Okay, yeah. So, it's been a while. But have no fear! The next chapter is here! BTW: You so owe me. jk. But for the record, I wasn't planning on giving you a glance at Ponyboy. But you convinced me. Well, the reviewers and other things that I had to think about. Strategy. Its all about strategy. I feel like I should have an anecdote, but none come to mind.
Please review. As if you're life depends on it. Because Ponyboy's does. I could kill him in the story, you know. And for those of you who think: "There's no way"….think again. I've killed Darry, almost twice (in "Over My Dead Body" and "Guilt") but definitely once. Don't you think that I'd do it to Ponyboy too?
I would.
Anyway, now that I've bored you, allow me to get to the real reason that you clicked on my story. The chapter.
I opened my eyes, never having actually gotten any sleep. Something told me that I wouldn't be getting any for a while. I didn't deserve sleep, now that I thought about it. Ponyboy was gone. Vanished right out from under my nose. Darry was gonna kill me. And if by some miracle he didn't, then the guilt would.
I stood and stretched, stifling a yawn. I looked at the clock.
4:00AM
Great, I thought sarcastically. I headed to the bathroom and splashed my face with water. Heading back, I noticed something in the bed.
A person.
I turned on the lamp, the light allowing me to see that it was the Soc. Anger suddenly filled me. I shoved him off the bed.
"What the-?" he shouted when he hit the floor. He looked around confused for a moment before he saw me. "What the heck do you think you're doin'?"
"Me? I could ask you the same thing!" I shouted, for the moment not caring who I woke up at this time.
"I was sleepin'!" he returned, standing up and brushing himself off.
"In Ponyboy's bed?"
"The kid ran off. Went home! And if you're gonna pass up a warm bed then I might as well take it! It's not like the kid'll care."
"The kid has a name. Use it." I couldn't explain it. Truth be told, I had no idea why it bothered me so much. I guess leaving the bed open gave me that small glimmer of hope that I would wake up and find the kid sleepin' in it. I don't know.
But one thing I did know. That it was getting old. How the Socs think that they're so much better than us. How they don't even bother to learn our names. How they think that they got the short end of the stick losing one of their friends six months ago when they seem to forget that we lost two. How nobody but me seems to realize that the kid is missing….
"Say it with me, Ponyboy. Ya know. Like pony as in a horse," I said slowly, nodding as I imitated riding a horse. "And boy like a young male. Pony. boy,"
Guy stood up, glowering at me.
"Don't to me like I'm an idiot," he spat.
"But you are,"
"What?"
"Don't pretend you didn't hear me," I growled.
"You callin' me stupid?"
"That's what idiot means," I said, slowly and nodding.
"Look who's talkin'"
"Shut it,"
"I mean, at 19 you're still a junior? And I'm the one who's stupid."
I lunged at him. I had the upper hand in the fight, given there were no blades or weapons, I was bigger, and I was on top of him. There was a soft knock at the door, so quiet that we barely heard it. I jumped off of him and went to answer the door.
"Two-Bit? I heard shouting and a crash and was wonderin' if everything was okay?" Cherry said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Everything okay? No, it wasn't okay. Ponyboy was missing. By now, he was who knows where and I had about all annoyance I can take. I was gripped in the door handle so tight my knuckles were turning white. But was the only thing keeping me from blowing up on her right then and there, so I didn't let go.
"I still haven't found Ponyboy," I answered, hoping she of all people would realize the problem that it is.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, Two-Bit. He's a good kid. I'm sure he's around," she answered. I clenched my jaw, but nodded anyway, not bothering to smile. She returned the nod with a yawn and I closed the door.
She's a Soc. She was always a Soc. She was never truly different. Because when you get right down to it, greasers are greasers and socs are socs. It doesn't matter who you are. And a Soc doesn't care in the least about a Greaser. I guess its in their blood.
Ponyboy, I thought, knowing that he couldn't hear me and trying anyway. Glory, kid. Where are you?
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"No! Please stop!" Ponyboy gasped, grimacing from the pain, his tears doing nothing to help him. Only making the stinging worse.
"What did I say about talking?" he shouted, backhanding Ponyboy. Ponyboy remembered saying that greasers didn't cry. Not unless they were hurt like Johnny was when he had been jumped all that time ago. From his point, he would take what Johnny got everyday rather than be here. He would take anything rather than be here, crying and begging as he got punched, kicked, slapped, and stabbed endlessly. He had tried fighting. Boy had he tried fighting. But a fourteen year old could only fight people twice his size who outnumbered him four to one in the back of a van with his hands tied behind his back for so long.
The man yanked Ponyboy up by the rope on his wrists that were probably already broken.
"Miss me?"
"N-no, sir," Ponyboy replied. The man moved his fist back and Ponyboy's eyes instantly grew wide.
"I mean yes, sir," Ponyboy corrected hastily, fearing for his life.
"Not good enough." he answered coldly, smiling darkly. The ice cold hand that had been holding Ponyboy's stomach tightened.
He wanted his brothers.
He knew they were in Tulsa.
but that didn't stop him from wishing so much his chest hurt that they would somehow show up and save him.
That didn't stop what Ponyboy did next.
"DARRY!" he screamed.
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Guess what? Have you ever thought of all the types of buttons in the world?
Elevator buttons, stop buttons, go buttons, beeping buttons, buzzing buttons, buttons you sew, gumbrop buttons, candy buttons, buttons on a printer, buttons on the computer…the list is endless. And who knows when the last time you get to press a button will be?
So in case it is your last chance, press that review button.
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