An Unlikely Allie

Chapter 38

Phaedra's POV

As I walked back home, I kept thinking about how crazy I was being. I could lose everything by doing this, but I could lose everyone by not doing this. I quietly snuck around the back of the house. My window was still open which was a good sign. I hoisted myself up. My arms were still sore from the Work Out from Hell that Darry made me do.

Once in, I shut my window and silently turned around. It was then, I noticed my door was open. My light snapped on. There stood my 3 brothers...their faces all had a furious expression. Yep, I was officially fucked.

"Before you jump down my throat," I held up my hands, "let me explain?"

Darry took a menacing step towards me, "What the hell is there to explain, Phaedra? I say, don't climb out your fucking window or get drunk and what do you do?!" He shouted at me

"I didn't get drunk," I muttered.

"Not the time, Phaedra," Pony hissed at me.

"Do you have so little respect for us that you deliberately disobey every rule I set down?" Darry continued to rant. "Where the hell were you, Phaedra?!"

"I just went for a walk to clear my head."

"Is there a problem with the front door?" Soda jumped in. He looked like he could kill me.

"I didn't think," I shrugged, yep, totally just took Pony's line.

"Did you NOT HEAR A GODDAMN THING DOUGLAS SAID?!?!" Darry shouted in my face.

I was starting to get pissed now. I shoved Darry back, catching him off guard, "DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK THAT'S WHY I LEFT?" I shouted back. I may be the smallest of the group, but I sure as ain't gonna stand here and let Darry get in my face.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER!! YOU SNUCK OUT THE GODDAMN WINDOW...AGAIN!"

I folded my arms across my chest, "Yeah, an what're you gonna do about it? I ain't hungover so I could do that stupid workout in a fucking heart beat!"

Darry continued to glare at me, "I wanna know what the fuck you were thinking!" Man, he was livid.

"I'm gonna run drugs for Wallace." I said as smoothly and confidently as I could.

"You're gonna do what?" Pony stared at me like I was insane.

"I'm not gonna let him hurt you, Pone. I went to talk to Douglas. He agreed with me." I was met with complete silence, "he and I gotta talk logistics and get good story straight. Especially since he don't know we're working with Douglas."

Pony came over to me and hugged me, "don't do this, Phae. It could go bad."

"Or I could help get him put away. Pony, I didn't mean to worry you," a thought popped in my head, "how did you get into my room?"

"Two-Bit picked the lock."

I rolled my eyes, "of course he did."

"Darry and Soda were furious when they found out you left," he picked at a fingernail.

I shrugged again, "I figured, but now they know why, and it's not like I got drunk."

"No, you didn't." Soda came up beside me, "but you put yourself in danger by walking over to the Tiger's turf...and you snuck out of the house...again...it's hardly been 48 hours since the last time!" Soda motioned to Pony, "I wanna talk to her alone. Go with Darry."

I sat down on my bed, "look Soda, I'm sorry. Ok?"

Soda's POV

"Phaedra," I ignored her apology for the time being, "Darry and I told are running out of ways to get through to you. You obviously don't listen to him." I sat next to her, "I'm hoping you'll listen to me."

"Soda, I am listening, but you aren't hearing me."

"Oh we heard you and your little idea is pretty idiotic. I don't know where your head is nowadays." I stood up, knowing exactly what I needed to do. Darry and I had discussed it. She continued to defy him so it was my turn to try. "Stand up, Phaedra." She looked at me confused, "turn around, put your hands on the wall."

"What?" I pulled off my belt. She finally seemed to understand, "Soda, no. You can't..."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "hands on the wall." To my surprise, she didn't argue. I doubled my belt and let her have it.

Phaedra's POV

I, honestly, expected to get my ass beat, but not by Soda. Then I thought he'd go easy on me...yeah that didn't happen. I counted to 10 before it really started to hurt, but I refused to make any sort of noise. After another 10, my ass was on fire, "jeans down."

My face flushed, "Soda, please no." I whimpered.

"Jeans down or I'll add more" Begrudgingly, I pulled my jeans down and put my hands back on the wall. The next 10 hit my thighs and that hurt like a son of a bitch, "last 10, Phaedra."

I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself. The last 10 came down fast and hard. I couldn't keep the tears at bay.  Soda dropped the belt as soon as he was done, "Phaedra," he rubbed my back and I clung to him, crying, "baby, please don't make me do that again."

I laid down on my bed and he sat next to me, rubbing my back and stroking my hair, "Soda?"

"Yeah, honey?"

"Do you think I'm dumb?"

Soda was quiet for a minute, "I don't think you're dumb. I think you're reckless and you're scared and worried about everyone and everything. You're trying so hard to control anything you can." Soda pulled my covers up. "We'll try to include you in more, but you gotta stop flyin' off the handle and climbing out that damn window.  We can't lose you too," He kissed me on the forehead, "good night, Phae. I love you."

"Love you too, Soda."