A/N thank you to everyone who left reviews last chapter. I tried to write this quickly, which was a lot easier because I'm on spring break right now. Any who, hope you enjoy this chapter. As always, anything you recognize, I don't own.
Darry's alarm wakes me up in the morning. I get up and realize two things very quickly. One that it was a Monday, and two one of us would have to go to work. I turn the alarm off and leave Darry sleeping. I check in with Soda and he is also sleeping. I shower and get dressed quickly. I leave a note on the kitchen table next to my grocery list letting Darry know I was going to work, and I might be home late. I grab my bag from behind the couch, where they kept all of their bags and shoes, and made my way down the street. It's about a ten minute walk to the bus stop, but I didn't mind it too much. It's still nice out, but you could tell winter is coming by the new crispness in the air. The bus showed up exactly at 5:50 and I made my way to a seat. The bus was mostly empty, student's didn't start getting on the city buses until later in the morning. I look out the window, watching the houses flash by. I get off on the opposite side of town. It takes me about thirty minutes to walk the rest of the way to the Sheldon's house.
I pause at the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon had given me a key and told me I could just let myself in whenever, but today felt different so instead I ring the doorbell. It reminds me of when I interviewed for the job nearly two years ago. It was at the end of January and there was a cold rain coming down in sheets.
I expect Mrs. Sheldon to open the door, but it's Mr. Sheldon. He waves me in silently, and I follow him to the back of the house. Mrs. Sheldon is sitting at the kitchen table with papers and tissues surrounding her.
"We didn't think you would show up," Mr. Sheldon says sitting down next to his wife. I join them at the table.
"Why wouldn't I? If anything now is the proper time for me to be here. I think I can be a lot of help," I say carefully. Mrs. Sheldon starts to cry harder.
"And why would you think that?" Mr. Sheldon snaps.
"I'm not sure how aware you are of my personal life, as it has never been something we have discussed," I start slowly, trying to keep the ice out of my words. "When I graduated high school, my boyfriend and I both had scholarships to go to Oklahoma University. Less than a month after graduation, his parents died. He dropped his scholarship to fight for the custody of his younger brothers. All summer he worked to keep his family, and I helped him, and his brothers stay grounded. At the end the summer, when most kids our age were heading off to college he was looking for a job. I went to OU for a week before dropping out. Everyday I would take care of the house and his younger brothers while he worked two, sometimes three, jobs even though we had broken up when I went off to OU. Every night I would sit up with the two younger brothers as they had nightmares about their parents death. Once they were able to sleep through the night, I started looking for a job. I don't know if you would call me qualified, sir, but I have plenty experience in this," I finish, wiping away a stray tear. I had to stop often while telling them to control my emotions.
It still hurt to talk about Mr. and Mrs. Curtis. Mr. Curtis was a better version of my own father and a near copy of Darry. Mrs. Curtis, however, taught me everything she thought I would need to know. Even though they were young parents, and living in not the best neighborhood, Mrs. Curtis still believed in being the best housewife. She believed that Darry and I would get married one day, and for a while I believed that too. I never realized how much she taught me until Pony was complaining about his stomach hurting and Soda had oil coating all of his clothes and I knew I could help them. By the one year anniversary of their deaths, some people around the neighborhood were saying that they couldn't even tell they were gone because Darry and I made such good replicas of them. I didn't like it when they would say things like that. I knew I could never be as great at Mrs. Curtis.
"I never knew," Mrs. Sheldon cries, walking around the table and wrapping her arms around me, "You poor child."
"It hasn't been an easy two years," I agree.
"Momma," Maria says walking into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Mrs. Sheldon starts sobbing. I sigh and get up to go over to Maria. The Sheldon's weren't the best parents by any standard. They would go away often without letting anyone know. There would be some nights where I would stay over because they were missing in action. Sometimes I worry about Tony and Maria. They were both so young, and they barely saw their parents. Tony was the worst off. I started working for them just as he was born, and I think he saw more of me than he saw of his mother. It was sad, but it was also common in both Soc and greaser neighborhoods. Soc parents were away often doing lord knows what and some greaser parents would leave their children as soon as they could fend for themselves. That never would happen in the neighborhood I grew up in. Mom's would work as secretaries or teachers until they had their first kid, and then they stayed at home, having more kids and raising the family. I remember my mom taking me to the neighborhood park with other kids my age everyday and all of the moms would sit on a blanket and watch.
"Hi Maria," I say picking her up. Maria wraps her legs around my hips and rest her head on my shoulder. I walk upstairs with her and bring her to her room. I set her down on her bed and sit down next to her. "Maria, what's wrong?" I ask.
