Forever Apart (Johnny Cade) {The Outsiders}

Four

The car ride was very awkward. I sat in the passengers seat and Johnny sat in the back. Dally was a reckless driver for sure, making me grip the side of the seat.

"I made them promise to be on their best behavior for when they meet you." Dally said as he huffed a cigarette.

"Who?" I asked him.

"The gang."

"You-you're in a gang?"

"Not that kind of gang. We're a group of guys who are really close, got a lot in common, get drunk every once in a while." I nodded and looked down. Dallas Winston, though he was my brother, I was not liking that trip. He abandoned me and now he thinks he's gonna raise me? With his gang?

We stopped in front of a small, run down house. I got out of the car and followed the boys inside. We were on the west side of town, I watched the houses get smaller and smaller as we drove west. Dally opened the door and walked inside, though Johnny let me go before him, like a gentleman. I walked inside and soaked in the small house. "Um," Dally sniffed, "this is Darry." A taller man, about 20 and handsome shook my hand. "And his brother Sodapop." A very handsome boy emerged from the kitchen, his smile was wide and showed off his white teeth. The boy made me blush. "And the youngest, Ponyboy." A boy about my age set down a book and smiled at me.

"Ponyboy and Sodapop." I repeated. "You got original parents or did ya earn those nicknames?" I asked them.

"Original parents." Ponyboy answered.

"Guys, this is my sister, Margaret Winst-"

"Peggy Coleman." I interrupted him. Even the Curtis boys saw the angry looks and souls of hatred that Dally and I shared.

"Well, I'm cooking dinner right now..make yourself comfortable." Darry said. I awkwardly nodded and sat on the couch next to Ponyboy.

"Nice dress." Ponyboy complimented. "You rich or somethin?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not really rich, just..middle class."

"Middle class in New York is probably like the higher class here." He commented.

"Maybe, I guess Dallas had somewhat of a brain when he dropped me off at a random persons house." I purposefully said it louder, so that my hated brother could hear.

"Man, What's that supposed to mean? I was seven." Dally lit a cigarette, something I saw him do often, it was obvious he was stressed and sought help from it. I stood up and stared at my brother.

"I was five! I didn't even understand what was going on!" Forgetting there were witnesses, I ran out of the house. Dally huffed the cigarette.

"You gonna go after her, Dal?" The Curtis brothers didn't know what to think. They knew there was obviously a very deep and emotional story behind them, but it wasn't their business. Something I liked about them.

"She's never been here before, man. She won't go too far." Johnny furrowed his brows at him and violently grabbed the door. He went after me.

Dally was right, I only sat outside on the sidewalk with my head in my knees. Johnny sat beside me. He didn't say a word, he just sat there. "I hate this. I had a good life, good friends, a mom..whether she truly was or not. Now look at where I am? I have a hoodlum brother who lives on the west side of town where the boys are greasy and drunk..no offense." Johnny chuckled at the last part.

"I know it's hard." He squeaked, it was obvious he didn't talk much. "It's an adjustment for sure. But Dal was kind of excited when he got the news..nervous for sure but definitely excited."

"I don't buy it." I looked up.

"It's true. He combed his hair, he's sober, he's not swearing as much. But he's also super nervous because..we'll look at you. You've obviously grown since he last saw you, he probably doesn't know how to act around you, what to say, what you like." His voice was scratched up and quiet but I heard his words loud and clear. "I can tell he's got a soft spot for you."

"I don't understand why Dallas didn't stay with me. He had just turned seven. Why'd he put me in a home and not himself? I don't understand."

"Dal is hard to figure out. We still can't figure him out." I slightly shrugged at his comment.

•••

"I can't do it man, I can't do it. One minute, I'm getting drunk, living the life, going about my routine, the next minute, I have a 17 year old sister who hates me."

"She don't hate you Dal." Ponyboy assured him.

"Did you see that, man? She hates me for something I did 12 years ago. She needs to get the hell over it, man."

"To be fair, you did leave her at a young age when she didn't understand.." Soda started to say.

"Don't pull that shit with me man," dally pointed at him. "You don't even know." He stormed out as well, walking right past me and Johnny without looking our way. He opened the car door and made direct eye contact before he sat down. "Get inside will ya? You're a beautiful girl associated with greasers, you're gonna get jumped." He cursed under his breath and sped away.

"Jumped?" I asked Johnny. He looked down without saying anything, I noticed his body shaking a little and decided to ask someone else.

We walked back inside and I sat down on the couch next to Ponyboy with a loud sigh escaping my lips. "I know it's not easy, Peggy." said Darry. "No parents, just a brother. And I know the life we lead is nothing like the on you had but..we'll do our best to make you feel home." He was so sweet about it, him and his brothers.

Thank you."

And that's just what they did.