I do not own The Outsiders, or any scenes I have taken from the book, such as when Ponyboy comes home. Those belong to S E Hinton.
Ponyboy Curtis walked down the street. It was way past midday, and Ponyboy wanted to get inside before the sun started setting. He hated sunsets. He didn't used to, but he did now.
Why? Because they reminded Pony of him.
He was Ponyboy's best friend.
He understood Pony. He understood why Pony dug sunsets, and reading.
He understood when Ponyboy complained to him, even though he knew he himself had it a lot worse then Ponyboy.
He understood why Ponyboy thought the social classes were unfair. He himself wished there was a world without greasers and socs. He had wished there was a place were there were just plain, ordinary people.
He was in that place now.
Or at least, that's what Ponyboy thought.
He didn't deserve to go to hell, so he must be in heaven, right? Ponyboy doubted that God could let someone so sweet and gentle go to hell. Sure, he had killed somebody, but Ponyboy doubted he'd go to hell for self defense.
Ponyboy kicked a can. It was something he would do.
He could picture his face now. His tan skin, and dark, greasy hair. The scar from temple to cheekbone.
He found a bench, near the park. The park. Where it all happened.
Pony shuddered and closed his eyes. He leaned back against the park bench.
He wished and wished this had never happened.
Things flashed through his mind very quickly.
Bob.
The fountain.
Blood.
Baloney sandwiches.
Gone With the Wind.
Jay Mountain.
Cutting their hair.
The church.
The fire.
Kids.
The hospital.
"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold."
He could hear the hoarseness of his voice now, the way his eyes fluttered, trying to stay open. The crisp white hospital sheets. The tacky pattern of the curtains. His struggled breaths, coming out in ragged gasps.
Ponyboy's eyes snapped open.
It was dark. He must have fallen asleep. He had no idea what time it was. Darry was going to kill him.
He started running. He heard his breaths get heavier and a little more struggled as he neared his house. For a while all he could hear was the pounding of his feet and the creatures of the night around him.
He burst through the door, out of breath.
"Where the hell have you been?" Darry demanded. "Do you know what time it is?"
He shook his head. He couldn't remember when he'd seen Darry this mad before…or could he?
"Well, it's two in the morning, kiddo. Another hour and I would have sent the police out after you. Where were you, Ponyboy?"
This was oddly familiar. He thought for a second. The last time he'd heard this was when…No, he thought. No way.
"Where in the almighty universe were you?" Darry's voice was getting louder and louder by the second.
"I…" Ponyboy couldn't get the words out. This was all too familiar.
Sodapop stirred and opened his eyes. "Hey, Pony," he said sleepily, "where ya been?" Ponyboy decided to play this out just as he had remembered it.
"I…I didn't mean to. I just fell asleep in the park…"
"You what?" He was yelling now. "Do you have any sense in your head, Ponyboy? I reckon it never even occurred to you that your brothers might be worrying their heads off and afraid to call the cops because a stunt like that could get you two thrown in a boys' home so quick it'd make your head spin. Can't you use your head? You haven't even got a coat on."
"I said I didn't mean to…" Ponyboy told him, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He was proud of his own acting.
"Darry…" Sodapop began, ready to defend his younger brother.
Darry whirled around to face him. "You keep your trap shut! I'm sick and tired of hearin' you stick up for him."
Ponyboy got mad. Nobody yells at Soda. "Don't you yell at him!"
Darry wheeled around and slapped him so hard he fell against the door.
It was deathly quiet. Ponyboy ran out of the house.
"Ponyboy!" he heard Darry call. But he kept running.
He had to check the lot. If he remembered correctly…he would be there, covered in newspapers, huddled up, asleep.
He stopped suddenly when he saw a clump of newspapers on the old car seat.
No way…he ran towards it to check it out.
AN: review? ;) This was originally a one-shot, but once I got the words going it sorta flowed. But if nobody likes it I'll keep it a one-shot.