A/N: All Rights belong to SE Hinton.

Divining Rod

Chapter One

A Ripple Persists

XXX

"Think the kid will ever snap out of it?" Steve asked, his eyes squinting in the same direction mine were. Ponyboy was finally making his way across the parking lot, late again like he'd been the whole week.

I held my breath then let out a smoke filled sigh as I tossed my butt away. "Dunno. It ain't been easy on him, that's for sure."

"Shit, like this has been a walk in the park for any of us?"

I looked at him in disbelief, not realizing how cold Steve Randle could be. Months may have gone by, but memories... they stay around a whole lot longer. My hard stare got my point across. He squirmed, ducked his head and pushed himself off the hood of his car.

"Sorry," he mumbled, tossing his butt away as he slid behind the wheel. I acknowledged him with a subtle nod. Ponyboy, thankfully, hadn't heard a word of it.

"What took you so long?" Steve asked, watching him in the rear view mirror as Pony weaved himself into the back seat.

His sarcasm was thick. "My teachers were giving me words of encouragement."

"Meaning?" I wondered.

"Well, let's just say Darry ain't exactly gonna be happy with my report card. I guess my days of good grades are long gone. Shoot, even Soda could probably outgrade me now."

"Coming from you, that must mean you got a B." I laughed.

"Grades ain't everything," Steve remarked, his eyes hard on the road.

"Yeah, tell that to Darry." I watched in the rear view as he rubbed his forehead hard enough to crease his skin, knowing what was coming next. Sure enough, the muted rattle of pills was heard as he popped some like Pez candies, swallowing them dry. "Besides, you guys ain't gotta wait. I know the score – if the car ain't here, I'll just go hang out somewhere else for lunch. No big deal."

"And have Darry bust our chops?" Steve retorted. "I don't think so."

"You ain't my sitter," Pony shot back rather hotly.

"Both of you, knock it off. Pony, we ain't gonna leave you... just try to hurry it up, okay kid?"

"Yeah, sure."

Steve's jaw was locked, and I could tell he wanted to say something else. Thankfully, he didn't. I flipped on the radio, letting Aretha Franklin fill the car and hopefully wash out the hostilities that radiated around me. A few minutes later Steve pulled up at the market and we all hopped out. At the register was my favorite cashier... a broad I've been trying to finagle a date from for months. Honey blond with blue eyes and curves that made my jeans tighten just thinking about her … she was everything I wanted, and just as equally unobtainable.

"Hey Madge," I quipped, smiling at her as I sat our drinks and sandwiches on the counter, digging into my pocket for the money.

She eyed me warily. "Two-Bit, I see you're back … again."

"Now darlin, ya can't keep putting me off forever. In your heart, you must know I'm all yours. How bout it? What time can I swing by and pick you up?"

"Ohhh," she said, looking at her watch then back at me, a sweet smile on her face, hopeful tone in her words. "Ten minutes after hell freezes over."

Spurned again. Still, I played along. I looked at my watch and pretended to set the hands. "Aww Madge, I knew one day you'd give in to your deepest desires." She rolled her eyes and handed me the change, then I went to rejoin the others.

Steve shook his head, laughing at me when I slid in across from him. "Crashed and burned again, huh, Two-Bit?"

"Shoot, she's just warming up to me."

"Looked more like she was shooting you down," Ponyboy mumbled as he swigged his drink.

"Last thing I need is dating advice from you." I quipped, trying not to sound so annoyed.

"Why's that?" he asked indignantly.

I cocked an eyebrow and tried to keep the venom out of my tone as I took his cup from his hand, swirling the syrupy mixture. "Whacha drinking there, kid? Cherry Coke? Need I say more?"

Steve nearly choked, turning red in the face trying to keep from laughing. Pony smirked back then hopped over the seat, heading to the magazine rack. "Serves the little schmuck right," Steve chuckled, reaching over and taking a bag of chips off the rack without paying. I wasn't gonna say a word, since I had two packs of smokes in my coat pocket too. I looked over in the kid's direction.

"Nah, he'll learn... one of these days. Say, you working tonight or you up for some action?"

"Working." Steve balled up the chip bag then leaned back. "Why? Whassup?"

"Nothing much. Just that, I heard about some drag racing that's gonna be going on down passed the strip mall. One of the guys has some nitrous, so it should be interesting. Thought you'd want to check it out with me."

"Yeah, that sounds like fun... but if I don't show up at work, my check's not gonna be worth squat. I'd better get the hours in." He looked at his watch, then finished his drink. "Hour's bout up. Ready to go?"

"Sure, let's blow this joint. Pony!" I called out loudly, getting disgruntled looks from others nearby. "Head 'em up and move 'em out!"

Me and Steve headed back to the car while Ponyboy lagged behind, following us seconds later with a magazine in his hand.

"Any broads in there?" Steve quipped. I was wondering if he was still trying to rankle the kid, but if he were, Pony didn't bite.

"Huh? Oh. Nope, but uh, the new Mustang is, and an article on MacArthur."

"I thought he was dead?"

"He is," the kid said, his attention given to the magazine. "He's buried in Norfolk, Virginia."

"You're kidding, right?" Steve asked. "The most decorated general of our time, and they didn't plant him in Arlington with the rest of the war hero's?"

"Nup. He's in some museum. There's pictures, if you don't believe me."

"I ain't that interested."

"I am," I said. Both of them looked up. "In the babes. And that Mustang."

Steve grinned and Pony sunk back in the seat, flipping the page. Steve got us back to school for the last few hours of tedium and we all split up again. I thought about cutting, but decided I'd better show up and at least try a little harder to get out of eleventh grade.

"You riding home with us, kid?" Steve asked, grabbing his books from the backseat.

"No. Coach has me doing stuff. I'll be home later."

"I thought running season was over?" I asked, unsure about this.

"It is, but he's got me helping out with some other stuff. I'll get home on my own."

"Alright, but you'd better stay out of trouble!" I called to him as he walked off. He raised his hand without turning around.

"He seem okay to you?" I asked Steve, who looked up as the kid rounded the building.

He shrugged. "Man, don't ask me that. The kid's interested in clouds and sunsets and shit like that. C'mon, I've got class and don't need to be late."

"Yeah... right. See ya, Steve," I called as we parted ways.

XXX

Calla Lily Rose