Two-Bit Mathews was real serious, for once. Blondes, cartoons, and beer, Two-Bit is all about having a good time. Knock-knock jokes, pickup lines, and giggles in the dark, Two-Bit is all about being young and wild, and always smiling.
He's not smiling today.
Today, there is a frown plastered to his face, where the smile usually is. He sniffs and holds back tears as much as he usually laughs. Maybe more. The point is, it's a lot. He can't remember ever being this sad. Ever. Two-Bit is a strong guy. He's strong for his Ma, and his little sister. Always has been, since he was an itty bitty kid and his dad split. He has made sure to stay strong and tough with a touch of silly every day in front of them.
Not today.
Today, Steve and him are practically holding each other up because they are both numb, their legs are jello, and nothing –absolutely nothing- about this day was right. Why was it, that the best people go first? What's that saying, only the good die young? Doesn't seem fair. The good guys, and gals, spend their time doing good and making people's lives better, and then they get the short end of the stick? They die first? Why not the idiot drunk driver who caused all this? Why not the parents who don't give a shit? Why them? People needed them. The world needed more people like them.
It's not fair. Not at all.
He doesn't understand it. He understands a lot, despite repeating junior year, he gets it. Quadratics and chemistry have nothing to do with really getting it, anyway.
He gets the social classes. He gets why Dally is angry and why Johnny is quiet. He gets why the Socs get away with everything, and why they think they're better than everyone. He gets why when something bad happens, Dallas and Tim are the first to be accused. He gets why his mother is unhappy, and why his kid sister doesn't mind their mom's boyfriends. She never knew their dad anyway. There's nothing to miss.
But he doesn't get this. It makes no sense to him. How could they have been here one minute, and then they just…weren't? How could they be gone, but terrible people were still trudging around? He doesn't understand. He never, ever will.
He doesn't get how Darry isn't crying. Ponyboy is. Sodapop is. That makes sense. He can understand that. But Darry stands with his arms around his brothers, not crying, not crumbling, for them. And he has so much respect for Darry in that moment, but he doesn't understand.
He just doesn't understand.
Why?
And he can hear some asshole who knows absolutely nothing about Mr. and Mrs. C, but he's talking real shit about them, saying he's not surprised. That he knew Mr. C in high school, and that he was real irresponsible. So Two-Bit walks right up to him, flip out his switch, and tells him to never talk about the Curtis's like that. But he doesn't cut him.
Mrs. C wouldn't have liked that.