Disclaimer: I do not and never will own the characters, plots and settings of S.E Hinton's "The Outsiders".
Title: By My Own
Author: So Yun
Ratings: M
Warnings: Language, Violence, Adult Themes
Genre: Angst/Drama
Chapter: 4/?
Summary: A year on, life is continuing for the Curtis brothers and the remaining gang. But things slowly go downhill for Ponyboy and the gang who have triumphed over so many things in the past.
AN: Hi guys, I'm new to this type of fandom, I usually frequent Harry Potter. I hope you'll be lenient on me for any future stuff ups! I hope you enjoy the fourth instalment! Thanks to my nice reviewers!!
Chapter Four-Meet Dallas, Dallas the Pony
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I looked sharply over at my youngest brother, he'd been injured severely by an unknown and all he was thinkin' about was his blade. In that moment I was both touched and a bit irritated.
It was nice that he missed the blade I'd made for him, but then again he doesn't use his head and probably didn't care about the identity of his attacker. But I for one; was.
Soda, Steve and Two-Bit said they hadn't come across the blade while they were lookin'; all they found was his jacket. I frowned, that was fairly strange and coincidently Pony had been stabbed with a knife…
I shook my head, I must be thinkin' things, surely this guy ain't sick enough to stab Pony with his own blade? This ruffled me a little I guess, and soon after awhile it was itchin'me. I had to know; I gave him that blade.
After awhile our little brother fell asleep; I love callin' him that coz' it still managed to irritate him but I knew he liked it deep down. I nodded at Soda telling him I'd be right back and jumped in the truck.
I drove until I was near our house and in front of the lot, my eyes darkened as I looked over the expanse of weeds and dead grass. It looked a scary sight for once in my whole life, I was almost frightened to step a foot in it.
This is where Pony almost died…
I shuddered and followed the ditch down; it wasn't hard; dried blood still tainted the yellowing grass. Imagine what Soda, Steve and Two-Bit found; I couldn't even think of that.
I guess I was sorta glad it wasn't me; I know for one that my other younger brother will have nightmares that will haunt the rest of his life. Just seein' his own brother like that….No I stopped the train of thought again.
I shuffled around with my feet, hoping to find something, perhaps even Pony's knife. I'm pretty sure he'd be damn happy to have it back, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to find it.
I searched for awhile although I was eager to go back and visit Pony. Just as I was leaving the sun was going down below the horizon and it shone on a glint of metal not too far away.
My heart thumped almost painfully in my chest, it had to be didn't it? So I moved towards the glint of metal before I forgot where it were or the sun completely sunk. I crouched down and shifted some dead weeds away.
There it was, just as blood stained as I imagined it would be. I found it suddenly hard to breathe.
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"Hey Steve, where are my brothers?" Pony looked at me expectantly and his voice shook me out of my reverie. I looked at him bewildered; a sudden memory flash of finding him earlier unnerved me.
"Well Soda is in the cafeteria and Superman is…um somewhere I guess." The kid nodded reluctantly, I could see from the way he was lookin' round carefully that he was still scared.
I would be too if I'd been attacked a brutally as the kid had been, and Soda…my best buddy havin' to see him like that. Jesus Christ…
The Curtis's always had it rough and always will by the looks of it. I loved Soda like the brother I never had and Darry, well superman was just superman for me. That's why I liked him.
Then there was the damn smartarse tagalong kid, always gettin' into trouble, never usin' his head and worrying his older brothers like no tomorrow. It ain't entirely fair to do that to em', their parents died too.
Damn cry baby that kid is, he really needs to grow up. But I admit I have never seen such a horrifying sight as that kid in that ditch; my stomach rebelled just as the memory.
I only put up with him coz he'd Soda and Darry brother otherwise I'd just treat him like the little trash he is. He annoys me to no end and still is.
I admit I feel guilty though, bitchin' about the kid after he was attacked, I guess things never change for me. I do hope he gets better but only so Soda can stop worryin' so much, he'll start getting' sick then it'll really be Pony's fault.
He looked kinda fragile I guess, it's hard to believe he only turned fifteen last week. He's got that athletic built unlike Soda and Superman. They're both muscular and able to defend themselves, then there's Pony.
Still scrawny and small for his age and has absolutely no action with the broads. Not that they'd want him anyways, too much of a day dreamer.
He was staring at the TV screen now, watching some fake game show host unveil the letter on the game board. He seemed quite transfixed; I wasn't so I swiped the remote and turned it off.
Damn, now I have to put up with awkward silence and baby sittin' the kid while Two-Bit flirts with that blonde nurse over there.
We sat there stupidly until I decided to saunter out for a coke; there was a vender just around the corner. I didn't even bother to look back at Pony, prolly rolling his eyes at my back or somethin'.
