#even VICKS the vicks is smeared on my chest and feet okay!!!! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

aliypop · 10 months ago

Text

Stranger In The Crowd: Chapter 2

Chapter:1

Word Count: 2,132

Writers Note: An AU Series that I thought of when I was visiting Tupelo

Warning: Historic language

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Plot: The summer of 1946 in Tupelo Mississippi, where barely much happens for anyone including the Presleys but that all changes on a stormy summer night when the infamous Valmos duo Denise and Alfonso and their daughter Cecelia need a place to stay, will they be brought back to the reality that fame and fortune ain't always what it's cracked up to be, and will Elvis and Cecelia discover a thing called puppy love?

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

Tupelo, Mississippi, June 1946

MAMA!!!!" Cecelia shouted, "SOMETHINGS WRONG!" Cecelia's body was perched next to Elvis as she held him up. She was worried, scared even to lose the one kid who was kind to her. Gladys and Denise had run out of the house and towards the kids as Elvis lay there having an asthmatic flare-up. They were becoming rare, but still worrying to Gladys especially. Gladys scooped up her son as Denise followed suit. "Some steam should work, and Vicks chest rub. I have some in my bag." Denise said, looking at the little boy. Her heart did go out to him, even though she was worried, hoping that the poor little thing would be okay, "I'll get a hot rag." Gladys said as she placed him under the covers. Cecelia stayed by his side. She didn't like it when she was left alone sick, so she knew he probably didn't like it either. Cecelia began to hum and swing her feet. Gladys took a glance over at Cecelia as she smiled at her. She knew something about her was different. Cecelia had an aurora about her that most little girls didn't have. "Is he going to be okay, Mrs. Elvis's mamma?" Cecelia asked as her mother smeared the hot, smelly stuff on his chest, "He'll be fine." Gladys smiled, "He gets sick sometimes." She sighed,

"Do you know why?"

"Not really, but say you go see if the men need help and let Elvis rest, okay?" Cecelia nodded."She's a sweet girl, Denise." Gladys smiled,

"She's got a big heart, and gives anything to anyone." Denise laughed, "Somewhere, a little girl is wearing her winter coat." dabbing the sweat on his forehead as Gladys laughed,

"She's a blessed child."

"So is your son."

"Ah hell," Vernon groaned, the two still looking at the car. Alfonso was devistated. If it wasn't one thing, it was another, "It's gone to shit Pres." Alfonso said, rubbing his temples as he heard from the steps, "Oooh, you said a bad word, Daddy." Alfonso turned to see his daughter as he laughed, "Don't tell your ma." his pinkie up as she wrapped hers around his, "I promise," she grinned. Vernon smiled at the two. It reminded him about how Elvis was close to his wife in the same manner,

"What can we do you for little lamb?"

"I-I got told to come outside and help you!" Her hands on her hips as she looked at her dad and then at Vernon,

"What's a little lady like you know about cars." Vernon teased as Cecelia had a face of amusement that only he thought he'd seen his son have.

"Well, I know that ...The bolts are completely bald on the car, and you'll need a car crank to get the tire off!" she said proudly as Vernon and Alfonso tried their hardest not to laugh at how cute she looked,

"The what?!"

"The car crank!" Cecelia said again, her cheeks puffed out,

"Sweetie, you mean the jack," Alfonso said. He saw the frustration in her eyes as he tried to hug her, "That's why there's a nail in the tire and- and!" she kicked a rock as she fell, getting more disappointed in herself as she stormed off,

"A bit grumpy?"

"She's going through young womanly things, I think?" Alfonso questioned. Cecelia stormed back into the house as she plopped down and strummed Elvis's guitar, "I'll make a song called Boys are Big Dummies!" she huffed out of frustration as she strummed, Gladys and Denise were both in the kitchen trying not to laugh. Cecelia cleared her throat as she sang, "Boys are big dummies. They don't ever use their brains! Boys are big dummies. And they laugh and call you sweet names!"

