The house next door

Science

I woke up to the sounds of birds outside my window. I looked over at the clock next to my bed. 5:45 am. Everyday just like clockwork the birds are singing at 5:45. I don't even need an alarm clock at this point. I shivered as I stepped out of bed, it was a chilly morning. I pulled open my dresser I pulled out my favorite pair of jeans and slipped them on, then I put on my favorite white shirt, and a black jean jacket on. I then went over and pulled a red bandana on as a headband. I put on a gold chain and some hoops. I sat down and did my makeup. First mascara, then blush, then a little red lipstick, the final step was the most important. I had to cover up the bruise on my face. That was from the last test I failed. I walked over to my desk and put all my books back in my bag and triple checked my homework was in my bag, then headed downstairs quietly to get breakfast. I opened the icebox and pulled out the milk, then to the cupboard and grabbed a bowl. I grabbed some cereal of the counter and a spoon from the drawer. I silently ate breakfast so my parents wouldn't wake up and get pissed for no reason. After I finished doing my dish I ran outside making sure I had my key and went to knock on the Curtis's door.
"Hey kid" Soda said as he opened the door
"Is Pony ready?"
"I don't know let me ask" he turned his head and yelled through the door, "Pony Kayla's here you ready?"
"Yeah give me a sec"
"He's comin"
"I know I heard" I said giggling
"I bet you did come in while
You wait it's getting kinda cold"
"Ok" I said stepping into the warm house.
"How is your mornin going?" Soda ask " Pretty boring yours?"
"Same old same old"
We were both just kinda sat there letting the conversation die when Pony ran from his room looking all ready.
"You ready?" I asked
"Yep let's go get Johnny I didn't get a chance to check on him Superman wouldn't let me"
"I heard that!" Yelled Darry from his room, I giggled that was Darry's nickname and he didn't like it.
"Yeah let's go check on him"
As soon as we left we both kinda started running cause we were nervous about Johnny. His parents did some bad things to him.
As we pulled up to the door to knock Johnny came running out telling us to go, "Hurry before they realized I left"
"Why would they care they normally love when you leave" Ponyboy said
"They caught me last night coming back to get some cigarettes and got mad cause they thought they were theirs"
"Eww that's what you were getting" I said in disgust, I hate that they smoke.
"Come on Kay it ain't that bad" Pony said
"Yeah stop naggin" Johnny added
"Fine, but in ten years when I still have my teeth and can breathe I'm going to say I told you so"
"That ain't gonna happen" they replied at the same time.
I just laughed in there faces . I didn't talk too much on the way to school cause I was nervous about my science test. I had it 1st so I would have to know all day long how bad I'm going to get it when I get home.
"Kay you haven't said a word since Johnnys house" Pony said breaking me out of my trance
"Yeah" I said
"And why's that?"
"I'm nervous for that test"
"Still?"
"Yeah I just ain't good at science"
"You're smart and it's nothing to worry about"
"I guess"
"Hey guys what are you doing this weekend?" Johnny asked realizing this was a sore subject
"Nothing" I said
"I was thinking about going to a movie at the drive in" Pony replied
"That sounds like a good idea we should all go" Johnny said as we walked into the school
"Sure" I said swallowing the lump that was forming in my throat
"Your gonna kill that test Kaylita!" Pony said as I walked to my locker.
I knew that was not happening, I was gonna get killed by that test. I did all I could I just don't understand science. I walked into science and took my spot in the back by a window. I looked up at the board and it said the test had 21 questions that were multiple choice 21 were fill in the blank and four extra credit. This was going to be a long test so we could start as soon as we got there. I picked it up and immediately started panicking. I didn't know the multiple choice answers and I should be able to guess on those. Maybe I'll lie and say we didn't grade our science tests. That always ends up bad, best not to lie. Welp there goes the movies, unless my parents get drunk on Saturday. There's a good chance of that I think it's their anniversary.
"Ok class please switch tests with someone and write who it was corrected by on the top left" my science teacher said after all tests had been turned over.
After ten nail biting minutes I got my test back. I got a whopping 13%. That is the worst I've ever done. I bite my lip so the tears would stay in my eyes. I have English with Pony next that should calm me down. I rushed to English as soon as the bell rang, when I got there Pony was already here.
"Hey Kaylita!"
"Hey Pony" I said sounding sad
"How'd science go?" He said it in a tone that showed he already knew how I did
"Real real bad, I got a 13%"
"Dang it must have been a hard test what was the class average?"
"95%"
"Oh that's ok you'll do better next time"
"Yeah I guess"
The rest of the day went by way too fast. Of course my worse day was about to get worse. Bob was sitting at the picnic table waiting, scanning for me. I really should find a new route.
"Hey grease" he yelled
I knew better then to ignore him, "yeah"
"Why don't you got a boyfriend?"
"Why don't you got a girlfriend"
"I'm just saying your too pretty not to"
"That means so much" I said very sarcastic
"Be that why then" he said throwing a rock and hitting me in the shoulder
"I love the present" I said flipping him off as I walked away.
I saw Pony and Johnny both staring at me as I walked up to them,
"Why you staring, did I finally grow another head?" I joked
"No but you just flipped off Bob Sheldon, this towns worse socs" Pony said with his jaw gapping open
"Yeah what ya gonna do he deserved it"
"What he do?" Johnny asked obviously remembering yesterday
"Nothin you need to worry your pretty little head about" I said
"Ya know the gang can make him stop bothering you" Pony said as you could see the gears turing in his head
"No he's fine he's just messing around"
"Ok" Johnny said hesitantly
We walked in silence all the way back to our houses, this was good because I could think about what to do about my test. I thought of nothing that would end good, so the truth it is I guess.
"Bye guys I'll see if I can go to the movies tomorrow!"
