Four
December 1965
The bell sounds, and chairs scrape across the floor as our English teacher, Mr Richards, yells out our homework assignment.
My first full day home and I'm back in this dump. And it don't feel a hell of a lot different to being in the reformatory, what with having someone tell me what to do all day and the way the teachers look at me. But at least if I'm here then I'm not giving Harry no more ammunition to yell at Ma. And it's Friday. So it's only one day I gotta get through.
"Don't forget, folks. I want five hundred words, by Monday. No excuses." And I guess Mr Richards must see me roll my eyes, 'cause he glares at me. "And that includes you, Mr Shepard. Now you're back I expect you to keep up. Or do you want to wind up repeating the year?"
"No sir, much as I love your class, I ain't got no wish to do it twice." I grin at him as I saunter out into the hall, nudge Curtis in the ribs. "Jesus, what is his problem?"
Ponyboy shrugs. "He's not so bad, if you don't get on his bad side, don't usually give no one trouble unless they deserve it."
"Yeah, right. That's easy for you to say."
He stops at his locker, pulls out more books and notepads, shoving them into his backpack. "I can help you catch up, if you like. My brothers are both still at work, if you wanna come study at our house?"
"Seriously, Curtis? On a Friday? Friday nights are for booze and broads. Not writing English assignments. About crappy fucking poetry."
Although maybe I should go. Be less likely to get any hassle there.
And there might be the chance of some decent food too. Ma hasn't cooked nothing properly in Lord knows how long, and Angela barely managed to scrape together enough food for us all last night, so it ain't likely to be any better today. Especially as Ange won't even be home. Told me this morning that she had plans. Plans that are apparently none of my business.
Ma might miss me I guess, that is if she even remembers I'm home. But really, me staying away is probably the best option, 'cause unless Harry has found God or something since I got locked up—which seems pretty unlikely from the cursing he was doing when he saw me sat on the couch when he got home last night— I can't remember a Friday night since Ma married him that he hasn't got blind drunk and come home looking for a fight with one of us.
Plus there's stuff I need to do.
First off I need to find out what's been going on. Angela was barely any help, turned out she didn't know half as much about anything as she'd made out. Just told me a bunch of second-hand half-truths, gossip and rumours, not anything definite.
Then I need to get back out there, make sure that people know there's at least one Shepard brother back in town. Even if I'm not the one anyone listens to or respects. But it have to do what I can to protect Tim's interests best I can—that is, if there's anything left to protect.
Curtis shrugs. "Whatever. But it ain't like it'd take us long. An hour, maybe. And if you get it over and done with you won't get no grief off Richards on Monday. And it'll still leave you the whole weekend for hunting some action if that's what you wanna do."
He slams his locker shut and trudges off down the corridor, head down, not waiting for me to answer. And for a few seconds I watch him, before I find myself jogging to catch up to him, jostling through the crowded hall, finally catching up to him on the school steps.
"Tell you what, Curtis, I'll come do this crummy assignment if you agree to come out and help me celebrate being home. We could go to Buck's or something. Sink a few beers, play some pool. What d'you say?"
He frowns, his eyes on his shoes as he shakes his head slightly. "Buck's...I dunno, I ain't been in there since...with Johnny..." He shakes his head, his voice trailing off.
Christ. This is all I need, him getting all upset. So I pretend like I don't know what he's talking about and shoot him a goofy grin. "Shit, Curtis, you're not gonna let me go drinking on my own, my first night out since I got home, are you?" Me and Curtis get along alright, even if we aren't exactly best buddies or nothing. But none of the guys I'd usually hang around with in class ain't showed up for school today. So right now I don't exactly have a lot of options. Not until I know where I stand with the gang anyways. So I clap my hand down on his shoulder, nodding in the direction of a bunch of girls ahead of us, hoping it's enough to persuade him to agree. "Besides, I heard earlier Mandy might be there, might give you the opportunity to make your move."
His eyes dart towards the girl, his ears reddening. "Don't know what you mean, I—"
"Cut the crap, Ponyboy. Any fool could see the way you was looking at her in class, even me. You could barely keep your eyes off of her. Not that I blame you, she sure is a looker. And that mate of hers, Sally, she's pretty cute too."
"Hell, Curly, you don't know that they'll even be at Buck's. Place'll probably be full of drunk cowboys."
"Sure I do. Overheard 'em talking by their lockers at the end of lunch. So do we have a deal?"
Pony lets out a sigh, shrugs at me. "Guess so."
~oOo~
"So does Tim know you're driving his car?" Ponyboy asks, as I come to a sharp stop on the lot alongside Buck's place, the loose chippings crunching beneath the tyres as I'm a bit too heavy handed on the brakes.
"Yeah, right." I let out a snort of laughter. "I ain't got no death wish. Even if I am doing Tim a favour really, keeping it running smooth whilst he's not home."
"Running smooth? The way you drive?"He laughs. "Reckon you better take it by the DX and get Steve and Soda to give it the once over, before Tim gets home."
"Why? If Tim don't know then he can't worry about it, can he?"
"You sure that's a good idea? Keeping secrets from him?"
"Says the guy who's just told his brother we were only heading down The Dingo."
"Yeah? Well Darry sure don't need to know everything I do." Ponyboy frowns as he lights himself another cigarette and takes a drag. His third smoke since we got outta their house. Thought I smoked a lot, but I ain't got nothing on him. "And anyway, him and Soda were doing way worse when they were my age. Mom and Dad barely ever knew where they were. Although Darry seems to have conveniently forgotten that these days. Just everything's an excuse to give me a hard time. So if he don't know then at least I don't get to listen to him bitching about it."
