Top of Form

Bottom of Form

I awoke to an aching body and a presence at my side. Glad that both eyes were functioning right, I turned to see Sodapop staring right back at me. He looked exhausted and his eyes were red, his face stained with little tears. His eyes shot open when I looked at him and he suddenly smiled. "Hazel," he whispered. His voice was light and fragile and I remembered now; I remembered falling in the lot and being carried. I remembered being bandaged and falling asleep. I remembered someone crying next to me, someone stroking my hair and holding me. "Soda…"

"Oh Hazel," he pulled me into a hug. I shut my eyes and wrapped my arms around him as he rocked me back and forth with him. "I thought I might've lost you," he sobbed. "I thought…" he sighed.

He looked me in the eye now and I stared back into his watery brown eyes that had always seemed so happy, and were now desperate and filled with a melancholy glow. I thought about the boy he was when I was little. The boy that kissed my knee whenever I scraped it on the asphalt, the boy who pushed me on the swing and competed to see who could jump off farther. And now I thought about who he was now…the guy that held me close when I cried, the guy by my side when I was hurt; the guy who understands everything and makes everyone smile with those beautiful, dancing brown eyes…chocolate eyes. "Thank you, Sodapop," I whispered. "For everything." He smiled and I smiled and I drifted off to sleep in his arms, nothing but our rhythmic breathing and the slight wind outside drumming at the door disrupted the soothing silence.

"What the hell happened to you?!" Two-Bit exclaimed. I was sitting up, drinking my orange juice next to Ponyboy when he came in and took a good look at me.

"I uh…may or may not have gotten somewhat beat up," I answered, sort of sheepishly. I forgot that he wasn't there last night and I can't imagine I looked to good right now. My lip was still fat and I had a rather large amount of bruises throbbing all over my body.

Two-Bit's eyes got wide and he stomped forward, "It wasn't the Socs, was it? I swear if those dirty bastards laid a hand on you, I'll-"

"Two-Bit, Two-Bit," I cut him off afraid to hear just what he would do if it were the Socs. "It wasn't the Socs, it was…" I felt everyone's eyes on me and sighed, looking down. Quietly, I told them, "It was my aunt's boyfriend."

We sat there silent and I felt suddenly very uncomforting under their gazes. When no one spoke I continued. "Look, it's really no big deal. I mean, yeah, this probably looks bad, but my aunt and I are cool, it's just…she has a bad judge in character, you dig? This guy just happened to be a total ass."

I looked down at my drink, avoiding the eyes staring me down with pity and anger. I can't stand people feeling sorry for me, or getting angry over something they have no control over. Darry cleared his voice and asked "How do you feel now?"

"Fine. Just a little soar."

He nodded and everyone seemed to have a silent agreement to drop it. Two-Bit sat on my other side on the couch and draped an arm across me, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. I gave a weak smile at him that he mirrored back. "I'm sorry we weren't there to kick his ass for you, Hazel."

He was truly, 100% serious right now, but I think that was what made me laugh so hard. They all eyed me concerned while I bounced in my seat. "Thanks Two-Bit," I laughed.

He rolled his eyes. "Now I know why I'm never serious."

"Hey, I mean it! Thank you." I looked around at all of them. "You guys are the greatest family I've ever had. They smiled and I rested next to Two-Bit and sat around watching Mickey with all of them all morning. None of us moved a muscle, Darry didn't even go to work, we just watched with smiles, laughing at all the little jokes that came along.