A/N: I wasn't sure whether to make this a one-shot or a two-shot, but I finally decided on the second one. Cheers?
Disclaimer- The characters aren't mine.
Two-Bit Mathews sat in complete silence with what was left of his gang. He liked to think of himself as an insouciant still kid-at-heart type of guy. One with an abundant amount of enthusiastic, absurd jokes to tell. He shifted his propped feet slightly, his worn converse smacking a booze bottle, the achromatic liquid claiming its parts on the table. Great. No one seemed to care at the moment. Some kind of pitiful silence. The apathy was getting at him. The jobless teen knew what they were waiting on. Him to make a funny or start laughing randomly. But he didn't. Not even attempts were made.
Sure, a period of self-denial occurred after the deaths, especially with the kid, but they had moved on. If only their group hadn't died with them. Two-Bit glanced over at his fellow gang members.
Pony was smoking a cigarette, having that skittish look in his eyes like Johnny had. Of course he wasn't as bad as Johnny, but must have had those sudden insecure, self-pity moments.
The others, he couldn't help but infer, had rather ashen looks on their faces. Looking like they were about as alive as zombies. They had become more of acquaintances with each other than friends. The worst, yeah. They barely did anything with each other any more. Two-Bit was sure they missed hanging as much as he did, but why couldn't they at least make attempts? This was enough of a grieving period. However, it was endless for the gang. Cohere wasn't a word for them any more.
"'Ey, Toobs."
He loved being the merry one and all, but god, try a little.
"Two-Bit...!"
It wasn't like they all hadn't shared huge amounts of animosity towards the Socs after the tragedy. The endurance was enough. It was over, it was over, the Socs tried to say. Two-Bit knew better. They were still heartless, conceited, and as unfeeling as ever. Maybe he was too biased, he told himself. He didn't give a hoot. What greasers didn't feel that way?
"KEITH!" A fist slammed down on the table.
Two-Bit jerked up with a wince and stared at Steve with an astounded look.
"Me 'an Soda are headin' into town," A tinge of annoyance from being ignored still lurked in his voice. "Wanna come?"
Two-Bit smiled at the invitation, but looked away from them with humorless eyes. Maybe he would've usually jumped at a chance to go somewhere interesting. Right now just wasn't the right time. "No thanks, guys."
"How about you, Ponyboy?" Soda touched his younger brother's shoulder, making him jump.
Pony only shook his head, blowing out puffs of smoke in staggered exhales.
Steve crankily muttered something about hearing loss as they made their way out. Two-Bit listened for the engine giving away their departure.
Not wanting to be a contributor to the silence any longer, Two-Bit stood slowly, his bones letting out dissonant pops from sitting too long. He headed for the door.
"Leavin' so soon, Two-Bit?" Pony asked.
Two-Bit had been there too long to say so soon. They could care less where each other went. Might as well detest each other. "Yeah. I'll be seeing 'ya."
Setting out on his excursion, Two-Bit thought of where to go. He named and rejected everywhere he thought of. None of his thoughts were agreeable anymore. It was too early to party, which was just about the only thing he was good at. No one to really go with anymore, though. Soda and Steve kept to themselves, Darry was a bore, and Ponyboy wasn't the party type. No one his own age. He didn't really need them to have a good time, but they were supposed to be a gang, weren't they? What was he thinking? The only way he could have a good time was if he got drunk real good.
He heard a few people calling out to him as he passed by, but he ignored them all. He was going somewhere else today. Somewhere else. Somewhere a tranquil atmosphere with restful people who seemed like the only ones anyone could get along with. With two special extraordinary people who could never be forgotten.
A/N: This is kind of a prologue, I guess, even though it was never supposed to be here. ;D You should tell me what you think so far, and I promise that the next chapter will make up for it.