For The Love of a Greaser
Chapter 38
Smile
"I'll see you after work."
"Come on, cheer up."
"Smile."
That's what they had told her the past three weeks. Either Dally would take her to work, either walking her or using Buck's car or it would be Darry or one of the other guys. Two-Bit even skipped school a couple times just to make sure that Abigail got to work alright. After that, they'd go back to doing whatever, while at the same time keeping an eye on things. Although, unfortunately for Darry, things weren't easy. Everyday, he'd watch Abigail slowly going down hill. She tried to put a smile on her face, but he knew that it wasn't real. There was unsurmountable turmoil behind that smile that she held on her face. Thoughts pounding into her being about her father and sister. She wasn't sure what to do. He understood that though, but still, he wished that she'd let it out instead of keeping it to herself.
T
"Miss Winters, could you answer the question, please?" the teacher asked, catching her attention.
"Um..." Eden started, looking around.
All eyes were on her, a few snickers being heard. She then turned to Ponyboy for help, catching his eyes. He mouthed the answer a moment later.
"Hamlet, sir," she said after a moment, hoping Ponyboy had given her the right answer.
"Very good," he nodded, turning back to the black board to write something else down.
She let out a sigh of relief as she sat there, turning her eyes toward Ponyboy and mouthing a thank you.
Truth be told, her mind was on something else, that something being her father. Since his arrival, she'd seen him a few other times during the last three weeks, each putting a smile on her face. She was so happy to have him back. In fact, he'd mentioned taking her with him when he left again, dragging her along instead of leaving her like last time. She nearly screamed with joy when she had heard this, jumping up and down. Abigail was still non the wiser though, having no knowledge of it. In fact, Eden wasn't sure whether to tell her or not, fearing that she'd become jealous because their father was offering to take Eden instead of Abigail. Not that Abigail would go anyway. Eden knew that she'd stay with Darry. She was far too into him to leave at this point. Regardless though, Eden didn't really care about that, she was just happy with the idea of being with her father again. Although, if she were honest with herself, she was actually going to miss having Two-Bit around. The big goof had grown on her in a way, putting a smile on her face with his antics. She wasn't going to miss Steve though, that was for sure. Possibly Ponyboy, but still, at this point the kid was actually tolerable.
T
"Hey, Soda!" Dally called, walking up toward the gas station.
Both boys were standing outside in their DX uniforms, hands all greased up from working on a car. The chill of the afternoon air seeming not to affect them.
"We ain't got no money Dal," Steve told him point blank, messing around with the engine that he was working on.
"Hey, man, whoever said I was lookin for money?" Dally asked, raising his hands defensively.
Steve narrowed his eyes at this, an annoyed look on his face.
"You always want something when you come here," he grumbled, walking away from the car and grabbing his soda, and taking a swig.
"Well, I ain't here for no money," Dally told him, stuffing his hands in his pockets for a moment, before pulling a cigarette out and lighting it.
He then took a deep breath, inhaling the smoke, before breathing it back out of his mouth. His eyes went from Soda to Steve, then back again, before opening his mouth to speak.
"I was wonderin if you'd seen Abby's old man around," Dally voiced, pulling the cigarette from his lips for a moment, the end burning away and crumpling.
"Yeah, he was over near the house yesterday," Soda told him. "Why?"
Dally remained silent for a moment, standing there, thinking. Soda just stared at him, awaiting the answer to his question.
"He's been hangin around Eden too much," Dally commented. "I got a bad feelin about it man," he told them, looking between them.
The first week had been bad enough, but after that, it was like the man couldn't seem to get enough. They all knew that it was putting Abigail on edge, that was obvious. Now, it was putting Dally on edge and that didn't happen often, not like this anyway.
"What do you suppose we do about it though?" Soda asked, scratching the back of his neck lightly.
"I don't know man, but we gotta keep an eye on things," he told him, taking another drag of his cigarette, smoke exiting his lips a moment later.
T
"Hey, Eden, wait up!" Two-Bit called, running down the school's hallway in order to catch up.
The girl stopped, standing there to look at him with her books in her arms.
"What do you want?" she asked, heading for her locker to grab her satchel.
"Just wanted ta ask ya somethin," he told her, stopping next to her locker as her played with the lock.
The locker opened a moment later, revealing the small space inside. It was filled with various things, books among others. There was a picture tapped in the back of her father, along with a few random bits of paper that didn't exactly seem to really belong anywhere.
"Then ask," she said simply, pulling her satchel from the locker.
"Well, me and Ponyboy are gonna go see a movie after school and I wanted to know if you'd be interested in goin?" he proposed.
Eden eyed him for a moment as she stuffed her books into her satchel.
"Sure," she smiled.
"Great. I'll grab you after class then," he told her, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I'll see ya later, gotta get home before my old lady," he grinned, before running off down the hallway.
She just shook her head as she watched him, his form disappearing through the large double doors of the school's entrance. He was definitely a character, but at least he was her friend.
Yay! Chapter 38 is finally up! I apologize for how short it is, but I was unable to come up with anything further. I promise, the next chapter will be longer though. This one was just a bridge to the next one, so yeah. Anyway! Don't forget to REVIEW and MESSAGE me with your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings on this chapter/ story? I LOVE hearing FEEDBACK, it helps me WRITE and keeps me happy, which in turn makes happy READERS! Seriously though, please REVIEW? Thanks everyone! *goes off to start the next chapter while listening to music*