𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 || sodapop curtis

003 | pack your bags

❝Don't be dismayed at goodbyes, for they are not forever. For some reason, wherever you go, becomes a part of you.❞

I WOKE UP early the next morning, knowing that I was leaving tomorrow. I did my usual morning routine, then met my mother downstairs for breakfast as usual. But as I crept down the stairwell, there was no mother; only a note on the dining room table.

Dearest Francesca,

I'm so sorry honey, but I had to work early. Make sure you eat something for breakfast and I will be home by dinner. I left your lunch in the refrigerator.

-mom

I dragged myself over to the pantry and grabbed an avacado and two slices of bread. I popped the bread in the toaster, and made spread out of the avacados. I sat alone in the dining room, thinking of what to pack. I didn't have much, and I also knew that I wouldn't need much.

I finished eating, and made my way back up to my room. I pulled out a dusty suitcase from the back of my closet, not remembering the last time I traveled anywhere.

I threw in some shirts, pants, and a jacket. I also took the teddy bear my father gave me when I was five. Soon, I had packed all of my necessities. I had just hoped I packed enough.

I had nothing to do, so I took a couple dollars from my piggy bank and started walking to the DX. I wanted to go see that boy- Steve, I think, again.

On my walk there, I saw some boys in a blue mustang- a couple socs- beating up a kid grease. I quickly ran over there, shouting for them to stop. I hated fights more than anything.

"Get off of him!"
"Oh- look at this broad! What are you gonna do sweetheart?"
"Don't you call me sweetheart you disgusting animal!" I said pulling out a blade from my pocket. My mother never knew I had one, but I always carried it in me, it was my father's. They quickly ran back to their car and took off.

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked the boy.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I could tell he was holding back tears.
"I'm Francesca Baker."
"Ponyboy Curtis." He smiled a bit.
"I was, uh, just going to the DX, you wanna join?"
"Okay."

We talked as we walked to the DX, and it turns out we had a lot in common. He liked reading, watching movies, and writing. So did I.

"Hey! Ponyman got himself a girl!" Steve yelled, rolling out from under a car.
"Just a friend." I said. Steve smirked at Ponyboy. I could feel my face turn red. Turns out, Steve and Ponyboy were really good friends.
"So, who's this?" Steve asked as he wiped the grease off his hands.
"This is Francesca, she saved me from a couple socs."
"Well that was awful nice of her." Again, my face turning red.

Steve got back to working on cars, and Pony and I just sat on the hood of an old car, probably that Steve fixed, and talked. For some reason, I enjoyed his company.

"So, do you have any siblings?" I asked him.
"Yeah I have two brothers."
"Well, are they reckless like Steve, or dreamy like you?"
"Darrel, we call him Darry, he's my oldest brother. My other older brother, Sodapop, was drafted."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Thanks." He said quietly.

"I really should be getting back home." I said, hopping off the roof of the car.
"Alright, be careful."
"Trust me, I will be." I waved him goodbye and started walking home.