When Death opens the door

Chapter 30

Belle's P.O.V.

*2 months later *

I woke up and looked next to me. I smiled at his face and how peaceful he looked while sleeping. I got out of bed, careful not to wake him up, and went downstairs.

I got out a pan and set it on the stove before walking towards the fridge. I pulled out two eggs and cracked them in the pan. I turned the stove on and listened to the eggs sizzle. I pulled out two plates and grabbed a spatula.

I liked my eggs soft and I learned Pony liked his hard.

I got my egg just the way I wanted it and put it on a plate.

I waited a few more minutes and looked out the window. I saw a woman with a little girl and they were playing hopscotch. What they were doing playing that so early in the morning I'll never know, but I couldn't get the image out of my head even when I remembered Ponyboy's egg.

I put it on his plate and shut the stove off. I looked in the fridge to see what else we had and sighed. We needed to go to the store again, but we didn't have much money left. I shut the fridge and jump as a pair of arms wrap around me.

"Don't do that." I mumble. "Good morning to you too." Ponyboy says after chuckling. I smile and turn around to face him.

"We need to get some more stuff." I say. "Yeah. I know, but I have to go to school and I can't keep a job." He says. That's when the idea pops in my head.

"I might know someone who can help us." I say. "James?" I nod and walk to the phone. I dial the number and wait for James to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" He asks groggily. I smile at his voice. "Hey there sunshine." I joke. "Isabelle. Geez it's been awhile!" He exclaims, now fully awake. I laugh a little and see Ponyboy is smiling.

"I know it has. I have a favor to ask you." I mumble. "Sure. What do you need. You need the car again, you got it." He says. "Um. Actually I need money." I say nervously.

I hear silence on the other side of the phone and frown. "Sorry. I was seeing how much I had. I've got enough. One-hundred be enough?" he asks. My jaw drops in shock at how much he was going to give us.

"James. I can't take that much from you." I tell him. "You can and you will. It's one-hundred or nothing." He says firmly. I smile so big that Ponyboy might think I'm mental or something.

"Okay. We'll be there in about thirty minutes or so." I say. James agrees and hangs up. I hang up and squeal. "What's gotten into you Belle?" Pony asks. "James is giving us one-hundred." I tell him happily. His eyes grow big and I can tell he's happy.

"I should go get dressed." I say, motioning to the shorts I was wearing and Ponyboy's t-shirt. He nods and I run up the stairs.

We hadn't heard anything from Death and surprisingly I was still alive. I don't really understand it anymore. How can I still talk if Death cut out my tongue? Was it just an illusion? It had to have been.

I get dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt of mine and pull on my black converse. I run downstairs and see Ponyboy finishing his breakfast.

"Not much I know, but-" He smiles and puts his plate in the sink. "It's fine Belle." He says. He kisses my forehead and runs upstairs to get dressed.

I eat my egg quickly and wash the dishes before Ponyboy comes back. "Ready?" I ask him. He nods and we walk out the door together.

I look back at our little house. We'd fixed it up a bit and it looked pretty good. I smile as I think of what it took to get here, but frown.

Ponyboy had wanted to say good-bye to Sodapop, but he was already gone by the time we called.

I remember that night like it was last night.

He cried so much and I cried with him because it was my fault he hadn't gotten to say good-bye. Darry wanted us to come back, but Pony didn't want to. He wanted to stay where we were, which is actually a pretty good place.

We're right on the border, in other words, we're in second- class area. No being jumped or teasing. I like it here and I think Ponyboy does too.

We got to James' house and he met us out in his shop. I gave him a hug and he and Pony shook hands. He counted off the money and handed it to us.

"One-hundred. There you are Isabelle." He says. I smile as he lays the money in my hand gently. "You didn't have to do that James." I tell him. "Come on Isabelle. You're like my sister. I know I didn't have to, but I still did." He says.

When he says sister memories flood back, but I push them away for my own good.

"Thank you James." I tell him. He nods and we leave.

I give Ponyboy the money and he sticks it in his jeans pocket. I grab his hand and lean my head on his shoulder.