I managed to pull through and get another chapter up early!
Allow me to clarify a few things from the last chapter - I do owe the amazing author FesityFeist for a lot of the lines I used. I apologize for not giving her credit first hand as I should've.
And in response to a guest review - I can only defend one of the three mistakes you pointed out. Soda wasn't technically 'sent' to bed. Remember that it was late - Pony got home at 3 am - and he was stressing and worrying. So Darry told him to get some sleep. The other two errors were just due to my over exaggeratedness.
Anyways, thanks for all your reviews! Keep them coming!
...
All I want to do is sleep.
It must be past noon when I finally get out of bed. I have a massive headache. It feels though my head has it's own heartbeat. I stumble towards the kitchen in search of an aspirin. I'm dizzy, finding it hard to walk without tripping over my own feet.
I can barely recall anything from the night before, but it doesn't take me long for me to remember.
"You're awake," says Soda, taking me by surprise when I come into the kitchen. He sounds stoic. I turn around to face him.
"Yeah, I am. Good morning."
"It's real late."
"I know."
Darry is nowhere to be seen. Guiltily I realize he must've gone to work already. I feel bad that I hadn't been able to say anything to him before he left. Apologize. I know I had been a real asshole last night.
In a flash, it's all coming back to me. Suddenly I feel sick with myself, I want to take back everything.
"Ponyboy -" Soda begins. I can tell he has a lot to say but so do I. I cut him off.
"Listen Soda," I sit down at the kitchen table across from my brother. The quick movement causes my head to pound even more. I suck in my breath. "I'm real sorry. About everythin. I know I screwed up."
The ghost of a smile crosses Soda's face and I know I'd said exactly what he'd been looking for. "You think? Darry was about to have a cow last night. You're just lucky he didn't call the fuzz for you - then you would've been in some real trouble. I hear you're grounded as it is."
I groan and sigh, rubbing my temples to try to ease my headache. It's something I'd seen Darry do before. "I am. I'm grounded big time." I hold back the derogatory comments about my oldest brother that are forming at my tongue.
Soda gets up and starts to mill around the kitchen. "So I figured. But you know what? I can't be too mad atcha. You know well enough that I had my fair share of nights out too." He grins at me. I flashback to the comment I'd made to Darry last night as Soda continues. "Still do. Sometimes."
It's faint, but I can see a look of unease on Soda's face as he talks. I don't say anything in return. Instead I stand up, the kitchen chair slides out from under me. I move towards the cabinet and grab for a glass to fill up under the sink.
Soda smiles at me curiously as I gulp down the water. "Thirsty?" I feel like he's forcing himself to act in a good mood in front of me. Or maybe it's for himself.
I finish off the glass, needing to catch a gulp of air before I can speak again. "Yeah."
He just shakes his head. "My little brother is havin a hangover. Never thought I'd see the day."
Well you're living it.
"I'm going back to sleep," I mumble dismissing his comment, heading towards the bedroom. "You can let Darry know I regret everything whenever he gets home."
Soda looks at me thoughtfully. For a split second his cheery façade is gone and I notice he looks a little hurt. "Ok. But I think he'd like to hear that from you."
"Mmhm." I mumble and head off.
In the bedroom, I think about what Soda had said for a moment and find myself groaning. I sink onto the bed ready to curl up and let the mattress soak up my problems. But Soda's words keep me awake. I imagine it must get real annoying for him time after time, always having to put up with me and Darry. And I know that it's no secret I'm the root of the problem.
I chide with myself. If only you'd stayed home last night.
…
That night Steve crashes in with a six pack and Two-Bit attached to his hip. He holds up the beers above his heads and announces "I got us some drinks!" he nods at me and smirks. "Not for you. Don't think I didn't hear about what you pulled last night, kid."
I guess word gets around. Rolling my eyes at him I scoff "Wasn't gonna ask for any." I try to sound casual even though his words had hit me with cognizance.
Two-Bit hurls something at me from across the room. It hits me on the chest and falls on the floor. As I bend down to grab it up I hear him say "That's for you. I read somewhere they help with stomach aches or somethin. Figured you could use that."
I pick up a roll of NECCO Wafers. Giving Two-Bit a dirty look I retort "Since when do you read?" He only shrugs, grinning.
Sooner or later Soda joins in on the fun and calls a game of poker, breaking out the deck of cards. We all know Soda's a huge cheat when it comes to poker and it's impossible to win against him but that doesn't keep anyone from trying.
Darry's in the midst of making dinner, I had been helping him. Me and him are mostly good now. He knows I'm still pissed about being grounded and I know he's well aware about who I had been out with last night. But we don't say anything, the ever-growing tension between us existing invisibly. It keeps Soda at ease. Besides, the argument will probably blow over by next week. It always does.
Darry had been about to set the table when Soda brings out the poker deck. He glances with annoyance at the cards spread out across the table.
"Just one game," Soda assures him with a guilty smile.
Two-Bit makes a scene of shuffling the deck. Cards fly from his hands to the floor. I watch with amusement as Soda collects his hand and proceeds to slip a few cards into the back pocket of his jeans.
I suddenly realize just how out of place I really feel, even in my own house.
…
"What would you say to a game of Yahtzee?"
I jump, not expecting anyone to be home. Sure enough I see Two-Bit lurking in the doorway carrying a Yahtzee box. I cock an eyebrow at him. "What are you doin here?"
"I thought maybe little-boy-grounded could use some fun," Two-Bit shakes the box at me, the pieces rattling inside.
I don't flinch at Two-Bit's nickname for me. Eyeing the box in his hands I mumble "Sure, why not."
We settle ourselves at the kitchen table and Two-Bit deals out the score cards and dice. "Soda told me about your little stunt the other night," he implores, saying it more as a question. "I just never got to confirm it with the cheese himself. So is it true? You were wasted?"
I grimace. I'd had a hunch that he had come for a reason. Two-Bit has never liked liked Yahtzee.
"Well, that's somewhat of a harsh term for it…" I grumble.
He grins at me, shaking his head. "Darry go off at ya?"
"Oh hell yes. You didn't hear him yellin from your place? I'm under house arrest, can't you tell?"
He ignores my first remark and I feel bad for making it. "Yeah. I can tell. Your door was even locked."
I raise an eyebrow at him. "Then how'd you get in?"
Two-Bit shrugs and takes the first roll of the dice. "A hairpin, simple.. My sister leaves them all over the place, you wouldn't believe where I find em."
"Well that's great. If someone ever wants to rob us all they need to get in is a hairpin…" I take the dice for my own and ask "So are you here to tell me I'm a bad boy too? Because you wouldn't the first. And might I remind you that half the time you ain't exactly sober yourself."
Two-Bit grins at me. "Relax. I'm not."
We don't speak for the rest of the game.
…
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