"Sugar, what made you mad?"Gladys asked as Denise kept laughing a little,

"My daddy got mad 'cause I called a car jack a car crank, and then he laughed, and UGH!"

"Doesn't it..."

"Yes, Gladys, it does," Denise said as she shook her head.

"I mean, I ain't wrong. It cranks, and the car goes 'round up in the air," Cecelia said, talking faster, her accent getting deeper,

"C breathe." Denise sighed,

"It's okay. Elvis gets like that when he's worked up, too."

"Mama..."

"Like a clock tickin', he calls."

Denise beckoned her daughter to stand near her and help cook lunch with the leftovers they had. Denise could remember the days when she and Alfonso were struggling artists living similarly back in 1935. Denise missed those days when he'd come home with a gleam in his eyes and look at his baby girl like Cecelia was the world. And kiss her baby cheeks as if he'd then kiss Denise on her cheeks, but all that changed when she was six. They vowed to stay legally married on paper for business but go their separate ways unless further stated.

"Meatloaf... gross..." Cecelia pretended to gag, helping her mother cook. Cecelia hated meatloaf mostly cause it tasted like wet, soggy things, and she didn't like wet, soggy things. Really, no eleven-year-old did. Denise sighed as she gave her daughter a knife and a union signally for her to chop them up. "You are going to eat this meatloaf regardless if you like it or not!" Cecelia nodded, "Do you hear me!" Denise then looked down as her daughter had tears welling in her eyes. She didn't mean to make her cry. There was a lot of stress placed on her currently,

"Cece..."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you." Cecelia sniffled,

"Cecelia, would you like to check in on Elvis?" Gladys asked as the little girl nodded and ran off. Gladys looked at Denise as she felt small. Denise didn't mean to yell at her daughter, but now. She was livid at the memories. And Alfonso for mocking their baby, who was trying to help, and it was getting too much. She was in a nowhere town with people, that luckily meant no harm. Denise felt small.

"Do you ever feel lost, Mrs. Presley..."

"Define lost." Gladys sat down,

"Like no matter what you do, it doesn't feel enough..." Denise sighed, "I'm providing a life for my daughter, singing and making hits after hits and keeping her safe and well-rounded." Denise laughed, "But it doesn't feel like enough," Gladys laughed when she said it didn't feel like enough. The Presleys knew what never enough felt like it was how they lived,

"Maybe you have too much?" Gladys added,

"What do you mean?"

"Honey, you're in deep in wealth. You feel empty 'cause money can't buy love, and it sure can't buy peace." She smiled, "Only God can provide those things. You pray every night for that beautiful baby of yours and whatever else is on your heart worryin' you, and I promise you'll never feel lost again."Gladys pulled her in and hugged her, "There's a fighter in you. Don't ever let her lose, and you won't get lost. Remember that."

"Hey, El... You up..." Cecelia asked as she poked the young boy on the cheek, "Elvis..." She said again, still poking him. Then she had gotten a genius idea, a huff leaving her lips, "If you're really asleep, then I guess you don't want to play my daddy's guitar." Elvis jolted up like Frankenstein's monster, "I'm up!" bumping his head into Cecelia's, "Are you okay!" the two laughing like maniacs. Cecelia gave him a nod as she snorted. The things that kids found funny. Never ceased to amaze their parents. Cecelia then took him by the hand, and he had that crooked smile that would break hearts someday.

"You don't have to hold my hand, you know."

"I know, but I like to." Cecelia smiled

"Why?" Elvis asked, "Haven't you got someone you'll marry one day or whatever girls do!" He was trying to find a way to push her away. He didn't like the feeling he was picking up around her, or maybe Elvis did. He'd get all nervous around Cecelia. And his face would turn red, and Elvis felt weird and giddy when she held his hand. He definitely didn't like it.

"I think one day I'll marry Frank Sinatra." She giggled. Elvis's face frowned when she said that. Was he jealous? No, he couldn't be, maybe a little,

"You don't want him. What's he got that some men don't!"

"Beautiful blue eyes, dark hair, and he sings, girls like boys who sing."

