Hours later, I walk out of my room. I decided to dress in a black dress with lace with matching heels and tried a makeup look that made my eyes look sharper. As we walk into the restaurant, I survey the surroundings and find quick exits. You know, just in case I need them. Marie and Mr. Darksme have a complete table to themselves and leave me alone at a table with Randy. I finger my switchblade in my pocket of my dress. For some reason, it give me utter assurance that I'm going to okay. That I'll be okay. And safe. It keeps me connected with those I love.
A waiter in a tux approaches us. "Welcome. May I take your order?"
"I'll have the Pot au feu and some red wine." Randy says.
"And you?" The waiter asks me. I open my mouth to say something, but;
"She'll be having the same." Randy interjects.
"No." I snap, glaring at him. "I'll be having foie gras and some apple-cranberry cider."
"Of course madame." the waiter says with an amused glint in his eye and walks off.
"I can order my own food thank you very much." I say stiffly to Randy.
"Of course." He says, I see a hint of some sort in his eyes and immediately am reminded of Bob.
The evening continues and I politely listen to everything Randy says. I hate it though. He talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, and TALKS! It's driving me INSANE! And he's boring. I hate to admit it, but I compare him to Pony. And guess who I find better? You guessed it, Pony. I nod politely as Randy goes on a tangent about politics. Or was it golf?
"Um . . ." I interrupt his talk. "I don't feel so well. I think I need to leave." I glance at my watch. Quarter to six. "Why don't you join Marie and your dad and tell them that I wasn't feeling well."
"Um, okay." he says and walks over to them. They converse for a while and he sits at their table. I sigh and make a calm bee-line for the door.
When I reach the apartment, I remove my makeup and quickly change into my PJ's. I dial in the number and wait.
"Hello?"
I recognize the voice instantly. "Hey."
"Arizona! You got away? How?" Pony asks.
"I faked a sickness." I say with a laugh. "So, what's happening in Tulsa?"
"Well, The Socs haven't been around for a while."
"That's good news. Too bad I can't have that here." I complain.
"Let me guess, Randy?" Pony asks. "Am I right?"
"Bingo." I reply. "First, he tries to order for me, like I can't make my own decisions, then he kept trying to talk to me about things. Oh my gosh. It was so boring! Golf, New York . . . socy stuff. I hated every second. So I faked a sickness . . ."
"I think you mentioned that already." Pony says.
"Yeah. So I wanted to just walk out of there or pull my switch and say 'I swear, if you don't shut up, I will legit kill you.' " I reply.
"Sounds a lot like you." Pony says. I can tell he's grinning.
"You're smiling aren't you?" I guess.
"Darn! I thought you can't read my mind if you can't see me!"
"Yeah. I don't think so." I laugh. "We've been together for two years. So what about you? Soda get over Chevy yet?" I ask.
"I guess he has. He hasn't said anything so far."
"Oh, wow." I breathe.
"Other than that, everyone's wondering where you've been at school. Even Mr. Syme's wondering. He wants you to come back to play in Love Never Dies."
"The sequel of Phantom of the Opera? Seriously! I want to be in that!" I groan. "But not as Christine."
"Can't you come back?" Pony asks softly.
"No." I reply. "I don't . . . think so."
"Yes, you can!" he protests. "Gotta go."
"Okay." I sigh. "Love you." And I hang up. I hear Marie coming into the complex. I get up and walk into the living room.
"Ari! Randy told me to give these to you!" She hands me a bouquet of roses.
"Um . . ." I say taking it. "What is this supposed to mean?" I ask.
"Oblivious child! It means he's in love with you!" Marie singsongs.
"No." I say, backing up. "No, no, no, no. I have a boyfriend! Remember?"
"Long-distance never works." Marie says dismissively. "You will date him! You love him! Do you not hear me!? You will date him, and you will love him!"
"No!" I cry in protest. "I cannot . . . he's a Soc."
"Soc?" Maire exclaims. "My dear we are not in Tulsa anymore." She takes my face in her hands. "No. We have a new life now. And you must accept it."
"I can never. I will never." I whisper and rush to my room. "I will never. I cannot." I say to myself. "No. I don't love him. No. But I have no choice."
