15Faith Is Spelled R.I.S.K
Chapter 9
Girl Talk, Boy Talk
I don't think that any of us really realized what time it was, and when we stepped in the door of our house I was really surprised when I saw the clock read just after midnight.
Alyssa was sitting on the couch, and as soon as she heard the door open, she shot up and ran over to us. She quickly hugged me and Darry, and the literally flew into Soda's arms. He didn't object however, and hugged her tighter than I'd ever seen any one hug. I was amazed that she could ever breathe, but she soon dug her face out of his shoulder, and kissed him hard.
I didn't really want to disturb them, so I walked out into the kitchen with Darry to examine myself. When I looked in the mirror, I almost screamed, because I didn't think I was really looking at me. I looked like a train wreck. My hair was all messed up and muddy. My clothes were torn in some places, and my face was covered in scrapes.
I think Darry noticed my reaction, because he came over to where I was standing.
"You've looked worse, believe me." He said.
"I don't want to know." I replied, turning away.
I went back into the living room, this time with a wet towel I had gotten from the bathroom. Soda and Alyssa were separated by this point, and were sitting on the couch talking. Well, I guess I shouldn't say they were really separated, because that rarely happens, but it was close enough.
"How're you feeling, Ponyboy?" Alyssa asked me.
"All right, I guess. My ankle is a little sore, but I'm okay." I replied, wiping my face a little.
Soda stood up and went into the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later, with his shirt off, and a towel in his hands. He had the same idea that I had, and was wiping his face off.
Alyssa was staring at him intently, although I'm sure she didn't want me to know that.
"I just noticed that my neck is really sore." Soda said. "You wanna come have a look at it?" He asked, practically inviting her to touch him.
She blushed a little, but didn't refuse at all. She went over to him, and began rubbing his neck. I was trying so hard not to look, but it was just so funny.
I left again, because at that point, Soda was taking her hands and pulling them down over his chest. It was really wrong, but I'm sure she was enjoying it.
"What's going on in there?" Darry asked, motioning towards the living room.
I took one more look back in. "You really don't want to know." I said, half laughing to myself.
Darry rolled his eyes. "No, probably not, but if I don't want to know, that usually means they're doing something they shouldn't."
"Have they ever done anything bad?" I asked.
"No…not yet." Darry replied.
"Say no more. I don't want to know." I said, putting my hands up.
I walked into the living room when I thought it was safe, and sat down on the couch.
"We're going to bed." Soda said. "You staying up?"
"I don't know. I'm kind of tired, but I don't know if I'd be able to sleep." I said.
"Well, don't stay up too late." Alyssa said, smiling.
"I won't…mother." I joked.
Alyssa winked at me, and pushed Soda into the bedroom.
"Goodnight." She said, and closed the door.
I didn't stay up much later, because Darry came in and sent me to bed. I went to the bathroom, and took the quickest shower in history. I realized that I really was tired by the time I got to the bedroom. I jumped into the bed, and closed my eyes. I was asleep right away.
Suddenly, I heard a scream. It wasn't very loud, but it was a scream none the less. I shot up, and looked around into the blackness that surrounded me.
I couldn't figure out where the scream had came from, but I couldn't hear any movement out side, so I finally figured out that it was me that it was me that screamed.
I suddenly remembered that I was dreaming. I remembered that I was dreaming about mom and dad again. We were in a car, and suddenly, there was a terrible crash. Then, I heard the scream. I guess I was the one screaming.
I tried to get back to sleep but it was no use. I was too shook up, and scared. I didn't want to cry, but I was almost in tears.
I decided that I would go wake Soda and get him to help me. I didn't know how he would do it, but anything was better than sitting here in bed waiting for sleep to consume me again.
I snuck out of the bedroom, and walked down the dark hallway. I reached Soda's room, and quietly pushed open the door.
The room was completely dark, and I couldn't see anything in detail, except for an outline of the bed and the desk, and two figures in the bed.
I walked over blindly to the side of the bed that Soda slept on, and I could soon make out features of him and Alyssa. Soda had one arm over her and the other arm under her. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
I got down on my knees, and was about to tap Soda's arm, when I heard a whisper come from the other side of the bed.
"Ponyboy? Are you okay?" Alyssa's voice asked.
"No. I had a nightmare, and I can't get back to sleep." I replied, trying my hardest to keep my sobs contained. By this time, I was so shook up however, that it was pretty much no use.
