Left Behind

Chapter Two

School was hell. In my school they have classes for the smart kids and then the not so smart kids. Well this year I am in all of the dumb kid classes. Soda and Darry don’t know this yet, boy am I in for it. I’m a Freshman, Pony is a Sophomore, and Soda is a Senior. You would think going to school with your brothers would be fun, but it really isn’t all that great. I only see them once a day, and that’s at lunch. Today at lunch I sat next to my best friend Alice. Her brother was also a senior, and Soda’s best friend since pre-k. His name was Steve.

“Hey, Mary.” Alice said as I sat down next to her. We were each others only friends, so we stuck together. 

“Hey, Alice.” I said back

“I’m sorry to hear about you and Andy, he was a jerk anyways…” My head snapped up.

“Who told you?!” I asked. 

“Well, Steve told me.” OH.MY.GOD. If Steve knew then he would tell Soda, and Soda would tell Darry. And then, oh no. 

Later that day when I was walking home form school with Alice we spotted Andy and his crew sitting on the stoop of somebody’s house. Alice and I walked quietly and quickly by them. But not quick enough.

“Hey heart break kid, you look lonely, want to be mine?” One of the boys yelled. Another whistled and yelled

“Damn I would never let a chick like that go!” I looked back at them, probably the reaction they wanted. What I saw made a hole in my chest. Andy was laughing, with his friends. He was whispering to them, he was telling them what to yell about me. I got angry and tense all over my body.

“Don’t let those jerks bother you Mary, c’mon.” Alice tugged my arm. Another boy yelled.

“Yeah better get back home before big brother Darry finds out your in all the ‘extra help needed classes’” At this the boys were roaring with laughter. I ripped my arm away from Alice and I sprinted down the street turning down the alley leading to my house. Hot tears streaked down my face. I ran faster, listening to my feet hit the ground hard. I saw my house and I ran even faster, the boys words ringing in my ears. On the porch I stopped and caught my breath. My eyes felt puffy and I was still crying. I peeped through the window.

DAMN! Darry and Soda were right inside the door in the kitchen. Pony must still be at track practice. I took my hair down from it’s ponytail and shook it out. I hid my face in it and slowly opened the door. 

“Hey Dar, hi Soda.” I said as I walked swiftly by. Soda bounded up,

“hey hold up, how was your first day?” Damn it!!! I was turned away from them but I couldn’t really turn towards them without them seeing my face. Whatever, I thought, no going back now. I turned to face my brothers head on. Soda’s face dropped and Darry said.

“What happened?” I shrugged

“Just stuff at school, don’t worry about it…” Soda shook his head and patted the spot next to him on the couch. I sighed and joined him. Darry sat across from us in his chair, well Dad’s old chair. Soda put his arm around me and pulled me close to him.

“Now,” he said “tell your favorite big brother in the whole world what happened.” he looked at me. I swallowed hard and looked back at him.

“Soda, do you think I’m dumb?” I whispered. 

“No, I think you’re very smart. Why would you even ask me that?” He said. I looked to Darry now.

“You know how you are always so happy when Pony gets A’s.” I said, he nodded “Well I don’t, this year the teachers put me in all the dumb classes because I’m not good at anything and they all expect me to be!” Darry came and sat on my other side. 

“I don’t understand Mary.” He said. I became annoyed and I rolled my eyes.

“You understand alright, you were the super jock in high school. And everybody just straight up loves Soda. Pony is probably going to go off to Harvard on some scholarship. But what am I good at, nothing!” I was crying again now, great. Soda hugged me and pressed his head against mine.

“You are an amazing, kind, smart and very beautiful girl.” he said. I whined and Soda and Darry looked down at me. 

“I’m not beautiful.” I said plainly 

“Yes you are, you’re a Curtis aren’t you?” Soda said with a crooked smile. Darry punched him lightly then looked at me.

“I don’t like seeing my baby sister like this.” he said, maybe Soda told him. 

“Did Steve tell you.” I asked Soda. Soda looked puzzled.

“Tell me what?” he asked. 

“That Andy broke up with me.” I said softly. “He cheated on me.” Darry’s eyes bugged out of his head. Soda hugged me tighted,

“I’m sorry Mar-Bear, he was a jerk anyways” I started to cry again and Soda looked at me with pained eyes. 

“That’s the thing though Soda. I loved him, I loved him so much!” I was hysterical now and my tears came poring out of my eyes, “he was all I had, you don’t understand. I have nothing, I have no one!” I whimpered.

I pushed away from Soda’s arms and walked into my room. I fell onto my bed and tucked my hand under my pillow, that’s where I kept the picture Darry gave me when I turned ten. It was of me and mamma when I was little. She is holding me up and we are both smiling. She had the prettiest smile…

After a few minuets I fell into a deep restless sleep.