Begin [Ponyboy Curtis]

Tulsa Soil

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood, Mentions of death

Playlist: SUBURBIA - Troye Sivan | Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore - Paramore

My aunt and I didn't knock when we got to the house. Stacey was sitting on the couch next to the blood stain, like before, she had been crying. It looked like sadness took over her natural state.

She wiped her eyes and smiled at me, "thanks for trying to get the stain out of the couch."

"No problem. We didn't mean to intrude."

"No," she shook her head, "this is your house too."

I tapped my aunt's arm, "my bedroom is on the far left upstairs," she left and I sat next to Stacey. It occurred to me how close in age we were. She was only a year older than Darry. "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be okay. You never told me what happened to you the other night."

"I was at a Rumble."

"Really?" she tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and turned to me, "I wasn't allowed at those when I was your age. Who won?"

"The greasers."

"Good," she smiled softly.

"I forget sometimes... that you grew up here."

"Yeah. Went to will Rodgers and everything."

"What gang were you associated with?"

"Oh, they're not around anymore. Disbanded before I even moved."

"Did you know Darry Curtis?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "I went to school with him."

"I'm dating his little brother."

"No shit?" she sat up, "Sodapop?"

"No," I shook my head and smiled, "Ponyboy."

"They're a nice group of boys... when did your aunt get into town?"

"This morning. She came to help with the funeral and take me to California."

"California? I guess... you wouldn't be staying here after your dad..." she trailed off. I wondered for a moment how long it had been since she found out. "Did you see him?"

"No, Ponyboy found him. I'm surprised the smell cleared out so well."

She cringed but ignored the comment, "We still have 11 months on the lease so if you want to come back anytime between now and then you can."

"You're staying here?"

She looked around the house, it felt like a stranger's home at this point.

"I mean, yeah. I wasn't just going to kick you out of the street. I'm still your step-mom."

I felt bad for never thinking of her that way this whole time, "you don't want to be here all by yourself do you?"

"I'm not going to force you to stay," she rubbed my back, "I want you to do what's best for you. Just remember I'll be here if you need me."

Right then my aunt came down the stairs. I stood up and smiled at Stacey, "can I think on it?"

"Of course," she nodded, "you know where to find me."

My aunt started talking about me driving her car while she drove the Uhaul, I only half-listened to her as I lit a cigarette.

"...and you can smoke, just not in the house or the car."

"What if I stayed here?"

She stopped in her tracks, "I'm not moving here, Dotty."