The Difference Between Greaser and Soc
Chapter 1:
Disclaimer: Sadly, I once again admit that I do not own the Outsiders.
"Darry! You're going the wrong way. Don't take that exit," a now very much grown up Ponyboy cried.
"I know where I'm going Pony," Darry replied. "We can take either exit, and we need gas."
"Whoa! I think we have enough gas," Simon James Curtis said waving his hand in front of his nose. "Man! Who cut the cheese?"
Everyone in the car started to notice a not so pleasant smell coming directly from somebody's diaper.
"I think we do need to stop," Natalie Emma Curtis said. "Baby Lucy has messed all over herself.
"Does she have to do that every time we go somewhere?" asked little Bella Jane Curtis.
Loaded down with what little possessions they had left, two Curtis families were being forced to move back to Tulsa, Oklahoma after a series of unfortunate events had left them with no other choice.
Not everyone was looking forward to the move. Darry and Ponyboy were excited to be reunited with their middle brother and the rest of the gang. It had been so long sense they had seen each other.
After graduating high school, Ponyboy had received a full ride to one of the top leading universities due to his high GPA and athletic track ability. Unexpectedly, Darry was also granted the same partially due to the kid's young age.
In order to cut down on expenses, the two brothers had shared text books to their basic classes and a one room, studio apartment. Each knew that this situation also helped a great deal with Ponyboy's nightmares, though it was never mentioned.
At college, Ponyboy had majored in Creative Writing and English. He wrote for the school paper and continued to run track.
Darry had majored in accounting. He continued to play foot ball, and ended up going pro after graduation.
Pony had met his first real girlfriend and current wife, Zili, his freshman year. The two had graduated early with top honors, and began a new life together as a young married couple in a quaint upper-class neighborhood.
Zili was now a Psychiatrist with her own successful and thriving practice, and with her consistent help, Ponyboy's nightmares were slowly starting to disappear all together.
Continuing into his Masters, Ponyboy had become a well-known author while teaching classes at a local junior college.
The couple had had trouble having children, and in the past year was blessed with their first little baby girl, Lucy Joanne Curtis, named after Zili's grandmother.
"Are we there yet? We really need to air out the car."
"Quiet, Simon," Darry scolded his son.
Darry had continued working in the construction business while he put Ponyboy and himself through college. During that period of time, he had increased his handy work from roofing to building houses, and continued with the job until he was drafted to play pro ball.
He met his wife, Asia, while he was still working in construction. One unfortunate day Darry had fallen through the roof. He had woken up in the hospital a few hours later, and Asia's face was the first thing he saw.
Asia was his nurse, and he thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. "How are you feeling, Mr. Curtis," she had asked. With the first words out of his mouth, Darry hit on her, which she just shrugged off as delirious behavior.
Now the two had four children. Darrel Shane Curtis III was the first born, and often referred too simply as Shane. He looked just like his father and grandfather. Shane was twelve.
Natalie Emma Curtis was born next. She was nine years old. Natalie wanted to be either a ballerina or a nurse like her mother when she grew up. As Shane was the spitting image of his father, Natalie looked identical to her mother. She had big brown eyes with brown ringlets of hair, and had won Grand Supreme when she had been involved in pageants when she was younger.
Natalie was one of the ones that was not at all happy about the move. The sudden and current financial situation had left her future career in ballet hanging in the balance as her parents were uncertain if there would either the money or a dance academy available in town.
After that, Darry and Asia had Simon, now the age of six. Simon excelled in mathematics, and had the handsome looks of his Uncle Sodapop. Darry had been given a hard time about that ever sense the boy had been born.
Last was Isabella Kara Curtis. The three year old toddler was called Bella for short, and she was into everybody's business.
"I'm so nervous about meeting your family," Asia exclaimed. "You could have dressed a little more appropriately, Darrel Shane Curtis."
"Were you talking to me or Dad," Shane asked with a smirk.
"You've met my brother and his family before," Darry reminded his wife.
"That was different. We never went to his home."
"It's our home too," Darry heard Ponyboy mumble under his breath. He shot him a look. It didn't matter how old they got, Ponyboy was still his little brother.
The family had settled in a nice home just a few blocks from where Ponyboy and Zili lived. That made for a convenient domestic helper, and in return, Natalie sometimes baby-sat Lucy.
That's why the two families were traveling together. Asia had asked her father to borrow his old van, and the nine of them were all strapped in together on their way.
The last time the gang had gotten together was when Sodapop's twin terrors, River and Rain had been born at the Tulsa Community Hospital. Anymore, this was the only time and place there got together.
The hospital had been in neutral territory even though problems between Greasers and Socs had subsided for the present. Darry and Ponyboy had never taken their family to where they grew up, and it was vice versus with the rest of the gang.
Against the gang's disagreements, Soda had married an exotic dancer named Flash, who left Soda and their baby boys shortly after they were born.
Soda had been devastated, but had denied both of his brother's invitation to come live with them for a while. Instead, he continued to work at the DX with Steve. The best friends had bought out the place when the owner had decided he didn't want it anymore. Actually, Darry and Ponyboy had forked over some money to help the guys out. Asia had been furious.
Steve and Sodapop now owned the only station that still offered full service.
Steve had married Evie. She had moved into his house after Steve's father had left it to him in his will after suffering a fatal and massive heart attack.
Evie was a full-time homemaker, and took care of Soda's boys while he worked.
They had two sons. One was two years older then Soda's twins and another was a year younger. Their names were Kyle and Nick.
Two-Bit had married a blond, no surprise there. She was a real ditz. He name was Barbie, a common nickname for Barbara.
She and Two-Bit both still worked at the bar they had met at. Two-Bit was a bar tender, and Barbie was a waitress. They had one little girl, Missy, by accident. Evie took care of her sometimes too. Other times Missy stayed with her aunt or grandmother.
Two-Bit, his wife, his daughter, his kid sister who was now also grown, and his mother all lived in that same little house.
As for Dallas, he had taken a job as a truck driver, and was currently still serving time at Huntsville Prison for the transportation of illegal merchandise and missing young ladies.
Johnny was being his usual silent and secretive self. Only Ponyboy knew what was up with him. The two greasers would still get together sometimes in secret. After much persuasion on Ponyboy's part, Johnny had agreed to come out of hiding. As his best friend had commented, the cat had to come out of the bag some time. Johnny really hated cats.
The rest of the gang respected this and didn't try to push Johnny into spilling the beans. Like Darry and Ponyboy, Johnny had also moved away from Tulsa, but for his own personal reasons.
Returning to confront the harshness of his childhood years would not be easy, even if things would be different from now on.
AN: Can you guess what Johnny's secret is? You can vote on my profile. Please read and review. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter.