"Pony, let's go out and talk." Alyssa said, getting herself out from under Soda's arm, and leading me out into the living room.
It was pretty dark, but I could see more out there, than I could see in any of the bedrooms. We sat down on the couch and she turned to face me.
She had a blue blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and she had slippers on her feet.
"Okay Pony, tell me about this nightmare." She said softly.
"It was about…my…" I started, but then I began to sob. Alyssa put her hand on my shoulder to calm me down.
"It's all right, just breathe. Take some breaths, it's okay." She said.
"I was dreaming about my parents, and about the car crash. I was in the car, and I saw the train come…" I said, through sobs.
"Have you ever dreamt about that before?" Alyssa asked.
"Yeah. I used to dream about it all the time, which is why I slept with Soda. I thought I was over it, because I was doing real good, but I guess they're coming back again." I said.
"You know what Pony? I had the same problem you do, and sometimes I still do." Alyssa said.
"What are you talking about? Your dad's alive." I said.
"Yes, but my mother isn't. She died when I was 4." Alyssa replied.
"But you were so young when she died, how would you even remember?" I asked, wiping my eyes.
"Oh, I remember very well. I don't remember the actual day she died, but I remember when I asked my dad where my mom was. He told me that she was never coming back. I didn't really know what he was talking about, until I was about 7. He told me that she died, and that's why she hadn't come home that night. She was in a car crash like your parents were. My sister, Amber was with her. Amber got out fine, but she's never been the same since." Alyssa said, staring off into the distance.
For the next half an hour or so, I found myself opening up more and more to Alyssa. We shared stories about our childhood's, and talked about all the emotional things we had both gone through. She told me about her dad's new wife, whom she hated. She told me about her new step brother, who treated her like mud when she was ten. I told her about Johnny and Dally, and how hard it had been when Johnny killed the Soc and we had to hide in the church.
By the time I had calmed down, I felt like we had really bonded, and how she wouldn't make such a bad sister-in-law at all. I was actually looking forward to the day her and Soda would get married, that is, if she said yes when he asked her.
Alyssa was constantly listening to my every word, and she seemed really intent on taking it all in. She didn't act like a school councilor, but more like a friend, or a sister.
"I'll tell you something else Ponyboy. The reason I was so intent on sleeping with Soda, was because I did have the same problems that you did. I would have nightmares about my mother's death, even though I wasn't there, or know all the details. I always needed someone to have their arms around me at night. The first night that I slept here, I had another one of those dreams, and I woke up in the middle of the night. Soda got up with me and held me until I fell asleep." Alyssa said.
"Thanks for listening to me tonight. No one else has really ever done that as much as you, except for Johnnycake, and Soda." I said.
"I don't mind doing it. It actually makes me feel better too. I was like you, I never really had that many people to talk to about my problems, or my dreams. It's nice to have a real kind of family now to share with." Alyssa replied.
A real kind of family. I was glad that she thought that we were like her family. That meant that she'd probably be around a long time.
"You think you can go back to bed now?" She asked.
"I can if you can." I replied.
"I think I'll be all right. I'll always have Soda." She said.
"Hey, you think you're ever going to get married to him?" I asked, just out of my own curiosity.
"Me and Soda?" She asked.
"Yeah. You think you'd ever marry him?"
"I don't know Pony. I guess it's a possibility, but we're still both so young." Alyssa said.
"If he asked you, would you say yes?" I asked, knowing I was probably saying too much.
"I don't know. I guess I'll have to see what happens? Why are you so curious?"
I shrugged, trying to think up an excuse.
"Figure it would just be nice to have a sister around, and I'd really like it if it was you." I said, smiling at her.
"Thanks Pony. You're pretty cool." She said, and went back to her bedroom.
"Hey Alyssa. You really love him don't you?" I asked, right before she went into the bedroom.
"I really do Pony. Why?"
"Because he really loves you too." I replied, smiling at her again.
She looked at me and smiled, then she went into the bedroom, and closed the door.
I went back into mom and dad's room, and climbed back into the bed.
I figured I could get back to sleep really quick if I tried. I thought about the conversation me and Alyssa had, and I was very happy.
I closed my eyes, and fell asleep almost instantly. I slept real good for the rest of the night, for the first time in a long time.
Wow, I'm horrible at updating. Sorry, I've had exams lately, and haven't had a lot of time, but hopefully, I'll update more. Hope you like it! Please R&R!
Jess