DISCLAIMER: This chapter uses events and characters from texaskid's "From Greaser to Country Girl and Back". Victoria, Kelsey Ridder and Shawn belong to texaskid who has given me permission to use them. Dally's POV isn't mine at all, except for where he is thinking about Emma.
Don't even bother with The Outsiders aren't mine, that is a given; and if anyone is so dumb as to not know they are S.E. Hinton's, then they shouldn't be here reading this?
Link to picture of Em's farm house/the layout, I did in paint, is on my profile. Please check it out it took me a while. =)
Recap:
"Hey guys. Just forgot my towel." I breathed, catching my breath.
"Um, Em – your legs bleeding." Two-bit's eyes widened and he pointed to my right leg.
I looked down and sure enough, my knee was bleeding from a fairly large gash. "Oh! You're right! Woops."
Darry set down the bag in his hand and started to open it. "No! It's okay – we're by a lake I'll wash it off." I stopped him.
"It'll get infected" He contradicted.
I rolled my eyes. "Worse has happened, I'll live." I ran down the beach and rinsed off my knee, inspecting it – luckily the cut was not deep at all and all I needed to do was hold my towel on it for a short time.
I ran back up the beach. "See? All better." I grinned. "Uh, you just might want to wash the towel, though." I laughed sheepishly.
"Ah, that's fine." Darry took the towel from me and we all headed back to our vehicles and piled in.
Victoria had a bit of a hard time getting Terror tied up in the back he was so excited, and he wouldn't stop jumping around. Dally finally got fed up and grabbed Terror by the collar and hooked the leash on.
When we were about 15 minutes away from the beach I felt something tickle my foot and looked down to see a centipede crawl over my bare foot. I flicked the bug off.
"Guys I forgot my shoes at the beach!" I exclaimed, my head snapping up as the realization hit me.
My outburst caused Dally to slam the brakes on and we all fell forward a bit. He snapped his head towards me, "What?" he demanded in a harsh tone.
I slid down in my seat a bit. "I left my shoes at the beach?" My voice came out a quiet squeak.
Dally growled and turned the truck around; heading back to the beach about 15 miles over the speed limit.
As soon as the truck stopped I fell over Victoria and jumped out; running down the hill from the road to the beach, ignoring the pain in my feet when I stepped on rocks, only wondering the whole time what Dally would do if I took a long time.
I got down to the picnic table where we were and looked around, finally seeing my shoes, I ran over and pulled them on then bolted back to the truck and jumped in. I fell over Victoria again.
Not a word was spoken the whole 45 minutes home. The only noises that were heard were the sounds of the truck's engine and the slow hiss of steam leaking out of Dally's ears. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
When we got back to the Curtis' and Dally put the truck in park and killed the engine, Victoria opened the door and I jumped out ahead of her, running up the front steps and dragging my messenger bag behind me thump, thump, thump.
The rest of the gang was already home and I could smell chicken cooking; my mouth instantly watered.
I ignored the growling in my stomach and I went to my room so I could change into something more comfortable than my sandy bikini under my clothes.
Stripping off my shirt, dropping my shorts to my ankles, I rubbed my sandy feet on my dirty tee.
I ran to the window and dropped the blinds closed, then pulled off my bikini top. Turning around towards the dresser to get my bra and a clean shirt, I heard the door open.
"Oh… Um sorry I should've knocked." Victoria looked away embarrassed. "I guess I'm not used to having someone else in my room."
I put my bra on and quickly pulled off my bikini bottom and on my underwear.
"Um, I'm decent now."
Victoria looked over. "Okay, now, don't you look."
I stayed facing the dresser and pulled on a t-shirt and backed up and tugged on my shorts; putting some socks on my freezing cold feet.
"Ok." Victoria said as I heard her zip up her jeans.
I turned around and saw her in a snug shirt that had Mickey Mouse leaning on the word "TEXAS."
"Supper!" Darry's deep voice echoed throughout the house.
Victoria flung open our door and slid to the table, while I walked slowly out.
Everyone was already eating when I sat down, and was finished long before me. So while everyone sat and talked in the living room and watched Mickey, I stayed at the table and picked at my food.
Darry came into the dining room, "Something wrong with my cooking?" He joked. "Hey you ok?" He paused looking closely at me.
I nodded, "I just don't feel that great." I pushed my plate away, "Can I finish this tomorrow?"
