Looking to belong

6

When I walked into the living room to where the gang was, they were in a middle of a conversation but when they saw me, They all went quiet.

Eventually Darry spoke up.

"How you doin?"

"Im fine I guess".

"That's good to hear, When Steve and Two-Bit showed up with you looking like that last night we were all worried".

"Yeah and when i saw you lying in the streets like that, I was real worried too".
Two-Bit chimes in.

"Oh well you don't gotta worry about me, Im okay".

Johnny looks at me looking not so convinced by what I just said.

"Anyways who did that to you? I bet you it was the Socs".

Two-Bit sighs "Steve the Socs couldn't that to her, Aria is a Soc".

"Huh, Shes a Soc? and shes friends with us?!".
Steve looked shocked standing there.

"Yeah she is, but none of those Socs know about it".

"That makes more sense, Anyways what happened to you Aria?".

The whole room went silent, waiting for an answer.

"I got into an argument with someone and it escalate quickly i guess.. It really doesn't matter now though, my face should be healed up in a few weeks anyway".

Before anyone else could even speak, Ponyboy interrupts them straight away.

"It does matter, who did you get into an argument with? They can't just get away with that".

"It really doesn't matter Pony"..

"Just tell us who did that to you".

"Pony cut it out".
Johnny pulls pony by his shirt.

"What? why I ain't doing anything".

"I know but she obviously doesn't wanna talk about what happened to her".

Ponyboy sighs."Im sorry I just don't want no Socs coming after us again or anything".

"That's alright I get that but really don't worry about what happened to me, Any of you".

They all nod their heads in agreement, even though I knew they were still going to worry.

A few moments later while Two-Bit, and Steve were watching mickey mouse on the tv and Pony was helping Darry out in the kitchen, I went outside for a cigarette.

Johnny has followed me outside shortly after I had gone out.

"Hey Aria.."

"Hey Johnny".

"Can I talk to you for a sec?".

"Sure whatcha need?"

I had never heard Johnny speak more than two words to me before so this took my by surprise.

"I know you don't wanna talk about what happened but Aria I've seen bruises and cuts like that my whole life".

I laugh awkwardly." You mean like when you  fight the Socs right?".

Johnny looks at me waiting for me to realise what he had actually meant by that.

But what did he mean?

"See this bruise on my face? A soc didn't do this to me.. My parents did. That's why im never home there always arguing and drinking".

"Im so sorry Johnny, I really am. You don't deserve that".

"Its okay im used to it now, But like I was sayin.. I know that someone older and alot stronger must have done that to you".

I wanted to lie about what happened so bad but I couldn't lie about it, especially to Johnny. He would understand the best out of everyone.

"Your right.. My dad just couldn't handle the truth anymore, I don't know what I did for him to be like that".

"You didn't do anything for him to be like that Aria, Dont even think for one second that it was your fault".

I nod and look from out of the porch, still smoking. And in the distance I see Soda walking up towards us.

"And don't worry I wont say a word to anyone, Im here if you ever wanna talk about anything too".

Johnny smiles and walks back inside before soda reaches the house.

As Soda is walking up the steps of the porch I try to hide the bruises on my face, not that it mattered if he saw them anyway.

He took a glance at me for a moment not saying anything as usual but then he looked at me again, this time looking worried.

"Ariana what the hell happened?"

"It doesn't matter, and hey don't call me that".

Soda sighs."Fine, I ain't even gonna question why. Are you doing okay though?"

"Does it look like i am? And why do you even care anyway".

"Because your my friend, That's why.
Just because you know.. Doesn't mean we gotta be all weird with eachother".

"I guess not, But you better keep your trap shut about it. If the others found out about it they would never stop pissing me off".

Soda laughs."I will dont you worry, Anyways let's just move on from that now, we got worse stuff to be worrying about".

"Yeah we really do".

Soda walks to the front door and waves at me before he goes back in.

"See ya inside".

Thank god the awkwardness was over with now and I could finally forget about that. But I was still worried about my dad. Of course I was. Who would even forget about something like that.

"Hey Aria, Lunch is ready if you want some!"

Darry called out from the window.

"Sure I'll be there in a sec!"

I entered back in the house and made my way to the kitchen table to eat some lunch. I was starving, I hadn't ate since the day before.

As we were all sitting down eating I had noticed that Dallas wasn't here but I wasnt worried because hes usually off doing whatever the hell he does.

Ring ring ring

"I'll get that".

Darry answers the phone.

~

the next chapter will be up in the next couple of days!!!