By A Thread (Sodapop Curtis)

VII.

"He smiled at the sight of me, mouth opening with the intent of words. But that was not going to happen. I hadn't come for his lies. I'd come for the truth."

Dallas growled. "Are you joking?" His whole being seemed to be alight with a new burning anger. I shivered involuntarily.

Darrel had his arms crossed and a frown playing across his lips. Even Two-Bit had lost his usual careless smile.

"Why?" I asked, looking around at the lot of them. "What's wrong with Angelo?" The sudden change of atmosphere had caught me off guard.

Steve shook his head. "He used to be a dealer." My eyes widened. "That's why he's so popular with everyone."

Sodapop gave me an odd look. "I'm surprised you hadn't heard, Penny. Practically everyone knows."

It took me a second to respond. "Well I wasn't a part of that bunch," I said quietly. "But what happened? Why do you all hate him?" I watched their faces closely. "Did he do something personal?"

Dallas seemed ready to blow his top. "He sold to a buddy of ours. He's dead now. There was something in the shit he'd givin' him." He turned away from me.

This was all coming as a shock to me. Angelo had never mentioned anything about dealing drugs while we were together, although I suppose he wouldn't have. My face was turning red with shame. "That's awful. You guys must have been really close to that friend of yours."

"Yeah, Charlie was a good pal to have." Two-Bit shook his head. "We didn't know he'd been doing drugs until it was too late. The fuzz traced the stuff back to Angelo."

"It kinda bugs me that people still think he's a king or something," I whispered with a frown. "He isn't dealing anymore, is he?"

"No." Johnny spoke up quietly, his big, dark eyes wide. "He stopped after Charlie died."

"I hope he felt some remorse for what he did," Dallas muttered, picking at the fraying threads of the couch.

I stayed silent as the boys talked quietly about Angelo. It had originally surprised me that he had done such things, but I could see it now. Angelo disappearing into quiet allies. . . . Angelo handing off baggies of powder to kids in the dark. . . . Angelo keeping his secrets tucked neatly away in the pocket of his blue jeans, far away from me. . . .

"I think I should be getting home now." I stood up from my place on the rug, suddenly feeling a wall of isolation surround me. I shouldn't be here. "Thank you guys so much for having me."

I didn't wait for them to respond before I slipped through the front door and into the quickly fading afternoon light. My heart was pounding and my mind running circles around the thought of Angelo.

I shook my head. How could he? How could he? I couldn't even begin to fathom it. He had never told me about his hobby. He'd never told me about Charlie. To say I was bothered was an understatement. I was fuming with anger and a quiet sadness that filled my lungs. I tried to breath, but I just found myself gasping for more air.

I hadn't realized I'd been walking towards his house till I was on his street. Even then, I didn't stop myself. Betrayal had never felt so bitter. Maybe it was the fact that I was so completely done with his bullshit. Or maybe that my eyes had finally been opened up to the real person Angelo was, but I knew I needed to talk to him. Whether it was for the Curtis brothers and the gang, I didn't know. Maybe if was for myself too.

I pounded my fist against his door, my heart sounding like thunder in my chest. I could hear footsteps as they neared the door and I had just a second to pull myself together before it was thrown open.

Before me stood Angelo in all his malicious glory. He smiled at the sight of me, mouth opening with the intent of words. But that was not going to happen. I hadn't come for his lies. I'd come for the truth.

"Was it really you who killed Charlie?"

His smirk dropped, flickering into horror for just a moment before settling into irritation. "How did you find out about that?"

I scowled. "I'm not as stupid as you make me out to be, Angelo. Word gets around."

"I didn't kill him," he growled in a low voice, eyes piercing holes into my skull.

"But you were a part of it." I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves. This was no time for weakness. Angelo deserved no sympathy.

"I didn't know that the drug would have something in it, Penny." He looked off into the sky, avoiding my eyes. He ran shaking finger through his hair. "How the hell could I have known."

"Why would you do it in the first place?" My voice grew quieter as I watched him cautiously. "How did you even get into the business?"

Angelo shook his head. "I needed the money."

There was silence between us, but when he spoke next it was hostile once again, losing all trace of remorse it'd had moments before. "If this is all you came here for, you can leave." His eyes returned to mine, and I was surprised to find I was able to hold his harsh gaze.

I frowned at him, feeling tears well in the corners of my eyes at the thought of the people this man had hurt. Of the gang who would never see their friend again. Of the family who had lost a son. Of the boy who had lost himself somewhere dark and alone.

I watched Angelo's cruel eyes for a moment, trying to see what Charlie had seen in them once. Trying to understand why his trust had fallen into the hands of someone so cold.

But I could not.

I turned, leaving a broken man on his doorstep. I did not look back. I would never look back again if the person behind me went by the name of Angelo Ricci.

And never again would I shed a tear for the boy I'd thought I'd known.