"Naw, its ok, I'm sure Soda would love to finish this." He said taking my plate, "The boy eats like a horse," and walked away shaking his head.
I went to bed early; still feeling slightly sick and developing a bit of a headache.
I woke up to the light streaming in the window; groaning when realization hit me.
Listening carefully for a moment, I concluded that I had slept through breakfast and everyone was gone. The TV was on low though, so maybe Victoria was home.
Slipping slowly out of bed I moaned, then trudged down the hall to the living room where Victoria was watching TV.
She must have heard me because she looked up as I came into the room. "Good morning." She smiled. "You ok?" She asked hesitantly.
"Um." I struggled with how to ask. "Can I ask a favor?"
"Sure."
"Uh… Do you, can I…" This was very awkward since I barely knew her. It was even awkward around the guys back in New York who I'd known for years.
Suddenly, as I was struggling with the words, understanding spread across Victoria's face.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Yes, in the bathroom cupboard, under the sink – behind the garbage can."
"Thank-you." I flushed with relief and embarrassment.
When I returned, Victoria asked if I needed anything else.
"Yes, actually. Do you have anything to help upset stomachs?"
"Sorry, no." She looked somewhat guilty.
"That's okay. Maybe I'll just have some milk." But mumbled "If it's not chocolate," to myself as I went into the kitchen.
Lucky me, there was some white milk, milk usually helped if I had an upset stomach – but not chocolate, that only makes it worse.
I poured myself a large mug of milk and took a few sips of the cold white liquid.
Leaving my mug in the kitchen, I went into my room to get dressed. I pulled on my big black sweatpants – the ones that were far too big – and my blue tee.
For a while I sat on the couch and drank my milk and watched TV while Victoria read a book on the other end of the couch. After a bit she got up and left.
I hung around a bit longer; still feeling not so great, though, my headache was gone and I managed to get a sandwich down with another glass of milk. Now I only had slight cramps and felt a little tired.
A couple hours later I decided to take a shower, thinking it might help me feel better. The hot shower did just the trick. I changed into my snug jeans and a tank, pulled on my converse and left the house.
'Hmm, I wonder where Johnny and Pony are.'I thought absent-mindedly.
I wandered over to the Shepard's, but all I could hear when I got near the house was Mrs. Shepard and Tim, Curly and Angel's step-dad fighting loudly. I ran down off the steps when I heard something like glass breaking inside.
That was something I didn't like to deal with, and had enough times in the past.
I wandered down to the arcade, maybe hoping to find Billy or something, I don't know. But it was as good as deserted. Just a few kids bumming around; no one important.
I ended up at the playground after a bit more wandering. It was a warm day and fairly quiet. No kids at the park, and not many cars going by. I just sat on the swing with my feet on the ground and rocked back and forth slightly.
A few little squirrels chased each other around the park and one ran up on the jungle gym and squawked and hissed at the other one who was on the ground; teasing him and flicking his tail. The one on the ground lunged forward and made the one up top jump and fall off. They scrambled up a tree screaming at each other all through the branches and leaves.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as the gentle motion of the swing moved me back and forth; wind tugged at my hair and tried ruefully to unwind it from its knotted tangle I had it tied into.
Opening my eyes I watched the sky above the swing set. Looking at the big, fluffy clouds I tried to see what they looked like. A hippo, a dinosaur, a big lizard, an elephant, a unicorn and Mickey Mouse. Watching this unusual herd of cloud-creatures pass by with the cloud-eagle flying over them protectively made me laugh.
I got up and headed what I was pretty sure was the general direction of the DX. When I was just down the street I noticed a crowd gathering at the end of an alley. A fight.
I heard a girl scream from the center of the crowd and I pushed my way around to get a better look. Some Brumley guys had a young dirty blonde and she was terrified.
"Where is she, damn it?" The one guy asked her roughly.
"I don't know." The girl answered.
"Of course you do, tell me now." The guy demanded. About six guys were crowded around her now.
"I honestly don't know where she's at or who you're talking about." She insisted.
"Liar. Eric, show her what we do to liars." A guy with blond hair moved forward.
That's when I noticed Victoria. "Kelsey?" She asked pulling a few of the guys away.
"Kel, are you alright?" A guy asked behind her.
"No." I saw the guy who had spoken first draw a blade. Victoria moved toward Kelsey, trying to get in between her and the guy with the blade.
"Hey, talk to me, I know almost every female in Tulsa and I could probably tell you where whoever you're looking for is at." Victoria said finally getting between Kelsey and the guy.