"See ya Kay" Johnny said
"See ya!"
I walked up to the front door and wiped my sweaty hands and grabbed my key. No one was home so I figured I should eat something before I was starved. I unlocked the door and to my surprise my parents were home. And I didn't not want to see what I saw.
"I thought we told you to knock" my dad slurred drunk
"Yeah what the hell?" My mom said sounding even more drunk
"I-I'm sorry the door was locked so I thought no one was home"
"All I ever hear is excuses from you" my dad said taking his belt and walking over to me
"Please no please" I said backing away fighting away tears
"You need to face the consequences of your actions" he said smacking my neck, causing my breathe to catching in my throat. He then proceeded to slap me hard against my face.
"Now you get out of here and find something to do" he said turning back to my mom.
I ran up to my room and cried for a little bit. I knew my dad would be mad if I stay too much longer so I walked over to my vanity and fixed my makeup which was tear stained and rubbed off from the hit. Once I was looking normal again I walked over to the Curtis's hopping Pony was still there so I didn't have to go on a walk alone.
"Hi" I said as Pony pulled open the door
"What's up?"
"Wanna watch a movie tonight I can't tomorrow, mandatory family dinner" I said making up a small lie
"Yeah let me ask and I'll grab Johnny I think he's up stairs" he said shutting the door behind us as we walked in.
"K" I said trying to make sure my voice didn't shake.
A few minutes later we were all walking to the movies.
"Are we going in the right way or the normal way?" I asked
"Well I want to save my money and so does Johnny so it's up to you what your gonna do" Pony said grinning
"I'll come with ya I should save my money too" I replied trying not to giggle.
We all went over to the end of a chain link fence where there was a small dent in the fence, where, Dallas, a gang members got mad and kicked the fence.
We all slipped under as we had done a hundred times.
"I wonder if Two and Steve are still here" Pony whispered as we slipped into three seats towards the front, suddenly three girls sitting in-front of us turned around. To my surprise they weren't actually girls, they were Two, Steve, and Soda. I bursted out laughing and couldn't stop, it was even better that Pony and Johnny didn't realize.
"What's so funny" Two-bit asked in a high squeaky voice, suddenly Johnny and Pony realized what was going on and were laughing too. We got some rude looks from people and we decided to leave before we got kicked out.
"Man How'd you guys even think about this" I said still laughing
"That's a story for when your older" Soda said
"And how the heck did you get Steve to join you?" Johnny asked
"I lost a bet" Steve mumbled
"What time is it Soda?" pony said sounding freaked out
"Relax kid it's only 10 ya got about two more hours"
"Good, Darry can be so strict" Pony complained
"Pony-"Soda started
"No don't defend him"
"Pony don't be like this please" I begged
"You wouldn't know would you, your family is just so great" he replied bitterly
"There's more then what you get to see Pony" I yelled almost starting to cry, I was still pretty shaken up, I didn't want the gang to see that so I ran but not towards the houses, I couldn't go back there. Ponyboy being the track star he is managed to catch me and tackled me to the ground.
"What the heck just happened?" Pony said after we both sat up
"It was nothing" I said pulling a leaf out of my hair.
The rest of the gang came up to us obviously tired from the run. Pony and I liked to run for fun, but the rest of the gang didn't.
"Hey Kayla you good kid?" Soda asked with a worried look
"Yeah I'm fine" I lied
"Ok that's not what a fine person does"
He lopped his hand on his belt loop causing me to tense up. I could feel the color draining from my face. I couldn't breathe. I knew Soda wouldn't hurt me but it was still fresh in my mind.
"Hey hey Kayla your ok" Soda said grabbing my hand to help me up, "Steve, Two-bit why don't you Pony and Johnny start heading to the house we'll meet you there" they listened, Soda wasn't bossy much but when he was people listened.
"Hey Kay why are you so upset"
"No reason"
"Well that's a lie if I ever heard one" Soda scoffed
"Well it ain't one" I said
"Kid nobody turns white and starts crying for no reason"
I sniffled wiping of tears and looking at the smudged makeup on my hand.
"Where'd you get that bruise?" Soda said talking my face in his hand
"It's a long story" I said trying to avoid it
"Did Bob give it to you"
"No I wish"
"Who gave it to you it looks fresh"
"I said it was a long story"
"Well I don't got to be no where for two whole hours so get going"
"Soda" I whined
"Was it your parents" Soda said looking alarmed
"Maybe" I said biting my cheek
"They hit you before"
"I ain't going to tell you that"
"Kayla Mae why didn't you tell anyone"
"'Cause you guys already have to worry about Johnny and yourselves you guys don't need to be worrying about me"
"Yes we do"
"You do?"
"Why do you think we come over every time you invite us?"
"Cause it's free food?"
"No, well part of it"
"Why do you guys then?"
"Your always so happy to have us over and when your happy everyone is happy"
"Really?"
"Really"
"Promise me never to skip those dinners" I said staring into his eyes
"We won't"
"No you don't understand I need you guys"
"Hon your kinda freaking me out"
"It's just that when you guys come I get a whole dinner that's peaceful and I don't got to worry about whether or not I get to close my door or have food"
"Their starving you?"
"No only as a punishment"
"Ok I'll make sure one of us at least comes"
"Thanks Soda"
"Of course"
We walked in silence for a little, " hey Soda?"
"Yeah"
"Can you not tell the others"
"I'm afraid I have to"
"No you don't" I said stoping in the middle of the street
"Yeah I do" he said grabbing me and slinging me over his shoulder
"Fine just don't tell Dally he'll go nuts"
"Ok I won't" 
"make the others promise too?"
"Yes ma'am"
Soda slid me down and held me like a baby. I didn't realize how tired I was cause I must have fallen asleep after a while