I'm sorry."

He looks at me confused. "For what?"

I look down at my lap as I fiddle with the sheets, my hair covering my face. I shrug once. "Soda catching me in here? I won't stay anymore. I'll…just go."

My feet had so much as touched the floor when two strong arms go around my waist and a body is pressed against mine. "No, Esmeralda wait. It's okay. Don't go."

"Darry?"

"I don't care if the guys know about us. I care about you." He turns me to face him, his hand coming up to cup my cheek and places his forehead to mine softly. "You mean a lot to me."

I smile. "You mean a lot to me too Darry."

He smiles, kissing me softly before we get up. I run to my room and change before heading into the living room, where the gang's spread out. I hear the water running so I assume Darry is in the shower. I flop down on the couch by Johnny and lay my head over on his shoulder. He turns his head with a chuckle. "Morning."

"Good morning. What's for breakfast?"

Dally's voice causes my body to freeze. "Whatever you can scrounge up. Not much left."

Then it hits me. They can hardly get by just the three of them. I can't stay here. I have no means to help pay bills. What am I doing here?

"You can leave when you want you know. You've got no reason to stay." Dally's voice catches me off guard.

"Wha.."

His cold glare chills me. "You asked what you're doing here. I gave you an answer."

I glare, standing. "I was thinking. I am here because I love you all. This has become home, you all have become family. I am not, nor will I ever leave. Now if you'll just shut the fuck up and leave me alone, I'm going to find a job."

With that I march out of the house with a blown kiss to Darry as he enters the room.

I run in the house full blast and leap into Darry's waiting arms, laughing. He spins me around and I kiss him loudly. He puts me down with a shocked smile, arm still around my waist. "Esmer…"

"I got a job!"

"What?"

I pull him to the couch where we sit down. "I wasn't having any luck so I walked into this newer looking place for some lunch. The owner was there and offered me a job. Apparently they are low on help. I start next week. My training starts tomorrow!"

He hugs me close and kisses my temple. "That's great honey. I'm proud of you."

I pull away smiling when it suddenly dawns on me. "What are you doing home from work? It's only two."

He stands up, avoiding my gaze. "Nothing. Come on lets go get some food. Cabinets are looking bare."

With that he walks out to the truck. I trail behind and jump in beside him. On the way to the store I tried multiple times to get him to tell me what had made him come home early. He'd just shrug off the question and change the subject. Finally I just gave up looked out the window until we reached the store, Handing him half the list, I head to the opposite end of the store to get the items on my half of the list. If he doesn't want to talk to me I won't force him. I finished before he did and used what little money I had left to pay for my things and head back out to the truck. I'd made Darry get the cold things so I wasn't worried about the food. It wasn't long before Darry comes out and puts his load in the back. He turns to me when he gets behind the wheel. I refuse to look at him, keeping my gaze out the windshield. "Esmeralda?"

"Hn." So far so good.

I hear his deep sigh before the truck starts and heads in the direction of the Curtis house. I can hear the commotion of the guys inside so I just grab all the bags I can and head inside and to the itchen before anyone can talk to me. After putting up my portion of the groceries, I start to make dinner. "Hey guys, soup and cornbread okay for tonight?"

I get a chorus of 'yeahs' and 'sures' so I set out to make homemade chicken noodle soup and cornbread. Its not long before Ponyboy and Johnny come in the kitchen and sit at the table. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just tired of the noise. My head hurts." Pony lays his head sideways on the table, sighing as his face touches the cool surface. I stop chopping veggies and go over, feeling his forhead. "Honey you're burning up! Here take this, " I grab a rag and run it under cold water before putting some ice in it and handing it to him. "And go to bed. I'll come check on you when supper is ready. Go on."

I follow him into the living room. I put my hand on my hips and glare at the boys in the room. "Listen up!" They all turn towards me. I don't usually raise my voice at everyone at once unless I have something important to say. "Ponyboy has a headache and is off to rest. Be quiet."

Dally opens his mouth but quickly shuts it with a glare from me. "I swear if any of you bother him I will beat you and won't cook for you for a month!"

The guys eyes grow and they nod quickly in understanding. I turn to Ponyboy with a soft smile. He's stopped at the doorway to the hall to listen to me. "Go on and rest honey and I'll bring check on you soon. Call for one of these idiots to get me if you need anything okay?"

He smiles softly at me, tiredly. "Thanks Es."

I smile at his retreating back and when I hear the click of his door shutting I turn to Soda. "Will you check on him in a few minutes and make sure he's resting and not reading or something."

Soda nods with a small smile. I pat his shoulder as I pass and head back into the kitchen. Johnny is pouring the chopped veggies into the pot of soup. When he notices me standing there he stops, embarrassed. "I hope that's what you meant to do. I finished chopping them while you helped Pony."

I hug him. "You did just right. Thank you. Do you know how to make cornbread?"

He nods and I smile. "Can you mix it for me please? I have to make the chicken for the soup."

He shakes his head and that's how it went. He'd asked a question here or there but we pretty much worked smoothly together with slight conversation. When the cornbread was pulled out. I warned Johnny to keep the boys out until I called them to supper and fixed a bowl for Ponyboy and a small piece of cornbread. The guys hardly made a noise so for a reward I made chocolate cake. We haven't had it in a few days. I slowly open the door to see Pony sleeping soundlessly. If it wasn't for the fact I knew he hadn't ate today I'd let him sleep. I put the food on the nightstand and gently shake his shoulder. "Ponyboy, honey wake up and eat."

He slowly sits up and begins to eat with a small thank you. I wait until he's done, just talking quietly with him before collectiong his dirty dishes. Just as I reach the door I hear his soft voice. "I'm happy you're here."

I smile, tears in my eyes. "Me too Pony, me too."