Better Left Unspoken

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own The Outsiders? S.E. Hinton is the real owner of The Outsiders, and I do not make any money off of my stories.

A/N: Please ell me what you think! Criticism is welcome, but no flames. Flames killed Johnny. ;) Suggestions are always welcome, no matter what they might be. Thank you!

Darry ~Fall,1969~

"I hate you, Darry," his voice was calmer than mine, hiding his anger in the heat of the moment, but his green eyes blazed.

"Just get out, Ponyboy! I can't even look at you right now!"

I wish that you hadn't actually left.

Just when I didn't think about him all morning, a guy at work had "Gone With the Wind" laying in his truck and was reading it during break hour. I was suddenly frozen on the roof of some Soc's mansion, unable to breathe correctly. My boss noticed my panic and waved me down the ladder. Shakily, I descended.

"Do you need to take a day off, Darrel?" Simply, I nodded, the air burning as I sucked it into my lungs unevenly. He waved me on and called after me, "you ain't gettin' paid for today."

It was my smallest worry at the time. The freak-outs, there just a never ending cycle. I couldn't escape his memory and the guilt of what I've done.

OoOoOoO

I didn't tell Soda that I left work early a complete wreck, but my messy bedroom and alcohol on my breath send out some warning red flags I was sure.

Soda didn't sleep in his room anymore. Too many memories, too lonely, he had told me just after the incident. He wouldn't sleep in the other empty bedroom either, the one that he moved into just after he turned fifteen. Most of the time though, I find Soda sleeping on the couch when I get up in the morning.

My parent's death didn't shake me up this much, so why all of this now? I wondered. 'Because you caused all of this!' a voice in my head screamed.

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"You're never happy with what I do. Well, guess what, Darry," he screamed at me. "You're not my dad!"

"You're being an ungrateful little brat," Steve butted in from the couch. I didn't even react to Steve's input as I yelled back.

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Exhausted from lack of sleep, I had no idea how I was going to survive work when I woke up from a nightmare. I didn't know how he ever functioned with his insomnia at thirteen and fourteen.

I heard the phone ringing, so I forced myself out of my warm bed and shuffled to the phone.

"Hello?" I croaked. The man on the other end cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"I need dependable workers, Darrel. I've been understanding long enough. Don't bother coming into work today. You're fired."

Chapter Word Count: 512 words

Aufenthalt Gold,

~Alee XxX