Darry Goes to the Dentist

Author's Note: Hey y'all! Happy Thanksgiving! Well, I just wanted to write this because I had a dentist appointment yesterday, and my mom was joking about how it's probably about time to get my wisdom teeth removed. Well, there's nothing I hate more than the dentist, so I just wanted to write this little fic. Tell me what y'all think and if I should continue! :D Thanks!

CHAPTER I: My Jaw Hurts

"Why can't you ever just use that head of yours? You're s'posed to be smart!" Darry yelled, furious.

"I do use my head!" Pony spat back, just as viciously. I was caught in the middle, as usual. Pressing my hands over my ears, I tried to convince myself. Pony and Darry aren't fighting, Pony and Darry aren't fighting, I repeated the mantra in my mind.

"Why don't you ever listen to me?" Darry shouted, his body growing bigger.

"Why don't you ever listen to me?" Ponyboy screamed, shooting up in height as well. The more they quarreled, the more they both grew. Soon, they were both giants, thundering voices threatening to break the house in two.

"Guys!" I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted. "Y'all love each other! You don't need to be fightin'!"

But they continued to stomp around, not even paying any attention to me. I let out a shriek as Darry's huge foot stepped over my small figure, until it crushed me.

I woke up, drenched in sweat. Thank God it had just been a nightmare. I hadn't had one of those since Mom and Dad died. I slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake Pony, who was asleep next to me. I groggily wandered into the dark kitchen, only to bump into a dark figure. I jumped about a foot in the air.

"Soda?" Darry whispered.

"Yeah, it's me. I was just gettin' some water. What are you doin'?" I asked him, fixing myself a glass of tap water.

"Gettin' an aspirin. My jaw is killin' me." he groaned, rubbing it.

"Are you sure it's your jaw? Maybe we should go to the dentist and-"

"No." Darry cut in sharply. If there's anything my older brother hated more, it was going to the dentist. That was probably his biggest fear. I couldn't even remember the last time we went there.

"It's my jaw, I'm sure of it!" he attempted to convince me. I rolled my eyes.

"Uh huh. And I'm a flyin' monkey."

"Cut it out an' go to bed, Soda." Darry ordered, still massaging his jawline.

"'Kay." I muttered, setting my cup down. "G'night."

"Night, kid brother." Darry replied.

The next morning, we all got up early before Darry left for work. As we were eating breakfast, I noticed how gingerly he was chewing his food.

"Your jaw still hurt?" I inquired. He simply nodded.

"Your jaw hurts?" Ponyboy asked, curious.

"Nope," I told him. "It's really his teeth but he won't admit it because he's scared to go to the dentist."

"It ain't my teeth. It's my jaw that hurts, I swear!" Darry argued.

"Really Darry, maybe we ought to get you checked out at the dentist." I suggested, swallowing a huge bite of my toast.

"No!" he said foolishly, crossing his arms like a child.

"C'mon Dare, just one little check-up!" Pony pleaded with him.

"Nuh uh. Not on my life."

Just then, Steve strolled into the house.

"Hey, Sodapop! Ready to head down to the DX?" he asked, sitting down and helping himself to my eggs.

"Not until we get Darry to go to the dentist. He says his jaw hurts but I can tell it's his teeth." Steve chuckled.

"Ah, so he's still scared of the dentist, huh?" Steve grinned.

"I ain't scared of the dentist and it's my jaw. J-A-W. How many times do I have to say it?" Darry grunted angrily.

"Just take the day off, Superdope. One tiny check-up won't kill you."

With a reluctant moan, Darry gave in to the pain.

"Fine. But just a check-up, nothin' more."