Behind The Camera // The Outsiders

~Chapter 11~

"Johnny you have to say something"
I said to him.
"What do you want me to say"
He said sarcastically with an evil grin.
"Do you love me?"
I said giving him a sly grin. He laughed.
"Do I love you um I don't know is there a word that means more than love"
He said. I shook my head.
"Well than I love you more than the words could ever explain"
He said with that evilish grin again. I kissed him to tell him to put that evil grin away. Of course he didn't but I still gave him a giant kiss. This time a little bit more passionately and he sure as heck allowed me. It had only been a week since me and Jess went shopping and Eric became my art teacher. Today was there wedding, me and Johnny were trying to get ready "trying". I helped her pick out her wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses I did not want to look like crap. I had my hair in a bun it looked like a messy bun to me but apparently to the hair dresser it is not. The brides maids dresses were light blue with lace. It had a tree with pink petals growing up the side of the skirt it was supposed to go along with the pink flower theme. Johnny was helping me get ready when I told him I loved him because he was acting like a deuce and also because I didn't really respond to him when he told me the other day we both apologized an hour later which was kinda cute when I should of been really apologizing. I really did love him. Once me and Johnny walked down that isle arm and arm and took our spots behind the newly weds I knew Johnny was the one. Once the ceremony was over and they kissed it was time for that giant stupid party that everyone loves. Once they started of course they did there speeches to each other but then something I didn't expect happened.
"Ash I haven't known you for long but you were the first friend that I made down here in Tulsa so if you would could you come up here and say some words"
I literally felt my heart drop. I had been working with Eric on my shyness but I wasn't this ready. I just thought of the first thing that popped into my head. If your scared to do public speaking just be funny and act comfortable first lesson Eric taught me. I stood up and brushed my skirt off. I walked up to the podium and Jess gave me a giant hug and mouthed thank you to me and joined Eric. I cleared my throat.
"Well Jess I'm not so sure about that friend thing you had to of at least made 14 million friends in two minutes before you met me. Jess I'm glad you married my brother he is one of the most important me in my life out of 8 that is though"
All the boys from the gang cheered and everyone laughed at my horrible jokes this was getting good.
"The most important thing though is now that my parents are gone I have a bigger family then I did before my mom I wish I knew what happened to her she seemed to disappear of the face of the earth and my dad made seem bad choices after that but to even have the gang or Jess and Eric in my life is better than ever"
Everyone awed then the whole thing was interrupted by the doors slamming. I looked over to see a woman with long dark hair. She looked a lot like the woman that lived across the street from me. Then I saw her face and her hazel eyes glowing across the whole room. I turned to Eric and he had the same exact expression as me. I gave him a nod and we both turned to look at her.
"Mom?"
I said feeling tears swell up in my eyes. Johnny saw me and ran up to my side.
"Are you okay?"
He whispered but I didn't pay attention. Her tight form loosened and she looked at me.
"Oh Ashlyn"
I felt the tears roll from my eyes I ran off the stage and into her arms. I was short like her but we were now the same height. Eric came up and attacked the both of us.
"Did I miss the wedding?"
She said as I could see she was restraining herself from crying. By now Jess and Johnny were behind us. Eric laughed.
"Only a little but your just in time for cake"
"Shoot"
She said to herself god she was just as I remembered her.
"Oh mom this is Jess my wife, uh for about an hour now"
He said we laughed and they hugged. Then I grabbed Johnny's hand and motioned for the gang to come over.
"And mom this is Johnny my boyfriend"
The shook hands but she refused to let him go without a hug. Once the boys were over I went through.
"And this is Darry, Soda, Pony, Two Bit, Steve, and Dally. Uh this is our family now and you are more then welcome to join us"
I said. She smiled hen cupped my face.
"Oh my beautiful Ashlyn how you have grown"
She said. I felt more tears run down my cheeks and I hugged her so tight I couldn't let her go.
"Uh mom there is one thing"
I said once we were done.
"Uh dad he is in uh jail"
I stated as quick as possible.
"Why?!"
She exasperated. I looked down at my hands.
"Once you left he uh well became a drunk and started abusing me"
I said. A frown grew upon her face.
"Oh honey what has he done?"
She asked. I turned around and pointed to only a little bit of a scar that dad had given me when he first pulled that switch on me it was only a little bit of it she could see but she understood she also saw the glass cuts from when he threw me into the broken glasses. She shuddered as she touched each one.
"Oh baby I'm so sorry"
She said. I flexed my dress again.
"Where were you?"
I asked.
"Well I um went on that trip remember"
She said I nodded.
"Yah but they came back to tell us that you weren't there to get on your flight so dad started to assume you were cheating but then didn't and started blaming it on me for you running away"
I said.
"Well I got lost on my trip once I found my way back and heard that I was dead apparently so I moved across the street from you guys and watched you at your bedroom window taking pictures. The next day there were police officers there and I never saw a single light turn on in that house once after and when I saw Eric's wedding ad in the paper I did the best I could to find it and I'm here now"
She said. I gave her a confused look.
"You were alive this whole time you could of came back and I wouldn't of been so abused!"
I yelled. I ran off to my changing room I was in earlier with Johnny. I cried on the chair in the room just sobbing and sobbing. I heard the door unlock and saw Johnny step in he was the only other one with a key.
"Honey your mom didn't know"
He said.
"She still could of come to be my mother instead of just hide away and stalk us I could of been dead if it wasn't for you or Soda my life is horrible why can't anyone just stop hurting me for once"
I yelled at him he tried to calm me down. I took of my heels and stomped downstairs Johnny followed. I started to run but hen I noticed everyone following me except for the stupid guests that are only there because they are long lost friends. I ran behind the building hearing everyone's hollow footsteps behind me. I walked right over to the lake that was behind the church. I walked across the long dock and I pulled my hair down I was never going to be hurt again.