Circa Tulsa 1964

Ch. Seven

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"Are we going to ever watch this movie?" Rosie whined, leaning her head back on the couch.

"We're gonna wait for Dottie." Jack insisted, he had put his foot down an hour ago but that didn't stop his sisters from complaining.

"She's seen this film, she won't care." Henry tried to sway Jack's mind. It was getting late and summer or not, a growing boy needs his sleep. At least that's what Hen would say when questioned about wanting to leave early.

"We're waiting for her." The oldest of our crew finalized. Hell, he was upset she even went over to the house across the road to begin with, not to mention she'd been gone for hours.

"Come on man, she's been gone forever. Even my mom went home already." Bucky huffed, fiddling with the blanket he was under. Eileen Foster was a notorious night owl even on nights she had morning rounds at the hospital the next day. The fact that she had ventured home and I hadn't made it back should've been the real stressor.

"Then go get her Buck," Jack snapped, it was too late for us all to be up. Especially the Parkers after their full day of loading and unloading and reloading their belongings.

"Your attitude is through the roof right now." Maggie scoffed, looking back at her older brother. His blue eyes narrowed before he promptly flicked her on the head.

"Come on, we're both going to get her." Buck sneered, grabbing Jack's hand and yanking him up off the couch. He grumbled as they stepped out the door and into the cold night air.

"You said it yourself they don't like me. Why am I going?" Jack groaned, hands in his pockets and a deep scowl on his features.

"Because if I go over telling her to come home she won't care. But if you go over, she'll drop whatever she's doing and come running." Bucky explained, desperately trying to swallow the sick feeling that was settled in his gut.

That twin telepathy shit wasn't real, at least that's what Bucky tried to tell himself when a feeling such as this wallowed in his stomach. Sure he hadn't seen me in a few hours but I was fine, I was with Soda and Darry and they'd die before letting something happen to one of us.

Say what you want about twins but when I came home from dance class with a broken arm... Bucky knew before I even walked in the house.

"I've always known she likes me way more than you," Jack said with a grin and a rosy tint to his cheeks.

"I sure hope so, since I'm her brother."

"But Dottie June's gotta crush on me. That's what you're implying."

"Sure," My brother shrugged. "Always has," Thar sentence make Jack's ears perk up as he continued to follow Buck. "She's had a crush on you since we were kids, you've had a crush on her since we were kids. That's why our trio works, because since I'm her brother we ain't competin' for her attention."

"What do you mean I've had a crush on her forever. I never said that." Jack huffed, embarrassed by the outing of his secrets.

"Didn't need to." The boy glanced over at Jack and pushed open the front door. Jack's eyes shot up at his lack of a knock but followed him into the unknown house nonetheless.

"Bucky Foster! My second favorite twin, what brings you to my lovely abode?" Two-bit cried out with a grin, looking lazily from the couch to the door.

"Your lovely abode my ass. This is my house." Sodapop jibed, his smile immediately faltering when he noticed who was standing by Bucky.

"Look, where's my sister?" The boy asked urgently.

"Dottie?" Soda questioned as he perked up from the couch.