Chapter Two
The night before Johnny and Ponyboy's moving day they went to dinner at the Curtis house with everyone. It was the first time the whole gang had been together at the same time in years. They all sat at the table, chatting away as they ate. Everyone had changed so much in the last few years.
Sodapop had grown a lot, moving out of the house during Pony's last year of high school. He moved into a house with Steve and they made plans for they're own business. It was, of course, a garage to fix cars. His looks hadn't changed much through the years. The only thing that changed was that he stopped greasing his hair, like the others had.
Steve changed a lot as well, pretty much following Soda's steps. He bought the house himself and moved in months before Soda, getting it ready. Him and Evie broke up along the way. She said that he wasn't paying attention to her anymore and left one night. No one really knows where she went cause no one saw her after that. Steve guessed that she went to live with her sister in California. He didn't seem to care much at all.
Darry was pretty much the same, but after Ponyboy moved out he started dating again. At the time he was with some girl, Jane, and they seemed pretty serious. It was almost scary to Ponyboy and Sodapop that Darry would ever even think about getting married or having kids. Darry didn't even know if he wanted a wife and kids, but he told them he was going to see how things played out with them and make a decision.
Two-Bit was a little different, not that he'd moved out of his mom's house or anything. He had gotten a job at a toy factory, somewhere he (surprisingly) hated working at. He hadn't been with any girls that much through the years, he said he was busy. That was un Two-Bit like. They all thought about just calling him Keith, because that name would have fit his personality at the time. His personality took a dramatic turn after he was invited to Marcia and Randy's wedding. He didn't go, he just sat at his house, called up his girlfriend at the time, and broke it off with her. After he accomplished that he started drinking more than he ever had.
Dally hadn't changed much at all. He was still getting thrown in jail every other month it seemed. He was still protective of Johnny, even though he'd grown up and got his own life. Dally was still in the bars and chasing after girls. No one would believe that Dallas Winston might actually get a job, a house, and grow up. Even Tim already had a family going and he was making an honest living.
"Are you guys ready and packed?" Darry asked as he and Ponyboy went to put the dishes in the sink.
"Yeah, Johnny packed everything we're gonna need. He put it in the car last night," Pony answered, putting water in the sink to do the dishes.
Darry nodded, grabbing a rag to dry. "What time are you leaving out in the morning?"
"About three so we can get there at a good time," Pony answered as he started to wash.
"Do you need anything? Like money?" Darry asked after a few seconds of silents.
"No, we're okay," Ponyboy answered quickly. He'd already promised himself when he moved out that he wouldn't barrow money or anything from Darry.
Darry stared at him for a minute then went back to drying slowly. "We'll miss you, kid."
Ponyboy smiled, finishing up the dishes, "I'll miss you too." He muttered.
The relationship between Ponyboy and Darry had gotten better as Pony got older and understood what Darry was so hard on him. He understood that Darry really loved him and was just trying to give him a better life than he got stuck with. Darry was there for Ponyboy when he went to college. Ponyboy would call him in the middle of the night to get help with his homework. Darry never got angry over it. He always helped Ponyboy or Johnny when they needed anything.
The two went back into the living room where everyone was sitting around and talking.
Johnny was with Two-Bit and Steve on the couch talking about work.
Sodapop and Dally were sitting on the floor, playing poker, betting cigarettes.
Ponyboy sat down in front of the couch, leaning on Johnny's leg.
Johnny smiled, nudging him a bit.
"You guys staying here tonight?" Soda asked from where he was sitting with Dally.
"Yep, we're gonna get up early and head out," Johnny answered, putting his hand on Pony's head.
"I would say that Darry would enjoy the company, but…" Dally started before Soda made a puking sound.
The gang started making fun of Darry when he started bringing his girlfriends home. It was really gross to Pony and Soda. Even when it was mentioned around them, one or both would make gagging noises. Not that either of them haven't had their fair share of 'exciting' nights.
Especially Ponyboy.
If anyone in the gang knew what Johnny and Ponyboy did they'd either pass out or really throw up.
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Johnny and Ponyboy went to bed early that night in Ponyboy's old room.
It looked the same way it did when he left.
"I can't wait till morning," Ponyboy whispered as they laid down.
Johnny laughed, putting his arm around him. "Well get some sleep, baby."
Ponyboy nodded, but didn't get any sleep that night. He stayed up, watching Johnny sleep.
