Remember Me | A Steve Randle Fanfiction

Chapter 9 | Nightmare Come True

🌻Juliana's POV🌻

We had eventually decided to go back home after some talking. I ended up spilling everything about my rep. It was a little similar to Dallas's, but I never got that bad. I was almost arrested twice, and I just kept getting into trouble. I luckily was never arrested, but I was being watched by the cops. I wasn't a very good kid. It didn't last long, though. Only a year. Then I decided to start being happy little Jilly again.

I couldn't stop thinking about what Steve said that day. How Evie was just in the way of us. I didn't know whether to be excited, or a little scared. Because Evie was capable of a lot, and I didn't want to get hurt because Steve didn't really love her. None of this was even my fault. I can't control what he does. I can't control how he feels. If Evie was gonna be mad at anyone, she should be mad at him. Wait, what am I saying? She should just get over it. He didn't love her. That was that. She was clingy and controlling. She should learn to fix it. She should learn that guys aren't very attracted to that. Especially guys like Steve.

The gang had all left, so it was just me, Darry, Soda, and Pony again. Darry and Pony were in bed, since it was a school night, but Soda and I didn't care, and we stayed up anyway. I know Soda dropped out, but he had work in the morning, so he would have to be up just as early as me and Pony. Soda and I were up in the attic hangout, watching movies. I was laying on him, starting to get sleepy as he played with my hair, but I tried to fight it. Soda was like my brother and my best friend in one. We never fought, and we keep each other company and make sure neither of us are getting needy for love. If one of us is feeling cuddly or wants to be held, the other takes care of that. We look out for each other. Of course, we would never date, because from past experiences, dating just ruins a friendship. We may have acted a little like a couple, but we weren't even interested in each other like that. Most of the time, it would be Soda that was holding me and playing with my hair. I occasionally did that with him, but he liked doing it with me. I was the girl baby. I was the pet, other than Johnny. Everyone looked out for me and him, because Johnny was just like a lost puppy. It was adorable.
I curled up, my hands on Soda's chest, and he looked down at me.
"Sleepy?" he asked. I nodded, and he started to stand up, his arms going around me.
"Soda, you can't carry me down the ladder." I mumbled.
"Yeah I can."
"Soda, no. You'll get hurt."
"You say that like I haven't gotten hurt getting down from here before."
"Just let me go down by myself." I didn't want him getting hurt carrying me down the ladder. I would feel bad. He sighed, and gently let me down, holding my sides to keep me from falling. Anyone else would look at us and be like "ooo" or start teasing us. We didn't really think anything of it. The latch was already open since nobody would have seen us anyway, so I carefully started down the ladder, while Soda made sure I didn't fall. He came down after me, and he slid the ladder back up into the attic, closing the latch. He closed the bedroom door, and jumped into bed. I mean literally. He jumped onto the bed. I laid down like a normal person, and curled up into a ball beside him. Both of us were out before we knew it.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of stifled laughs, and knew instantly it was Two-Bit and Steve. I looked up at them, and they instantly changed expression.
"What are you two doing?" I asked, sleepily. Two-Bit pointed at Soda, who was half off the bed, and it took me a second to process that they had drawn all over his arm and chest. "You two are so immature." I mumbled as I sat up. I shook Soda awake.
"Huh? What?"
"Soda, go take a shower."
"Do I smell?" he asked. Not gonna lie, that made me laugh a little.
"No, Two-Shit and Randle drew on you." Soda sighed heavily.
"'Course they did. Alright." he hesitated getting up, but he did anyway. I could tell he was tired. Once he left the room, I changed into a yellow top and long jeans, and went into the living room. It was around 7:30 a.m., so we had around half an hour to get to school. Pony was in the living room, Darry had already left, and Steve and Two-Bit were waiting by the bathroom door with handfuls of whipped cream.
"Don't you dare." I warned them both. They started whining, but the second I gave them my "mom" look, they headed towards the sink to wash their hands. I was younger than both of them and they surprisingly listened to me. I slipped my shoes on, and sat down on the couch by Ponyboy. He didn't look too happy. "What's wrong?" I decided to ask him.
"Nothing." he mumbled.
"It's obviously something." I said, keeping a soft, caring tone. Steve slowly walked in, watching. Two-Bit was doing God-knows-what. I could tell Pony was hesitant with an answer.
"I don't wanna go to school anymore."
"Why?"
"People always make fun of me. They call me names, they shove me into lockers, hit me-"
"Wait, you're being bullied??" I asked the second he said they hit him. He slowly nodded, looking down. My face started to get hot with anger. "Don't worry. It'll get taken care of." I told him. He looked at me confused. I wasn't going to tell him what I was planning. I just told him not to worry again, and hugged him. A couple seconds later, there was a knock on the door, which I thought was odd. Someone at the door at 7 a.m.? Who would be there? I hesitantly answered, and the one person I hoped it wasn't was standing there, eyes wide, breathing a little heavily. Peter?? I thought. It was like a nightmare come true.