"I want my brother back," Maria says. "Kitty, can you brwing back my brother?" I smile slightly at the nick name. The gang would never let me live it down if they knew.
"I'm sorry honey, I can't," I say sadly, holding her in a hug. Maria starts crying and doesn't stop. I hold her until she falls asleep, and then lay her down in her bed. I make my way down the hall to where I know Tony and Paulie are. I look in on Tony, and he is asleep in his cot. He will never know he had an older brother besides Paulie. I move his favorite toy, a stuffed pig that Bob gave him, closer to mother hated that toy, she thought it was disgusting for Tony to be sleeping with a stuffed pig, but Bob found it hilarious. I leave the door ajar and continue down the hall. I open the door to Paulie's room to see Paulie climbing in his window. I sit down on his bed and wait for him the start talking. When he doesn't, I start the conversation.
"I'm not mad, I just want to know where you went," I start.
"Why do you even care?!" Paulie shouts, "You're just a greaser slut!"
"Paulie," I warn, standing up.
"Do you know what they are saying?! Greasers killed my brother! Greaser you hang out with, that you live with! How do I know you didn't get your friends to kill him so you could get more money from my parent, huh? I bet you knew my brother was going to die!" Paulie screams at me. I take a step back, not expecting that from him. There had always been a rivalry between the social classes, but it normally didn't get heated until high school. Tulsa had four junior high schools that combined into Will Rogers, so you only saw the kids from your neighborhood in junior high.
"Paulie, I'm going to ask you again, where did you go last night?" I ask stepping closer to him. I can smell whiskey on him.
"Out," Paulie says stubbornly.
"With who?"
"Doesn't matter," Paulie shrugs.
"Yes it does," I insist, "I need to know who was giving a junior high kid alcohol."
"How did you know?"
"As you mentioned so kindly I live with greasers. I'm also seven years older than you, I know what whiskey smells like. So, who were you out with?" I ask again. Paulie moves across his room and sits down on the bed looking defeated. There were times that Paulie reminded me of Ponyboy because they were both so stubborn. Stop that, I tell myself, don't think about Pony right now.
"Uh, Randy Anderson and his friends," Paulie says uncertainly.
"High schoolers? That's rich, Paulie. Great idea. What were you thinking?"
"They said they would tell me what happened to Bob," Paulie says looking down.
"And did you like what they told you?" I ask.
"They said they were all jumped by greasers and one of them killed him," Paulie says quietly. I sit down next to him.
"And did you believe them?"
"I don't know, I've never heard of socs getting jumped before. And none of them looked hurt."
"You're probably right. I've never heard of a greaser jumping a soc," I lie. It happened plenty recently. It was one of Dally favorite pass times when he could get someone to go with him. "Paulie, what do you think is the difference between socs and greasers?"
"Money, I guess," he shrugs.
"Money makes socs better than greasers?" I ask, Paulie nods. "Does that mean you are better than your sister because you get a bigger allowance? Or Maria is more important than Tony because she gets an allowance and Tony doesn't?"
"No way! We are all family, we are equal. It doesn't matter!" Paulie insists. I smile slightly.
"Than wouldn't you agree that it doesn't matter if someone on the playground has less money than you. Or if someone got a bigger paycheck than your dad."
"Money shouldn't matter," Paulie states.
"Promise me you will always remember that, okay?"
"Yeah, okay."
"Thank you," I say, pulling him in for a hug. After a moment he hugs me back. Paulie's a good kid.
"Catie, can I ask you a question?" Paulie asks as I make my way to the door. I turn around and wait. "Do you know when they are going to have the funeral?"
"I don't know," I tell him honestly. "I'm sure it will be soon. And no matter when it happens you are going to have to be there for your sister, she doesn't really understand what's going on."
"Oh, okay," Paulie says, laying down on his bed. I sigh and leave the room. It was getting later in the day, but the kids deserved to have a sleep in. I make my way downstairs looking for Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon. I find Mr. Sheldon sitting in his office.
"Excuse me sir," I say standing at the doorway.
"I know who you boyfriend is," he says blankly.
"Excuse me," I say in shock. "I'm not dating anyone right now."
"From your story," he explains, "You used to date the eldest Curtis. A buddy of mine is the football coach and told me all about his star player who dropped everything to take care of his family. Sunday, after we heard what had happened to Robert, I called the number you gave me. A Curtis kid picked up. That evening the cops were telling me about how they have a lead on two suspects, one of them a Curtis. Do you care to explain this Catherine?"
"I'm sorry sir," I start out, "I gave you that number because I still live with Darry, the eldest Curtis. But we aren't dating. I'm not sure what happened between Bob and Ponyboy. I only found out Saturday morning when the cops came by. Please sir, I am speaking the truth. I have no idea what happened to Bob, or even if Pony was involved."
