Evermore | Sodapop Love Story | The Outsiders

Chapter 13 | Not as Planned

"Sit down next to me, hun."

I completely avoided giving the letter to Mrs. Curtis. There's no point since I decided to leave tonight. 

I went into my room and began to pack essentials. I could only bring one back pack worth of stuff, so I needed to make it worth it.

I stuffed the back pack under my bed in case someone came into my room. I was thinking about anything else I would need, but I think I have everything I'll need.

I wrote the note and hid it under my pillow. I will put it on the kitchen counter right before I leave.

Soon I left my room to eat dinner with everyone else. I had to act like it was a normal night, like nothing is wrong, like I'm not about to leave the only home I've ever really known.

I didn't have much of an appetite. I tried to eat, but I couldn't. I was just playing with my food for a while.

The table started to quiet down a bit and I snapped out of my thoughts. I quickly glanced up and noticed everyone was just watching me. I pretended not to notice.

The phone rang to break the silence. Mrs. Curtis stood up to answer it while everyone returned to their normal conversations.

I watched her, trying to see if it was my mom. Judging by her facial expression, it wasn't her. It must be something pretty bad because she looked upset.

"Darrel, can I talk to you in the other room?" She asked. Mr. Curtis stood up and followed his wife into the other room. They went in their room.

"I'm done." Ponyboy was quick to excuse himself. Soda, Darry, and I all just awkwardly stared at each other for a few minutes, before looking down again.

"Elle?" I heard Mrs. Curtis call from the other room. Soda and Darry both looked at me. I simply shrugged and got up. I think it's about my grades.

I went into their room and Mrs. Curtis shut the door behind me and sat me down. Her eyes looked red and puffy which made me nervous.

"What's wrong?" I asked, hearing the fear and urgency in my own voice.

"Sit down next to me, hun." Mrs. Curtis said. I sat down next to her cautiously, not breaking eye contact. I was really getting nervous.

"On the way to Chicago, your mom...she was in a car accident...I'm so sorry..." She looked at me. I could tell she was holding back tears so she could be strong for me.

It took me a second to process that. That means she's dead...She's gone...Mom's gone...

She looked at me sadly. She pulled me into a hug, but I was just so in shock, I was frozen. There was no right way to react to news like that.

I got up and walked calmly out of the room, in tears. My vision blurred, I could barely see. I was pretty out of it and I could barely control what I was doing. 

I started to take care of my plate, rinsed it off and walked to the front door. Then I just ran out of the house, not caring about any of the dangers out here.

I heard Soda call out after me, but I didn't stop for a second. I can't believe she's dead....no...she's not....she's waiting for me in Chicago....she wants to see me. Then I let my legs take me where they wanted to go.

I ended up in the park. Probably the worst place to end up at this time. Socs would be everywhere, but I wasn't focused on that now.

I kept telling myself she wasn't gone. She's at her new job in Chicago. She's making a living for the first time in a long time. She's living her life. She's thinking about me...about dad...about everyone here.

Soon, I calmed down a bit and got more aware of my surroundings. It was dark now and there weren't many people in the park.

What was I thinking coming out here, I really gotta get back home.

I'm not going to run away, since my plan hasn't gone right. Might as well go back, everyone's probably worried about me.

I'm thinking a little more rationally at least. I just wish that call was about my grades.

Published March 8th 6:39 PM EST

Words: 709