Running from The Past

Meeting Winston

"I think I'm gonna head out." I said getting up from the couch. We were all watching Mickey Mouse (mostly Two-Bit) and joking around.

"Need a ride back? It's awfully dark out to walk all the way to the West side of town." Darry got up and asked.

"Could you, please?"

"Ya, let me just go grab my keys," He walked to the little hooks in the kitchen and we got in the truck.

"It's nice to see that Pony is making a new friend." Darry broke the silence as we started driving.

"Yeah, he's sweet."

"He hasn't been very social after Johnny and Dallas."

"Who's Johnny?"

"He was a buddy of the gains. He was older than Pony, but we all looked at him like a brother. He died the same night Dallas was shot." He took a deep breathe and kept his eyes on the road.

"Oh, that's really sad. Were Johnny and Dallas close?"

"Really close. Dallas would've taken a bullet for that boy any day. He went off the deep end when he died." I sat in silence as I pointed out my house and thanked him for the ride.

"Pony's probably gonna go to the hospital after school tomorrow. Feel free to tag along with him, lord knows he needs support with seeing Dallas again."

"I think I will than."

"Have a nice night." He smiled

"You too!" I shouted as he pulled away.

  I walked up the front porch to the big white house. I tried to walk inside and sneak upstairs without waking my mother. I got my shower, and put my nightgown on and went to bed. I woke up to my alarm clock going off and sun coming through my curtains. I walked into my closet and grabbed a cream white dress with a blue ribbon tide off to the side, with blue flats. I than curled my hair to make my natural waves look a little better, and pulled it back with a thin headband. I always wore very little eye makeup and only a burgundy red lipstick.

"Good Morning." I said as I sat down at the dinning room table beside my mother.

"Good Morning sweetie." She sipped her coffee as she read the Newspaper.

"Good Morning Ms.Kennady." Penelope came in serving me my breakfast.

"Morning Penelope." I smiled back at her.

"So what time did you come in around?" My mother asked curiously.

"Around eight thirty. I got a ride back from my friend's brother."

"Oh that was nice of him."

"Yeah, they're a nice family."

"I have to get going to work now. Have a good day at school, love you." She said getting up and kissing my head.

"Love you too!" I shouted down the hall as she left.

  School went on for what seemed like forever. I got a lot of weird looks when I sat with Pony and Two-Bit at lunch. I later met up with Pony and Two-Bit after school in the front Court yard.

"Hey guys!" I said running up to them as they started walking.

"Hey Clara." They both said.

"Mind if I join you guys?"

"You sure?" Pony asked in shock.

"Yeah, why not?" I smiled widely.

"Dally's not the nicest greaser, just warning you." Two-Bit warned.

"I can take him." I held my breathe trying to look tough as they laughed at me.

~

"Hey Dal." Pony said as Two-Bit stood in front of Dallas's view of me as I stood in the doorway, out of sight.

"How ya doing Dal?" Two-Bit asked.

"Not dead" The deep voice replied coldly as if he was upset about it.

"It's not that bad-"

"Don't tell me what is and what isn't bad Ponyboy." He cut him off before he could finish.

"Sorry..." Pony said ashamed.

"We've missed ya Dal." Two-Bit broke the silence.

"You just saw me last night." There was a moment of silence. I tried walking out when I bumbed into a stand, which made a huge clank against the wall. I turned around to see all three of them staring at me,

"Hi" I waved embaresly.

"Who's she?" Dallas asked harshly.

"Dal, that's our friend Clara. She's new here." Pony said signaling me to come forward.

"She's a soc, that's what she is." Dallas looked at me coldly.

"C'mon Dal, she's not like that. She's cool, she hangs with us."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't of came." I said backing up.

"Oh it's fine Clare, Dal's just been asleep so long he's a little moody." Two-Bit laughed and Pony smiled a little.

"You watch it." Dallas snapped at him harshly hold his fist at him.

"He was only joking." I mumbled to myself.

"What was that?" He arrogantly asked.

"I wasn't talking to you."

"Than who were you?" He kept an emotionless face on.

"It was nothing, okay?"

"Yeah, it was something."

"I said; HE WAS ONLY JOKING!" I raised my voice at him as Two-Bit and Ponyboy stared at me in shock.

"Don't be a smart ass sweetheart." He said with a mean chuckle.

"I wasn't being a smart ass, I was just telling you what you wanted to hear!" I snapped at him harshly.

"Whatever" He rolled his eyes.

"You know, for a guy that just survived a gun shot and pulled through a coma, you're sure a dick."

"I do have one doll."

"It sure isn't as big as your ego."

"Who the hell invited you!?"

"I was being a good friend."

"Guys just stop!" Ponyboy pleaded.

"I'm sorry Pony. You too Two-Bit."

"Don't be, I found it entertaining." Two-Bit busted out laughing, and I laughed a little bit too.

"So when are you getting out Dal?" Pony asked.

"Tomorrow morning." He rolled his eyes.

"That's good."

"I'm tired of this place. Makes me feel even worse. I think they put me in this room as a cruel joke or something."

"Why would it be a cruel joke to be put in this room?" I asked in curiosity.

"NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!"

"Jeez, sorry."

"I think we should get going," Pony said looking at Two and I. "Nice seeing ya Dal."

"See ya later." Two-Bit waved as he headed out, and I just followed slowly behind them. They already left the room when I turned around to see him holding his hand over his eyes.

"Nice meeting you." I said softly and walked out.