I do not own The Outsiders. They rightfully belong to S.E. Hinton. I only own this idea.
"Come on, Soda! You almost have him!", hollered Steve as he clapped Sodapop on the back. He and Darry were arm wrestling on the kitchen table. Their arms hadn't moved more than at least 2 inches since they started. First it was Ponyboy and Two-Bit, the wise cracking teen of the two won that match. But Ponyboy got him on the rematch, making sure that Two-Bit knew exactly who won by walking around him in circles chanting "I won!". Then it was Two-Bit and Steve, they were cussing each other to the bone as they tried to pin the others hand down. Steve took charge and won that match, leaving a cussing and confused Two-Bit at the table.
Now they were all crowded around the table watching as the two eldest Curtis brothers got it out in a match against each other. "Damn, Soda. If you grip any tighter you're going to break my fingers.", hissed out Darry between clenched teeth, as he matched Soda for strength. "Not my fault we're not getting anywhere with this. Don't you have a weak spot?", panted Sodapop as he tried to put more leverage behind his push. "You wish.", he ground out as he tensed his shoulder and moved Soda's hand closer to the table, that's when the sleeve of his long sleeve shirt slid down his right wrist a bit. Two-Bit yelped at the sight in front of him, seeing the rows of dark scars on Darry's exposed wrist.
Forgetting the fact that they're arm wrestling, Darry turned his head towards his best friend and let his arm relax. "You alright, Two-Bit?", he asked him, with general concern in his voice. Before he had a chance to respond to him, Soda was out of his seat shouting in victory. Darry turned his head back to his younger brother and saw that he relaxed his arm just enough to let him pin it to the table. "I'll get you in the rematch, kiddo.", he said to him as he watched him dance around the kitchen with Steve. Ponyboy was doubled over in a fit of laughter at his brother's antics, his eyes shut tightly with a smile on his face. "Breathe, Pony. You got lungs for a reason.", said Darry as he held back his own fit of laughter. Ponyboy loudly sucked in a breath before he continued his doubled over laughing.
Two-Bit never took his eyes off of the older boy's wrist, only for a brief moment to lock eyes with him, before returning his eyes to the scared wrist. Darry whispered a curse under his breath and slid his sleeve back down until it completely covered the scars and his entire wrist. He looked at him with a look in his eyes that said, "Please, don't tell.". Those blue-gray eyes were silently begging him not to say a word about it to anybody else. Those eyes never once looked so vulnerable, not even when the Curtis brother's lost their beloved parents. Now, those eyes couldn't have looked more vulnerable than when he realized somebody had discovered his darkest secret. Darry almost jumped when a hand came down on his shoulder and a voice whispered in his ear. "Lets go for a walk, Dar.", whispered Two-Bit as he grabbed a handful of the older boy's shirt and almost hauled him out of the chair.
"We'll be back.", called out Darry as he and Two-Bit made their way out the front door and down the porch steps. Nobody made a move to stop them since Steve and Ponyboy were now arm wrestling and Sodapop didn't know who to cheer for, so he stood their with his arms crossed and a confused look on his face. Once the door was closed behind them, Two-Bit made his way down the road giving Darry no choice but to follow. "Will you tell me where we're going?", asked Darry as he followed the smaller teen down the road. "Somewhere you'll be comfortable to talk. Cause you have a lot of explaining to do.", said Two-Bit as he led him down the roads until they reached the football field of the High School.
They both made their way up over the gate that encircled it and up into the bleachers, sitting down in the middle of them. Out of habit Darry began to trace his thumb over the scars that were covered by the sleeve of his shirt, making sure not to break open the ones that were only a few weeks old. The scars of the older ones were slightly raised up from how deep the blade had traveled into his skin. It sliced through skin and then soon through veins that let free the scarlet liquid, followed by the pain that he needed to feel the most. "What exactly do you want to hear, Two-Bit?", asked Darry as he nervously crossed and then uncrossed his arms. "Why? I mean, how could you do that? Purposefully do that to yourself?", asked Two-Bit as his voice slowly rose with each word that left his usually joking mouth. This is going to be harder than I thought.
