Survive: A Darrel Curtis Love Story

Chapter 20

~ Chapter 20 ~

Blair Creed's Point of View

Steve and Soda came by at 6, but Darry was still gone until 7:30. Steve heads back out to go home, but Two-bit stays. I stand up with my walker. I wish I had just used my walker at Buck's. My legs are really feeling it now. 

Because of the way I organized the kitchen, I know where everything is to try to cook grilled cheese. Half the sandwiches are done by the time I hear the door open and Darry says, "Sorry, got held up at a house. This chick just couldn't shut her trap." 

"Your girlfriend's in the kitchen," Dallas smirks. I turn and see his feet kicked up on a coffee table. Darry meets my eyes fast and I turn around, stirring the tomato soup on the stove. I flip the sandwiches and Darry stands next to me, leaning on the counter attached to the stove. 

I shift to the side and turn around to the other cupboard. The plates are just above me, so I take them out and put them on the counter. Darry reaches over me to make sure I don't drop them, or he did it to try to get me to not grab them. 

"I thought I told you to stay off your feet," Darry says accusingly. I shake my head and take 2 sandwiches off. He didn't tell me today, he told me that yesterday. Ponyboy was helping me, but he had to finish his homework and help Johnny. 

"Blair, sit down," Darry demands like he did this morning. I regretted listening to him then, so I ignore him now. 

"There's money on the table." 

"What?" Darry asks harshly. I see his eyes wander to the table. "Where did you get that?" 

"Dallas took me to some bar," I answer. 

"She didn't even use that walking shit," Dallas shouts. I didn't know he could hear us, but I guess he could. Darry's eyes narrow and his eyebrows furrow. I feel them burning into the side of my head. 

"I'm eating your sandwich for that," I shout. I turn my attention to Darry and drastically lower my voice. "I was fine. I wasn't gonna walk in with a goddamn walker. It's weak." 

"What did you do?" 

"Just hustled cards, that's it," I answer, my voice getting higher. I start the last two sandwiches, but one is an extra in case I didn't eat enough. "It's your money, it was yours to start." 

"You-"

"Yes, I took your money…and I got you more. Don't worry about it." I was about to ask him to put the food on the plates, but he sighs and says he's getting in the shower. I sigh back and finish the food. As he walks through the living room to get his clothes, he says, "One of you go help her." 

Soda pop comes up behind me and I ask him to get the bowls. I pour the soup and Sodapop takes food back to Ponyboy and Johnny in their room. Dallas and Two-bit come get theirs and sit down at the couch. The shower turns off. 

Darry steps out of the bathroom with just his jeans on. I force myself to look back at the food, my cheeks heating up, but maybe nobody will notice. He looks good. Like, really good. 

"Oh come on, you said I had to wear a shirt," Soda whines. 

"If you sorted the laundry right, I wouldn't have Pony's shirt," Darry snaps back, throwing the white shirt in his hand at Sodapop. I slide Darry's food to the edge of the counter and Soda goes to the living room with everyone else.