"I got blue eyes an sing sometimes." He mumbled, his cheeks puffed out,

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"I could s-s-sing somethin now for ya!"

"You would!" Cecelia gasped as Elvis took her by the hand, storming outside, still holding her hand. He took his guitar and sat on the porch swing, patting a seat next to her as she giggled and sat down. Vernon and Alfonso looked at the pair and sighed,

"Guess yer payin' for the wedding when the time comes." Vernon laughed as Alfonso shook his head,

"If you think so, but I doubt that girl of mine is gonna marry yer boy one-"

Elvis had started to sing, and Cecelia had a look in her eye that girls who notice boys or Sinatra had. It was an innocent twinkle of puppy love, and she had a bad case.

"What was that Fons."

"Nothing at all, Pres... Guess I'll be payin' for a weddin one day."

"That was amazing..." Cecelia blushed,

"You think so. I mean. I came in 6th place in a talent show once. And I sing at Church, but you think I'm good at this?"Cecelia nodded, "I think if you keep singin, you'll be a really big star someday," She nudged him,

"Thank-"

"But your cords are a bit wonky, and your guitar playin' is sloppy." Cecelia sighed, "Can't have that." Marching to her daddy's car, she reached into the trunk and got his White Gretsch guitar. "You..." He sighed, hearing everything she had just said. Taking the guitar out of the case, she sat next to him. The guitar was about as big as her. But she didn't care as she began to strum, "These are blues chords. Follow my lead." she commanded as Elvis gulped, but he followed as his hands cupped the frets, "Now strum." She smiled. Elvis did. He wasn't very good at it on the first try, and Cecelia wasn't very patient, but she was trying.

"Pushy, ain't she?"

"only when she really cares about betterin someone." Alfonso smiled,

"She sees somethin in a boy?" Vernon smiled,

"I'm afraid so," Alfonso chuckled, "What I don't know." The two men shrugged,

"Okay, let me help you 'cause you're not doing it right!" Cecelia said, a bit frustrated,

"I am doin it right!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!" Cecelia stuck her tongue out. Elvis stuck his tongue back at her, "Maybe girls really are trouble." he rolled his eyes. Cecelia gasped, "You're being mean!" she shouted, and it stung like Vernon,

"And you're pushy..."

"PUSHY, YOU THINK I'M PUSHY!" she walked off, " DON'T YOU EVER TALK TO ME AGAIN OUR FRIENDSHIP IS THROUGH!" Cecelia ran off crying,

"Cece, wait!"

"Welcome to girls, son," Vernon said with laughter,

"Pa, how do I fix it,"

"Here take this money, go to the candy store," Alfonso said,

"Okay... Then what do I do?"

"Get her cracker jacks and let her have the prize in the box," Alfonso mentioned as Elvis nodded,

"Will it work?" Elvis asked.

"I think it should. After all, girls like candy, and you're too young to get her roses." Vernon smiled. Watching his son run off into town,

"Little pumpkin. You don't have to be right all the time..." Denise said as Gladys chuckled, "But he wasn't playing correctly!" Cecelia pouted, "And he needed to know it was wrong," she huffed, "And besides,"

"You weren't that good either when you first started," Denise mentioned as Cecelia got quiet,

"When it comes to boys, you have to make them think they're right," Gladys added,

"Even when they're wrong? That's lying." Cecelia pouted, "Which is bad!"

"In most cases, it is, but they have these things called egos." Denise smiled, "When he comes back in, you apologize and say you want to be friends again." Denise laughed,

"But he said I was pushy!"

"Well he's not wrong." Denise laughed,

"Cece! I got you Cracker Jacks and Roses from a nice lady and!" He was out of breath from running. He had to make things right, "Please forgive me! I want us to be friends again!" Gladys and Denise tried not awe, at the sight before them.

"I don't know, you called me pushy..."

"I'll let you have the whistle in the box!" Elvis shouted,

"Hmpf, what color are the flowers."

"Pink..."

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