Trial and Error

Chapter 7

Pony POV

I didn't have the nightmare that night. Which is the first time in a long time. I wondered if it was the reading, or the messing around at the parties.

I don't even know why I did that. I slept in for a while. I didn't really wake up until around noon. Twobit came into the house loud as usual.

He woke me up, and blasted a stereo. "Twobit what are you doing?" He plopped down on the couch next to me "What are you doing still asleep?" I shoved him, standing up and going to the bathroom "I was tired is all."

Twobit laughed "Not use to being out partying?" he called. I sighed "What are you talking about?" I washed my face. Two bit walked in "I hear Tim's out to kill you." Shoot . . . "What for?"

Twobit walked in smirking like an alley cat. "Some rumor going around about you making out with his sister at the party last night . . . he didn't like that idea too much."

I shrugged "I don't know what you're talking about." Two bit laughed "Nice try but Soda's confirmed it." I glared at him as I walked by "Soda's an asshole who'd love to see my face beat in by ole Tim."

Twobit looked at me confused, and almost mad "Are you two fighting?" I shrugged and walked to the kitchen. "He followed me "What about? You two never fight!" I shrugged again, and broke some eggs into a pan. "Hey Twobit, where is Darry?"

He sighed "He's working overtime and you know that. And so is your brother, now what's going on?" I continued to stir the eggs around. Twobit pulled me around "Pony, I'm not kidding around, what's going on?"

I stared at him for a second "We're fighting. So what...brothers are suppose to fight." I turned back around and continued cooking.

Twobit cursed at me then grabbed a beer from the fridge "I'm going to the DX, and by the way...Soda wanted you to come by." He walked out. Man...I've managed to get Twobit mad at me? This may be big...I wonder what Soda wants...

After I ate I decided to go out for some fresh air. I stopped by the Dingo for a coke. Bless my luck, guess who seen me there? Angela. She walked over happily "Hey Ponyboy!" she smiled and sat down next to me. "I had loads of fun last night!" I sighed "Hey Angela...about last night..."

She got this angry look in her eyes "Shut up Curtis! I know you're scared cause of my brothers! But I ain't gonna let them hurt ya! You should know better then that!" I sighed "Do you want a coke?" She smiled "You bet." I bought her a coke and set back on the stool.

I seen Curly walk in. I guess Angela did too because she smiled and sat in my lap wrapping her arms around my neck. "Angela..." I warned.. She laughed "Don't be such a puss! Besides, if you had any balls you'd stand up to Curly at least!"

Sure enough Curly seen and walked over. "Hey Ponyboy...what do you think you're doing?" I shrugged "Drinking a coke."

Curly "You uh, know Tim's out in the Parking lot?" I shrugged "Nope." He smirked "Didn't think so..Come on Angela." She didn't move. Curly narrowed his eyes "Angela...I know you don't wanna see Pony's face beat in."

Angela chuckled "Who's gonna do it? You!" she sneered. Curly shrugged with a grin and walked off.

Angela smiled "See! They're all talk!" I sighed "Then what's Tim doing?" She looked over to see Tim walk in, followed by Curly. Shit. She just laughed "Don't worry."

Little does she know I'm very worried, but I'm too tired to really care. Tim stepped in front of us "Hey Curtis. What do you think you're doing." I sighed "Drinkin a coke?"

He chuckled "That what you're calling it now? Come on Angie." Angela stuck her tongue out. Great. "Why don't you make me Tim?" He sighed "Come on...I don't wanna hurt you.." he said you...meaning not Angie, but me.

Angie pouted "Tim!" He grabbed her arm and shoved her over to Curly who promptly drug her outside. I sighed "Tim...I wasn't doing anything...she sat down in my lap and I didn't want to just shove her off."

He swung at me, but I ducked. Tim quickly grabbed my shirt and threw me onto the table...I broke a few glasses on my way down to the floor as the table flipped.

I was waiting for the almighty Tim to fly across and beat the tar out of me but he never came. Instead I heard Soda, Steve and Twobit wrestling with him.

I got up to see Twobit and Steve holding Tim's arms behind his back, and Soda yelling at him. "What did I tell you! He wasn't doing nothing! He stood right there and told you it was your slutty sister's fault!" Tim didn't like that and put up a fight again, but Steve and Twobit were able to hold him off.

Soda turned to me, still looking angry "What are you doing! Get out of here!" he yelled. I got up and ran out. Man, I'd hate to be around when they let ole' Tim loose again.

Soda POV

Twobit was trying to talk to me about Pony, but I wasn't really in the mood. After a while I sent the two of them-Twobit and Steve- to go watch for gas tendons.

It wasn't until some greaser ran in yelling "Tim's gonna kill Pony at the Dingo!" that I got up and ran out with Twobit and Steve.

When we got there I heard Pony tell Tim it wasn't his fault and so forth before Tim tried to hit him, and threw him across the table.

