Ok I realized that my first chapter didn't have a disclaimer so here it is: I do not own, have not owned, and will not ever own any rights to the Outsiders. All of that belongs to S.E. Hinton (although I'm petitioning to borrow Darry on weekends!!!!) And thank you for my two reviews on my first ever chapter! I was completely giddy with excitement. So, here you go!
Chapter 2: Soda Bubbles
"Pony?!" Soda exclaimed. He was so shocked that he dropped his wrench (on his foot) and began swearing up-and-down until he was tripping over himself. Steve by then had no more self-control, so he gave up and began rolling on the ground, laughing like a hyena.
"Some things haven't changed," I said.
Sodapop cocked an eyebrow at me and said, "Yeah like your size. Don't they feed you? Now where the hell is my hug from my brother?" Then I attacked him with a Ponyboy-Bear hug.
"So how'd you find us, Pony?" Soda asked me.
"I didn't. I was completely lost, then my tire got a flat and I was outta gas!" I explained.
"Well, we can fix that," Soda said, attaching the pipe nozzle to my car. Then Soda turned around and gave me a look-over.
"Pony, you've grown up. I just can't believe what I'm seeing," Soda said. Truly, I had gotten taller, my hair longer, and all of that baby look had finally vanished completely.
"Thanks Soda," I replied, "It's really good to see you again."
"Yeah. You too, little buddy. Ha, I bet no one's called you that in a long time!" Then Soda gasped. "Jesus Christ! Guess who's coming tomorrow!"
"Beats me, Soda," I concluded sarcastically. At this point, I was willing to believe that anything was possible.
"Darry!" Soda yelled.
"That's right! He got a week off and he's staying at our place for a while," Steve piped up from his spot against a pole. "Sorta like a 'celebration of summer' thing."
"So why don't you stay the night?" Soda offered. "You know Darry'd want to see you."
"Yeah, especially since you just graduated and everything." Steve said.
"I wouldn't want to put you out," I said.
"Shut up kid. You're staying and that's that," Steve responded forcefully. I spared a glance at Soda, who had a really weird look on his face.
"You graduated?" Soda asked quietly.
"College is over, if that's what you mean," I told him.
"But you graduated, and I didn't get to see it?" Now I understood. Soda felt hurt that he missed me graduating.
"The ceremony's next Friday. You didn't miss anything yet, Soda," I told him kindly.
"Good," he said, instantly perking up, "so I'll be there, no matter what. Now, do you want a cancer stick?" He asked, pulling one out of his shirt pocket.
"Yeah. Since when do you carry these around?" I asked him.
"Force of habit," Soda replied, tossing me a lighter. I swiftly lit up, and then I leaned against another pole. We stood there for a while, each of us lost in our own train of thought.
A few minutes later, I broke the silence. "So how'd you guys get here?"
"Two years ago, one of Steve's favorite cousins passed away, leaving Steve a house. He moved over here, saw the really old gas station for sale, and called me up. I had some money stored up, so I moved out here and we bought the station. Crazy S's has been here ever since." Soda told the story while giving the station a proud smile.
"Wow, I'm impressed," I told them.
"Thanks. So if you got all your stuff, the night-shift starts in five so you can follow us home," Steve offered. I piled into my car, waited for Steve and Soda to hand over the keys to three teenagers, and then I followed them to their home. It was a little place, painted light yellow with a white porch and a small fence in the front yard. It was two-story, and taller than it was wider. After rummaging through my many boxes, I found my small suitcase and bathroom stuff and left the car. For a while I stood outside, looking at the house.
"My Cousin Maggie's place. She was an old spinster. That's why the house is yellow," Steve explained.
"Nuff said," I said, following him and Soda inside. The inside looked much more like a couple of bachelors lived there. None of the furniture matched, there was a bean-bag chair in the far corner and everywhere you looked you could see a stray sock or an empty bottle of Pepsi.
"Now," Soda started, hanging his hat on an empty coat rack, "Pick the smaller of the two bedrooms upstairs. You and Darry will share a bathroom, and we're not leaving the house tomorrow until noon, so we will be here when you wake up. 'Night, little buddy," Soda said, ruffling my hair. I scowled at him and he chuckled.
"'Night, Soda. Goodnight Steve!" I called to Steve.
"'Night Pony," came his muffled reply. I trudged up the stairs, changed into a nightshirt, and crawled into bed. I looked at the room and smiled. For once in my life, my life was good.
Hey thanks again for reading my story. I don't really know how much time I'll be able to update, because I've been sick and I have a ton of make-up work. To answer one of the reviews, I played up the brainier side of Ponyboy because I really, really didn't want to go into past relationships with original characters. Original Characters are my number 1 pet peeve. Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!! :-D