Edits done: 8.12.10

:)

The Devil's Secret

Two

Devil's Servants in Suits.

After mom and dad had died things started getting really rough. My brothers and me had to watch everything we did to make sure we didn't get into any trouble.

"Absolutely no trouble with the law" was the unwritten rule at our house. If we got into some sort of trouble, Soda and I would be placed in a boy's home or something.

Darry told us it was wise not to hang around Dally too much since that Grease always has the fuzz on his heels in the first place.

We had to be cautious with Two-Bit and his rough housing, he never did anything major but he's too mischievous for his own good.

Steve, Soda's best friend, I wouldn't be caught dead hanging out with him without Soda anyway. He doesn't like me very much; he thinks I'm an annoying tag-along. Anyway when he and Soda are together he knows not to cause any trouble to put Soda in danger, doubt he would care about me though.

Now with Johnny, he never got into trouble so I didn't have to worry about anything when I hanging around him. After my folks died he became my best friend, he was the only one other than Soda who tried to understand me.

Everything was good between the gang and us, they knew the rules and wouldn't dare cross the line.

Of course there were the Socs; they didn't give a lick about any of our troubles.

Just walking home was a difficult thing to do without getting jumped. They would follow me from school to the east side of town, which was supposed to be Greaser territory, taunting me and throwing things at me.

Every once and awhile they would get out of their signature Mustangs, looking for a fight. I'd try to ignore them not saying a word or lifting a finger. But that seemed to make them more upset and caused them to throw the first punch.

Like today, that's how I got this black eye.

"What a swell time for this to happen." Darry grumbled placing a bag of frozen peas against my left eye that was throbbing and hurting something awful.

"What about steak?" I heard Soda asked.

Darry looked at him, "If you want to go out and buy a steak to put on his eye. You be my guest, lil' buddy." Then he turned his attention back to me and started grumbling again. "Those social workers are suppose to be here tomorrow to come and check up on us. What are they gonna think when they see you looking like hell."

I sighed; Darry sure knew how to make me feel better. "Sorry." I said, holding the frozen peas with one hand.

He straighten up and turned walking out the living room towards his bedroom. "Just keep that on your eye." He called over his shoulder and then I heard his door shut.

"He ain't mad at ya." Soda said, he always said that after Darry barked at me for something, moving to sit beside me and then he draped one arm around me. He placed his other hand on top of mine, pulling the pack of peas away from my eye.

He let out a broken whistle through his laughter. He let go of my hand and I turned away from him. "Shut it. I know I look lousy."

He continued laughing, "You sure do!" I turned to him, glaring at him with my one good eye – only I could get a shiner and still be as threatening as a wet poodle.

I hated the time of the month when the state came by; The rush to clean the house, clean ourselves, and the fight to get the gang out of the house before noon. Well, actually it was just a fight with Two-Bit…this time Darry ended up dragging him out the house by his collar.

Noon loomed closer and we sat nervously on the couch, taping our fingers on our knees. Darry every now and then would reach over and start messing with my hair, like I was some little kid.

"Stop it." I lightly slapped his hand away when he started for the 3rd time.

He'd stop and a few minutes later Soda started.

I pushed Soda's hand away and stood up, making my way to the bathroom. Once inside, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Boy, did I look like hell warmed over!

My eye looked worst than it did yesterday. I couldn't open it too much because of the swelling and the skin around my eye was a deep dark blue that looked purple. I sighed as I began poking at it, almost as if I thought my finger was magic and it would turn my eye back to normal. "Stupid Socs." I cursed.

As I walked out the bathroom I could hear voice coming from the living room. I peaked around the corner and saw my brothers speaking with the "Robots in Suits" as Two-Bit so fondly called them.

It was a man and a woman; both dressed nicely with clipboards in their arms. The man, dressed in a navy color suite had a briefcase resting by his feet. The woman was wearing a maroon colored dress suit with a large black purse hanging from her shoulder. Both faces were pretty much unreadable except for the large smiles they had plastered on. I watched them for a while, before I noticed Darry was looking around the room for me.

I took in a deep breath, stuffing my hands in my pockets and I walked in the living room.

"This must be…" I heard the woman start, she paused and I looked up just in time to see her quickly double check the information attached to her clip board. "Ponyboy?" She came over towards me her hand out in front of her; I took one hand out and my pocket to shake hers.

"I'm Wenona Wilkerson and that's my partner Gerard Smith." I watched as the man, Gerard, made his way over to us to shake my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Ponyboy." I nodded in return and put my hand back into my pocket, looking nervously towards Soda, who motioned me to come to him.

"Excuse me." I said, walking between them to get to my brothers. I shyly hid behind Soda, "Make 'em good away." I mumbled lowly. I'm not sure is Soda heard me though.

I felt my arm being pulled and before I knew it, I was standing in front of Soda and Darry, Darry's arms on my shoulders.

Picture perfect family?

No, just the Curtis boys.

"That's quite a shiner you got there, son." Gerard remarked. I didn't respond. Son? Who the heck does he think he is? Calling me son…

He was being nice and all but I just didn't like them one bit.

"Mind if we look around?" Wenona asked, her thumb pointing down the hallway.

Yes, we mind. Tell her we mind Darry.