"You're putting me in a very difficult position Catherine. My children adore you. You are here everyday that we ask you to be, and yet it's your hoodlum friends that killed my son. What would you do if you were in my position? What would you do with my children?"
"I don't know sir," I tell him.
"Don't lie to me Catherine, you know my children better than myself or my wife. What would you do?" Mr. Sheldon demands, standing up and walking towards me.
"I would send Paulie to boarding school," I say truthfully, "He is a great kid, but he doesn't need to be in Tulsa. He shouldn't be in Tulsa right now, it would be to easy for him to get on the wrong track. Maria is still young, but she is going to need structure. I would keep her out of the Tulsa schools as well. Catholic school might be nice for her. You could get another nanny for Tony."
"Your suggesting that I fire you and send all of my kids away?"
"Well sir, you asked me what I would do. I truly do care about your kids, but I understand not wanting me to continue working. It puts you in a very difficult position."
"I agree with you. My wife is going to want you to be at the funeral tomorrow, but after that you're done," Mr. Sheldon says while going into his desk draw. "I'm going to follow your advice. I don't want anything to happen to Paul. I would like to thank you for everything you have done for my family, and I wish this wasn't what was sending you away from us. Some of my buddies are looking for a nanny, I'll mention their name to you, but take this in the meantime," he says handing me an envelope, "I'm truly sorry I have to let you go like this."
"Thank you sir, for everything," I say shaking his hand, "And I'm so sorry about everything that has happened."
"I think it is best that you leave now," Mr. Sheldon says before sitting down at his desk, opening a book. I nod and make my way to the front door. On the outside of the envelope is information about the funeral like when it was and where. I put the envelope in my bag and start walking down the street. I feel bad for the kids, but I understand where Mr. Sheldon was coming from. As I made my way out of the heavily soc neighborhood and into a more neutral part of town I noticed a beat up car trailing me. Great, just what I needed. I continue walking, praying the car would leave me alone.
"Hey Curtis! Get in," a voice yells from the car. I stop to get a look at the car. It wasn't unusual for someone to call me Curtis, but there was only a few greasers who would. I knew it wasn't anyone from the gang. I get a closer look and notice that it's Tim Shepard. Of course. Tim graduated from Will Rodgers the same year as Darry and I, or he would've if he didn't drop out. Whenever he would stop by the house he would joke that Darry and I were already married and just haven't told anyone, even thought Darry and I have told him we're not dating.
"Hey Tim," I say walking over to the car, but not getting in.
"Come on Curtis, get in, I'll drive you wherever you want to go," he says, smirking. I'm not really sure how Tim and I became friendly, it just happened one day. I wouldn't call us great friends, but I would trust him with anything.
"Nonstop to California?" I joke getting in.
"Sorry Curtis, this girl isn't going that far," Tim says patting the dashboard. "Now, why are you walking the streets of Tulsa all by yourself?"
"I just got fired from my job," I tell him, "I was on my way home."
"Who the fuck would fire you?"
"The Sheldons," I say. Tim looks over at me waiting for me to explain. "They're the parents of the kid Pony and Johnny killed. I was their nanny for their younger kids."
"Shit. That's rough. But you know what I say, fuck them. They're missing out on the best of the best."
"Aww, thanks tim."
"No problem Curtis. I've never seen anyone as good with kids as you are."
"Thanks for the ride," I say as Tim pulls up to the curb.
"Not a problem Catie, and if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Tim tells me before pulling away. I walk slowly up to the house slowly, taking my time. When I open the door, Darry is sitting in his dad's chair and no one else seems to be around.
"Where is everyone?" I ask while setting down my bag and removing my shoes.
"They are out looking again. I said I would stay here and see if anyone showed up," Darry says. He still sounds tired and I know he spent most of the night awake. "You're home early."
"Oh, yeah. Mr. Sheldon fired me."
"What, why?" Darry asks, jumping up.
"He said he didn't want someone taking care of his kids who lived with the guy who killed his son," I explain. Darry walks over to me and wraps his arms around me.
"I'm sorry Catie. Gosh, I didn't even think about how this could affect your are you going to do now?"
"We'll manage," I tell him, breaking out of his hug, but taking his hand in mine. "We always do."
Silence settles over the house. I know Darry is absorbed in his own thoughts. I have a feeling the house will be silent a lot until Ponyboy comes home. It reminds me a lot of the first week after Mr. and Mrs. Curtis died. Everyone was silent. This house isn't meant to be silent, you can tell by the way it is. When it's quiet you can hear the wind rustling the tree branches outside, or drips falling from the bathroom tap, it's unnatural.
"I have to go to the funeral tomorrow," I say after a while. We are still standing in the middle of the living room, holding hands.
