Author’s note: The Outsiders are owned by S.E. Hinton.
School was uneventful. I got to see Suanne for a few minutes between classes. She asked the same questions as everyone else. “How’s your sister doing? Is she okay?” I know if I am getting tired of the questions Sugar must be at the end of her rope, but she doesn’t show it.
I met up with Johnny in the halls and we headed outside to the front of the school. There she was, leaning against the railing clad in her Dingo uniform smoking a weed. I guess she changed right after class. “Come on.”
As we walked Johnny and I talked about math and maybe catching a movie later. Sugar asked about my test and I said I felt good about it. I really didn’t. Biology is not one of my strong suits, but it seemed she was asking more out of obligation than care so I gave the simple answer. She seemed pretty distant so Johnny and I just kept ourselves entertained by talking about whatever came to mind until we reached the brightly lit and very loud Dingo.
We walked through the glass doors and took a seat in the booth directly to our right. Sugar just headed to the back room. Margie handed me a menu. What do I want to eat? Hmmm? Not exactly much of a choice at a burger place. “I’ll just take a Coke.” Johnny ordered a plain cheeseburger and fries as I took out my math book.
We’d been sitting and talking for about thirty minutes and in that time period I had 3 Cokes. I needed to get some relief, so I looked around to check on Sugar and told Johnny I’d be right back. I get back to the table to find Two-Bit sipping on my next refill. “Thanks Two-Bit.”
“What are y’all doing here at the this fine establishment? Shouldn’t you be at home studying?” Two-Bit says after another long sip.
“Sugar…” No sooner do I get the word out of mouth do I hear her voice not too far behind me.
“You bastards!” I turn to see Sugar staring angrily at the booth 2 rows behind us. It was filled with three long haired mean looking hoods who reminded me of Dally. I look down to what she is holding out and I can make out a crimson liquid seeping through her fingers.
Johnny, me and Two-Bit are on our feet and by her side in no time. “What’s going on here?” Two-Bit reaches for his back pocket where I’m very aware there’s a blade waiting if he needs it.
“This chick just flipped out on us, man. What the hell is your problem?”
I turn to speak to Sugar but I am at a loss for words at what I see. Her eyes are still vacant, but she has a tear streaming down her right cheek. Before I can say anything she’s running out the door. I start to go after her, but Two-Bit grabs my arm “What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know.” I break from his grasp and head for the door. I thought Johnny would follow, but I guess he decided to stick with Two-Bit. I knew she must be running home, she wouldn’t be crazy enough to head anywhere else. I quicken my pace and catch up to her half way there. I don’t say anything to her as we slow down to walk, but not at a much slower speed than before. I know she doesn’t want to talk and I’m not going to make her.
We make it to the front porch to find the truck parked outside. What is Darry doing home so soon? Sugar walks quickly into the house and avoids looking at anyone as she heads into her room. The door slams shut.
“Sugar? Sugar, what happened?” Darry’s face is riddled with worry. I try to calm him down and explain what happened, but I wasn’t exactly sure myself. What happened at that table? Did one of them try to touch her or did they say something? I should have been paying attention.
I take a seat on the couch when Darry yells my name. I turn my gaze to where he is looking. Is that a bloody hand print? Darry starts banging on the door. “Sugar! Sugar, let me in!”
The screen door slams open. “Hey, what’s going on?” Soda comes barging in with his fool grin, Steve behind him, both completely oblivious to what has just taken place over the last 20 minutes. Darry ignores them and continues to pound on the door.
“Sugar. Open the door!” No response. Darry starts to panic and pounds harder. The door swings open to reveal a blood covered Sugar sitting with tear stained face on the bed. Her hand had been bleeding since I noticed the red liquid earlier at the Dingo.
“Ponyboy, get me a clean cloth.” Darry grabs Sugar’s hand as he slowly sits next to her. I find an old shirt in my top drawer and bring it to him. Soda is now sitting on the floor next to her feet and Steve took a seat on the couch in the living. He may not be the brightest, but he must have realized, he didn’t need to be in the middle of this.
I sat down on the other side of the bed and watched Darry wrap her hand. “It was them.” It was almost too soft to make out. “It was them.” I caught Darry shoot Soda a worried look out of the side of my eye. ‘It was them,’ I was standing 2 feet away from the animals that attacked my sister. Anger and guilt started to fill my body and I couldn’t sit there anymore. Again, I let her down. I need to get out of here.
I stand up from the bed and head out the bedroom door. The screen door slams open. Two-Bit really does have the worst timing.
“Did you hear? Dally pulled a gun on those hoods at the Dingo. He’s in jail!”
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