The Past

In a Better Place

We stepped into the new house, as I sat down a box and whipped off my cheek with my sleeve.

"You okay?" Dallas came up behind me as he held my waist from behind as he put his chin on my shoulder.

"Yeah," I sniffled a little bit. "I just wish she could of made it." He grabbed me in a hug and held my head close to his chest.

"She's in a better place, I promise." He ran his fingers through my hair and holding me tighter as I sobbed.

  My grandmother had past away in her sleep the day after we got back to New York. She was getting older, and the last thing she told me was that she couldn't go on without my grandma anymore, and that she knew I'd be OK for sure now. That night she went to bed after dinner with Dally, and left us for good. She's happier with my grandpa and Mom anyway, where they're all together again. Dally and I came back to Tulsa a week later.

"I'm gonna start unpacking." I pulled myself away and kissed his cheek.

"I'll go pick up Johnny and get his things." He said grabbing the keys and walking out.

  It was a decent first time house; 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and right down the street from the Curtis's. Diane and Alex secretly had money put to the side for me for the past year, and I got a loan from the bank for the house. I got a part time job at the Dingo still, and enrolled in the high school. Dally said something about working with Buck, and I didn't ask any questions. Johnny's parents don't care much about him, so I'm going through with my original plan on taking him in.

  I set up mine and Dally's bedroom upstairs; putting cloths away, making the bed, decorating. I was able to get some new furniture for our room with the extra money, and gave Johnny my old bedroom set. Everything was coming together slowly when Two-Bit came in.

"SARA!" Two-Bit shouted upstairs.

"Be right down!" I jumped up and jogged down the stairs to see him and Pony plopped down on the couch with a beer in hand.

"Got any cable yet?" Two-Bit asked taking a sip.

"Dal's gonna set it up when he gets back with Johnny." He walked over to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"You know your fridge is empty, right?" He hollered into the living room.

"Ya, I was gonna go grocery shopping until you showed up."

"I'll go with ya Sara." Pony offered as he crossed his hands on his lap.

"Thanks Pony," I smiled at him warmly. "Pony and I are gonna go shopping now, if you can set up Johnny's bedroom furniture please!" I hollered into the kitchen at Two.

"Kay." He hollered back as I walked outside with Pony.

"Damn it." I mumbled

"What's wrong?"

"Dally has the truck."

"Darry just got off work, I can see if we can borrow his." I nodded in agreement and we walked to his house.

"Hey Darry?" I walked through the house and found him in his bedroom taking a nap.

"Yeah?"

"Hate to bother you, but can I borrow the truck?" I peeped my head through the door.

"Yeah, keys are on the coffee table."

"Thanks!" I ran out and grabbed the keys, and Pony and I got in the truck and left.

"I assume I should by some chocolate cake?" I laughed as we walked down the store aisle.

"Most likely knowing the guys, mostly Steve though." Pony laughed as we filled up the cart.

"Damn Pony, I'm gonna be packed for weeks!" I said examining the filled cart.

"Not when you have Two-Bit around." We both laughed as we went to the checkout.

"Bout time you two got back!" Soda greeted us as we walked through the front door.

"Yeah, yeah," I laughed. "Can we get a little help?" I signaled to the bags in the truck.

"C'mon Steve!" They both walked out and helped carry in bags and put stuff away. Steve and Soda got the TV working as Pony and I started on dinner.

"What happened?!" I heard someone yell as the front door slam.