17 year old Hendrix has always loved taking pictures. After her tragic childhood she decided to leave California in hopes to find something worth taking pictures of. She finds what she's looking for in Tulsa when she sees someone who catches her eye...
It had been five months and two weeks and six days since Sodapop and I first started dating. Every second was exciting, adventurous, and absolutely beautiful.
I was interviewing for a job today. It was an art gallery that was looking for some new photographers to bring in some new pictures every now and then. I've been traveling around Tulsa taking pictures of broken bicycles and old cars I found in junk yards. I like dark pictures. Pictures that hold emotion and pain. They make people feel. And to me that's the whole point of art.
"I like this one." Johnny said looking through my camera. He stopped on a picture of a bright yellow flower I found all by itself in an empty field.
"Yeah me too. Makes me feel lonely." I responded.
"Why would you want to feel lonely?" Darrel asked walking into the living room with me and Johnny.
"I don't know. It's almost like I enjoy feeling sad sometimes. It's kind of a reminder I guess." I smiled at the lonely picture on my camera.
"Reminder of what?" Johnny asked.
"I'm not sure. That I'm alive maybe. Maybe feeling sad or feeling lonely reminds me that I can also feel joy and the happiness of company. Honestly, I'm not really sure." I tried to figure out exactly why I enjoyed darkness in art but I didn't know why. I just did.
"Doesn't make sense to me." Darrel added.
It was just us three for now. Sodapop and Steve were at work and Ponyboy and Two Babur were at school. Darry had the day off and Johnny hadn't been feeling well. Darry and I were watching him while he was sick. He probably just has a cold from sleeping outside in the lot at night. I've tried to get him to come to my place or The Curtises before but he has too much pride. Still, it breaks my heart.
I laid the back of my hand on Johnny's Head. "I think you're running a fever. Let me go get a cool rag for your head." I said excusing myself to the bathroom. Johnny just kept goin through my pictures with Darry trying to find one worthy of entering into the art gallery.
I ran the cloth under the cold water and then rung it out so it would remain only damp. I was walking back when both of the boys had a strange look on their face. They looked up from the camera and at me.
"Hendrix, is this picture of Dally?" Darry asked turning the camera towards me. I blushed awkwardly not knowing what to say. I completely forgot about the night I snuck a picture of Dallas under the street light. I just nodded afraid of what they were going to say or assume.
"Don't tell Soda. Please. It doesn't mean anything." I finally spoke up. "I'm a photographer. I'm attracted to darkness and loneliness and pain and all of those things poor out of Dallas in a way that makes him seem like art to me. I just needed to capture it." I confessed feeling so scared of what they may say.
They were silent for a few moments while I assumed the worst and then thankfully Johnny spoke up saying exactly what I didn't expect to hear.
"I think you should use this one." Darry and I both looked at him with shock.
"Uh I don't know kid. I'm not sure how Sodapop will react to that." I looked down in shame. Secretly that was my favorite picture. It was the rawest and purest and had the most meaning.
"Oh come on Dar. It ain't like Henna here has a thing for Dally." Johnny argued. I just stood silently. They both looked at me. "Right?" Johnny asked after me not agreeing.
"Of course not. I love Sodapop. And only Sodapop." I said sternly. Not sure if I was trying to convince them, or myself.
"Hello!" Sodapop yelled walking in the door. I quickly snatched the camera from Johnny and turned it off. "There's my beautiful girlfriend." He said hugging me from behind. He kissed the side of my head and I giggled slightly. "How you feeling Johnny?"
"Better. Don't think I'm running a fever no more at least." Johnny took the rag off his head and stood up. "Yeah. I feel a lot better." He said realizing he wasn't dizzy or off balance anymore.
"My pretty little girlfriend get ya all fixed up huh." Soda said kissing me again. I turned around so this time I could kiss him back.
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I smiled as I kissed him. I was so lucky to have someone who made me feel so safe and at home. He was everything a girl could ever need. He was protective and kind hearted. And he loved me. That was all I needed.
