faraway - dallas winston

004

my parents were out when i got home, i remembered my mom mentioning a dinner with my dad's co-workers. i unstrapped my heels and flopped onto the bed. it took me a while to walk home and my feet were very sore. i laid there staring at the ceiling, bored out of my mind. i finally rolled over to my bedside table and dialed cherry's number into the phone. 

"hi cherry, are you busy right now?" i asked into the phone.

"my parents and i were going to go out, but i'm sure they wouldn't mind if you join us." 

"oh that's alright, thank you though- oh also, do you know where bob went during school? anthony told me he skipped."

"probably getting drunk or jumping greasers." i could practically see her rolling her eyes through the tone in her voice. "it's all he ever does these days."

i never understood how a girl like cherry could put up with bob. i mean, he's my cousin and i love him, but he can be an asshole sometimes. i see how he acts towards other people and even though he's polite around me doesn't make him a better person in general. 

"have fun cherry, see you tomorrow."

she hung up the phone after saying goodbye and i stared up at the ceiling again. i had recently been thinking about the greasers i had met a lot, and my mind wandered. 

i wonder what being a greaser is like. it must be nice being able to do whatever you like. well, their situation isn't always the best. i wouldn't like being attacked or being known as a bad person, it's just nice knowing you're free to do whatever. bob's so lucky, he never even gets punished for the problems he creates. what else does he do that makes the greasers hate him so much? did i even learn that guys name? 

i thought back on the guy johnny and ponyboy walked with. he seemed like someone that would be fun to be around. 

i picked myself off my bed and walked down the stairs in my socks. i put on comfier flats and walked out the door, making sure to lock it behind me. i really wanted a milkshake from the diner, and even though my mom wouldn't allow it, it wasn't like she would find out. it was an impulse decision, but i just needed to have a strawberry milkshake.

the bells at the door chimed as i walked through. i sat at a booth, making myself comfortable before a waitress came by. 

"what can i get for you today??" she asked in a friendly tone.

"just one strawberry milkshake please."

she scribbled something on her notepad then walked to the back of the diner. 

my mind was completely blank. i stared out the window and i probably zoned out, because when i looked back, the milkshake was already there. i took the cherry off the top and bit the fruit off the stem. i took a sip of the milkshake and the sugar immediately energized me. it was definitely way too sugary and left a sickening sweet taste in my mouth after every sip, but just drinking it without my mother knowing gave me a kind of rush.

i looked out the window again, watching people walk by as i sipped on the drink.

someone walked by that i immediately recognized, it was one of the greasers that were with johnny. he was the one i had never gotten the name of, and i was kind of curious.

i never really go up to strangers, since i'm not very skilled at conversing, but i left a few dollar bills on the table and ran out the door to catch up to the guy.

i was already right behind him when i realized how stupid this was, i didn't even plan out what i was going to say to him. 

i didn't have to though, because he stopped walking and turned around. 

"i had a feeling someone was following me, although i didn't expect someone like you" he smiled after seeing me.

"hi, sorry, i just recognized you from earlier at school, and i never got your name." i stammered awkwardly.

"two-bit matthews. pleasure to meet such a pretty girl like you." he held out his hand for me to shake.

"jolene clemonte. nice to meet you too." i giggled as i shook his hand.

"is two-bit your real name?"

"nah, my real name is keith, but no one around here calls me that." 

"wow, that's sick." i nodded.

"where you headed?" he asked.

"i don't know." i replied. i was free to do whatever i wanted today, but i was so boring, i couldn't even think of anything. "i usually just stay home, what do you do around here?"

"haha, i usually hang around my friend's house. pretty boring around here."

"yeah, seems like it." i said, glum. i was kind of excited to not have my mom breathing down my neck for an afternoon, but it wasn't as fun as i anticipated. 

"tell you what, we can walk around town and i'll show you some of my favorite spots." he had seen my disappointed look.

"really?" 

"yeah, sure." he smiled from my eagerness.

we walked around town, chatting about anything and everything that came to mind. two-bit was probably one of the first friends i made on my own, and a good one at that. i guess i never paid attention to how little people i actually hang around. only bob and his friends, if i'm being honest. two-bit was great company, he had countless jokes up the sleeves of his leather jacket and listened to the few stories i had about my friends.

he pointed to a park and i chased him to the small children's play structure. he hopped on a swing and i sat down on the one next to him. i kicked my legs forward, then tucked them back as i kept the rhythm going. god, i hadn't been on a swing in ages. we laughed in a contest of who could swing the highest. two-bit jumped off, but tumbled a little while i waited for the swing to slow down. i could feel the wrinkles and smile lines forming along my face as i laughed harder than i ever had. 

we starting walking around town again as two-bit pointed out different spots. we went in some shops when we realized it was getting late.

"i have to go, but let's go to the curtis' house. i'm sure one of my friends can drive you home." he suggested.

"oh, i can just walk home, i'm sure it's not far."

"i'm sure it is, but it's not a smart idea walking alone when it's getting dark."

i nodded and followed him along the sidewalk to the curtis house.