Chapter Text
My eyes slowly fluttered open due to the cool air hitting my arm. My windows were cracked open with my white curtains lightly blowing in the wind. I pulled my blanket over both arms and curled into them. Just 5 more minutes, I told myself. I hear the screen door slam open. Damn it, why did we have an open-door policy? I was not mad as I knew the gang saw our house as a safe house.
The soft hushes of voices could be heard which I knew would only get louder with time. I slowly rose up from my mattress hearing the small creaks of the springs. My feet fell on the floor and I felt a shiver going up my back as I touched the cold hardwood flooring. It was luckily Saturday so I could sleep in more than usual. I searched the ground for my Rogers High School sweatshirt, dragging my hand along the floor. Once I finally found it, I placed it on my head while putting my two hands through it. I pushed my dirty clothes into a corner and walked out of my room. I shifted my head to look at the clock in the kitchen which read 9. Huh, pretty early still.
I walked into the living room and saw a boy moaning about his hangover and saying that the light was too bright. I rolled my eyes, got a quilt out, and laid it over the boy. I heard him hum thanks and walked over to the sink to get a glass of water and aspirin. I placed it by the sleeping boy noticing that it was Steve. Knowing the rest of the gang would start to trickle in, I began to cook breakfast. I decided to make red pancakes, something crazy usually only Sodapop and I do. Darry’s door creaked open with him dressed for the day. He was wearing his old jeans and a white undershirt with a blue shirt with pockets.
“Morn’, Thea,” he said hoarsely and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
Though Pony was the youngest, half the time it felt like I was because the boys babied me all because I was the only girl
“Thanks for taking care of Steve. I saw him walk in with Soda this morning and he was trying to help but you know Soda.”
I smirked when I replied, “Soda didn’t get home till this morning? How the hell did you let him get away with that?”
Darry rolled his eyes but didn’t respond. It was obvious. Soda is his favorite. I’m not upset about it, Pony and I have always known. We made jokes about it all the time. Darry just let Soda get away with more stuff than Pony and I.
Soda came out of his and Pony’s wearing a plaid shirt, white undershirt, and jeans. He tried to shut the door slowly so as not to wake Pony. He failed when he closed it and accidentally caused the door to slam, which shook the whole house. It also made Steve groan on the couch. I snickered while mixing the red pancake batter which made Soda frown.
“Aw, come off it Thea, no need to be mean to your own twin,” he said while giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“Morn’ to you too Pepsi,” I hummed back.
I started to put the batter on the hot skillet and watched the batter begin to slowly bubble. We all heard an enormous racket coming from down the street. I closed my eyes and shook my head disbelieving what I was hearing.
“Are you kidding me? This early and they are already whamming on Johnny,” I said with obvious distaste.
“One of you, watch the pancakes,” I said as I threw the spatula in Soda's hands. I walked towards the front door.
I knew Johnny would be running to our house right at this second so I stood on the porch waiting for him. He was dressed in his usual attire, a black undershirt, jeans littered with holes, and a jean jacket.
“Morn’ Johnny. You all right?
“Yeah”
He obviously didn’t want to go into it, he never did. His parents pissed us all off to no end. It didn’t help when the Socs beat him to a bloody pulp. Johnny was constantly looking around, just in case someone was waiting to get him when he was least expecting it.
I asked, “Want a smoke? Might calm you down.”
“Sure, thanks Thea”
I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “Give me a sec, then.” Johnny went to sit in Darry’s chair while I looked around for a smoke. I looked down at the sleeping body on the couch. I knew Steve had smokes in his pocket which I found easily and put in Johnny’s hand. He lightly smiled and I returned it.
“Thea," I hear Soda say, ", Do you like your pancakes a little burned?”
I sighed loudly and ran back to the kitchen.