"Stay out of this bitch." He growled at her.
"No, not when you're threatening my friend." He dove at Kelsey and Victoria shoved her away and grabbed the guy's wrist before disarming him. She shook her head letting go of his wrist and sliding the blade into her pocket. "And I thought greasers were the hard ones to beat."
"I thought I told you to stay out of this." The now disarmed guy said.
"Maybe we oughta see if she does know the person we're looking for." Eric said.
"Yeah. Tell me, maybe I'll tell you where she is." Victoria said.
"Winston's kid sister, Victoria." The guy growled.
"And you are?" Victoria asked.
"Harley, Harley Kenner." The guy answered.
"Well Harley, wait a minute, you mean Dallas Winston?" She asked.
"Yeah, his kid sister. You know where she is or not?" Harley growled.
"Dallas Winston... why does he sound so familiar?" She pondered, playing dumb for the moment.
"He's Shepard's friend, spent a few years up in New York City." A guy named Andrew said. It was the same Andrew Angel had a huge crush on.
"Why didn't you just beat Kelsey up when she didn't tell you anything?" Victoria asked.
"My mother told me it ain't right to hit a girl." Kenner answered.
"Unless she's the girl you're currently looking for." She said coldly.
"Holy shit man, her eyes just turned green." One of the guys said. Victoria smirked.
"Usually means she's pissed off." Steve answered.
"What do you mean if she's the girl I'm looking for?" Kenner snapped.
"Well, I mean once you find Winston's kid sister you're not going to ask her out, you want to kick her ass don't you?"
"Well yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Ya see, the thing is if your mama told you never to hit a girl, you'll go against that once you find Victoria right?" Victoria was really pushing this guy, but she seemed to enjoy it.
"Yeah I guess."
"I let you in on a little secret this Dallas character..."
"Yeah, Tim's friend."
"Yeah, him, he's my big brother which makes me Victoria Winston, the girl whose ass you conveniently want to kick."
"You're the little bitch."
"Got a problem with that?"
"Not really it was just a surprise."
"Something wrong Kenner? You were just saying the other day, no one else could take her on after you finished because she wouldn't know what hit her." Andrew called.
"Talking trash about me?"
"Nothing that I can't back up." Kenner told her.
"Bring it on. I have no problem taking you down too." She answered. She jumped at him then and the fight started up. I backed up and squeezed my way out of the crowd. I didn't want to be there when the cops showed up.
I walked down the DX and headed inside the store to find Pony Johnny and Soda.
"Hey, guys." I greeted.
"Hi, Emma." They replied. "What's up?"
Just then Kelsey, the girl from the fight, came in with a boy that looked kinda like her.
She introduced herself and her brother Shawn to me and then proceeded to tell the boys about the fight; obviously they already knew her and her brother. I assumed they were good friends with Victoria from the way she defended Kelsey.
After Kelsey mentioned that Victoria had got hit pretty good in the jaw, Pony headed into the garage with a cold bottle of root beer for her jaw.
After a bit, I saw the cops headed towards the DX and I slipped out the back before they got there.
So again, I was left to wander alone. I was bored so I decided to head to the old farm house for a bit.
When I was at the street of the farm house, I came across Jet and he came up to me. "Hey buddy." I knelt down to give his ears a scratch as he rubbed against me, purring. I started walking again and Jet got the idea of where we were going because he ran on ahead of me; only to get sidetracked halfway down the street by a couple sparrows playing tag down low. He jumped up and managed to snatch one across the street.
I went on ahead to the house; if he wanted to catch, play with, torture and kill a bird – as was a perfectly natural order of the food chain – then fine. But I wasn't getting involved.
I had only been inside the house once. And it was only for a few brief minutes in the kitchen before a fox scared the living daylights out of me and I ran out.
Maybe today would be a good day to explore my private world more thoroughly.
I tramped lightly around to the back. The door was an old wooden door with an old fancy handle. The handle was slightly discoloured now, and the paint was mostly all peeled off.
(AN: link to farm house layout at top ^)
Carefully I turned the handle, but I had to use more force to actually push open the door. The kitchen was a nice kitchen, but it was messy. Leaves all over the place, having blown in the open window above the sink, bloody fox paw marks across the floor boards, and dust all over the counter and cupboards. The stove was really old and when I checked it had no gas. There was no ice box, and two of the cupboards were missing their doors. There was a dusty wooden table crawling with spiders and covered in cob webs; one of the chairs was missing a leg. Hesitantly, I turned on the tap. It barked and spat but only dust was coughed out.