By the time I came back the kid was asleep and thank god for that. I can't wait till Soda comes back, or Darry.
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Soda came loping back with Steve and him talking furiously about some chick that had just walked past. Darry still wasn't back yet and I had slept for a good half an hour after Steve left before.
Two-Bit had dropped in for a sec and tried to smuggle me some chocolate but this blonde haired nurse came in and confiscated it. Something about no solids for me and that I needed only fluids which the drip would provide to me.
Great just great…no Pepsi or chocolate, I groaned out loud which managed to catch Soda's attention. He looked worried as I sat up and immediately was by my side. He also held one arm behind his back which I found kinda suss.
"Hey Pone, you alright there? You aren't in pain are you?" He asked almost diligently but he was masking one of his wicked grins. Steve was too and I don't think I liked that coming from Steve.
I narrowed my eyes at the pair just as Two-Bit walked through the door.
"Soda man, why the heck have you got a stuffed toy behind your back?"
Steve groaned and made shushing noises but it failed miserably, I strained and tried to look and see but didn't succeed, "Yeah Soda, why do you?"
He did have something behind his back but it was prolly just Two-Bit wise crackin' like usual. Though, this time he wasn't.
Soda grinned at me before whipping the thing from behind his back, "Surprise Pony, just a little somethin' I got for you from the gift shop!"
I was startled to find that in his palm sat a little stuffed toy pony. It was yellow with a blue mane and hooves. It's eyes sorta bulged and somehow Soda had managed to colour over them with blue. It was kinda cute, but there was no way in hell I'd ever admit it.
I raised an eyebrow and looked right up at my second oldest brother, "What is that?"
Soda grinned back at Steve then puffed out his chest and thrust the toy out on his hand, "This Pone, is Dallas-" My breath caught in my throat, he decided to name it Dallas? "-Dallas, the Pony. Do you like him? I thought he could keep you erm…company. Me and Steve picked im' out."
I bit my lip and lifted Dallas off Soda's palm then started laughing, "Thanks Soda, Steve. I-I like him."
This set Steve off as well, but it was for an entirely different reason, "What a little girl…"
Oddly Soda turned back and snapped, "Shut up Steve, I've had enough of you bitchin' about Pony. Lay off would you."
Steve frowned then turned around and loped out the door muttering, "Later." His eyebrows furrowed and he sent me a glare.
Soda turned back to me, frowning a little but a smile took its place as he poked the stuffed toy. "So, Dallas, how are ya today? What's it like bein' a real pony hey?"
I rolled my eyes as my brother continued to poke the toy that now sat on my pillow, its bulging eyes staring into space. I laughed a little at my brother's antics but stopped when a stab of pain shot through my body.
"You know Sodapop, it ain't gonna reply."
Soda turned to me, his eyes wide and replied in an indignant voice while cradling Dallas close, "Don't say that! Of course Dallas can talk!"
He then looked down at the toy as it stared back and whispered, "Don't listen to him Dallas, he don't know anything."
He kept giving me shifty looks until we both burst into laughter, I didn't care that my side ached this time.
We turned around when we saw Darry at the door, his complexion was paler than usual and he also had somethin' in his hand. Soda took not notice and bounded up to him, Dallas fittin' snugly into his palm.
"Hey Darry! Have you met Dallas the Pony!? I don't think you have, Darry, meet Dallas, Dallas the pony." Soda virtually yelled and thrust the toy right in Darry's face.
Darry frowned and swatted it away, "Perhaps later Soda. Not right now, I gotta talk to our brother."
The determined yet frightened look on his face set me back, he almost looked like he was gonna burst out bawling. Though, that was my job.
Soda, seein' this stepped back then turned to me. Dallas clutched in his palm tightly, its eyes bulging more than before. Soda seemed to think perhaps this was a time to shut up and started gettin' nervous.
Darry moved closer to the bed, his expression wrought and his knuckles white around the thing he clutched.
"Pony," He began hoarsely and brought his hand up, "I-I found-"
It wasn't like Darry to stutter, never had he ever stuttered. Suddenly my eyes widened and Soda gasped as he unclenched his fist.
My switchblade that Darry had given me lay there, the white handle stained in a red substance which also crusted the blade. It looked suddenly not so new and enticing as it had when I had gotten it. I couldn't believe this was the same blade that I had only gotten a week ago.
But then again, this was also the blade that had stabbed me.
"I found your blade."
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TBC
End of Chapter Four.
Another sort of long chapter left you a little bit of a cliffhanger to mull on during the week.
So, loved it? Hated it? What did you think? I'd love to hear some feedback as it helps me greatly with the actual story.
Thanks to those who reviewed to me last chapter: Dreamer 3097, Hmm & Girlz-Rule.
: D
Yun
