Chapter Six: Adventure at Dawn
The next morning I woke up before sunrise.
It was still dark out and only the crickets were singing– the birds only beginning to sing. Jet was still asleep.
I looked at the clock; 5:16 – perfect.
I quietly slipped out of bed – causing Jet to only look up for a second before closing his eyes and laying his head down again. Victoria didn't move.
I peeked out the window. The sky was still dark – a striking shade of grey.
Sticking my arm out the window and discovering it was a surprisingly warm morning – yet still cool, I contemplated what to wear.
Track pants and tank top. Hoodie for when I'm done.
I grabbed my dark navy track pants (the ones Angel had given me – about two sizes too big) and tight yellow tank.
The pants were quiet loose and hung low on my hips. I rolled the waist band a couple times and pinned it with a navy bobby pin so no one would notice.
But since my tank was tight and actually fit me and the pants were low, part of my stomach and waist showed when I lifted my arms and even when I didn't you could see part of my hips.
Oh well. No one was out on the streets at 5:30 in the morning.
I tugged my wavy tangled hair into a messy ponytail and grabbed my old gray hoodie, and my black cons.
I snuck out of my room without waking Victoria, being careful to close the door so Jet didn't get out – such a bother that Steve was allergic to cats.
After tiptoeing to the living room I froze.
Steve was asleep on the couch. How was I supposed to get passed him without making any noise? Hopefully he wasn't a light sleeper like me.
Surprisingly I got passed him. Now, the door. Crap.
It was unlocked, but the big wooden inside door was closed.
I managed to get it open with only one movement from Steve, and snuck out the screen door. I didn't bother closing the big door again though; I'd be back before anyone could wake up and notice I was gone.
All I needed was a short run, or jog. Maybe walk.
Mainly I just needed some time alone. Completely alone. With only my thoughts and the birds to accompany me.
I plopped down on the porch; damp from the morning dew, and tugged on my converse. I left my hoodie on the dry railing, though. I wouldn't need it till I got back.
I ran full speed for six blocks, then turned a corner onto a quiet street, slowing to a jog, and then gradually to a walk. The street was a dead end street with only two buildings; both abandoned.
The street was much quieter than any other. No one came on this street, except the rare person driving their car that got lost and ignored the "dead end" sign.
Birds sang from inside an old run down brick house with overgrown grass surrounding it and a garden of weeds out back. Window panes with sharp shards of glass around the edges of the frames, a wooden door with peeling blue paint leaning against a door frame, broken hinges lying on a collapsed porch.
Sparrows and starlings nested in the bedrooms, foxes prowled the kitchen, keeping mice and pests out.
The only other building on the street was an old storage building across the street from the house that resembled a barn. Well, if you didn't count the shed behind the house.
Nobody knew about the house or barn; the street was too far out on the north side for socs to come, too far west for the big gangs to claim, and too out of the way for any other greasers to even care. Though, it could benefit some – like Tim's gang, but it was off his turf; it wasn't on any turf.
I walked to the house carefully stepping around the fallen white wooden picket fence.
Carefully making my way to the back of the house, paying close attention not to step on broken glass, or the few flowers growing in among the tall grass and weeds. There was a small path from me walking through here in past weeks, but it wasn't fully beaten down – the grass still snagged my toes every once in a while.
I got to the back of the house and took a deep breath of cool morning air mixed with damp grass, weed pollen and wet wood.
A thump from inside and the sound of sparrows fleeing up the staircase told me a fox had caught a field mouse in the kitchen.
Looking at the backyard, you could see that at sometime a family had lived here in peace. I had always imagined a happy young couple living here quietly, with one child; a little girl that they loved very much and raised well. The pink room upstairs in the house confirmed my little girl theory.
There were remnants of a garden that had once flourished; blossoming flowers and butterflies fluttering freely. Now it was just a space in the yards with knots of weeds and sticks.
A small shed stood near the back of the yard under a big tree, separating the yard from the field behind the house.
I climbed the tree as the sun began to rise, crawling onto the roof of the shed, using my previous knowledge to keep away from the weak spots of the roof.
