Miss Marley |The Outsiders|

02. The Eastside

"I'm not tryna sound rude," the stranger clarified, "but what's a young thing like you doing heading outta town?"

Marley turned her head, releasing her lip from between her teeth. The stranger, a young man, across the aisle watched her carefully. Whether his eyes were filled with concern or curiosity, she couldn't tell. His hair was dark and slicked back. It was combed that way, instead of being held back with copious amounts of hair grease. He wore a simple blue button-up underneath his grey jacket, his long slender legs were dressed in brown slacks.

"I know this bus goes out of town," Marley replied smartly. "I'm right where I need to be."

He ran his tongue over his lips before turning in his seat. Now, instead of facing forward, he faced Marley. "Why're you going to Tulsa, of all places?"

She didn't bother to look at him. She turned her eyes to the cold window on her left and stared at the prairie grass whipping in the wind. A few pale stars stood out against the dark sky, like sprinkles on the cakes her mother always used to make. "Visiting family."

He grinned again, his eyes landing on Marley's lap as she wrung her hands together nervously.

"They're coming to pick you up, right? There's a lot of hoods in Tulsa. 'Specially at night on the eastside." That's when he extended his hand, a smile on his lips. "Name's Adam Rogers. You are?"

Marley forced a smile on her lips and bit down on her tongue. She had learned over the past few months that was the best way to stop her thoughts from falling out of her mouth, something she was always chastised for at school. "Pleasure to meet you."

Adam shook her hand vigorously, all while letting his eyes trail over her face. Marley decided right then that there was something different about him. It wasn't the fact that he was friendly, or even seemed concerned for her wellbeing when they arrived in town. There was something all too familiar about him that she didn't like. By the way Adam continued to stare at her, he sensed it, too. "Are you from Tulsa? With a pretty face like yours, I'm sure I woulda remembered you."

Marley nodded and pulled her hand back to her lap. "I'm from Tulsa, but I don't think we hung around the same crowds," she explained awkwardly. Adam raised an eyebrow expectedly.

"I'm from the eastside. I grew up with all those hoods you were talkin' about earlier."

His eyes widened as he recoiled his hand. Marley didn't bother looking back at him as she crossed her legs and folded her hands back on her lap. For a second time, her eyes were drawn back to the window and wisps of grass. The sky lost its colour as the sun finally sunk below the horizon, leaving her with nothing but the seemingly endless stretch of road and a sign; Welcome to Tulsa.

The air was much colder than she thought it would be as Marley stepped off the bus and waved a final goodbye to the driver. Much to her pleasure, Adam had slunk away as soon as the vehicle came to a stop. The few people surrounding the stop quickly scampered off to fulfill their own duties, leaving Marley on the side of the road with a suitcase in hand.

Familiarity tugged at her heartstrings while she collected her thoughts. Adrenaline and pride burned in her veins as she took in her surroundings. "You did it, Marley. You actually did it."

It didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to the dark streets. Lamps were placed every few feet, but they became more scarce the farther east she went. Figures moved in the darkness, blurry shadows and slurred voices disappeared into the night before they could be identified. Beads of sweat formed under her collar as she forced one foot in front of the other.