Came across this one today on an old forgotten computer file from several years ago. I had written it for one of the WSOTT forum rumbles.
Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns The Outsiders. I'm making no profit from this story.
Not Again
"No."
Soda glanced sidelong at Ponyboy before asking again. "Come on, Dar. Just look at her eyes. Once you look at her eyes, you can't resist her."
Darry didn't look up from his frying egg. "No. Forget it. She's not staying."
Ponyboy stepped forward. "Darry, please? She's all alone in the world. Look at her, she was probably abused. We could just keep her here until-"
The spatula hit the counter with a resounding crash. "No! What do you two not understand? I will not have this household disrupted yet again! Do you remember what happened last time? The mess in the bathroom? The hair all over the place? I'm still picking it out of my clothes. She. Is. Not. Staying!"
There was a slight whimper from the doorway.
"Now look," Soda pointed out, "she heard everything. She knows you don't like her, Darry. Just look at her face."
Darry glanced toward the doorway and lowered his voice. "Do not put me in this position. You two know what our finances are like. She'll need special stuff to eat-"
"She can eat whatever we're eating."
"-and then there's medical care because, as you pointed out, she's clearly been abused. I will not patch her up myself, that's bullsh-"
"But you're good at that kind of thing," Ponyboy said. "You played football."
"Ponyboy, use your head. Playing football does not automatically give someone medical prowess. I mean, look at that gash on her head. You seriously think I can stitch that up? She needs a professional! Where on earth did you find her, anyway?"
Soda took a step back to give her a pat on the head. "In the alley. A bunch of Socs were throwing rocks at her. Can you believe those bastards?" He clenched his jaw, his eyes dancing with anger.
Darry motioned his brothers closer. "Look, I'm sorry she's having a rough time. But she must have a home, she must have come from somewhere. Try letting her out the door and following her. Maybe she'll find her way back." It seemed like a reasonable suggestion. They simply didn't have the money, much less the space. And what the hell would the state say when they came around? They would think he'd lost his mind, that's what they would think. He gave a slight wave toward the doorway and turned back to his burned eggs. "Get her out of here. And please, don't do this again. We just can't take in any strays."
A silent look passed between Soda and Ponyboy before Soda turned and took the hand of the forlorn girl who stood in the kitchen doorway. "Come on, Mary Sue," he said, leading her to the front door, "you can't stay here. But don't take it personal or nothing. Darry's just cold is all."