Us greasers

Chapter 26

I slowly got off the bench and walked up the aisle. Everyone was watching me and smiling. I reached the mic and grabbed hold of it. I looked in the back and Darry gave me a nod.

"Well I'm not really prepared for this, but I really do miss my mom. I'm sure most of you know how my mother reacted after my father died, it was hard for me and almost a year ago my mother sent me to Tulsa Oklahoma where I met some very nice boys and they let me live with them. I'm so thankful for them. Before my dad died my mom was a great person, she was the best mother anyone could ask for. She was my best friend, I loved her so much. Like I said, after dad died she changed her ways for the bad and she wasn't so good to me, I kept saying how much I hated her, but when I found out that she passed away, a whole load of emotions flew over me, I was sad and felt so lonely because I have no family members by blood anymore, but right now I'm realizing that I never did hate my mother, I always loved her, even for the mistakes she's made"

That's all I could say. I was lost with words after that, but it was good enough. Everyone clapped just as I felt a tear drop from my eye. The minister placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. I walked down the aisle again to my bigger and better family. They each had a big smile on their faces.

"That was really nice" Soda whispered when I sat down next to him.

I gave him a small smile and watched the minister finish talking. Soon later we left the church to go to the cemetery. Not many people attended that part of the ceremony, it was only the "close family" which weren't even family members, just friends. I found that part of the ceremony really hard, but Soda helped calm me down again.

"Hannah! How are you?" Cathy said coming towards me. I always hated her, so did my mom, but apparently Cathy thought they were best friends.

"I'm good thanks" I smiled.

"Are you and your friends going to be joining us for dinner?" She said, almost disgusted when she seen the gang. I thought that was quite rude.

"I was thinking about it, but now I've made my mind that I will not be going, and those just aren't my friends, their my family" I snapped.

"Trust me honey, they aren't much of a family" She laughed and walked away.

How could someone say that to me. Especially someone who doesn't even know them, they are a great family, better than I ever expected someone to treat me after what had happened with my mother.

"Hey, Han you okay?" Steve asked coming to me.

"I'm fine" I lied and turned back on from him.

He put his hand on my shoulder and came around to face me again.

"What happened with that lady? I seen you talking to her" He asked.

"She said that you guys weren't actually my family" I said. I wanted to cry. I loved these boys more than anyone.

"Han you know that isn't true, we love you and we're here to protect you, do you think we'd come all this way with you if we weren't your family" Steve said putting his hand on my cheek now. 

I shook my head and Steve leaned in to kiss my cheek then gave me a hug.

"I love you Steve" I whispered.

"I love you too Han" He said and let go of the hug.

Steve was right. Those boys love me more than anything. Why else would they let me live with them?

"Guys, were going to that dinner party" I said. 

Steve gave me a small smile and the rest of the boys headed to the trucks. Two-bit was overly excited for food.

"I assume this is it" I said and Soda pulled into the parking lot of a community hall. It was close to the church and it was nicely decorated on the outside.

We entered the hall and there was quite a few people there. They can't say it was close family because again, I didn't know half the people there.

"Oh you showed up" Cathy said.

I stared at her until she walked away. We walked to a table that had a lot of empty seats and sat down. People were scattered around just chatting, there was a large table filled with food that was still covered.

"Hello, hello everyone" Cathy said tapping a spoon off her teacup. Everyone focused their attention to her.

"Welcome everyone. I'd like to thank you all for joining us here today. I think this is a great thing to do for the family. So please enjoy all the food" She said.

We ate, but not one person came around to talk to me or the gang. I was angry about the way people thought about us, we are a family, there's no reason to judge.

"I'll be right back" I said standing up.

"Where ya goin'?" Soda asked.

"I'll be right back" I repeated and continued walking to the little stage they had in the corner. I wasn't prepared for what I was going to say, but I knew it would all flow out. I grabbed hold of the microphone once again and cleared my throat.
Everyone's attention was on me.

"Hello everyone, I'm Hannah, you probably all know that, but I had my doubts coming here today because of a rude comment that was said to me earlier today. It hurt me a lot but I got over it, and wanted to come here today and prove that comment wasn't true. My mother wasn't a good mom to me after my dad died, I hated her and she hated me, in fact she hated me so much that she kicked me out of my own house with no money and a small suitcase. She paid a man to drive me all the way to Tulsa Oklahoma, where I was dropped off in a place where I wasn't familiar with. I cried and cried and thought that I would be living on the streets of the old town, but I never. Johnny Cade, my little friend who I love dearly, found me in a place we call the lot. I was scared but he brought me to shelter in the Curtis house. There I met, Darry, Ponyboy, and Sodapop Curtis, my three wonderful caring brothers who were kind enough to let me live with them, and Two-bit Matthew's, Steve Randle, and my boyfriend, Dallas Winston who couldn't be here today." I felt a tear when I finished that. I looked around the room and most people were smiling, especially my boys. I continued.

"Sodapop, I can't explain how much I love Soda. He's like the brother I never had" There I was again, feeling awkward because I do have a brother, and he was sitting right in front of me listening to what I have to say.

"Darry, he's wonderful at keeping me safe, just like the rest of the gang. Pony always gives me great advice even though he's my youngest brother. He's a smart kid, he uses his head, even if Darry doesn't see it, it's true. Two-bit is always there to make me laugh, even when I'm down. Now Steve and I aren't so close, we got off to a rough start almost, but I love him, and just today I found out how much he loves me too. Steve is an excellent guy, very caring even if he doesn't show it. Johnny, I can't thank him enough for finding me in the lot and bringing me home to these wonderful boys. And Dally, he was my first love, he saved me from my mother almost taking me back home again, by telling me he loved me for the first time. Sure he's a troublemaker but he will always be the one I love. All you guys who have been judging me or thinking that I left my mother. You've heard the real story, and honestly I don't care what you people think, no one can realize how happy I am with these boys, who I love calling my family"  I finished. I stopped crying but I think most of the gang started. The whole room was booming with people clapping. I smiled and walked off stage and along the way people stood up to give me hugs and kisses on the cheek. I knew I would find a way to make this better.

***

We finally got back to the hotel and I was beat. I changed into my pyjamas and hopped onto the bed.

"That was really beautiful Han" Soda smiled.

"Thanks" I smiled back. Our room was crowded with the whole gang.

"How are you feeling?" Pony asked.

"I'm good" I said, and I was telling the truth. It was sad to say but I was over the fact that my mom is dead. There isn't time to be sad all the time. There's no reason to. Dally will be out of jail in no time and I can't wait to see him, so what's there to be sad about?

*** DALLY'S POV ***

"Almost there, almost there" I said and smiled. I pressed on the gas even harder and flew myself to New York City.