💥|THREE|💥

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DINNER, WHICH CONSISTED of mashed potatoes, canned corn, and pork chops was done fairly quickly. I had gotten the canned corn from the corner store just a block away, the potatoes I found in the back of our small pantry, and the pork chops I had bought a few days ago. I didn't know everyone who was coming over for dinner. I assumed everyone, so I made sure to cook enough for everyone.

The food sat on the stove covered with tin foil so it would stay hot. I stood in front of the sink doing dishes. If I didn't do them I knew nobody else would.

I hear the front door open along with fast footsteps, laughs, and chattering. "Give it back, Steve!" I hear Sodapop laugh. I turn to see Steve holding Sodapop's comb above his head as Sodapop tries grabbing it. Steve's hand was on Sodapop's chest, stopping him from getting any closer.

"Not so fast, pretty boy." Steve teases, he doesn't see Two-Bit behind him. Two-Bit doesn't waste a second tackling Steve who yelps in surprise as the two men go down, Sodapop joins them on the floor, the three of them hitting, punching, and laughing.

"Hey! Take the horseplay outside before you three break somethin'!" The booming voice of Darry commands, though you could hear the slight amusement in his tone.

"Whatever you say, old man." Sodapop teases Darry, getting a light smack in the back of the head from our older brother as he, Two-Bit, and Steve rush outside.

I roll my eyes with a grin as I turn back to my task and start doing the dishes again. I hear the heavy footsteps of my oldest brother.

Darry walks to the stove and moves the tin foil off the food "Corn, pork chops, and mashed potatoes." I answer his unasked question as I rinse a cup.

"Looks good, Angie." He compliments, patting my back with his rough, callused hand.

"Thank you. Who's all staying for dinner?" I question.

"Everyone except Dally I think." Darry answers. I felt relief creep through my body when he said that. I didn't feel like dealing with Dally and his stupid ego.

"Okay, well let the others know they can help themselves." I sigh as I flip the faucet off. I dry my hands on my jean-cladded thighs. I grab a Coke from the fridge and go to make my way out of the kitchen when Darry's voice stops me.

"Where you goin'?" My brother questions. I turn to look at him.

"I've got homework to finish, I have to put the money in for the electricity for this month, and then I've gotta shift at the diner in a little so I have to get ready." I turn to leave when I feel Darry's rough hand grab my wrist gently.

I turn to look at him my eyebrows knotted in confusion, Darry removes his hand and clears his throat. "Mom and Dad..."

My throat closes at the mention "Darry," I say in a warning voice while shaking my head. The grip on the bottle of coke I have in my hand tightens. I don't want to talk about them, not now and probably not ever.

"They're proud of you." Darry finishes. No, they aren't. I know they aren't not after what I've done.

I nod my head unable to speak from the painful lump in my throat. I speed walk away, not wanting Darry to try and talk anymore about our late parents.

It had been hard without them, especially for Darry and Ponyboy. Darry now had all of the responsibilities of our mother and father on his shoulders and Ponyboy...well he's just so young. He's far from a child, yet he's not quite an adult either. He's in that awkward stage of life, and the people who were supposed to guide him through it are gone.

Sodapop and I always had each other to talk about things, we were each other's shoulder to cry on and that's how it's always been. When our parents died we had each other, Darry refused to talk to anybody because he's too stubborn, then Ponyboy just didn't want to be a bother.

It wasn't always like that. Ponyboy used to have Mom. She has been his best friend ever since he was born. If he ever had trouble, she was his go-to person. She understood Ponyboy in ways nobody else ever had. She was gentle and patient with him even when nobody else was. He would follow her to the end of time if he could.

Darry and Dad were a lot like Ponyboy and Mom in the sense they were attached at the hip. Darry was our father in every way. His looks, his actions, even the way he thinks and he had always taken pride in that. He loved making our father proud and our father loved being proud of him.

Sodapop and I weren't disconnected from our parents, we both loved them very, very much. But we had always gone to each other for anything and everything. That's how our family was and it worked well. Then I messed up and tore our family apart. It is my fault they're gone.

I shake my thoughts away and look down at my math homework. Three fresh tear droplets lay on my paper, one of them making the ink of what I think is a 3 messy and harder to read.

I inhale sharply and clear my throat using the sleeve of my flannel to rub at my stinging, tear-filled eyes. I glance up at the clock on my desk and sigh.

It was 4:30 and I had to be at work at 5. "So much for doing homework," I grumble to myself as I shove my math work back into my backpack which was slowly coming apart. I guess that's what happens when you use the same backpack for 5 years.

I put my backpack on my chair and walked over to my small dresser that had clothes hanging out of it. I was never the most organized person. I dig through the dresser until I find a white blouse and a pair of back slacks. I discarded the clothing that I wore and put on my work clothes.

Being the only girl, I was able to get my own room while Sodapop and Ponyboy shared a room. Darry had his own room since he was the oldest.

My eyes linger on the blade that sits on my bedside table. I debated for a moment if I should take it with me. I usually didn't but Ponyboy and I just got jumped just a few hours ago.

I sigh and slip it into my pocket, it's better safe than sorry.

𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏'//𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏×𝑶𝑪Where stories live. Discover now