Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.
Off Key
Chapter 2- Caught with Sylvia
Two weeks later, Steve had found his car (some punk had hotwired it just to take a quick ride in it) and Two-Bit now knew what musical the school was doing: Grease. Two-Bit was to play Kinnicky, much to the amusement of the whole gang (and the whole school too). Ponyboy had gotten the leading role of Danny. Sodapop and Darry were proud of him, but Darry, as always, had a lecture to go along with the glory.
"If this 'Grease' thing starts to interfere with your schoolwork, you're out of the play. I don't care how much ya like the play or how good ya are at the role; schoolwork comes first. Got it?" Darry said sternly at the dinner table one night.
"Yeah, I got it, Dar. I'm sure you won't let me forget it, either," Ponyboy mumbled, shoveling in another mouthful of mashed potatoes.
Darry shook his head. "Why anyone would want to embarrass themselves on stage, especially by singing and acting like a fool, is beyond me."
"Aw Darry, you know you're just jealous that ya didn't get no leading role in your school play when you were in high school," laughed Sodapop, standing up for his younger brother once again.
Darry fought back a smile. "Well I also didn't talk on the phone for two hours with Two-Bit's younger sister when I was in high school."
Sodapop and Darry exchanged amused looks, much to the dismay of Ponyboy. "We weren't talking for that long!" he cried in embarrassment. "It was more like thirty minutes."
Sodapop laughed. "Doesn't matter how long it was. What matters is that... PONY'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND!!!" he yelled, jumping just out of Ponyboy's reach as Pony made a grab for him. Pony chased Sodapop around the table until Darry stood up and tackled them both down to the ground.
"Who's up for a football game?" Darry asked, ruffling Ponyboy's hair affectionately.
They all exchanged glances before jumping up and racing each other out of the house and into the park nearby. Pony, being the fastest of the three, was in the lead. As they reached the trees on the edge of the park, Pony ran smack into Dallas Winston, knocking them both down.
"Shit, kid, what in the hell do ya think you're doing?" Dally cursed, rubbing his shoulder tenderly where it had hit the ground.
"Dally... what are ya doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital, aren't ya?" Pony asked.
Sodapop and Darry ran up to them, out of breath. Soda and Darry saw Dally at the same time and both said, "Why aren't ya in the hospital?"
Dallas rolled his eyes. "Christ, what a warm welcome!" He stood up with the help of Darry and lit a cigarette. "They let me out early. Said I'm recovered enough to go home, or some shit like that."
Soda held out a hand to Pony to help him up. "That's great Dal. Are ya in good enough shape to play a football game with us?" he asked, holding up the football.
Dally shrugged. "Why not?" He looked over the three brothers and his eyes rested on Pony. "I'll take the kid on my team."
"Alright. But he ain't a kid no more, Dallas." said Darry, taking the football from Sodapop and walking over to where they usually played football.
"Yeah, that's right! If ya haven't heard yet, Dal, Pony here's got himself a girl." Sodapop piped up.
"Will you shut the hell up, Sodapop Curtis, before I beat you to a pulp?!" yelled Ponyboy angrily, blushing horribly.
Dallas raised an eyebrow. "No fooling? So who's the lucky broad?"
Ponyboy opened his mouth to reply but Soda beat him to it. "None other than the beautiful Jessie Matthews!" Ponyboy shot him a deathly glare, but the effect was lost on Soda.
"You talking about Two-Bit's brat of a sister? Glory, you couldn't do much better than that, kid. Last time I saw her she was quite a looker." A smile played on Dally's lips. His eyes, usually cold, held an amused glimmer in them.
Ponyboy sighed, giving up on trying to quiet Sodapop. "Yes, we're going out. Ok? Ya happy, Soda? I think the whole world knows now. Now can we please just play football?"
Darry laughed and threw the football to Sodapop, who of course didn't catch it but let it fall to the ground beside him. "Sure little buddy. Don't get so worked up now." said Darry.
Ponyboy smiled despite himself and ran after Sodapop who now had the ball and was running to make a touchdown. Dally shook his head and started running after Darry, even though he knew it would be a cold day in hell when he tackled Darrel Curtis.
They played until it grew dark. The teams were about even since Pony and Dally were both decent players and Darry was an all-star at it. Sodapop... well, he sure made the game interesting.
"Come on, Pon, let's go home. It's getting late and ya got school in the morning," Darry said after tackling Sodapop to the ground for the millionth time.
"Alright," Ponyboy agreed with a hint of sadness in his voice. It was times like these when it felt like everything was back to normal... the way it had been before Johnny had killed the soc...
"Hey, kid. Hang on for a minute," said Dal, bringing Ponyboy back to reality.
"Yeah Dal?"
