Just Be Held

by Bagels.fics

Life is about learning how to survive. How to adapt. When I was born I learned how to cry to get what I wanted. At six I learned how to get along with my siblings. At twelve I learned how to survive bullies, Socs, and jumpings. At sixteen I learned how to survive heartbreak and relationships. And at nineteen I learned about the cruelties of being an adult after my parent's wreck.

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Identifying Pain and Loss

Just Be Held

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own The Outsiders? The real owner of The Outsiders is the best author ever, S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write on this site.

A/N: Please tell me what you think! Criticism is welcome, but no flames please. Flames killed Johnny. Suggestions are always welcome, no matter what they may be. Thank you.

Darry ~Winter, 1966~

That afternoon, with the gang present in our living room, I was able to slip out with just a quick, "be back in an hour or so," without any further questions from my brothers or the gang.

I braced myself for the sight I was about to see while I walked through the front door of the coroner's office. I was taken to a dim room in the back of the brick building. There were two sheets lying over two figures, and when the coroner pulled back the sheets my hand went over my mouth and my knees almost gave out. I barely made it to the nearby trash can before I vomited.

The sight of my dead parents lying there on the tables were permanently engraved into my memory. Their bloodstained, bruised faces would haunt me in my nightmares for as long as I lived.

"It's them," I choked out the obvious, nodding wearily. The coroner clasped me on the shoulder, but then left me alone to collect myself.

After a few minutes I got to my feet and robotically trudged out to my empty truck. I let out a frustrated scream once in the privacy of my own, familiar surroundings. I punched my steering wheel until my knuckles bled, and when I was able to focus on the pain of that instead of the pain and loss of my parents and heroes, I buried my face into my hands and began to sob brokenly.

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I heard the gang's loud, bragging voices before I even opened the screen door.

"...Sodapop's name has been written in the girl's locker rooms since before middle school..."

"I'm pretty sure it's written in the boy's locker room too," I heard Steve declare loudly. There was a scuffle and then a loud "ow!" comingfrom Steve. I forced a smile before waking inside. I saw Sandy sitting in on the couch with Sodapop, hand-in-hand.

"Where you been, Superdope?" Two-Bit asked. I shook my head tiredly.

"I'm going to bed," I mumbled with a half-hearted wave, hiding my knuckles and red eyed.

A/N: I've rewritten this chapter a hundred times, and I'm still not completely satisfied with it. I hope you enjoyed it and that it was better than I thought it was.

Word Count: 482 Words

Aufenthalt Gold,

~Alee XxX