ʜᴇʀᴏ

likewise

the next day, i was home with soda. darry made him stay home from work to watch me. he doesn't trust me much since i ran away.

i spent most of the morning on the couch, watching cartoons and sketching. i didn't eat breakfast, i haven't had much of an appetite lately.

soda walked in from the kitchen holding a plate and a glass.

"here. apple slices and peanut butter with a glass of chocolate milk. this used to be your favorite."
he smiled, putting it down on the coffee table.

i looked at him and smiled softly.
"thank you.."

i looked back down at my sketchbook, continuing my drawing.

"whatcha drawing?"
he asked, sitting down next to me.

"a woman.."
i said.

he looked over my shoulder at my sketchbook.
"she's beautiful. who is she?"

i stared at the beautiful blonde woman i had spent the last several hours sketching to perfection.

"do you want the bullshit answer or the truthful answer?"
i asked.

he hesitated
"the truth."

"it's the woman i saw naked in dally's bed."
i sighed, erasing a rogue line.
"i've been trying to draw her from memory."

he looked at me like i was crazy.
"why would you torture yourself like that?"

"because i keep seeing her.."
i played with my pencil and bit the inside of my cheek.
"she was.. so beautiful."

"hey, you're beautiful too.."
he said, sitting up a little.

"not like that."
i said gesturing to the sketch.

he reached over and took the book from me. he shut it and tossed it onto the floor.

"stop torturing yourself."
he said, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing.

i nodded.
"okay."

there was a knock at the door. soda got up and walked over to the door. he opened it and stood up straighter, his demeanor becoming more serious.

"can i help you?"
he asked.

i stood up and walked over to the door, peaking from behind soda.

i saw a tall blonde man who looked just like jamie. he wore a black t shirt and jeans.

his eyes lit up when he saw me.
"just the girl i was looking for.."

the closer i looked the more i noticed the several other people collected in our front yard and the porch.

"what do you want?"
i asked walking closer and popping my head out but staying close to soda.

"we just want to talk.."
he shrugged.

"are you jamie's brother? he didn't tell me about any brothers.."
i said.

"yeah. i'm his older brother, tony."
he smiled.
"nice to finally meet you."

"likewise.."
i nodded.

he stepped closer.
"i've been hearing some rumors, fizzle. i'm not one to believe gossip but.."

i cut him off.
"can you get to the point? sorry, it's cold outside."

he looks slightly surprised by my interruption.
"i've heard from some people that you may have been involved in my brothers death.."

"she had nothing to do with that."
sodapop said.

"yeah, i'm not so sure about that.."
he took a close look at my face.
"he always did have a temper.."