A squirrel in the tree ran down towards the house, the crow in the barn flew off, and the birds began their full fledged "good morning" song.
The sun's rays warmed my face as I took in the beautiful sunrise.
Jogging home I felt refreshed; fully awake and ready for the day.
When I was almost to the lot I saw Johnny walking towards the Curtis'.
I ran to catch up to him, but I guess I spooked him because he jumped when he saw me.
"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to scare you." I apologized quickly.
"No problem." He mumbled.
"Good morning Johnny." I smiled, hoping to warm him with some of my overflowing happiness this morning.
"Good morning Emma." Half a smile – I'm getting somewhere.
"So what's up Johnnycakes?" I had picked up his cute nickname from the rest of the gang.
He shrugged. "Slept at the lot last night, heading over to the Curtis' now."
"You slept outside all night?"
"Yes. I do a lot. Folks fighting all the time, try to avoid it. Ya know?"
"Ya. I do know. I didn't say it was a bad thing to sleep in the lot. People used to do that to me in New York all the time. If I slept outside in the park, or an abandoned warehouse, they'd harp on me about how I should be in a house, in a bed. It's just sleeping outside, in the fresh air, under the stars – the sounds of night lulling you to sleep. The warm sunlight and cheery birds to wake you gently in the morning." I rambled a bit, remember my nights outside – not usually by choice, but I enjoyed them anyways.
Johnny just looked at me; bug eyes and an odd, unreadable expression on his face.
I blushed. "Sorry, I guess it's not like that for you."
"Yes, it is! That's just exactly how I feel sometimes, but I didn't know how to put it into words, and I didn't think anyone would understand." He hesitated. "Thanks." Wow! A smile, too even!
Just then we arrived at the Curtis'.
We walked up the stairs and went inside.
"Where were you!" As soon as I was inside, Dally yelled at me, furious.
"Uh… I went for a run and bumped into Johnny on my way back." I said unsure of what the problem was. Twisting my hoodie in my hands I was a bit scared – his face was turning red.
"You're telling me that you went for a run at five in the morning by yourself!" Dally said as if I was nuts.
"Um, ya?" I was so confused at what was wrong with it that I wanted to argue, but I was too scared of him to even answer him with a statement – it came out more like a question.
"Come on Dall, she's fine. Leave her alone." Johnny begged, backing me up.
Dally looked at me, scowling, then threw his arms in the air and went to sit down. "Stupid kid." He mumbled.
Johnny went in and sat down on the couch beside Steve, who was calling for Soda to hurry up or they'd be late. Was I really gone that long? Wow.
"Breakfast!" Darry called just as Two-bit came in the door. "And would somebody please get Pony out of bed?"
"I will!" Two-bit exclaimed. "Come help me Emma." He motioned for me to follow him as he headed towards Pony and Soda's room.
"I'll come help you guys." Steve said. "Emma's not strong enough." He smirked.
"Strong enough to do what? Are you guys gonna pick him up or something?"
"DUH!" Two-bit hissed as we came to his room and snuck in the room.
Steve and Two-bit went over to the bed as if to pick Pony up by his arms and legs, but I had a better idea.
"No guys! I got a better way." I whispered.
I went right up to Pony's ear and whispered in it. "Pony, Pony… Wake up…" He just groaned in response.
I picked at a bit of his hair that was in his face, trying to tickle him. It did, because he slapped right where my hand was – but of course I had moved it so he just hit himself.
Two-bit and Steve snickered.
"GET UP PONYBOY!" I screamed at the top of my lungs in his ear as I pushed him off the bed.
He hit the floor with a thud and jumped up real quick, a confused look on his face as he rubbed his head.
"What the…?" He groaned, staring at us.
"Good morning Pony." I smiled sweetly and innocently. "Did you hit your head when you fell?" I asked.
"Ya, damn it hurt." He scowled, still rubbing his head.
"I'm sorry. Two-bit and Steve here insisted on pushing you out of bed – I tried to stop them but you know, they're kinda stronger than me."
"What! We did not…" Steve started. "YOU DID!"
"Oh, so now you blame me. Why would I do something like that when all you had to do was pull the covers off him and shake him awake?"
