Hopeless War

Chapter 2

    The next morning I woke up, super sore from the night before. I sat up groggily and felt a pain in my stomach. I lifted the bottom of my T-shirt and saw a huge purple bruise. It almost covered my whole stomach. It hurt, bad, but I stood up anyway and walked into my bathroom. I took off my shirt and looked in the mirror, at all the bruises, cigarette burns, and scars my dad had given me. They were so ugly. And the reason I always wore clothes that covered them. I'd have to wear long sleeves for a week or two. The only problem was the huge bruise on my cheek. Everyone I talked to would see that instantly. I know the guys think that I'm clumsy, but no fall would really cause a bruise like this. I'll just try, that excuse seems to work on them most of the time. I got into the shower and washed my body and hair, being a little extra careful on the bruises and burns. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself, before changing into jeans and a sweater. I didn't want anyone to see the bruises over the rest of my body if I could help it. I did some light makeup and walked back to the Curtis house. At this point it was more my home than my house was. I live in a house. Not a home. My dad takes away any ability of my house becoming a home.
     I walked into the house, hoping anyone in there wouldn't make a big deal about the bruise. I didn't see anyone right away, but when I yelled,
     "Is anyone home??" Soda answered, and him and Dally came out into the living room. The second they saw me, Dally looked pissed, but didn't say anything, and Soda ran up to me, looking worried.
     "Sydney! What happened to your face?" His hand brushed over the bruise, gently, and carefully, and I felt butterflies in my stomach. But that was not happening, so I shook it off.
     "Nothing! I just tripped down the stairs. That's all" Soda looked suspicious, and Dally just stayed quiet and angry in the corner, but I think they just assumed it was an accident, and I just didn't wanna tell them cause it was embarrassing. Soda looked a bit helpless as his thumb brushed over the yellow edges of the dark purple bruise, but his hand dropped to his side, and he let it go. Then, I heard Dally speak up.
     "That's really what happened? You just... fell down the stairs?" I nodded, and he just shook his head and let it go. He still looked kinda pissed though.

     The whole room was a bit tense, but I just walked over and flopped down on the couch. I was pretty sore from the bruises, plus sleeping on the floor, so I was kind of stiff. What I didn't notice though, was the fact that when I laid back and stretched out, the bottom of my sweater rode up a bit. And both Soda and Dally noticed the huge purple bruise my dad left when he kicked me. They stared for a few moments, then, when I noticed that Dally looked more mad than I'd seen him, I asked,
     "Dal? What's wrong? I swear nothing happened. I'm just clumsy." He looked up from the bruise, and that's when I noticed that it was showing. I pulled the sweater down, fast, but they had already seen it.
      "Bruises like that don't come from tripping, Syd. They come from fighting. I don't know why I even believed that the one on your cheek was from tripping." Soda kneeled down on the floor next to the couch, and he reached for the bottom of my sweater, looking up at me and silently asking for permission to see the bruise. I sighed and nodded. It wouldn't do anything to hide it from him at this point. He gently lifted up the bottom of my sweater, up to just past the foot-sized dark purple bruise, and just stared at it in mild disbelief. He looked up at me and asked,
     "Syd... what was this from? Don't tell me you just tripped." I shook my head,
      "It's nothing. I'm fine, really"
      "You aren't fine, this is serious. This is... this looks painful. Are you okay? It doesn't hurt too bad, does it?" I was a bit touched by how much he seemed to care. I don't deserve it though. It's like my dad said. I need to learn what I do deserve and don't deserve. I just shook my head no, then stood up.
     "I... I should go. I- I'm fine."
     Soda looked confused, but stood up as well.
     "Sydney, you aren't leaving till you tell us what happened." I was trapped. They didn't have the time to worry about me, Soda had a job, and... well I don't really know what Dally does all day. But he doesn't have time to worry about me.
     "Nothing happened. Like I said, I just tripped." They both obviously didn't believe me. I wouldn't believe me either.
      "You tripped?" Soda asked, disbelieving,
     "Tripped into a fist?" I knew he didn't believe me.
     "No. Seriously, nothing happened." He just sighed,
     "You can tell me anything, you know that, right Syd?" I nodded, but I wasn't about to say anything. I could handle my father. I had for over a year. I noticed Dally in the corner, the fire in his eyes back, worse than it was when he was getting ready to beat up those socs. Soda just took a step closer to me.
    "We know you're lying, Syd, just tell us the truth" I looked back at him,
    "I'm fine Soda. Really." But both of us knew that wasn't gonna work. That was exactly what Johnny would say whenever he came back bruised. I heard Dally mutter
     "Bullshit" from the corner of the room, and Soda looked like he was about to agree. But then it seemed like he realized something, and he looked up at me.
     "It-it's not your dad, is it Syd?" I didn't trust my voice. I knew it would shake. I've never been a good liar. Never quick, never steady, never believable. So I looked away.
    "Oh Syd..." I was trying hard not to cry.