"Hey, Curtis, relax, I'm not gonna drop you in it. I know how it is to have your big brother always on your back." I grin at him as I slam the car door shut, try to make light of the fact that it's likely gonna be years before Tim'll be around again to give me a hard time.
Curtis makes like he's strolling towards the bar, but I can tell he's watching me out the corner of his eye. Gives me an uneasy feeling in my gut even before he comes out with yet another question about Tim. "So have you heard anything from him? Is he doing okay?"
"Nah, haven't heard a word from him. But you know Tim." I shove my hands in my jeans pockets and shrug at Curtis. Wish I had a beer right now, just to take the edge off that uncomfortable tightness in my chest when I think about whether he's really doing alright in there. Settle instead for lighting another cigarette to keep my hands busy and give me something to focus on until we get inside and I can get that drink. Fumbling for my lighter, I tell myself to snap out of it, 'cause thinking like that makes me sound like Ma. And if I carry on that way then next thing you know I'll be the one spending too long poring over the newspaper every day and jumping every damn time the telephone rings. "He ain't exactly one for sharing. And besides, Tim'll be fine. He always is."
Ponyboy nods, although the way he smiles at me makes it obvious that he don't exactly believe that any more than I do. And no surprise really. I mean according to Angela he was actually there, that night when Dal got taken out. Saw everything. And Dallas Winston was pretty near as tough as Tim. Never gave the impression of giving a damn about anyone else. So if Winston could lose it like that and fall apart, it kinda makes me think that no one is safe.
The door of Buck's place swings open easily under my hand and a wave of warm air and country music hits us. The music might be shit, but the voices and laughter, the buzz of the busy bar, makes me focus on why I'm really here, and what I need to do tonight—and I'm grateful for the distraction.
"You see the girls anywhere?" Curtis asks, peering in over my shoulder. Guess he is more interested in Mandy than he was letting on earlier.
"Yeah, they're over there, at the end the bar." Not that it's them I'm looking for. Not yet yet anyways. Got other people I need to see first. Only Curtis seems to have other ideas, starts moving in their direction. "Hey, hold up, Casanova, you don't wanna look too desperate. So how about we grab a beer, see who else is around, before you go try your luck?"
Curtis shakes his head, a smile spreading onto his face as he looks back towards the girls giggling in the corner of the room. "No." He brushes a hand through his hair, eyes still on Mandy. "I'm gonna go say hello, 'fore I lose my nerve—or she ends up with someone else."
I shrug at him. Like there's any chance she's gonna turn him down. Curtis is one of those guys, like his brother Sodapop. Or Tim. The kind of guy that girls can't help but notice. "Yeah, whatever. I'll catch you later, yeah?"
Not waiting for him to reply, I make a quick scan of the room as I pick my way through the crowd towards the bar. Seems like its the usual mix of Buck's rodeo buddies, Brumly boys, and girls looking for a good time. And then of course there's the real reason I was so keen to come here. The last remaining members of our gang, who are hanging out over near the pool table.
Danny Simmonds has got his arm around some little red-head, and they're grouped around the table all eyes on Ryan Lang. Ryan chalks up the cue as he circles the table, eventually decides on a shot. Locks eyes with me as he leans forwards to take it.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Ryan drawls, slowly pushing himself back upright. "Didn't think we'd be seeing you anytime soon, Shepard."
The sound of my name grabs the attention of the other guys, who turn to look at me. Can't miss that half of them don't exactly looking happy to see me. Maybe Angela's suspicions about things shifting with the gang aren't so far from the mark after all. Or maybe they're disappointed it's me, not Tim, standing here.
"Yeah? Well just 'cause you aren't smart enough to get out early, Lang, it don't mean everyone's an idiot. Got out on good behaviour."
"Oh yeah? How d'you manage that? They dropped their standards since I got out? Or did you offer to do a few 'favours' for the guards?"
The rest of the guys smirk and laugh along with Ryan's pathetic attempt at a joke. And I stand there like a fucking idiot and scowl back at him, trying to think of something to say.
"What's the matter, Shepard, you lost your sense of humour, or you still trying to catch up?" Ryan grins back at me, and his expression nearly convinces me that there's nothing more going on than him having a laugh at my expense. Only then I notice how tight Ryan's gripping the pool cue in his hands, his knuckles white and I know for sure he's not pleased to see me.
I'd like to punch that smug smile right off of his face. 'Cause Lang sure as hell wouldn't be saying shit like that to Tim if he was here. Wouldn't still have his teeth if he did. But then I'm not Tim. I'm his annoying, tag-along kid brother. The dumb one.
Although I'm not so dumb as to think it would be a wise idea for me to get drawn into a fight with him. So I ignore his insinuations, change the subject and choke out a question.
"So how's things been going? Got any business on?"
"Sure have, buddy," Danny says, stepping away from his broad and reaching out to shake my hand. "We got some real sweet deals set up. Been raking in the cash, easy as you like. You want back in?"
I laugh. "You have to ask? Course I do. I mean, this is still the Shepard gang right?"
"Cool." Danny claps me on the shoulder, ignores my question. "It's good to have him back, isn't it, Ryan?"
Lang steps round the table, so he's standing right next to me and Simmonds. "Sure. So long as you don't screw things up, drop us all in the shit like your asshole brother did."
A/N: Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed last time. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter too :)