Walking out of the kitchen I found myself in a hallway. A winding staircase to my left and three doors near the end of the hall. I walked through the door way across the hall and entered a very large room that was the living room.
There was a grand piano that, when I quickly danced my fingers across the keys, I found to be in working condition and almost perfectly in tune. There was four large windows in the room; there were a couple chairs in the room, but nothing else besides the small sofa.
Walking over and looking out the front door frame, the door was lying on the porch; I could see the barn across the street. It didn't look very safe, dark and mostly falling down. There was and old baby blue pickup truck parked beside the barn, but there was a skunk inside it and the hood was slightly open, revealing missing parts and some large bird nests. I hoped Jet stayed away from the trunk; I was not dealing with a smelly cat.
I decided to check out the doors at the end of the hall. I opened the last one. It was very dark and there was a wall directly in front of me, but a ladder going down, ah, the basement. I climbed down the ladder 'strange architecture to make a door leading to a ladder and a hole in the floor...' but screamed at the sight of rats and mice; and quickly scrambled back up the ladder.
Coming up and closing that door behind me, I opened the first door to my left. It was a study. Bookshelves lined the walls on either side of me; a few spare books scattered. There was a desk and chair in corner. Around the other corner was a small sofa.
I left and closed the door; headed up the stairs. They winded to the right and went past a window with a nice view down the road.
The top of the stairs brought me to a spacious hall. At the end of the hall and to my left was a door, slightly ajar. I pushed it open and peeked in - the bathroom – but quickly shut the door when I saw the rat splashing in the toilet. He could stay in the bathroom till he died. I'm not a cruel person – I just don't like rats.
I walked down the hall a bit more and opened another door. I found a bedroom with a bed, a dresser, closet, table with a lamp on it and a small sofa beside it, and a desk behind the door. There was a door to one side of the room that was open that led to another very small bedroom with only a bed, dresser, and a window with a window seat.
Leaving those rooms behind, I went into the door across the hall. Another bedroom, it was a fair size – with a bed, one window with a window seat, a dresser and a closet. I liked this room. It was a pale pink room with a nice quilt on the bed. A picture hung crooked on the wall. I straightened it and looked at it. It was a small painting that was fading; water colour from what I could tell.
The next room was the door at the end of the hall looking straight at the bathroom door. It was the master suite. There was a large dresser, a window with a window seat beside the dresser, and around the corner to my right was a large desk. The left side of the room was bigger. A queen sized beside the other window with a quilt that played nicely with the light yellow walls, a table and lamp, a nice sofa and a comfy chair.
I preferred the previous room.
It was a nice house. Dusty and the stairs had holes and were falling apart in places, there were rats in the basement, but it was nice. And half furnished! That made me wonder what had happened when the family that had lived here moved away. Why had they taken only some of the furniture and the icebox but left the rooms fully furnished?
A door beside the bathroom and around the corner from the stairs caught my eye. But it was empty when I checked, so I lost interest.
I closed the kitchen door behind me when I left, very curious about the previous inhabitants after seeing the very large, very empty pantry beside the beautiful glass door hutch in the kitchen. It was a full separate room, lined with shelves for food, but absolutely bare. They took their food and left their grand piano?
I found Jet licking himself clean in the back garden, a bird feather on his tongue. "Tt-tt." I clicked my tongue and Jet perked up and followed me as I headed home.
When I got back to the Curtis' house I was immediately greeted with Dally's yelling when I walked in.
"Like it's different? Like it's different?" Dally stammered. "Of course it's different for me. Dad has custody of me for the next four months until I turn 18. You're not even 16 Victoria." He raked his hands through his hair. He was definitely frustrated.
"I will be in two weeks." Victoria said as Steve combed his hair behind her.
"Weeks Victoria, you got that right TWO weeks until you turn 16 but it's two YEARS until you turn 18 and then you're allowed to do whatever the hell you want. Until then you do what I tell you. And so far you can't even manage that. I let you out because I thought you could stay out of trouble and not get into a fight. I can understand you fighting with a female but those Brumley boys are off limits do you hear me? I do not want you getting into a fight with one of them." He yelled.
"I was protecting Kelsey. He might have hurt her instead of coming after me. That's all he wanted. Kenner wanted to kick my ass, did you expect me to take it and not do anything?"
