Family Is Found (Sequel to Running Towards Home)

CHAPTER 2

DARRY'S POV:

Arlene offers to help with the dishes, and I try to tell her she doesn't have too, but she gently elbows me out of the way so she could help with the washing. I hear the water start running, and I go to grab a rag to dry the dishes once she washes them. I turn back to grab the first dish, and see her wrist, covered in dark purple bruises, little scabs on top from where it looks like nails dug into her skin. I gasp and grab her wrist.

"Arlene, who did this to you?" I ask. I'm going to kill whoever did this to Arlene. She's a sweet girl, she would never do anyone harm. Arlene just looks away, and she tries to pull her wrist back, but I turn her face to look towards me. "Who did this to you?" I repeat. She has tears in her eyes, and she sinks to the ground. I sit down next to her on the kitchen floor. The rest of the gang is in the living room, fooling around. I try to talk quietly.

"Arlene, what happened?" I ask, pleading with her. She has tears running down her face freely now. "It was my mom. She was angry with me." I feel anger light up inside me. How dare her mother do this? How can parents hate a child so much they would cause them harm? First Johnny, and now Arlene? These kids don't deserve this.

"You have to tell Johnny about this. He'll figure it out sooner or later." She looks at me, and she knows I'm right. "I'm scared." she whispers. I hug her. "You have the gang, they will never leave you. You don't have to be scared, I promise." I help her up. We walk into the living room, and everyone is playing around, watching TV and playing cards.

"There you are," Two-Bit says loudly, and he grabs Arlene's wrist in an attempt to get her to sit down next to him. It's her bruised wrist. Arlene yells out in pain, and the room goes silent. Everyone turns to look at her. Johnny runs over. "Arlene, what's wrong? What did you do, Two-Bit?" Johnny asks angrily. Arlene looks at him. Then she pulls up her sleeve.

JOHNNY'S POV:

Arlene pulls up her sleeve, and I see the dark purple bruises on her wrist. I look her in the eyes, anger burning inside me. "How did this happen?" I say. The whole gang is looking on, and they stay silent. "It was my mom, Johnny. It's fine." she says. Pony speaks up. "No, no it's not! Don't say that!" Arlene looks at him, and she starts silently crying. I hold her close.

My parents hurt me. I know how much it hurts. I never want her to go through that again. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. I wish she had told me. Maybe then I could have helped her sooner. Arlene pulls away, and faces the gang. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that." she says, wiping her tears. Dally, the last person you would expect to speak in this situation, speaks up.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner? We could have helped you." Arlene just looks at her shoes. "I didn't want to burden you guys anymore than I already do." Steve yells out in surprise,

"You're not a burden! We like having you around." the gang nods in agreement. Arlene smiles a bit. I face her. "Arlene, you are never a burden. You are a part of this family. We care about you."

She kisses me, and I kiss back. Darry comes out and clears his throat. "Who wants chocolate cake?" he asks. We pull apart, and everyone goes charging into the kitchen for cake, and I hold Arlene's hand as we walk in. I hope she understands now how much the gang cares about her. They may not show emotion, but we are a family here. We defend each other.