Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. Sigh. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.

A/N: If you like it, love it, or even if you hate it, you know what to do. Tell me in a review. I would love it if you favorited, followed, and/or if you gave me (a) suggestion(s). Thank you. :)

** Important: Weather has been crazy. We recently had some tornados and high winds in Indiana and Illinois. The wind was so strong that the screen on the window flew off. That's the worse that my town has gotten, so far, but many people were not as lucky. There are fatalities, there are flattened communities, so please keep the people affected in the southwest Chicago area and Northwest Indiana in your minds. Thanks guys.

Onto lighter topics, the story!

Third person POV

Darry Curtis gratefully, but slowly stepped into the hot shower after long and excruciating hours of work. His back muscles refused to loosen and relieve him from the aching pain. His two labor extensive jobs were already taking a toll and aging his newly twenty strong body.

He wondered if the shower had anything to do with the bills that were stacking up. A hot shower meant he had a long day at work that cost money. He worked to pay for the hot shower that work made him take. It was a vicious cycle of money and poverty that greasers were seemed to never escape.

That's why he pushed his youngest brother to do good, to get out of here. His chances were gone, but he loved his brother enough to want him to succeed, but the harder he pushed the more his brother seemed to resent him.

Soda understood why I did it, Soda understood everyone, but Darry was cold and uncaring, or so everyone thought. He was really just a scared boy who wanted so much for his parents to be here with him and take care of him. Responsibility was something he had wanted when he was younger, like every teen, he wanted freedom and to be treated like an adult. Boy, did he get it now. Be careful what you wish for, he had been warned several times before the accident.

The water started to turn cold, again reminded him of the money leaking out of the shower head. All that seemed to ever be on Darry's mind was the three B's; bills, brothers, and the B that was on Ponyboy's last report card.

Despite his backs yearn to loosen up, Darry shut off the hot water. He eased his aching body into the clothes that were laying nearby and when he emerged he desperately asked Soda for a back rub. Of course Soda agreed, and soon, Darry's body gave in and let him fall sleep.

X

Surprisingly, the next morning Darry's body felt worse than the night before. Even his throat hurt and it took Darry a minute to realize why. His nose was so stuffed up that he had opened his mouth in the middle of the night leaving his throat raw and achy. His nose tickled and he let out a loud string of wet sneezes.

Ponyboy came in minutes later and flicked the nearby lamp on.

"You don't look to good, Dar. Are you feeling okay?" Pony asked, feeling concerned. Darry didn't want anybody to worry, so he denied any illness. Ponyboy, though, was unconvinced.

Darry should have known, when his head wasn't in the clouds Pony, being as quiet as he was, was a sharp observe with knowledge to match it and he wouldn't be fooled by Darry's weak attempt at a cover up his cold.

He walked forward to Darry's bedside and felt his forehead, which was considerably very warm.

"Darry, your real hot, I'll have Soda call you off work," Ponyboy assured his sick older brother.

"No, I need to go to work, bills won't pay themselves," Darry mumbled, easing his tight muscles out of bed.

"Your right," Ponyboy told him. At first Darry thought he was off the hook, but his youngest brother wasn't finished,"The hospital bills you surely will accumulate if you go to work won't be beneficial to our finances."

Darry was stubborn and bull-headed, but he knew his brother was right and the concern in his eyes was evident. He conceded and allowed Pony to call him off of work and grab him a box of tissues.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Please review.

FrankElza, thank you for the help I know you will provide, but I either need to stop asking you for help or learn some patience before I post.

I had PMed her tonight asking for some help, but before she could respond I posted. I'm grateful anyway.