cloaked lust

chapter 11- where were you?

I ran into the Curtis house and Darry was sitting in his chair and stood up immediately when he saw me. "Nova what happened?" he asked rushing over to me.

"my mom was not happy I woke her up," I said. "ok sit down that's probably gonna require some stitches," he said and I sat on the couch as he ran to get the first aid kit.

"what's all the noise Dar?" Soda said scratching his head as he came out. Then he saw me and ran over. "What happened?!" He asked. "my mom hit me with a beer bottle," I said. "what? oh Nova I'm so sorry," he said taking my hand when Darry walked over with the first aid kid.

"This is gonna hurt," He said pouring alcohol on a little cotton swab and wiping the cut in my forehead. I winced but stayed still. "you know the drill, bite down on this," Darry said putting a cloth in my mouth.

He and Mrs Curtis have had to give me stitches multiple times before. He began stitching up my cut and I screamed into the cloth as Soda held me down.

No matter how many times I've had this happen it hurts the same every time especially when you aren't able to be numbed.

Ponyboy walked out in shock. "Has anyone called Steve?" Pony asked. "No go call him!" Soda said. Darry finished stitching my forehead right as Steve ran in.

I now had 6 stitches on my head. "what happened?" Steve asked. "your ma hit her over the head with a bottle," Soda said. "what?" Steve said. "yeah maybe you should've slept at home tonight instead of worrying about if you can get evie to screw you or not," I said and walked to Soda and Pony's room.

I shouldn't have snapped at Steve like that he couldn't have known mom was gonna hit me I was just stressed today and this didn't help. Soda walked in and looked at me sympathetically.

"I'm fine if you're wondering," I said. "I'm so sorry Nova," he said. "it's fine it isn't anyone's fault but my own, I should have snapped like that," I said and Steve came in behind Soda.

"can I talk to her?" Steve asked and Soda nodded and walked out. "Nova I-" he started. "no I'm sorry it isn't your fault I shouldn't have gotten mad at you I did this to myself," I said.

"no you didn't, mom did it it was her decision you didn't make her do anything," he said. "Stevie I'm fine I just wanna sleep forever," I said and he laughed. I would've laughed but my forehead made me forget about doing anything at all.

"go back to evie I'm ok," I said. "ok I love you kiddo," he said and hugged me then walked out. Soda walked in and said Pony was sleeping in Darrys room with him. He wrapped me in his arms and we both fell asleep. I still couldn't believe how quickly that all just happened.

I never thought my mom would hit me. i mean my dad used too but he left. he's gone, mom and steve are my only family. well blood family, and if steve finds out about soda and I he will hate me and my mom has now hit me.

All I'm gonna have is the gang. I need to tell Steve I just don't know how I really don't. I woke up to my head pounding and saw Johnny standing there with Dally and he handed me a water.

"Good timing thanks," I said as Dally handed me aspirin. I took the aspirin and stood up. "where do you think you're goin?" Johnny asked.

"to the bathroom?" I replied. "I cut my forehead I didn't break both my legs," I said and pushed them out of the way and walked to the bathroom. I looked at the cut across my forehead and sighed.

I brushed my teeth with the spare toothbrush I always kept here and then went into the kitchen and grabbed an apple. I sat on the couch next to Ponyboy and looked at the tv. My head pounded at all the sound around me.

"you alright? you don't look too hot," Pony said. "I'll be fine," I said sighing. "where's sodapop?" I asked. "he went to the store or somethin I dunno," Pony said. "alright," I said.

After a minute of watching tv everyone, and I mean everyone, walked inside. They were all laughing and yelling and my head pounded even more. "can you be quiet please?" I said kind of quietly. Nothing.

"HEY! shut up!" Pony yelled and everyone looked scared. "Novas head hurts you idiots shut up!" he said. "sorry Novarooni," Two-Bit said.

"call me that again I dare you," I said and he backed away. Raven and Steve sat next to me and Raven went to to touch my forehead but I slapped it away.

"you don't touch it dumb ass!" I said. "sorry," she said laughing. there was small chatter around us and everyone was still shocked at how Pony yelled. "how's your head?" Steve asked.

"it's been better but I'm fine," I said. "Do you need anything?" Soda asked from the ground in front of us. "I'm ok thanks," I said and discreetly kicked him. He never would've asked that 2 months ago, I mean he might've asked if I was ok but he wouldn't have asked if I needed anything.

Luckily Steve was distracted making fun of Ponyboy reading. "Leave him alone Steve," I said. "oh whatever I'm just messing around," Steve said. "you're always messing around until you actually hurt his feelings," I said.

"why are you so mad at me?" Steve asked defensively. "I'm not it's just been a long week," I said. "It's only Wednesday,"Darry said. "bite me," I said annoyed and stood up and went to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge and looked at the drink options. There was chocolate milk, water, pepsi, and beer. I went to grab the pepsi but switched and grabbed the beer. "What do you think you're doing?" Rory asked. I rolled my eyes and switched it for the pepsi and sat at the table. Dally and Johnny sat across from me and stared at me.

"what?" I scoffed. "you're grumpy you need sleep," Dally said putting his feet up. "I'll gladly go to sleep,"I said. "then why are you awake?" Johnny asked. "because everyone here is so damn loud," I said.

"I can take ya to bucks and you can sleep there, the bars closed right now," Dally said. "that would be nice if you are alright with it," I said and he nodded.

"hey I'm takin Nova to Bucks so she can sleep since it's loud here," Dally announced to everyone. they all just nodded and muttered "ok" and we left.

(Word count: 1,157)