Darry looked back at the two of them but Dally nodded to him and he kept walking back to the house. After watching Darry and Sodapop disappear into the darkness, Dally finally turned back to Ponyboy. "How's it going, kid?"
"Huh?" Ponyboy was confused. Dal had asked him to stay back for this?
"I mean..." he lit up a cigarette and took a drag. "I mean how ya been?"
"Alright I guess..."
Dallas nodded. "How bout Soda and Darry? They been alright?"
Pony sighed. "Yeah, Dal. We're all ok. I mean, we ain't exactly the same as we used to be, but..." He trailed off, realizing where the conversation was going. He wasn't ready to talk about Johnny just yet.
Dal looked away. "I ran into Steve on the way here. He was with some broad."
Pony paused before saying, "You mean Evie?"
Dally shook his head.
"You mean... he's cheating on Evie?"
Dallas shrugged. "I don't know, kid. But it sure looks that way... it's none of your business," he said, shooting Ponyboy a look, "but it sure as hell is mine. You know who the little fuck had his arm around?"
Ponyboy looked down at his beat up sneakers, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
"Sylvia, that's who. That little broad's two-timing me again! I was in the hospital for two fucking weeks..." He took another drag of his cigarette as if to calm himself down. "Well if she can't stay loyal to me then I'm through with her..."
Pony nodded, but he knew that Dal didn't really mean it. He had heard him say he was done with Sylvia at least ten times before. They always got back together... it was Steve Pony was surprised about. Steve used to always go on about how disgusting it was when a guy cheated on his girl. Now he was cheating on Evie? It didn't made sense. But if Dally said he saw Steve with Sylvia, then he wasn't lying.
"Pon, has Soda said anything about Steve? Anything about Evie or Sylvia?" Dal asked.
Pony thought back but couldn't recall Soda saying anything about either Evie or Sylvia. Actually, now that he thought about it, Soda hadn't talked about Steve for a long time. Steve didn't really come over that much anymore either...
Dally shook his head. "Nevermind, kid. It doesn't matter." His eyes grew cold. "But if I ever see that bastard with my girl again, he better be ready to get his ass kicked."
Pony nodded and looked away. He suddenly noticed how cold it was getting. Dally seemed to notice too. "Fuck, it's freezing." He pulled the collar of his denim jacket up on his neck. "I'll see ya later, Pon. Tell Soda I'll be at Buck's if he wants to hang out."
"Alright." Pony waved to Dal's retreating form and headed home at a fast pace. He saw the inviting lights of his house up ahead and hurried up to it and inside. Darry was reading the paper in his easy chair and Soda was talking on the phone with someone.
"Hey Pon. Jessie called for you. Said to call her back, but ya can't now since loverboy here's talking ta Sandy." said Darry, looking up from his paper when Ponyboy walked through the door.
Ponyboy nodded and went to his room, deciding to get started on his homework.
After a few minutes, Sodapop hung up the phone and shook his head, running his fingers through his hair.
"Something wrong, little buddy?" asked Darry, folding up his paper.
"I kinda think so, Dar... Sandy said she was at The Dingo with Evie and they saw Steve there... with Sylvia. She said Evie's at her house now in tears. Steve didn't see them, but... well, they sure saw him." Soda looked down at the floor, unsure of what else to say. He really wasn't sure what to think himself. What was the matter with Steve? He had a good thing going with Evie. Why would he blow it over Sylvia?
"I didn't know Steve was one to cheat..." said Darry, seemingly at a loss for words.
"He isn't!" Sodapop said angrily, immediately standing up for his friend.
Darry raised his eyebrows. "So then what's he doing, Soda?"
Soda looked away. "He's just confused, Dar. That's all."
Darry sighed and stood up. "I'll right, little brother. Just help Steve out. Seems like he needs a little guidance right now."
Soda didn't answer, only walked away into the bedroom he and Ponyboy shared. Pony was at the desk doing his homework. He looked up when Soda came in.
"Hey Soda. Dal wanted me to tell ya that he's at Buck's if ya wanna hang out." he said, turning back to his homework.
"Yeah, alright, Pony... I think I will head over there. Mind telling Darry where I'm going?" he asked, grabbing his leather jacket.
"Sure, Soda. See ya later."
"See ya." Soda went out into the cold night and headed in the direction of Buck's. There was too much stuff swirling around in his head, and he needed to talk it out with somebody. If there was someone who would listen to him and tell it to him straight, it was Dallas. Sodapop hurried on to Buck's, hoping he would get there before Dal got too drunk...
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A/N: I really hope you like this chapter. I like it a little more than the first one since I'm kinda starting to get into the actual storyline with this chapter. I really need reviews so that I know how I'm doing, so if you read, please review. I'd appreciate it so much! Thanks!
---Erin
