four

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"well, we should go" i say, rubbing my hand on sodas head. he's older than i am, though i treat him like he's younger.

we all had to grow up pretty fast, so we're all a lot more mature than kids our age, especially darry, of course.

being the only woman of the house, i have to do most of the cleaning, taking care of the boys when they're sick, cooking, etc.

luckily, mom taught me how to cook a few things and i would clean around with her.

other than that, i read cooking books when we want to try something new.

"i'll probably be at work by the time you guys come back, so see you at dinner" soda replies.

with a worried look on my face i say "don't you think it'd be a better idea to take the day off?"

he smiles at me, not wanting me to worry. "no, it's okay. i'll be fine" he says.

ponyboy says goodbye and we head out. the walk isn't too far. we go quite a bit.

as we enter the library doors, the smell of the old books hits instantly; a smile forming on my face.

"evening, mr. rogers" i say to the librarian with a wave.

"evening, curtis! what are you looking for today?" he asks joyfully.

"i'm not quite sure, i think we're just gonna browse" i say, and we walk off.

my hands dance down the isles of books as i walk, thinking of what i would want to read.

i close my eyes and continue down, stopping on a random book.

a poetry book. i take it off the shelf, scan through it and decide it's good enough.

i wrap it under my arm and make my way to ponyboy. he had found a book, too.

we walk back up to the desk that mr. rogers works at and check them out.

we thank him and begin to leave. before stepping out of the doors, i pull pony back as i see a familiar mustang pass.

i feel for my blade in my back pocket "shit.." i whisper. "you got your blade?" i ask pony.

"yeah, of course" he says confused.

"great..let's just camp out here for a moment."

"what happened?" he asks.

"randy's mustang just passed. i'm not gonna risk anything today. they're more angry than ever since they think we killed bob.."

"sheesh, well we didn't. johnny did. and he's gone now, too. what would they want from us?"

"come on now, pony. don't play dumb" i say knocking his shoulder. "they would go after us with no thought. we're all buddies" i reply.

after a couple of minutes, we leave, and thankfully make it home safely.

"took you two long enough" darry says, putting on his shirt for work.

"had to sit back for a moment, i forgot my blade here" i say, putting my book down.

"you what? are you crazy?! them socs out lookin for us! they'll take anyone of us they can get" he yells angrily.

"i know..i know. i saw randy pass, actually; which is why we stayed back for a bit" i say.

darry shakes his head in anger, and says goodbye. tells ponyboy to make sure he does his homework.

we hang around for a bit, and then i decide that i'm gonna go visit dal. "you wanna come along?" i ask.

"nah, i think i'll try to do my homework" he says.

i say ok, pat him on the shoulder and leave, with my new book in hand and my blade in my back pocket.

i take the alleyways and places that would be hard to see me in, so that i don't get jumped.

eventually, i make it.

i walk into the hospital doors and see nurses and doctors rushing around, crying parents sitting in the waiting room, and other parents comforting their children.

i walk to the desk and check in.

they let me go, and i make my way back to dallas' room.

i walk in and lean against the wall with my arms crossed. he rolls his eyes.

"whatdya want, curtis?" he asks with an attitude.

"just here to visit," i say tapping my foot.

"i don't want visitors."

"i don't care, i'm here anyway" i reply, taking a seat next to his bed.

"i got a new book," i say.

he sighs dramatically. "dear god, you're not gonna read it to me, are you?"

"actually, i will. i wasn't going to, but that's a good idea!" i say, pissing him off on purpose.

he sighs in defeat, knowing he can't do much about it. with a smile on my face, i open the book and begin to read.

It mightn't give me better grades,or wash my clothes or clean the plates,or make me famous, make me rich,or change the direction of my fate.And it won't just fix the politics,or save the falling economy,or cease these tiring, endless warsand it won't eradicate poverty.

But even if there's nothing right,let me watch the stars tonight.(stargazing-Kataleya)

i stop when i hear a "mm" sound come from dallas. i look up at him. "what is it?" i ask.

"johnny loved the stars" he says quietly.

i remember the times johnny, pony and i would lay out at the lot or in the field watching the stars at night.

"that's right.." i say with a frown.

dallas looks over to me with furrowed eyebrows. then he realizes. "shit, sorry" he says, turning his head back.

"no, it's fine. um-"

"i'm getting out of here" he says, interrupting me.

"oh.. what?"

he groans as he sits up. i watch him with confusion as he gets out of bed and limps over to where his bag of clothes are.

"you're joking right?" i ask, standing up.

"nah, let's go" he says throwing his shirt on after buttoning his jeans.

"you can barely walk, winston."

"no shit, sherlock" he says and walks out of the room.

i quickly follow after him. without anyone bothering us, we successfully make it out.

"that was much easier than i thought it would be" i say.

"yeah, yeah. listen, i'm gonna go home. i don't really want you coming with" he says.

"oh..okay" i begin heading the other way to my house.