ʜᴇʀᴏ

innocence

TW: mentions of assault

sodapop had turned my light off and we were just laying in the dark. i had my arms wrapped around him and my head laying on his chest. his arms were wrapped around me and his head was rested gently on top of mine.

i could feel his chest move up and down slowly and it was almost relaxing and comforting.

"when did you find me?"
i asked barely above a whisper.

"uhm... i don't know the exact time but the socs were long gone. so we don't really know what happened. we can only... guess. since you don't remember"

i nodded and bit my lip.

i knew a girl at school who got jumped like i did and told her parents and they did go to trial. she lost...the guys walked away free. her name was lucy stone. she was a greaser.

the thought of their hands on me while i was unconscious. the fact that i didn't know exactly what they did is what haunted me

i was still sore from after the attack which lead me to believe the worst.

sodapop slowly started to gently stroke my hair
"the gang is gonna start walking you home from school. ponyboy, two- bit, and johnny mostly. because steve has work..."

he paused

"i'm worried about you, fizzle. what happened to you is not okay..." he looked down at me

"we don't even know what happened. can we please just drop it?" i asked.

i was in pure denial.

i didn't want to believe that maybe my worst nightmare had come true.

i was scared and helpless and i pushed my feelings so far down that i couldn't feel them anymore.

all of a sudden the house phone rang and i shot up.

i knew who it was cause the house rarely got calls.
i rushed down the steps and into the living room.

"it's for me!" i yelled before darry could grab it.

i picked up the phone and put it to my ear
"hey" i smiled slightly

"hey, doll" said the deep voice of james andrews. "how's it going?" he asked as i leaned up against the wall.

"it's going good." i nodded "i didn't think you'd actually call..." i laughed slightly

"of course i did. wouldn't want to pass up a date with a pretty girl like you."

i couldn't help but giggle softly. "yeahhh."

"how does tomorrow night at 6 sound? i'll pick you up."
he said and just like that it was like i was never even jumped.

"yeah, sounds great. i'll see you then..."
i said, trying not to squeal.

"bye, babe" he said before hanging up

i hung up the phone and turned to see the whole gang including sodapop staring at me.
"what?" i asked, scoffing slightly "you all have staring problems" i crossed my arms.

it was silent for a moment, like an aftershock

"who was that?" all three of my brothers asked at the same time.

"nobody. get off my case..." i said.

darry stepped forward and he looked mad and firm
"who was it fizzle?"

"nobody!-" i laughed, getting really annoyed and nervous

"fizzle rose curtis!" he interrupted. "who?"
i looked around at all of them for a second before sighing

"james andrews." i squinted my eyes close, waiting for the backlash.

"JAMES ANDREWS?!?!" they all roared at the same time.

they all started to yell over one another

"that kid is a no good hood!" darry yelled

"i can't believe you!" steve said

"he's the worst guy you could be going out with" two- bit said. two- bit has never been fond of james especially.

"at least go out with a nice guy!" soda said

"i told you that they'd be mad..." johnny said kinda quietly.

the entire gang besides ponyboy turned to him
"YOU KNEW?!" they yelled, turning their anger to johnny now.

johnny put his hands up in defense.
"pony knows too..." he said

"johnny?!" pony said, looking at him and shoving his arm.

"okay! can everyone please calm down?" i asked, standing up straight.

everyone turned to look at me.

"i'm sorry i didn't tell you but i knew this would happen! i know you guys don't trust him but he's not that bad of a guy....it's only one date."
i said, basically begging.

darry looked around then at me
"he's 16...a junior"

"so? i'm fifteen that's only a one year age gap. it's fine..."
i sighed before heading up the stairs
"it's tomorrow at 6. i'm going. that's the end of it."

i knew they were all mad but it's my life. they need to learn to let me live it.

i walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. i started to undress and gasped at what i saw in the mirror.

i had bruises traced all over my body.
deep, dark, purple bruises that made my body almost entirely purple.

i had scratch marks all over my stomach and chest and i could feel my stomach start to knot.
i mean yeah i was a sore in certain areas but i didn't know it was this severe.

i couldn't tell my brothers because then they'd want to see and that's just awkward.

i squinted my eyes shut for a moment before stepping into the shower and letting the hot water wash my pain and troubles away.

i tried to pretend that what happened didn't happen and that i still had my innocence.