The Outsiders: Randy's Little Sister

Chapter 22: Definitely

I woke up, like it was a normal day. Got dressed like it was a normal day. Went down stairs; normal day. But when I really opened my senses, I realised that something wasn't so normal. There was no Mickey, on the tv, no soda making breakfast in the kitchen, no Steve annoying him by eating from the pan and definitely no noise from Pony's bedroom that meant he was awake and ready for school.

I looked around, scanning the fridge for some kind of note to tell me where they went. I fiddled with the magnets, that held no note or even piece of paper, that could have given me any type of clue of where they all went.

"Guys." I shouted, but silence just filled the air. "Guys, c'mon." I walked 'round the house shouting their names but I gave up. They weren't there.

I went back to my room, sitting on my bed, eyes darting 'round from wall to wall. I looked on top of my chest of drawers, narrowing my eyes, when I saw a neatly folded piece of lined paper, sitting calmly in the dust. Getting up, I grinned like a dork, shaking my head and unfolding the note.

So it's your birthday—

The note read, in loopy handwriting that I immediately connected it with Pony.

— and as your friends and family, we want to make it the best one you have ever had. We have set you riddles, that are hidden 'round our town. Oh and don't worry, you don't need to go to school.

The note stopped there and I turned it over and back a few times, confused. "Jesus, Pony." I said to myself. "Way to be mysterious." Folding the note back up, I put it in the back pocket of my jeans and rubbed my eyes.

Oh and don't worry, you don't have to go to school.

"School?" I looked at myself in the mirror. "School." I smiled. "School!" I ran out my room, down the stairs and skidded to a holt in front of my school bag. Putting my hand in the bag, I frowned realising there was more than I thought in there, but I found the note, finally.

In the bag—

The handwriting had change dramatically; it now messy and the pen had been smudged, which meant that they were left handed. Soda.

—there are all the things you need. Oh, including, my switch. Take that, I expect you have it.

His switch. I put my hand on my back pocket and raised my eyebrows. It wasn't there. Running back up the stairs, I checked my room, but it wasn't where I had put it. I walked slowly to his room, where I opened the door, cautiously, thinking that they would be behind it, but they weren't and in the middle of the bed was the switch on top of something. It wasn't folded, which made me think that it wasn't a note, and when I came nearer, it reminded me of something. "A movie house ticket?" Confused, I grabbed the switch and ticket, ran down the stairs, picking up my bag and heading out the front door.

The odd thing was, it was only Darry's car on the drive, but Darry was the only one who wouldn't have the nerve to miss a day of work and it was surprising to think that he would miss one, just for my birthday.

******

I stood in front of the movie house, contemplating my life. I had already tried to look on the advert board to see if the note was pinned up, but if it was I didn't see it. I looked at the ticket for the tenth time in a minute and scanned it for some kind of clue to help me understand what the hell to do.

I looked through the plate-glass door and as it was too early for the theatre to be open, everything was dark, except for the entrance, which was lit up the sun.

"Oh, you son of a..." I muttered, noticing a small folded piece of paper right by the door on the wrong side of the glass. I opened my bag and flicked through it. I smiled, picking out what I needed and placed the hair pin in the lock. There was a click and carefully, I checked 'round me, before opening the door slightly, picking up the note, to then lock it back up and put the pin in my bag.