Kathlee's POV
I woke up facing a foreign fabric with a breeze riding up my side... Can I fall back asleep now? Where was I?
"Pony c'mon man...settle down..." I heard a familiar voice whisper from behind me. Pony - Ponyboy. And Johnny and Soda and Darry, Dally, Two-Bit and Steve; the gang that saved me.
"Shhh...Pony, man, c'mon tell us what's going on." That was Johnny. I remembered his voice and I think the last one who talked was Darry.
But why does Pony need to settle down? What's going on?
"I'm sorry..." He murmured, "sorry..."
I kept my back to the boys.
"She- she's beautiful isn't she?"
Pony...
"Kathlee? She's a looker alright, but Pony, man you can't get this sappy over some chick, man what's up with you?"
Thanks Dally.
"I don't..."
Sniffle.
"...know...she's just real amazing, y'anno? Like you can just look into her eyes and see how amazing she is."
Ponyboy. Damn Ponyboy. I thought I told him before that I'm nothing, I don't know why he can't seem to get it.
"She's my definition of amazing and her parents don't seem to agree...her own parents. Just like Johnny, neither him or her deserve it and I just don't know why..." He sobbed.
My parents...? How do they know anything about my parents?
I felt the draft again, only this time all the way up my back, making me shiver.
"Wait did she just move then...?"
Thanks for blowing my cover there, Two-Bit; much appreciated.
My back; all the scars, the wounds that wouldn't quite heal and the memories that wouldn't quite fade.
My hand flew instinctively over to my hip and pulled my shirt into the waistband of my jeans. That's the last thing I need; seven strangers each pleading to get the answers to questions I'm too scared to even ask myself. That'd be a great way to end this day alright...
Wait, was it day still?
"Kathlee!" Soda smiled, peering over my backside, "you're awake!"
"And your loud..." Darry smirked, as he tapped Soda's shoulder, turning him away and looking down on me.
"How ya doin' Doll?" He smiled gently, "did the tea help ya any?"
I quickly shrugged and attempted to roll over for the first time since I'd opened my eyes. Needless to say I was met with a great deal of pain; seemingly on every inch of my worn out body.
It was then did I realize I was covered with an old blue pullover sweater, about my size and shape. It smelt like cigarettes and old books; the ones you find buried in the depths of an antique shop or library. Like buried treasure.
This sweater must be Pony's, I thought, probably smiling like an idiot.
"Here..." Darry sighed, nudging my shoulders around gently so I was facing the boys, "those damn Socs..."
"No, it's fine, really. I'm okay...just a little beaten up and sore, nothing I can't handle" I insisted, smiling.
Guess that answers the question about the tea.
"So," Dallas began, "let's hear the fine tale of our very own sleeping beauty, Kathlee..."
"Tanner." I answered for him, "Kathlee Tanner. It's nice to properly meet y'all..." I smiled. It felt odd somehow, smiling at the faces of these seven strangers when my own parents haven't seen the sides of my lips turn up since god knows when. Odd, but nice. It felt...comfortable. Safe.