"No, but you can't get into trouble. Robert will drag your scrawny ass back to Arkansas faster than you can blink an eye. Do you want that to happen? Do you actually want to go to Deer Creek and leave Tulsa? If you do I will personally buy you a train ticket down there."
"Dallas I don't want to get into fights. I hate it because it does no good but I'll fight to protect a friend, just like I'd do for you or Johnny or Ponyboy or any other kid who can't defend themselves."
"I don't care if you're protecting a two-year-old I don't want you to get into another fight."
"You are such a damn hypocrite. I've had it I'm out of here." Victoria screamed storming past him and me and out the door.
"I told you she was just protecting Kelsey." Soda said.
"Shut it Curtis. Get your ass back in here, this ain't finished!" Dally hollered at Victoria.
"Hey, Steve, what happened to your neck?" Two-bit asked.
"What can I say? Toria bites hard when she's mad at me." He answered. Victoria opened the door and pulled his arm, dragging him outside.
Dally's POV
I sat down in the chair next to the door and reflected on the latest fight I just had with my sister. Maybe I did go a little too far with it but then again I just didn't want her to get hurt. I wondered whether she knew that her Uncle Robert threatened to pull her out of Tulsa if he found out she had been fighting.
Suddenly out of nowhere I heard tires squeal and gears jamming into place. "Steve sounds pissed." Soda said, glancing out the window.
"That wasn't Steve." Two-Bit said amused.
"Liz is only 15." I mentioned.
"Well, yeah, but she's been driving her daddy's truck since she was 11. She can handle just about every kind of vehicle there is." A female voice said as a girl strode through the door.
"Hey, Kelsey." Pony said.
'And Kelsey is who?' I questioned in my head.
"Hey, Pony, Johnny, guys." Kelsey answered. "Who pissed her off this time?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped.
"The only time she'll ever let her tires squeal is when she's severely pissed off and looking at the way she went it looks like she's heading back into the country. So I'll repeat my question, who pissed her off?"
"He did." Two-Bit said pointing at me.
"Ah the brother, of course why didn't I know that?" Kelsey sighed. "Brothers always jump in when they aren't needed and stay out of it when they are. They never understand anything."
"Hey." Soda protested.
"You might be one of the few there Soda." She said then she turned back to me. "So what did you do this time?"
"That's not any of your business." I snapped.
"It's been my business since about 6 years ago. Until she came back here we were inseparable and the one thing she did for me today was protect me which let me know I'm still like a little sister to her. That's why she went after Kenner when he was threatening me. Tore loves protecting me; it's the only time she'll ever really fight. In her mind fighting is useless; it serves no purpose and does absolutely no good unless she's protecting someone. Ashley and I can't fight, we've never learned, we never thought it was important." Kelsey shifted her weight and scratched the back of her neck looking ashamed.
"Unfortunately, we were wrong. That's where Tore comes in; when Buck started teaching her all of us made fun of it, said it was pointless. We lived in the country so we thought learning to fight was useless. Then some jack-monkeys started going to our school and picking on Ashley and me. We couldn't defend ourselves so Tore would jump in. No one messed with Tore when they found out how well she could fight. Now that we're living in Tulsa it's a good thing she can fight. Now she finds fighting useless and rather pointless and I'm glad she knows how." Kelsey said.
I sent her a look and she scowled. 'At least that answered who she is.'
"Save that look for your broads, the fuzz, and every other hood you want to scare 'cause I'll tell you right now that look doesn't work on me. Tore uses that look when she doesn't like the fact I'm right about something. You and Tore are so much alike I don't see why you two can't see it." Kelsey rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of the coffee table staring at me.
"You think she needs protection she thinks she doesn't. You think she's a little girl, she thinks she's not. I'm telling you the only way the two of you will ever sort this out is if the two of you fight. That's the absolute only way that you'll find out how much protection she still needs and the only way she'll realize you love her to death and don't want her hurt. You also need to apologize to her. I told you not to give me that look. I don't care how much older than me you are or how much 'tougher' you think you are, you know I'm right. Like I said earlier you jumped in when you had no right to." I opened my mouth to cut her off but her eyes got seriously dangerous.
"Dallas, don't you think I understand you want to keep her safe in Tulsa? Don't you think I know it tears you up when she's hurt and to know you should have done something to stop it from happening?" Kelsey sighed.
