The outsider

Chapter 28

I sat on the bed with a sigh, I had just put DJ to bed. "You okay honey?" I didn't take my eyes off of the wall as I shook my head. "I... I watched a man hit his wife today. He was drunk and he slapped her." Darry sat on the bed next to me and rubbed my back. "What happened?" "Nothing... I just walked away." He kissed my temple. "Did... it remind you?" I looked at him, "Of what?" "Of me." He had so much quilt written in his eyes I couldn't help but smile. "A little, but it's okay. Ever couple fights." He chuckled and kissed my shoulder. "We've had a lot." I smiled more, "It's the Winston gene I guess." Darry chuckled again, "Yeah. Dally never gave up with out a fight." "And nether will I." Darry laughed again and kissed my temple.

"Do you remember when it was our six month anniversary and I tried to take you out to eat?" I looked at Darry, "Dally was all over us then. Didn't want us going anywhere alone so we invited soda and pony to come along, to make it look like it was a family thing." "Worst anniversary ever right?" "I thought it was pretty nice." I giggled as Darry kissed me and laid me down on the bed.

I was going through the mail the next day. "Junk. Bill. Bill. Junk. Junk." "Having fun?" Pony asked as he entered the room, "Loads of it pone." He laughed and got a water out of the fridge before patting me on the back, "Glad I ant got to do it." I rolled my eyes as he exited the room, that's when I got down to the last two pieces of mail. One was addressed to Sodapop Curtis... the other was addressed to Darrel Curtis. They were from the marines. Fear ran through me as I called out thier names with a shaky breath. "Sodapop. Darry. Come here please." "What is it kourtney?" "You okay honey?" I handed them thier mail and they both slowly opened it.

Darry's reaction as he read it was full of fear and sadness. His eyes looked like they were holding back tears as he read through the letter, his knuckles were turning white as he held onto the paper to let some of his emotions out.

Sodas reaction was that of pure terror. His eyes were wide and his hands were shaking as he read the letter. He didn't hold back the tears that fell down his cheeks and onto the paper, as he finished reading it he looked at Darry. "I don't want to do this Darry. They can't make me!" "They can Sodapop, And they just did." He threw the paper down and ran to his room I stood up in my seat as tears formed in my own eyes. "You... got drafted... didn't you?" Darry put the letter on the table and hugged me tightly, I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around him and cry into his Chest. "Sodapop and I... were going to war." "When?" "In two days." "Two days! Darry!" "Shhh. I know honey. I know." "How long?" "Six months." I pulled away to look at him he cupped my cheeks and wiped my tears away. "Six months? You can't be gone six months Darry I-" he cut me off with a kiss. "Hey. We'll be fine." With that I cried in my husbands arms more as even felt a few drops from him as he cried to.

"DJ... he's gonna miss you so much." I said sadly that night as I saw Darry holding his son on his chest as he slept. "I'm gunna miss him to. Just as much, if not more." Darry kissed his head and rubbed his back. "Six months. That's half a year." I said and sat on the bed Darry opened up his free arm and let me snuggle into him as I rested my head on his shoulder. "I know baby... but everything's going to be okay. I promise." "You can't promise that dare. Anything... anything can happen out there." He took a deep breath. "I know." He kissed my head and held me tighter, "But I promise I will do everything I can to make sure that I make it back to you. Everyone I can, okay?" I looked at him and nodded, he kissed my lips and then my cheek. "I love you so much kourtney." "I love you to Darry." With that we both fell asleep... as a family.

The next day was full of sadness as the gang found out that Darry and Sodapop we're leaving. "I have news to." Steve said with a smile, "What's up Randal?" I asked, He placed his hand on my shoulder and looked at his best friend Sodapop with tears in his eyes. "I've been drafted to." "What? Steve no." Soda said as his tears began to form in his eyes again. "Yeah. Found out last night." "Your gunna be okay Steve." I hugged him and he hugged me back. "I hope so kourtney." "So half of our gang is going to war, and there's nothing we can do about it?" I looked over at pony who was crying. "It'll be okay pony." I walked over and hugged him, he cried in my arms. "We're all gunna be okay." I looked over to see Soda and Steve in a tight hug, and Two was hugging Darry as he patted his back. One by one we all switched to wear we all hugged eachother for as long as we wanted. I ended with Darry, and we held eachother as close and as tight as we could. "I love you." I said softly, he kissed my head, "I love you to." DJ started to cry and I was heading to him when Darry grabbed my waist and pulled me back. "I want to. Please." His eyes were full of sadness and hurt, all I could do was nod as he slowly walked to his son who's was crying.