The Outside

Chapter 11

~Six Months Later~

The train ride took forever and it was cold. But I'm back just as promised. I walk down to the gas station and am surprised to see the gang crowded around the front desk. I turn before any of them can see and walk away. As I turn I run into someone. "Uh sorry sir." I say looking down. The man just rolls his eyes and brushes past. I walk aimlessly around town. It must be around five. The drive in is getting busy. I climb the fence. A lot of goys are watching me making me uncomfortable. One of them walks up. "Hey. How ya doin'?" I recognize the boy as Curly Shepard. "Buzz off." I roll my eyes and turn to walk off. He grabs my arm and winks. "Feisty. I like it." This makes me mad. I hate being treated like this. "I said buzz off. Now leave." I growl. "Alright let's go babe." This time I smack him across the face and kick him in the knee. He falls to the ground moaning. I hear his gang laughing. I look over and see Dally hanging by Tim who doesn't look pleased. I turn and walk off. I find a seat far enough away from the socs and watch the movie. "You don't mind if we sit here do ya?" A voice asks. I look up to see Soda and the gang. "No. Go find some where else." I say. He looks annoyed. "I'm joking. I don't mind." I giggle. "Ah I see how it is." He says acting hurt. just then Dally walks up. He looks at me for a second. "Hey aren't you that broad who beat up Curly Shepard?" He asks. "Yeah. Not gonna try flirting too are ya?" "Eh I'm toying with the idea." He smirks. Well I do know nobody recognized me at least. After the movie ends I stand. "Wanna go to a party?" Dallas asks. "Nah. Not really into those." I say flatly. "What's your name?" I think Steve asks. "Emmie. Emmie Rogers." I say quickly. "Nice meeting you Emmie." Dallas says as he walks by. The rest of the gang nods or waves as they walk past. Soda stops. "Don't mind 'ol Dal. He flirts with every girl that's pretty." I blush at that. "I'm Soda Pop by the way. "Okay thanks. Nice meeting you." I say politely. He nods his head and walks away. I miss him. I miss all of them. I see him turn back and follow his sad gaze. I spot Cherry and some soc making out. So he lost her too. I get up and once the boy leaves I walk over to Cherry and say, "What happened to you and Soda?" She looks at me funny. "I broke up with him cuz he was a grease. Nobody approved and after a while I just got sick of 'em." I roll my eyes. "He's a great person and I hope you know what you lost." I spit at her and walk away. I find myself going to the lot. I sit and stare at the stars. I hear footsteps and hide in the tree. "I just miss her Pony. I don't believe she's gonna be back. The girl we sat by reminded me so much of her." Oh. He really did miss me. "She'll come back Soda. She promised." I don't wanna go back to them now. I'd mess everything up. They turn and sit with their backs facing me. I jump out of the tree and walk off. I stop and sit in the side walk. "Emmie?" I hear a voice question. As I turn I can see Soda standing there. "Hey." I reply flatly. How on earth does this happen to me all the time? I'd like to be left alone but it never happens. He walks and sits by me. "Aren't ya supposed to be home?" He asks. "No. My mom and dad don't care. For all they know I'm dead or in the cooler." I say. It's true that they don't care. But when does anybody? He just nods his head. "You seem lost." He says catching me off guard. "Yeah." Is all I reply. "Me too. I lost one if my best friends. I don't think she'll ever come back. I don't know why I'm telling you this but I need to tell someone. You seem like you may understand." I look over to see tears brimming his eyes. "Yeah. I'm lost. Nobody cares about me. Or understands me. They all hate me. No matter who they are." I feel like it's true. "I hope you know that that's not true." He says sadly. "It'll be okay. You wanna talk about it?" I ask. He shrugs. "Well my friend Dally, you met him earlier, told her all these nasty things and she believed him. He told her that she didn't matter and nobody cared. But that wasn't true. Cuz I cared. The rest of our gang cared. She told my lil brother she didn't want to break the gang up and she left. He didn't stop her either. Just let her go. I miss her. I miss her smile. Her freckles. Her pretty blonde hair, and her blue eyes. I miss her laugh too. She also knew how to really make you laugh. I just miss her. Ya know." I nod my head. That's about all I can do right now cuz I wanna smile like an idiot and cry like a baby. "She sounds cool." I reply. "She was