Tabula Rasa

Chapter Fifteen

Searchlights

Opening song of choice: For You And Your Denial by Yellowcard

Author's Note and Disclaimer:

I don't own anything, all rights to the Outsiders goes to S.E. Hinton. Also, I'm not sure if dance halls existed in Tulsa but if not, I'll just say this is AU.

Um, I just wanted to try something out and made this chapter 2nd person. I hope you guys don't mind, I'm not sure if the next chapters will be 2nd person too. First two parts are Evie, the last is Ponyboy.

You get up and go to the nearest window and gaze at the sky. You feel a cold wind sweep by as you stand.

"Evie, is something bothering you?"

You take a look at him as he smoothly grins with half his body under the covers. "It's nothing, Steve..."

"It sure don't sound like nothing." Sometimes you hated it how well Steve could read you.

"Fine..." you say, exasperated. "It's about this girl I saw the other day."

"Which girl?" he asked, interest lacking in his voice..

"That blond one I saw at the DX," you clarify.

He gets up a little and puts his weight under his right elbow. "Oh that girl?" he says as he rolled his eyes.

Your head turns, almost immediately. "What? You know her?"

He lays back on the bed and stares at the ceiling with a fixed expression. "Yeah, met her a long time ago. But now she comes outta no where trying to bother Sodapop about some dumb shit." He then shines the spotlight back onto you. "Why do you ask?"

"Uh, no reason...But do you happen to know what exactly is going on between them?" Hopefully he doesn't figure out that your on to Soda and whatever it is he's been up to.

"Nah. I don't know. And even if I did, I wouldn't believe whatever it is she says anyways. The girl's always full of shit," he admitted, engrossed with volatility.

"...Well, okay. If you say so."

The aroma of a fresh baked cherry pie pervades as you enter a store meticulously adorned with a variety of flowers that were meant for both show and purchase. Despite the near gaudy appearance, the store retains somewhat of a more traditional feel to it.

She turns around and grins to see you. "Hey, Evie," she cheerfully chimes.

"Hey, Sharon." You and her might not be the best of friends, your relationship has always been cordial.

"So, what brings you here at...my mother's flower shop?"

"Your Mom owns this? That's a bit of a surprise, if you don't mind me saying."

She blushes, the kind of blush when you're embarrassed and proud of something. "Yes, well. You see, my mom came from a small town from the other side of the country. She loved it back there and we always visit every year." Sharon looks at the pie situated at the front of the store. "My grandma would always back a pie every afternoon. Sometimes some travelers and passer-bys will come into our house and she would always treat them as if they were like long-lost friends. They owned a flower shop back there too, and just like her mom, she bakes a pie every afternoon."

Sharon giggled lightly. "Sorry for the long back story, I kinda got carried away. So, can I help you with anything?"

"Yeah," you respond, taking on a slightly different tone. "I'm looking for something?"

"And that is?"

"Just...a man."

"Oh, aren't we all?" She laughed as shook her head. "Odd though, I thought you already got yourself a tool." Sharon teased.

"Who, Steve? No, he ain't a tool - usually. He's a man of tools, Sharon, not a tool himself," you clarify.

"I'm looking for a man named Scott McCarthy."

Her face lights up but then scrunches as if she's trying to recall something. "Seems familiar, Evie. I swear I've heard that name before, but I'm not sure..." There's a glint at the edge of her eye and her expression becomes anxious and awkward, very unlike Sharon.

"It's fine, Sharon. If you find anything, can you please tell me?"

"Sure thing. It was real nice to talking to you, Evie," she said, with a stale voice.

It was after track practice that you stumbled upon the local tennis court. Almost thoughtlessly, you push upon the chain-linked door and enter. The first thing you notice is the reddish-gold hue lathered across the concrete. And in response, you lift your hand to obscure the iridescent rays and to wipe away remaining sweat that clung to your forehead.

The tennis court was completely empty save for the nets and some spare balls and rackets. You pick up a racket and a few balls and start to hit it towards the concrete wall.

Not long after, there was a loud creak at the front as a man entered the tennis court.

"Hey, Danny," you call out.

He was wearing shorts, a stained tank top, and some muddy shoes. He must've just finished football practice and was walking home. A gentle smile forms on his face and takes out a racket and a ball a starts bouncing it on the racket without reaching the ground. "Hey, Pony. What cha' doin' here?"

Looking around a little lost, you simply say, "Uh, I dunno."

"My guess is that happens pretty often, am I right?"

You give him a slightly frustrated look which causes him to laugh at your expense. "Anyways, do you wanna play a game or two, kid?"

You give him a small nod. The game itself was fairly tame. Danny was winning by a lot, of course. But that was mostly your own fault for hitting it outside the boundaries so much times. Danny only hit the ball lightly and always in your direction. You never hit the ball very hard because you always seem to hit it with the far parts of the racket rather than the center.

After a good half hour or so, you get the hang of it pretty well and the game becomes more and more interesting as Danny actually starts to play like he means it.

"You're pretty good, Pony. Have you ever played tennis before?"

"No, well not in a long time. My dad used to bring me, Soda, and Darry over here every once in a while, but that was a long time ago."

"Huh..." You notice that Danny's expression becomes a bit anxious as he tries to form his words. In a quiet, stagnant voice, he says. "You know, me and Sodapop used to play here all the time..."

You don't know why, but when he says this, it struck a bit of an odd nerve. "That's cool," is all you can muster up.

You notice that Danny seems quite exhausted, not just from football practice, but probably because he always has to run to get the ball when you hit it out of bounds.

After another half hour passed, Daniel was acting a bit off. He kept hitting the ball harder and harder, ever so slightly. You take a look at his face and notice that it's the first time Danny's ever seemed to look at you directly in the eyes. Beneath the shadowy features of his face, rested those hazy eyes of his.

He was glaring, fully intent on you. But this wasn't the same glare most Socs gave greasers like him: one of censure and indifference. No, this one was ice cold hatred that you couldn't even tell was actually directed towards you and it causes a slight, involuntary trembling down your spine.

You drop the racket, almost frozen. But Danny doesn't stop, he hits the ball as hard as he could and the ball moves directly towards you. Barely having time to respond, you block it with the back of your hand and the force sends you backwards.

There's a bit of crackling sound as you rub your left hand to relieve it. Across the court, was Danny whom held his upper arm in agony. He must've hit the ball so hard that it caused his arm to ache and soon he finally notices what he just did.

"Pony, are you alright?" he spoke with sheer guilt. It's odd seeing Danny like this, you wonder what exactly it was that caused him to get so angry since he's always a calm and quiet guy at school.

After performing more hand gestures and tests and save for some aches, it seems to be alright. "Yeah, I think." It probably came out with more sting than you hoped.

"I'm sorry, I really am." his voice became more and more grave and you take notice how tight he's holding his fists. He turns his back away, again avoiding eye contact.

"It's...okay," you lied.

"No it's not. I don't know what...why..." He faces you once again. His cloudy eyes give an ambiguous look. As if both a smirk, and frown laid beneath it.

"I think I'd better go..."

Author's Note:

Okay, hoped you guys liked it. Evie's still gonna be lookin' around, and we'll see what's up wit Danny later.

Closing Song of Choice: Losing Sleep by Valencia