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Past Tense
Keith Matthews
"Everyone does it."
That was the only answer I got from Ernie.
"Kid," he said, looking down at me. "I don't expect you to go robbing little ladies but just watch and learn, you'll need ta someday."
I cocked an eyebrow, something that came to me easier than, say.. mm...maths or school.
"Wise ass," he laughed as he swiped a six-pack and stuffed it into his jacket naturally. He did it so quick, that I near didn't see that.
"Look, everybody does it," he told me, his eyes going sad when I opened my mouth to try ask him again .It was like he knew what I was going to say before I even opened my mouth.
"Its wrong," I said, I mean, that's what my mom tells me but even I know, its dumb to tell that to a tough hood like Ern.
"Aw, Keith," he grinned at me, trying to keep it light, keep being like the older brother to his young, inexperienced friend. "What that guy don't know, won't hurt him."
I hadn't gotten the nickname "Two-Bit" yet. Hadn't gotten so tough yet. But I would one day, I just didn't know it at that time.
I turned around and waved to the store owner who waved back, oblivious we just got a five-fingered discount on a pack.
"Wise ass," Ern howled as we got into the car. "You just had to wave, didn't ya?"
I felt easy on my ten-year old face.
Two-Bit
"Ah. Good old Ern." I thought as I walked into the same place where I'd got my first lesson and only, really. I was a natural at it, didn't need too much in the way of advice. When I was younger,I did pocket a sweet or two but I didn't give it a name. Of course, now it had one.
Now, I was nineteen and he was...well, he was either dead or in the state pen, I guess. I don't look up most of my pals from my kiddie years. The circumstances as then were near same though. Just that I was hell lotta bigger and it was Ponyboy I was with, not Ern.
"Two-Bit, you gotta be crazy," Pony shook his head but he smiled so I figured he didn't mind. "Why'd you like to lift so much anyway? Its not like you really need tampons."
I gaped at Pony. "Sure I do,you just don't know when..."
Pony turned red but he went on. "Come on, Two-Bit. Ain't you ever figured to buy something instead of jacking stuff?"
"And ruin my rep?" I asked. "Nu-uh. What's with the third-degree interrogation?"
"I don't know," Pony sighed. "I just been thinking a lot nowadays."
I looked at Pony, he sure looked like he could use a fag but he quit some time ago. We could all still tell when was itching to have one though. I paused,wondering if I should and shook the doubts away.
"Here," I told him, taking a can outta my jacket and passing it to him.
He started, surprised at what I held out.
"Take it," I said. "Ya'll need it."
He shook his head and I smiled easily, trying to keep it light.
"Turning down a free can?"
"Darry'll skin me if I drank...and you too." he warned me. But I knew that warning label well enough and shoot, when have I ever paid attention to 'em?
"Hell,kid," I said. "Somedays we all just need to get drunk." I flipped the tab open and took a drag.
"I don't get it,Two-Bit," he told me. "You're better than this, you ain't need anything from a can."
I looked up, heavenwards not skyward, that's what mom always said. The sun shone glaringly and blinded me momentarily.
"Kid, sometimes, getting drunk feels like the only thing I will ever get to do," I told him, my voice husky, shutting my eyes for that blessed darkness, away from the pain of that light.
/A.N/:Past Tense is just the working title for now.I might change it because its just a stab of a title in the first,I thought this would do good as a one-shot but now,it looks like another chapter did just be do you think?Hope you liked this. R&R!