     I tried to be used to my dad doing this, but it was different from Johnny. That's all Johnny knew. His parents were always like that. Always mean, always mad, always abusive. But my dad wasn't. He was a good father. He loved me, and he really loved my mom. He would take me on daddy daughter dates to the zoo, and we'd go get ice cream. Then when mom died everything changed. I think that made it worse. I know what kind of a guy he can be, but he won't. He won't be anything other than the drunk guy that yells at me for no reason.
     Soda gently lifted my sweater again and inspected the bruise.
     "Is that why you've had those bruises before?" I nodded. I knew my voice would tremble if I said anything. His hand brushed over the edges of the bruise, and I winced a bit but didn't say anything.
     "Jeez Sydney... I thought you were just clumsy. Well, you are clumsy, but I thought that's where you got the bruises." He pulled me in and hugged me, and I held him tightly, trying to fight back tears. Dally watched, but out of the corner of my eye I saw him roll his eyes and look away. I guess he's just mad at my dad. I hope. I pulled back from Sodapop, and looked between both of them.
     "Please don't tell anyone. I don't want people to worry."
     "That's not your choice, darlin'. We're always gonna worry bout you."
     Dally stands up, still fuming.
     "Where's your house again?" I looked up at him, alarmed
     "Why?" He doesn't even skip a beat before saying
     "I'm gonna beat up your coward of a father. No man should hurt his seventeen year old daughter." My eyes widen in alarm,
     "No no no, Dal, you can not go talk to my father you don't understand-"
     "Then help me understand" I looked at him, trying to think of something that would convince him.
     "You don't know my Dad, Dal. He yells at me for walking too loudly. Imagine what he'd do if someone came along trying to beat him up. It wouldn't end well Dal." He sighed,
     "But Syd he can't just do that to you."
     "I can't stop him. I can't leave him either, I don't have anywhere to go." I never really considered leaving. He was my dad, where else was I supposed to go? But thinking about it... maybe I could leave. He wouldn't be happy about it. But I'd been living like this for a year. I could stay with a cousin or something, but it was time to get out of there. Soda steps in,
     "You can live with us. Me, Darry, and Ponyboy. We all love ya, and we wouldn't mind having you around. You're here all the time anyway." I shook my head. I was not about to let them do that. Though I knew Darry and Ponyboy and Soda wouldn't mind having me around, they couldn't afford it either. Darry works too hard as it is.
     "No way Soda. I'm not making Darry or you work harder just so I can live with you." He looked like he was about to protest, but Dally spoke up first.
     "She'll live with me." My head snapped up.
     "Are... are you sure Dal?"
     "You can't keep living with him. You'll live with me." I was still a bit unsure, I did not wanna make him do that.
     "Are you sure about that Dal? You don't have to. I don't wanna make anything harder on you." But when he gets that look in his eyes, nothing will convince him otherwise.
     " I'm positive, darlin'. Do we need to go get your clothes and stuff?" I nodded, but I really hoped my dad wasn't home. He would not like me leaving. But it was for the best. I stood up.
     "But... listen, if you see my dad, don't do anything, don't get mad, don't try to hurt him, don't say anything. Please." Dally looked reluctant, but nodded anyway.
    "But if he tries to hurt you..." I shook my head,
     "If he tries to hurt me we're getting out of there. We aren't gonna try anything back" He sighs, seeming resigned.
     "Fine. Let's go"
     We walked to my house, I was trying to walk a little slower, I did not wanna see my dad again. I tried to distract myself though.
     "So Dal, I've never been to your place, where do you even live?" He looked a bit reluctant to answer, and I laughed a little.
     "Cmon, it can't be that bad," he just sighs "Are you okay... living at Bucks?" I stop walking,
     "Bucks? Like... the party house? I didn't even know you could live there!" He laughs a bit,
     "What, you scared?"
     "No. Just confused. What's it like living there?" He laughed again,
     "Loud. You gotta get used to it. You gonna be okay with that?" I nodded. My dad and his friends were always loud, I'd learned to get used to it. It was only a problem when they got really drunk.
     "I'll be fine." We got to my house, and I stopped before opening the door.
     "Dal, if my dad is home, I want you to just go straight to my room. Don't even try to talk to him, okay? My room is up the stairs to the left." He nodded. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
      Just like always, my dad was right there, sitting in his chair, staring blankly at the TV. He looked up a bit when the door opened, and I just nodded at Dally, silently telling him to go upstairs. He nodded, and glared at my dad as he walked past and up the stairs. My dad waited till he was out of earshot before turning to me.
     "I thought I told you to stop messing around with boys who only want you in their bed. Hell, you're even inviting this one into your bed. Maybe I should just let you make awful decisions." I took a deep breath, I didn't wanna answer his insults.
     "Dad, I'm leaving. I'm gonna live with Dally from now on." He scoffed, taking another drag from his cigarette.
     "No you're not. You're gonna walk upstairs, make that boy leave, and you and I are gonna have a little talk. Now go make him leave." I just walked upstairs, but there was no way in hell I was doing what he wanted. I ran upstairs and grabbed a bag, shoving clothes and some utilities in it. Dally was standing there, looking around my room.
