Yellow, Pink, and Orange

Chapter 2

The sound of yelling and screaming was one of many sounds. Glass breaking, birds chirping, crying of the wind. The sounds of my life. The only way today was going to be a good day, was if I didn't stay here. So I decided to go to the Curtis house. Due to the broken rib that my father "blessed" upon me, it was difficult to move around and get dressed, but I managed. At this point I just learned to ignore it completely like nothing happened.

After about a 10 minute walk, I finally arrived at the Curtis home. Knowing that none of them would be awake considering it was 4am, I just let myself in their unlocked house and laid on the couch until Darry came into the living room.

He gave me a concerned look and said, "Hey Johnnycakes you ok?"

He walked over to me and sat down. "You hurt?"

"Yeah," I mumbled not looking him in the eyes, "my parents got mad at each other and took it out on me."

He sighed wrapping his arm around my shoulder pulling me into a side hug. "Well you're safe now, Johnny. You will always be safe here." I smiled, "Thanks Darry. I'll always remember that."

After a while, all the Curtis brothers woke up and Two-Bit and Steve came. When I got up from the couch to go eat breakfast with everyone else, I felt the agonizing pain that I was ignoring. Everyone around me caught on and came to my aid. 

"What's wrong Johnny why you hurtin'?" asked Sodapop as Steve went to get the medical supplies from the cabinet.

"I'm pretty sure my dad fractured my rib in some way." I said wincing.

While Darry and Sodapop fixed me up, Two-Bit asked me about what happened and I told them. By the end they all seemed a little upset. But why would they be, it didn't happen to them.

After everyone left, either to go to school, work, or to just fool around, I was left alone on the couch with the silence of the house and the loudness of my thoughts. That was until Dallas came bursting in rubbing his head and sighing. 

He looked up to see me staring at him, "Oh. Hey Johnnycakes. How you doing, man?" He sat on the other end of the couch. "Eh...ok. How bout' you?"

"Not so good, man. I'm hungover from the party that happened at Buck's last night."

"Oh, that sucks." Unfortunately I have never drunken alcohol before and I don't plan on it. I don't want to become like them. 

It was 2pm when Dallas and I decided to finally head out the house. We left a note so  nobody would be worried while we where gone. My rib was feeling better, but that was only because I took enough pain meds to kill a horse.

We walked around for about 4 hours, looking in stores, getting food, talking, Dally ended up tormenting some kids, like he usually does. 

"What now, man?" asked Dally as he blew out the smoke from his cigarette.

I thought for a moment before getting an Idea. "How about we go watch the sunset."

He gave me a weird look "Why would you want to watch the sunset?"

"Cause it's beautiful. People loved to watch Marilyn Monroe because she was beautiful, right? Come on it will be fun!" I raise my eyebrows in a tempting manner. 

Dally sighs and puts out his cigarette, "Fine. But just this once."

I smile, "Ok. I promise."

We sat there watching the beautiful sun at the top of the hill. This was the perfect place with the perfect view. My safe space. 

"I don't get what's so special, it's just the sun." said Dally as he took a drag of his cigarette.

"Just the sun? Oh, Dally!. It's much more," I can't believe he said that, "the sun is a necessity. We need it to love. It is natural. It's beautiful." I shake my head, taking a drag of the weed in my hand. 'It's just the sun', please. 

"How long we gonna' stay here, man?" Dally looked annoyed. He sat down on the dewy grass, "I got shit to do. I ain't got time to look at the damn sun."

"Don't worry. You will be fine. It will happen soon." I sat down next to him.

"What will happen. It doesn't look like anything specials gonna' happen. It's just the sunset, the sun always sets."

"Just wait Dally." I put a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him.

We waited about 20 minutes till we saw the most beautiful sight.

A sunset. It's vibrant and radiant colors mixing together to form a piece of art.

I stood up to get a better view. 'How beautiful' I thought. I could feel Dally standing up next to me.

"What's so special 'bout this?" he questioned, unamused.

I was in a daze, captivated by its beauty. It was almost impossible for me to speak, "The sunset  is beautiful isn't it." It truly was. But that's not what I meant.

"Uh...sure. I guess," he took one last drag before stomping it on the ground, "can we leave now Johnny?"

I sigh disappointed, "Fine. Let's go."

"Finally. Wanna' go get Cokes from 'Charlie's'?" he asked as we walked down the steep, and grassy hill with the beautiful scenery behind us. "Sure. You paying?" 

"Nah, a buddy of mine works there. He owes me."