"Why? I thought he let you go," Darry asks, worry and anger dashing across his features.
"I think he wants me to help with the kids, especially Maria." Darry knew how much I cared about these kids. Most nights I would come home with stories about what they had done that day.
"That's bullshit Catie. And you know that. He has no right firing you and then asking you to show up the next day!"
"I kind of want to go to," I say quietly, hoping Darry would see why. He doesn't. "I knew him Darry. I saw him nearly everyday. I wouldn't say we were friends, but it would feel wrong not to go."
"Have I ever told you you have too big of a heart?" Darry asks. I blush. "I swear Catie, you would bring home every stray if you could. I just wouldn't tell the guys where you were going if I were you, you dig?" I nod.
"We're going to Texas!" Two-bit shouts as he walks in the door. Darry and I separate instantly, him going towards Two, and I go to the kitchen. I open the cupboards and notice that someone when grocery shopping. I grin slightly, someone had listened to my note. As I go through the cupboards, fridge and freezer I realize that it was Two who went shopping. There was too much beer and cookies and not enough fresh fruits and vegetables. I sigh, it wasn't perfect but it would work for the week. I go to the doorway between the kitchen and the living room and lean against the frame listening to their conversation. Two was going off about how Dally let it slip that Johnny and Pony were going to Texas.
"I don't care what he said Soda, you aren't running off to Texas!" Darry shouts at Soda. Oh lord, this isn't good.
"What the Hell Darry! You don't even care about him! You don't care that our baby brother is out there somewhere running from the damn fuzz, and YOU DON'T CARE!" Soda shouts back before running out the front door. Steve hesitates before following him out.
"Just give him time," I tell Darry, walking over to him and placing my hand on his arm.
"Yeah, this isn't the first time you've had one of your brothers run out on yeah," Two-bit jokes. I send him a glare that has him slinking out the door.
"Dar?" I ask carefully, trying to get a gage on how he was doing.
"I'm going for a run," Darry says, going into his room to grab his sneakers. I sigh.
This was another one of Darry's habits. Whenever something didn't go his way, he would work out. Mr. Curtis would always tell me that when he got like this I just needed to let him go. That it was good for him to get energy out. I watch as Darry basically sprints out of the house. I collapsed onto to the couch taking in everything that has happened in the past few days. I was worried about Pony, of course, but I knew in my heart that he would be okay. I was scared for Johnny, I don't know if he knew exactly how big this situation was turning into. I was worried for Soda and the other guys too, they weren't taking the news well, but I was the most worried for Darry. I could tell he regretted everything, but he was also worried that the state would take away Pony and Soda from him. I knew he was even though he hasn't said it out loud. It takes a while for Darry to say what he is feeling, he wants to be a hundred and fifty percent positive before he said anything. I loved that about him. You could always believe anything he said because he meant it, he truly did.
"Where is everyone," Dally says making me jump slightly. My heart starting racing when I noticed we were all alone. I always get nervous when I was alone with Dally, I never knew what he was going to do.
"Out," I manage to say, trying to stay calm.
"And they left you here all by yourself?" Dally asks moving closer to me. He leans over me and i can smell the alcohol on his breathe. My heart quickens as he gets closer and closer.
"Dal-" I try to say but his lips crash onto mine. I try to push him away but he is much stronger than me. He pushes his tongue into my mouth and I feel as if I'm going to throw up as the taste of beer and smoke flood my mouth. His hands travel over my shirt, finding settling on my hips. He adventually pulls away smirking.
"Now you can't say you didn't like that," Dally says, moving in closer. I use all of my body to push away from him and I run into the bathroom, the only room in the house with a lock. I manage to lock the door before the tears start streaming down my face. Get it together, I tell myself, it's not that bad. It's just Dally. This is normal. I'm going to be okay.
I take my time wiping my face and brushing my teeth to to get the taste out of my mouth. I can still feel his hands on me, so I get in the shower, hoping it will help. I let the hot water run over my skin, rinsing way everything. By the time I get out of the shower the sun has set. I listen and I hear no one in the house, which makes me even more nervous. I wrap the towel around me tighter and quickly run into Darry's room. I put on some clothes to sleep in, a pair of Darry's old practice shorts and one of his t-shirts. I decide not to risk going out into the house, and instead lay down on the bed. After a while I hear Soda and Steve return to the house and turn on the tv. I allow myself to relax slightly, but not completely. I know I won't be able to completely relax until I knew Darry was home to protect me. I try to stay up, but sleep soon overtakes me.
A/N and there we go. Let me know what you're thinking. How do you feel about seeing this side of Darry? How do you like this Dally? Tell me what you love or hate :)
