*I don't own The Outsiders.

This is the Christmas Season after everything that happened in Oklahoma City.

(PPOV)

I stumbled, yawning widely as I headed toward the kitchen. Darry was yelling at an unhappy looking Soda. Apparently, Soda stayed out past curfew for a few extra hours of fun and Dar was giving him a lecture.

I couldn't help but smirk the tiniest bit, he never gets yelled at, it was pretty funny. Soda caught my smirk and glared at me, a full fledged grin flashed across my face. Thankfully, Darry's back was still to me and he didn't see it. I would definitely get bitched at, when he's in a mood like this all he needs is the tiniest excuse to make my life hell.

The only reason Dar was acting like this was because it was near the Holidays. He gets like this because he has to work more not only for presents but to compensate for the unpaid time he's off during the season. This makes him straddle the line between pissed off and too tired to do a damn thing.

I decided to be a merciful brother and attempt to save Soda from more of Darry's lecture. I looked at Soda's face and couldn't help but think; yeah, now you get it. I laid a hand on Darry's shoulder, catching his attention.

I grinned, "Relax, Dar. He's eighteen; he can stay out if he wants to."

"He's living in my house, so no he can't."

"Our house," I corrected, softly. "Go lay down, I got breakfast. Soda, go clean up for breakfast, your hair looks like you got electrocuted."

Darry huffed, still annoyed, but the thought of more rest was too appealing for him to give up just to lecture Soda. Soda mused my hair as he walked by, flashing me a grateful smile. I rolled my eyes.

XXX

Christmas break is great except when both your brothers are working and your friends are holed up somewhere afraid of the cold. It was twenty degrees with a bitter wind chill on top, so I couldn't blame them for staying out of it.

Darry came in and spotted me on the couch. "Everyone is over at the DX, want to head over there? I got twenty minutes before I have to head back to the worksite."

I nodded, anything to stop the boredom. The worst part about being bored, is the fact is allows me to think. I'd been plagued with enough nightmares; I don't need my day dreams to turn sour too.

Darry kept glancing at me from the corner of his eye. Finally, I got annoyed enough, "What's the matter? Why do you keep looking at me?" I scowled, not liking the scrutiny of his gaze.

He chuckled, "Sorry," he said without meaning it. "It's just that I've never seen you with a beard. You always shaved before anything really grew in."

I rolled my eyes. "You're staring at me because I got hair on my face," I snorted.

He shrugged. I really did not want to bring the topic of shaving up. Darry and Soda had found out I was shaving and all but demanded to know when I started. This, somehow, led to me telling them about Robin teaching me to shave.

Biggest fuck up I've ever made. Two-Bit and Steve found out, probably from Darry because he thought it was hilarious. Ever since, no one can bring up the topic of shaving around me without snickering. Bastards. It was not my fault she was the only one I could ask! Actually, I didn't even ask her, she just waltzed into the bathroom and didn't want me to slit my throat. It was embarrassing then and it's still mortifying now.

I looked over and saw the sly smirk on Darry's lips. I glared holes into the side of his face, "It ain't my goddamn fault," I grumbled, causing him to lose it and laugh.

What a loving brother, he makes fun of my embarrassment.

I could see the gang huddled up near the counter through the glass window of the gas station. My mood didn't lighten, great so they all left me alone at my house to come here. Soda was wrapped up in a thick coat with a scarf and those gloves that don't have the fingers.

When it gets this cold, he just runs outside and inside for costumers, instead of staying outside and filling tanks. It was too damn cold.

Darry and I walked into the middle of Steve's description of some new girl he was going with. He and Evie broke up for the hundredth time. They'll probably be googly eyed for one another again by the end of next week. It was ridiculous. I try not to pay attention to their drama anymore.

Two-Bit came over to me and handed me a five dollar bill, I smirked. Evie and Steve's relationship was a lot of fun to bet on, I win most of the time. That's the reason I can't ignore them, I can win money off of them from Two-Bit.

I could feel someone's eyes on me and I looked up to see Two-Bit looking at me funny.

"What's your problem?" I demanded.

"Your beard, it's weird," Two-Bit said.

The others chuckled, now staring at me too.

Two-Bit's smile widened, "You look like Chris Cringle from that Christmas special!"

I grimaced at him. I do not look like Chris from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Dallas laughed loudly and Soda said, "He even got reddish hair. It ain't red enough but, it's close." I glared, ugh what happened to my so called brothers! I save Soda's ass this morning from Darry's lecture too.

"I do not. I don't like to shave when it's this cold. It stings like a bitch!" I exclaimed in exasperation.

"No shit, kid," Steve grinned. "But, if you don't, then you look like Mr. Cringle."

They continued their snickering.

Well, it could be worse…I guess it's better than being the Grinch right? I thought.

Ugh, they're all getting coal for Christmas.

Hehe, fluff. This story is actually based on one of my best friends' brother. His hair is brown, but he looks like Chris Cringle when his beard grows out. Lol, then I was thinking about what to do for this and realized Pony has reddish hair and I couldn't not write this.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please review and thanks for all the alerts/reviews/favorites.