A few days later it was a Saturday that I spend shopping. Trying to cheer myself up and prepare myself for the trials about to come. And Marie has a lot of money so might as well use it. I spend it on books, music, clothes . . . but it doesn't make me feel any better. That night we have a date again with Randy and Mr. Darksme. I weep silently as I change into my dress. I can't call Pony or the gang now. Not when this is happening. No. I can't. I love Pony and I need to protect him from this. I need to protect all of them. I don't love Randy. In fact, I hate him with all my heart. But only God knows that I was forced to do this. And I can't protest. I only have two choices: Death or Following. That night goes the same as the previous. And at the end Randy kisses my hand.
"Farewell my love." he whispers.
I shudder. "Farewell." I choke out.
"You and Randy seem to be getting along well." Marie tells me when we get home.
I bite my lip and nod before rushing into my room. "I can't do this . . ." I sob into my pillow. "I can't. I don't . ."
The next morning I wake up a complete mess. I don't even bother.
"Arizona!" Marie waltzs in. "Remember, we have that event this afternoon!"
"Okay." I reply. I stay in my room and read book after book and drink coffee. I can't even . . . then I glance over at the picture of the gang and close my eyes.
I was standing at my locker when I heard a voice. And one I knew all too well.
"You're going to get it this time, Dr. Pepper!" it said menacingly.
I jumped and turned around. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Two-Bit and Steve. "Glory!' I exclaimed. "Two-Bit, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"Relax, Dr. Pepper," Two-Bit said. "I doubt you'll die that easily,"
"Wanna bet?" I challenged. "I'll probably get jumped again,"
"Not if you don't walk the streets alone," Steve replied.
"I always walk alone," I protested. "I doubt that the stuck-up Socs can do anything about it!"
"They'll do more." Steve warned.
"And worse." Two-Bit added.
I opened my mouth to say a rather clever comeback, but I had no words. And I guessed they're right.
"But don't worry," Two-Bit added. "Pony won't let anything happen to you,"
"What about me?" Pony asked, walking up and giving me a kiss. I rested my head on his shoulder as Johnny and Emily showed up.
"We're just talking about how you won't let anything happen to Dr. Pepper over here," Two-Bit said.
"I won't," Pony said, kissing me again.
"Mr. Curtis!" I heard a voice scold sharply as we pulled away. It's our English teacher, Mr. Syme. "I get that you love her a lot, but we're in school," he told us.
"Yes sir," Pony replied, as Mr. Syme walked away.
I suppressed a laugh.
"He's right you know," Two-Bit said with a smirk. "You're only fourteen,"
"Yeah, age doesn't matter," Johnny said, kissing Emily.
"Looks like we passed on the disease to them," I whispered to Pony. He grinned.
At the party . . . .
"Would you like to dance?" Randy asks me.
"Sure." I reply and we step onto the dance floor. "So what do you like most about New York?"
"The life." he replies. "The way everything is. Broadway is magnificent! I performed in it once. I was in Sunset Boulevard. As Joe. It was amazing. Just . . ."
I listen to him drone on. 'Oh, Tulsa.' I think wistfully. 'I want to come back to you. Why must I be here? Let me go . . . New York feels like . . . no. New York is great, but I can't live like this. I don't love Randy. Why is Marie putting me through this? Show me a way to go home . . .' A lightbulb goes off and I get the best idea ever. 'I'll run away!' I think victoriously. 'I'll run away. All I have to do is pack every thing. What time is it! I have to leave at once!'
"Are you okay?" Randy asks me.
"Yes." I breathe. "I'm fine."
"Will this make you feel better?" he asks and kisses me. A terrible kiss too. It feels like my lips are being cut with a knife or worse.
I pull away. "Yes, I'm fine. I just need to use the bathroom." I say hurriedly and rush to the bathroom. I stay in it for five minutes and creep out through a back door unseen. I hail a taxi to get home. Once there I throw everything into my suitcases and change into black jeans, black shirt, and black boots. I grab my duffel bag and stuff some food into it. I scribble a quick note that reads: Marie. I'm in New York. Find me.
I haul the bags into my car and drive off.
Good bye New York.
Hello Tulsa.
Hello home.
Hello Greasers.
I'm coming home.