"I do have a big brother almost exactly like you and that's how I know what to say to you. You're really not as bad as she says you are. Right now what you need to do is call around and find out where she is and when you do find her let her stay there without you barging over there and looking like an overprotective worrywart. Soda, can I use your phone?" Kelsey said turning to look at Soda.
I was outraged. 'How dare she just waltz in here thinking she could talk to me like that and get away with it?'
"Um, yeah. Sure." Soda muttered. After a few phone calls she turned back towards me and looked at me.
"She's not at Robby's, Chris's, or Aaron's which has to mean she's at one of her greaser friends' houses." I stood and drew my fist back but she just cocked an eyebrow. "Before you hit me you had better think about that. Do you really want to hit me and piss Tore off even more? I told you she loves protecting me and, brother or not, she will fight you for hurting someone she loves like a little sister."
I dropped my fist and glared at her. She sighed heavily and shook her head. "Dallas, the one thing I will tell you about your sister is that you make her happier than Robby, Kenny, Ashley, Chris, Aaron, Shawn, and I have ever seen her. But the only way for her to truly trust you and show openly that she loves you is for the two of you to fight and figure out just how much she needs you."
I ran both of my hands through my hair and picked up the phone violently jabbing the numbers to Tim's house. She didn't go there or to any of the known places so I called Buck. To my delight her soft gentle voice came over the wire.
"Hello?" Liz answered.
"You had better get that tiny ass of yours back here before it gets really red." I told her loudly. I don't know what had come over me at that second because that wasn't what I meant to say but that's what came out. I heard the phone click and knew she had hung up on me. I stared at the phone and then I hung up. "That little brat hung up on me." I muttered.
"Where's she at?" Two-Bit asked.
"Buck's." I answered.
"You didn't really expect her to stand there and talk to you when you were screaming at her did you? She hates it when people fight or are yelling at her. That's something you oughta know. I've told you before that she was never really happy until she found out that you still lived in Tulsa and that she could almost always find you and know where you were. You want to know how to make her really happy?" Kelsey asked.
I just sat there and glared at her.
"If you really want to make her happy, you have to know the difference between when you're needed and when you're not. At this very moment, she doesn't particularly need you around but soon, with all the Brumley boys that have been after her, she'll need you there. Only jump in when you see her fighting and it gets out of control." Kelsey said.
"How do you know she hates fighting and arguing?" I asked.
"Tori will tell you different but her mom and step-dad fought a lot. That's why we were almost inseparable. She hated being at her house when it was racing season, April through July for quarter horse, which is Hotshot's time, and August though November for thoroughbred, which is JJ's turn. Tori hated it because her mom hated it when Richard would take Tori to the track. Christine wanted Toria near the house for some reason and we saw how that ended." Kelsey explained.
"She's always hated it when our parents fought. She'd get really upset when they did start. I never understood it nor did I ask but she couldn't stand it. I don't know what I'm gonna do now though."
"I've told you what you have to do. It's up to you what you do and when you do it, but it's in your best interest to let her simmer down for the night." Kelsey said. "I got to go now but I'll see you guys later. Johnny, Pony." Then she walked out the door and left. A few minutes later Darry walked in.
"Did I miss something?" He asked looking around.
"I think so." Soda said but he sounded as unsure as Darry had.
"Short version. Toria got in trouble for a fight, Dally screamed at her, she got pissed and left to go to Buck's taking Steve with her, Kelsey Ridder came over and yelled at Dally, and then she just left." Two-Bit said. Darry nodded for a couple seconds then looked confused.
"She got into a fight?" He asked.
"Harley Kenner has been looking for her and he was threatening Kelsey." Soda answered. That's when I noticed Emma sitting by the door quietly watching everyone.
She was mysterious, that one. Apparently she had seen the fight but disappeared before the fuzz showed, had gone back to the DX for a few minutes, then vanished for the afternoon. Where could she go all day long in Tulsa when she didn't know anybody?
Emma's POV
"Right." Darry said. "Alright well is everyone staying for dinner again?" We all nodded and I realized that everyone had been here for supper the last three nights. Well maybe Pony lied when he said that they didn't always stay for supper.
Later after supper Dally got a phone call. Sometime after that he headed home, Soda and Pony went to bed, and Johnny flaked out on the couch.
"You gonna go to bed too, kid?" Darry asked as he flicked off the lights.
"Ya." I said tiredly.
"Feeling better today?" I nodded and we both went to bed.