"Ya, you guys. That's all you had to do." He got up and started out to the living room.
"Next time get Emma to do it." He mumbled and went to sit at the table.
When he said that, Two-bit and I burst out laughing, but Steve just scowled and sat on the couch beside Victoria.
Victoria just got up and sat at the table. "Breakfast. Yum." When I sat down next to her she leaned over and whispered "Next time you want to sneak out and then back in with out being noticed use the window."
Plates of egg and toast were place in front of people, chocolate cake dished out and Darry asked me what I wanted.
Victoria was eating toast with jelly and chocolate cake.
"Um, toast will be fine." I told Darry.
"You sure that's all?" He raised his eyebrows.
After my run I was pretty hungry, but I wanted cake – and I would definitely not have room for cake if I had a full breakfast.
"Ya. Just one piece. Can I have cake too?"
"Haha. So that's why you only want toast. Yes, you can have cake." Darry chuckled and disappeared into the kitchen.
The conversations at the table were mostly about trivial things: what are doing today, how stupid Soda and Steve's boss was, etc.
I eventually tuned out and got lost in my own train of thought.
While I was wondering why Dally was so mad about me being gone this morning, Darry snapped me out of my thoughts by placing a buttered piece of toast and a slice of cake in front of me.
"Thank-you." I smiled, biting into my toast.
I noticed that Victoria wasn't talking with everyone else, either, so I leaned over and whispered to her.
"Thanks."
She just nodded, knowing exactly what I meant.
Why had I not thought of the window in the first place? Duh.
After breakfast Soda, Darry and Steve left for work. Pony, Johnny and Dally went off somewhere and Two-bit left shortly after to find trouble.
I was on the couch reading a book when Victoria came out of our room in jeans and a blue t-shirt.
"I'm going to Buck's to ride. You can come, if you want to." She said slipping on her shoes.
"Um, ok." I put down my book.
"We'll be there a while, if you need anything get it now."
"Do you mind if I change real quick?"
"Hurry."
I went into my bedroom and was immediately greeted by Jet meowing very loudly for food. I opened the window for him so he could go get his own food – I'd have to buy him some food soon.
Quickly scanning the contents of my drawer I chose my dark cut-off jeans and white tank top.
Slipping my converse back on, I grabbed my messenger bag and stuffed my sweater and some money in it.
Before long Victoria and I were walking, headed towards Buck's.
I had heard plenty about Buck and his parties, but I couldn't say most – if any – of it was good.
Most of what I'd heard had come from Angel and her friends, or from Curly and Billy.
Angel and all of her crazy bitch-friends were always talking about how they got drunk and flirted with a bunch of guys behind their boyfriends backs at Buck's party.
Curly and Billy just bragged about the chick they picked up or the fight they got into.
Tim told me to stay away from there. I wonder why? Haha.
Victoria's voice snapped me back to the present. "So why did you come to Tulsa?"
"To find my father."
"You found him, so why did you stay?"
"I don't know. I might have gone back to New York, but then Tim kicked me out and you took me in, so I don't know."
"You planning on staying?"
"Maybe."
"What about your mom back in New York?"
Wow she asks a lot of questions. "Oh, the bitch that doesn't give a crap about me and happened to be the prostitute that gave birth to me?" I shrugged. "I didn't tell her why I left, and she doesn't care."
"Oh." Woops. Big Mouth running again. The worst part, though was what I said was not true. Not that I was about to tell the truth about anything to anyone, it wasn't any of their business.
"Tulsa's ok I guess. The quiet is nice."
"You think Tulsa is quiet, wait till you're here a while longer." Victoria said with a hint of sarcasm. Again, I felt as if I had missed something.
I doubted it would get anymore exciting. I had already been here almost a month, and living with the Shepard's gave me the inside scoop to what was happening every second of every day all over the city. But, I could be wrong – maybe all the action was with my sister and brother and their gang. Though, I doubted it – I hadn't even heard of any of them before I met Victoria. Except Dally. Despite what I told everyone else, I had heard plenty about Dallas Winston.
We walked in silence the rest of the way.