bound to break

1

"Melania!" My mother sang my sister awake as the rest of us were already carrying boxes into the new house. We just moved here from New York, my brother got twisted up in a gang. Fortunately we knew our way around Tusla, we visit here every summer. We would come and visit Big Ma and Big Pa; our grandparents. They passed away due to tuberculosis early last year so we decided to renovate the house. Thankfully it came into use.

Izekial never cared for others, he's always been self absorbed but i can't say the same for my younger sister. Melania has always been selfless, putting everyone else before her. She's only four and she's generous beyond her years, Iz could learn a lot from her. Ma and Pa have always been the 'ideal marriage' standard. Loads of money, three kids, well paying jobs; but behind closed doors they're anything but the ideal marriage. Pa's a raging alcoholic and overdosed on drugs three times back in New York. We're all hoping Tusla will change us for the better.

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I went outside to see Pa driving off, feeling a hand in my shoulder i turned to see Mamas face. "He got called in for two night shifts already, it's different but different is good." Mama said in a low voice as we watched the car drive out of distance. "Difference means change." Iz said walking out of the house. "Where do you think you're going?" Mom asked as she adjusted her skirt, she's in her nurse uniform. "Darryls house, remember them from last summers?" Iz said, reminding us of that summer. That summer.

I had my first kiss that summer, first friend group, first enemy, first tattoo, first fight. Tusla, oh how i missed you. "You coming Iris?" Iz asked and i nodded catching up to him. "Jean shorts, converse and a tank top to hangout with the gang?" Iz asked and i scoffed. "They're more of a friend group compared to the gang back in New York and they already know us." I reasoned and he nods. "Let's hope they remember us, especially you missy." He says releasing his cigarette smoke from his mouth. "Oh so what? I grew boobs and an ass, that doesn't make me look any different!" I growled and he laughs. "Yeah sure, that's like saying a new cigarette isn't better than an older one." I hit his shoulder as we walked into the Curtis' front lawn and knocked on the door. A guy with a Mickey shirt opened it and smiled.

"Well if it isn't Izekial Bronze and..." He stopped at me and scanned me. "Iris?" He asks and i roll my eyes. "Nice to see you too, Keith." He laughs and let's us in and we see all the guys in the living room, they turn their heads to us and stare. "The Bronzes?" Steve asks and shots up. "Iris!" Steve yells and races over to me, tackling me in a hug followed by Sodapop.

"Yeah, yeah. Nice to you boys too." I say dusting off my hands and make eye contact with Dallas fucking Winston. A smirk plays his face and as i sit between Johnny and Pony. I hung out with them a lot, playing cards or watching sunsets. They basically clean your soul. "So i don't get a hello?" Dallas asks sitting in front of me, putting his head on my lap. "You don't do 'hellos' Dal." I say running my hand through his hair. "You remember what i'm like, sweet doll." Dal smirks and i roll my eyes. "Where's Darry?" Iz asks and they sigh. "He got held back at work until 12." Pony says and Iz sighs while plopping on Darrys chair. "So how have those dirt bags been?" He asks kicking his feet onto Twos back. "They're worse than before us left, man. Look at Johnny-Cakes face and Pony's new scar." Steve says eating cake. "Is Sylvia still 'round? She didn't like me too much." I question and Dally rolls his eyes. "She headed out of town a week ago, got knocked up." Dal says and i laugh silently.

"You wanna head to the lot Iris?" Pony asks, standing next to Johnny by the door. I nod and stand up, "You comin Dal?" i ask and he shakes his head while sprawling out across the floor. The three of us walk slowly to the lot silently and sit on an old car when we get there. "You wanna hear a poem i learned?" I whisper to the boys and they nod, while staring at the sun just beginning-to peak below the horizon.

"Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."

Pony smiled and Johnny leaned his head against my shoulder, the sun just hid behind the horizon and it was completely dark. "Do you ever think about how one day, everyone in the gang will move on?" Johnny asks and I sigh. "That's just life Johnny, we won't be running away from socs and stealing forever. We'll have to settle at one point." I say and he shrugs. "I wish we could freeze time, i never want anything to change" Pony says and i nod in agreement as we begin to walk home.