     "He didn't do anything, did he?" I shook my head,
     "No. but right now, he thinks I'm up here to kick you out, and then he said he was gonna 'talk' to me, so we're leaving." Dally watches me pack,
     "Are you ready for this? It's a... big change." I looked up at him seriously,
     "I don't wanna spend another second near that man." He smiles at me,
     "Then let's get you outta here." He offers me his hand for support, and I took a deep breath and took it, smiling up at him. He squeezed my hand, and we started walking downstairs.
     When we got downstairs, my dad eyed our hands, and glared at me.
     "I said get him out, Sydney, not get with him." I took a deep breath,
     "Goodbye Dad. I'm gonna live with Dallas." He scoffed,
     "You're seventeen, Sydney, you aren't gonna go live with this... hood." I almost laughed. How could a man who had done nothing but yell and beat on me for the past year now act like he had a say?
    "You don't get a choice." He stood up, and I took a step back, pulling Dally with me.
     "And you think you do? You think you know so much more than me?" Dally pulled me a bit closer, for support, and my father eyed us. I ignored it and said,
    "You lost the right to choose when mom died and you stopped caring about me." He winced,
     "Don't- bring your mother into this."
    "Why? You never talk about her!" He grits his teeth, and I know that he's not gonna talk about her now. No matter how much I hate him, he loved her. He always will.
     "You aren't leaving." I'm done with this conversation, I have to get out of this place, I can't live with him anymore. I start pulling Dally out of my house.
     "Goodbye, Dad." But I leave before he gets a chance to stop me or say anything back.
     I didn't stop when we got outside, just kept walking until I knew I was far enough away, and I finally slowed down. Dally finally spoke up from beside me,
     "You okay darlin'?" I sighed.
    "Yeah. Just so done with him, yknow?" He nodded
    "Yeah. I know." We walked for a while till we got to Bucks,
    "Huh. I've never seen this place in the daytime." He laughed,
     "Yeah. You're gonna get used to the sight of empty alcohol bottles and trash everywhere."
     "I'm already used to it. You saw my house." He nods,
     "Let's get you set up in there, okay?"
     "Sounds good." He finally let go of my hand and we walked inside, past the empty beer bottles from the night before, and up the stairs. My nose wrinkled from the strong smell of alcohol and cigarettes. It was a bit better when we got to Dally's room, but I still opened the window. His room was a mess.
     "God Dal, how do you live in here?"
     "It's not that bad, plus, you're gonna be living here too now." I laugh
    "Yeah, but I'm gonna make it actually look good." He smiles, but I could tell he didn't believe me.
     "Oh darlin'. Nothing could make this nasty place look good."
     "Try me." He shakes his head and laughs.
     "Is there a party here tonight?" He sighed,
    "Always. You ready for that?"
     "Ready as I'll ever be I guess." He looks around his room and runs a hand through his hair.
     "You want the bed or the couch?" I didn't wanna take his bed, I'm already taking his room.
     "I'll take the couch." He looks like he wants to argue, or tell me to do something else, but he stays silent.
     "You sure, Darlin'?" I nodded.
     After a few minutes of us setting up, I stood up straight.
     "I can't do this right now, Dal, let's get outta here. I need to distract myself from all of this." He looked at me, thinking for a second,
     "You wanna go back to the Curtis'?" I nodded,
     "Yes! Anything to get my mind off of my dad." He looks a bit sympathetic, but I try to brush that off. I am not about to unpack my life's story on him.
     That night, we walk back from the Curtises and maneuver through the crowd of people at the party, and he holds my hand and pulls me through it all, bringing me up the stairs. He closes the door behind us, and sits down on the edge of the bed, laying back. I sat down next to him and sighed happily.
     "I'm so grateful that I never have to go back to that awful man." He turned on his side and sat up to look at me.
     "I'm glad too. No more showing up with those awful bruises all over your body." He gently lifts up the bottom of my sweater again to see the bruise. He winces when he sees it.
    "How'd he even give this one to ya? It's huge." His thumb runs over it, making me wince a bit.
     "He kicked me, hard." He sighs,
     "Oh darlin'..." I was not up for talking about this right now, so I just stood up and cleared my throat.
     "I should... I should get to bed." He looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes, and I just wanted to lean down and kiss him, but that was crazy, so I just grabbed some pajama pants and a tank top and changed in the bathroom, and came back out, sitting on the couch.
       "So... are you sure you'll be okay with me staying here long-term? Cause I mean... I just don't wanna have to find a place to stay on short notice." He smiles that weird soft-sweet smile at me and says,
     "Course. I'd never kick you out." I smiled back. What is UP with him? He's never acted like this before, and he went from stone cold to this adorable sweet guy. I lay down and stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore the loud noises from downstairs. Soon, I fell asleep.

Guys I kinda really hate this story so I won't take it personally if you stop reading. This is just to get better at writing, and write something I enjoy, but I guess everyone starts somewhere?? And honestly I have a problem so obviously this is a Sodapop AND Dally fic, but is it wrong that I've gone so far into the Dally fic that I don't know how to make it abt soda 😭😭 I'll try guys I swear 🫡