Yo! It's been a while. Too, too long. I've had a lot of things coming at me, and I completely had to drop my stories. But here's the deal. Trying to Live Up will be continued after this one or before. The Outsiders: Now-A-Days will be updated about every two or three weeks. As far as Exchangement, I don't know what I'm gonna do with that. Let me grab some inspiration and then keep up with the fans. Alright. Let's start this one. It feels good to be home.
"2-4-1: Two for One"
I don't own the The Outsiders.
We are in front of the Curtis house. It's a nice cool night, but not too cool, since it was still summer. School started a couple of weeks ago and Ponyboy barely pulled his grades up to become a sophomore in high school. A couple of things had changed since two years ago.
Ponyboy had let his hair grow out, but it still wasn't as long as it was before; to his dissatisfaction. His grades were picking up quickly, since over the summer Darry just about gave lessons on some of his struggling classes. He'd grown also and was just about Soda's height, but Soda beat him by about two inches. He was slightly breaking away from the gang. Pony still spent most of his time with them, but he met two guys while at his job.
It took a while to convince Darry that Ponyboy would be best for a job. Darry agreed after a while, but only for the summer. But he later on extended it since it really did help with the financial issues. Pony's friends were Tim Rogers and Reggie Parker. Tim worked at the bookstore with Pony, and helped him get the job. He was a very intelligent young man who also helped Ponyboy keep his studies up. He had short cut black hair and he used to be a greaser, but his mother got married and he moved up to middle class. But he still kept up with his greaser friends. Reggie was one of the very few African Americans in Tulsa. He was introduced to Ponyboy by his friend Mark Jennings. He was slightly quiet and only spoke around certain people. Mostly those that he knew. But he wasn't nearly as quiet as Ponyboy's old friend.
Darry hadn't changed much. His parenting was getting better and it showed as when Ponyboy messed up, he didn't yell at him. It was obvious that he wasn't perfect at it. Often it seemed like he was going to yell. But he caught himself, sighed and then explained how Ponyboy messed up in a normal tone.
Sodapop got a higher wage at the DX now that he was doing two things at once. He normally helped Steve with the cars, but he worked the register fully on certain days and still worked with the automobiles on the other days. He was going in and out of relationships with girls, and majority of them didn't even last a day. It was enough to worry Darry, but Pony knew that Soda was just trying to find someone like Sandy, or close. That would be a hard task.
Steve really hadn't changed, except for the fact that he was really getting into drag races. And it seemed like he was going to be in one twice a week. Two-Bit was still his silly, likeable self and had gotten fired from working at a night club when they figured out that his ID was fake. That really was the only time that he went looking for a job.
It was about eleven o' clock that night, and the porch light was still on, in case either Steve or Two-Bit decided to show up. The door opened and there stood a fifteen year old Ponyboy Curtis. Clad in an old tank top that Darry wore in his younger days, along with his usual blue jeans and worn out tennis shoes. He was carrying a trash bag and carried it to the can outside of the house. After dropping off the garbage he walked up towards the door and…
"Hey Pony!"
Ponyboy turned around to see Tim on his dirt bike. He smiled and walked over to his second latest friend.
"Don't tell me you're about to turn in," greeted Tim.
"Not right now," replied Pony while putting his hand in his pockets. "I was just putting the garbage up. When did you get the dirt bike?"
"It's brand new. I finally saved up enough money for it. Do you want a ride?"
Tim was patting his hand on the back of the bike.
"I can't. I don't think Darry would appreciate it if I was out around this time. I'll hang out with you tomorrow, okay?"
Tim tightened his helmet and revved up the bike, displaying some smoke from the pipe.
"Alright. Me and Reggie are running around tomorrow afternoon."
With that, Tim took off down the road. Pony watched him until he disappeared from view, until someone else reached him. He was startled by the hand that had touched him on his shoulder.
"Geez Sodapop! Are you trying to turn me whiter!"
Soda grinned and apologized.
"So who was that?" he asked.
"Tim."
"Tim!" repeated Sodapop. "Since when did he get a dirt bike?"
"He said he just got it. He'd been saving up a lot of money for it."
"You didn't want to ride it?"
"I really didn't feel like it. Plus I don't want to worry Darry."
Soda nodded and Pony continued.
"I'm going to hang out with them tomorrow."
"Ah," cut in Soda. "Meeting some girls."
Pony's stomach cringed. He hadn't really talked to a girl in a long time. The last time he could remember having a full conversation with a female was when he talked to Cherry Valance. And they hadn't been talking much either. Just the occasional 'Hi's'.
"No."
"Oh."
He sounded slightly depressed, but quickly changed his mood.
"Well whenever you're ready. I'll see you inside. Don't be out here for too long. It's starting to get slightly cold."
As Soda walked inside, Ponyboy thought about the girl situation. He felt slightly like a loser because he was the only one out of all of his friends that hadn't gone out with someone yet.
He got up and decided to sleep on the thought. When he got inside, Darry was asleep on the couch. He looked at the television but nothing was on right now. He turned it off and shook his oldest brother. Darryl groaned but didn't wake up. Pony didn't feel like fooling with him so he got the blanket and spread it over him. He then cut the lights off and went to he and Soda's bedroom. He lied down in the bed. A couple of things raced through his mind but it ended on why he hadn't gone out with a girl.
He didn't have time to ponder on the thought because a stench soon hit his nose and wondered vaguely where it came from. The sound of a toilet flushing and Soda's whispering answered his question and he quickly pinched his nose.
"Aw, Soda!"