Porcelain

Chapter 35

"Oh, hi Babydoll," Cherry greeted. "I haven't seen you around in a while."

"Cause I haven't been around in a while," he replied with a smirk.

"Oh, you were out of town? What were you doing?"

"Oh, the details aren't important," he said nonchalantly. "Just babysitting the little ones."

"The little ones?"

"The little Greasers. The ones, now one," he chuckled humorlessly, "in the Curtis gang."

Cherry's eyes hardened. "I'm sorry you lost someone close to you, Babydoll. I really am. But I'm not sorry he died."

Babydoll widened his eyes and put his hands in the air, in a mocking innocent pose. "I never mentioned that part of the story."

"Yeah, well, I did. I know you were there. Ponyboy told me."

"Oh he did now, did he? What did he tell you, sweetie?" He drawled.

"He told me enough."

"Oh but no he didn't. Ponyboy might be fourteen years old, but he's still a kid. He didn't see the whole story play out."

"Yeah, but I also heard what the police said. I know enough," the redheaded girl said, crossing her arms.

"And that," Babydoll said, tapping her on the nose condescendingly, "is where you're wrong. Johnny Cade was a child. A speck of light in this barren fucking wasteland of a town," he snarled.

"I know your boyfriend had his own problems. You don't get to be here and not have them. But do you know what he did that night, Cherry? Do you?"

"He was drunk," she murmured.

"That he was. He tried to rape Ponyboy. Rape. Ponyboy," he said enunciating each word. "I was there that night. I saw him pawing at Pony's belt with his filthy hands, as he and his goons tried to kill him. I saw it. Now, I also saw Johnny's knife. You didn't know Johnny. But he was a good kid. He'd never willingly kill someone. Even your Bob, as he tried to rape and murder his best friend. He had no choice left. His blade was raised, his hand shaking a little," Babydoll snarled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I scaring you? I'm sorry, Cherry. But you need to hear this whole story. Anyways, I saw his knife. And I couldn't let him do that. My knife was in my hand. I pushed him away, careful with the knives, and sunk the blade into your boyfriend's throat."

Tears glistened in Cherry's eyes. Babydoll softened his glare. "I'm sorry, Cherry. I really, truly am. I may be a criminal, but I'm human, too. I did not want to kill your boyfriend. I wish everyday that I didn't have to. His blood will forever be on my hands, and for that I'm sorry, Cherry. But I can't let you blame Johnny. He deserves to be able to rest, finally. Let him rest. You're free to hate me, I understand."

"You'll never understand, you, you monster, you filthy horrible being! I hope you rot in hell for what you did!" She spat out.

"I wish I didn't understand. But you deserve the truth. You're part of this story, too. You see yourself as a part of a world of grey shades, but this world is full of color for a reason. What Bob did, and what he was trying to do was unforgivable. I know he went through pain, that doesn't mean I forgive him. Same for me. I want you to understand, I don't expect you to apologize."

"Good, cause you're not getting one."

"You're not a bad one, Cherry. Just remember, that doesn't make you good, either. Just make the best choices you can."

"I don't need advice from a fucking murderer."

"Then take advice from a person. We don't have to keep up the whole Soc and Greaser role. We can put that aside and be a couple of teenagers. I'm sorry the way things happened that night. I think we're both trying to move on. It'll be a while before we can. And that's okay. But in the best way possible, I hope our paths take us very different places."

She looked at him, in a different way that when they'd started talking. "Can't say I disagree. But one last thing. What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Not gonna turn me into the cops are you?"

She shook her head. "No, I just want to be able to see you as a person."

Babydoll smiled a wry smile. "Estelle. Estelle Parker." He turned to leave.

"One last thing, Cherry. Don't worry too much about my side of Greasers. Even Dally. I'll give him what you wouldn't." He chuckled a bit. "Isn't it ironic? You and Bob, me and Dally."

He walked to go find Dally, resisting the urge to look back.

_____
"What'd you say to her, she looks awful upset," Dally said as Estelle swung into the seat beside him.

She shrugged. "The truth."

Dally snapped around to face her. "Why the fuck would you do that?" He demanded.

She shrugged coolly. "Because she deserved it. She's part of the story too, and I couldn't let her spend the rest of her days blaming Johnny for my actions."

"That doesn't mean you had to blow your cover!"

"It was my own choice. I know Pony likes her. She's not all bad."

Dally snorted. "Ponyboy's just a fucking kid."

"And you were in jail when you were nine. We all had to grow up too fast. He witnessed a murder," she reminded him.

"Doesn't mean you should trust that bitch."

"I know. I don't expect much from her though. She won't do nothing."

Dally grunted. "I sure hope you're right."