the best." He whispers softly. Suddenly a red mustang pulls up. Five drunk socs stumble out if the car. "Go. Just run." Soda says walking between me and the socs. "Go!" He says. He keeps telling me to go but I just get up and walk to him pulling my pink blade out. He tells me to leave on more time but I still don't budge from his side. "Soda Pop Curtis I will not leave you with five drunk ass holes to fight." I say between clenched teeth. "What do we got here?" A guy named Sam growls. "Looks like two greases who need a hair cut starting under their chins." Another one says. Then Soda grabs my hand and the next thing I know we're running from them. I hear gunshots behind me. We quicken our pace but the car us easily catching up closing the distance fast. I hear another shot and feel pain in my left rib cage. That's when I turn and throw my knife at the car. I see it hit the guy with the gun in the arm and he drops the gun. The pain is overwhelming but I push on. "Emmie! Oh my god they shot you." Soda turned. I can't die with him not knowing who I really am. "S-soda I lied t-to you. I'm not really E-emmie. I'm Annie. I told you I'd be back. I promised. I'm sorry I left." The world is spinning and spots dance in my vision. "You're gonna be okay. You just lost some blood. Nothing Darry can't fix. Dally's had lots worse that Darry's fixed. Just stay with me. Okay?" His voice is so far away. But it still reaches me. I'm drifting off when I feel him pick me up. "Don't leave me again. You promised." The next thing I know Soda's bringing me in the door but can't get the knob to turn. So I slowly reach for it. "God I thought you were dying." He sighs. As he walks in Johnny walks to the door. His face drains if color as he sees me. He turns and calls for Darry who brings stitches and other medical things. I feel tired again and I go back to the world of no pain and darkness. I can still hear them though. "So wait? A couple drunk socs did this?" A voice inquires. "Mhm." Somebody else replies. "Will she be okay?" I believe Ponyboy asks. "Yeah just lost some blood. She'll be sore though." I slowly start to wake up. Once I open my eyes I see Dally sitting there. I don't know what to say or do. "Hey kid how are ya?" he asks. "Never been better Dal. You?" I joke. "Eh alright. Working on not being such a jerk." He says. I laugh. That was a mistake cuz it hurts. "Uh sorry about-" "It's okay I guess." I sigh as I look to the floor. "I treated you like that cuz that's how I felt. I'm sorry." I wake with a start. I check for any bulked wounds but don't find any. Just a dream I'm still in the lot where I accidentally fell asleep. I get up and head to the Dingo. Once I arrive I seat myself. "What would you like today?" The waitress asks in a fake happy tone. "I'll have a Pepsi and a burger please." She writes it down and walks off. I look around to watch the people. Some are laughing while others are arguing. After my food is ready I eat quickly pay and leave. It's weird being here alone. I walk to the gas station again and buy a candy bar. I look at the clock to see it's one already. That's break for Soda and Steve. As I walk by the garage area I see all the girls around them. They still haven't changed. I feel someone staring as I walk off so I turn. I meet Steve's eyes but quickly look down. I walk around the corner to see somebody getting pounded by socs. Upon closer inspection, I see it's Johnny. I quickly and quietly sneak up and attack. I punch one guy in the head and another in the nose. I feel a sharp pain in my right hip and see I've been stabbed. But that just makes me angrier. I turn and kick as many of them in the knees since knees only bend one way. I punch a guy in the throat and look up to see them retreating to their car. "Thanks for the help." Johnny says weakly. The sure beat him. "No problem. Those jerks need to be taught not to bother us." I wince. My adrenaline is slowing down and my hip hurts bad. I can feel the blood gushing out. Johnny looks at my wound. "You need stitches. My friend can take care of them." He offers. "Nah I can get it but thanks for the offer." I need to avoid them. Just for a while longer. "Well do you have any stuff? At least let me get you the stuff." I shake my head. "No really. I'm just fine. I can get my stuff. But thanks." I say quickly as I walk off. I go to some gas station and get the stuff I need. I'll have to get a job soon I'm running low on money. I limp to a quiet area and stitch up my leg and take some pain killers. I slowly get up and go job hunting. I just wish I had some help.