"Sure, go right ahead." Was Darry's reply. I gave an inner sigh. Dammit. I want them gone. Their presences here made me feel weird. Reminded me mom and dad are dead, that any moment they could decide to split our family apart.

I watched as they went into the kitchen, our bedrooms…searching for something. Uncovered electrical outlets? Making sure the pots and pans on the stove had handles facing inward? No, no babies live here. What could they be looking for?

They met in the hallways, talking amongst themselves, ehispering. Like kids on a playground sharing a secret.

"Would you like something? Water maybe?" Soda spoke up, he must've been nervous too.

"Sure, ice water would be nice." Wenona answered with her plastered smile.

Soda pushed me a bit, signaling me to get the water. Why'd he ask them if he wanted me to get it?

I went to the kitchen and I felt two pairs of eyes on me the whole time. Just watching.

It was making me so nervous I kept dropping the ice cubes on the floor.

"You okay there, son?" Gerard asked, I could tell he was close to me. I didn't turn around and just nodded.

Glasses finally good on ice, I filled them with water. I scooped the ice cubes that has fell on the floor and threw them in the sink.

"Thank you." They said as I handed them their glasses of water.

I gave them a smile and finally spoke up, "Would you like to sit down?"

They nodded and we went into the living room. They sat on the couch, while Soda and I pulled up some extra chairs and Darry sat in his armchair.

That's when they began taking out pens, and papers and started asking question. A few basic questions about the family, income, and so forth. They asked Darry and Soda some questions but they were mostly aimed at me.

"How's school going for you?" Wenona asked.

I shrugged "Its good. I'm getting good grades, A's and B's."

"What else?" Gerard asked

What else? "Um, I'm on the track team. Tryouts for next years is coming up, I'm really excited about it."

"Good, good." He gave me a smile and wrote something down. "How about friends?" He asked without looking up.

"Um…well, I have people I associate at school and only at school." I bit the inside of my cheek nervously. "I pretty much have a…sorta, set group of friends." Referring to the gang.

"Hmm." More writing. I looked at Soda; he just gave me a small smile. I looked at Darry; he looked as if he was going to burst out sweating.

"Any trouble?"

Crap. "Not really." I shrugged.

"Oh?" Wenona looked up.

"What about that black eye?" Gerard spoke up again. "Where'd you get that from?"

"Just some bullies at school." I mumbled, "They like to pick on us younger kids." I slouched in my chair, I didn't lie. It was true. I just couldn't go into the whole, Greaser and Soc rivalry, people who weren't from here just didn't understand.

Silence, just the sound of pen on paper.

Wenona broke the silence, "We just have a few more questions. However these questions are private. So, Ponyboy can you come with me?" She stood up and I followed her into the kitchen.

We sat down and she looked a me, a small smile on her face. "Gerard's going to talk to your brothers for a bit, while we're in here." She flipped over the sheet of paper she had been writing on. "Ponyboy, I'm just going to ask you a few questions. Any answers or anything you want to tell me will be between us as long as I feel you aren't causing harm to yourself or others, or even others are causing harm to you, okay?"

I slowly nodded, what type of questions could she ask me?

"Ponyboy, has anyone of your brothers hurt you in anyway?"

I stared at her. Blunt, wasn't she. Was she really asking me this? "Of course not."

"Okay.: She scribbled something down, I tried to look but the angle it was titled made it impossible. "Has anyone in or close to your family ever hurt you in anyway?"

"No."

"Has anyone ever hurt you?" She pressed and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"Besides the bullies at school, no."

"Do you feel safe in your environment?"

"Yes, I know my brothers will always protect me." I answered honestly, I was past being ready for this to be over with.

She then placed her pen down, folding her hands in front of her. "Ponyboy, I know your brothers look pretty strong. Did they tell you not to answer me honestly? Or tell me anything?"

This woman was off her rocker "No! My brothers have never hurt me! A-and never will!" Damn, I was pissed now.

"Now, clam down Ponyboy, I was just making sure."

I glared at her, "Are we done?"

She sighed. "Yes, we're done."

I got up and stormed back into the living room, taking my seat next to Soda's. I crossed my arms angrily, and I felt Soda touch my arm. "You okay, hun?" He whispered.

I just shrugged, not looking at him - if I started now I wouldn't be able to calm down.

Gerard stood up as Wenona came in. "Well, I believe its time for us to go." She said, again the smile plastered on her face.

Good.

Darry and Soda stood, I didn't move an inch.

"We'll get in touch with you if we have anymore questions or concerns." Gerard said, as he opened the door.

They said their good-byes, they called towards me but I didn't reply. I just huffed, drawing my crossed arms tighter to me.

Then they were gone.

"They think ya'll hit me." I said bit out suddenly, tears gathering in my eyes. The room was silent; I looked up at Darry, who was just looking down not knowing what to say at that momeny.

Soda couched in front of me his hands on my shoulders, "Don't worry about it, Pon. If they really thought that, wouldn't they have said somethin'?" I looked in his eyes searching for something. Comfort maybe.

But what I saw worried me, his eyes weren't sparkling with confidence or happiness, he looked worried and it made him look much older than 16…worry didn't fit Sodapop very well.

"I'm just glad they're gone."