We wrestled Tim down, then I chewed him out before yelling at Pony to get out of there. He's so hard headed sometimes. I guess that's a good thing judging by the hit he just took when he fell to the floor.

I hope he's ok...and not stupid enough to go somewhere where they can find him easily. "Tim, I'm gonna have them let go of ya, but you're not gonna start a fight, and you ain't about to go beat up my little brother. Because I promise you that Darry and Me will have something to say about that. Alright."

Tim grunted, and I told Steve and Two bit to let go. They did, and Tim just stalked off warning me to tell pony to keep away from Angela. I nodded, and soon we headed back to work.

Pony POV

I ran down the street just a little ways before a familiar car pulled up. I almost ran for it again when I seen it was Tim's truck but Angela rolled the window down and told me to get in. I did, and she sped off.

We drove down the road a ways before she spoke up "Sorry about my brothers. I can't help it if they're complete assholes. Ya know?" I shrugged "Yea, I guess...but Angie?" She smiled "Yea?" I sighed..not sure how to tell her this...

"Um...I don't think we should see each other ya know? Not that I don't like you..." that's a lie...I never really liked her "...but I don't want a big fight on my hands. Call me chicken, say I'm scared of your brothers. I don't care. All I know is things are hard enough right now with Darry trying to keep us together."

I could tell she was gripping the steering wheel tighter, and her eyes looked kinda shiny with tears, But she's a pretty tough chick so I knew she wouldn't cry. "Alright Pony, I understand..I mean...How would we ever make it if the state took you away cause my dumbass brother beat you up?" She smiled a little.

I sighed "yea...listen if you could just drop me off at home..." She slammed on the brakes slamming my shoulder into the dashboard. "Ha! You're totally ditching me! And you think I'm gonna give you a free ride?" I pushed myself up off the dashboard.

I looked up to see she'd driven me back to the Dingo, and her brothers were waiting outside for me. "Screw off Curtis. I can be a bitch too ya know! Just get out!" She shoved me towards the door, which hurt because I think my shoulder's dislocated...

I climbed out, bracing myself to face Tim. He smirked "Come back for more eh?" I sighed "Tim...listen, I don't like your sister like that...we're not even together--" He shoved me against the car, holding onto my collar.

Angie crawled over to watch "Timmy! He tried to make a move on me in the car! Putting his hand up my skirt and what not!" Tim looked at me angrily. I was wide eyed "No! I didn't—" He slugged me...

I managed to shove him off, and made a run for it, but Curly grabbed my arm, jerking me back. There was a sickening crack as my shoulder was popped back into place– I guess I was right – And threw me towards Tim.

Pain ran through me like an air wave, and I gritted my teeth together to keep from screaming. Tim came over to pick me up off the ground, but I quickly pulled my knife out of my pocket. "Tim! I don't wanna fight! Come on! I don't like your sister!"

He looked mad and pulled his own blade...Now I was worried. I didn't think he'd actually fight back...well I did, but I didn't think he'd fight Me.

A red car sped into the parking lot, and everyone stopped for a second. Then Tim ran towards me with the knife...I ducked and got out of the way, and just as I stood back up I seen Dally run over and tackled Tim to the ground, snatching the knife. Then he pounded him in the face a few times before spitting on him. "Leave him the hell alone Shepard." he hissed.

He walked over to me, as I shoved the knife back into my pocket. Dally smirked "You ok kid?" I nodded "Hey Dal, I thought you were dead or something. You've been gone for two weeks." He smirked "I got in a bit of a fix, and skipped town for a little vacation, no biggy."

He smiled "Come on, let's get you home, and cleaned up before Darry finds out." I sighed and got into the car with Dally. He drove fast...which was kinda making me sick from having my arm dislocated. I don't know why. But It hurt like hell and I didn't like it.

I hung onto the door until we got home, then I went straight inside, and threw up in the toilet. Dally walked in and smirked "You been drinkin? Had to of, to be stupid enough to pull a blade on ole' Tim."

I threw up again, then wiped my mouth, and rinsed it out in the sink. Then I cleaned up the cut that was above my eye from Tim belting me. It wasn't too bad. I decided to just tell Darry I got in a little fight or something. No biggy.

I started to think about Soda...he seemed kinda mad at me. I didn't like it. I just can't take him being mad at me, and Darry being on my back 24/7. I just can't do it. Sometimes I wonder if there's an easier way...

Dally snapped into my thoughts "Hey kid, come on, we're gonna go talk to your brother at the DX." I shook my head "I don't want to go." He smirked "Sorry, but you have to. Ole' Tim sure can hold a grudge when it comes to Angie..even though I know that little broad asked for it."

I sighed and followed him to the car. He didn't drive as fast. I figured he felt kinda bad cause I got sick before. When we got there I thought about waiting in the car, but when I suggested it, Dally said he'd be here a while and for me to come inside.

I walked in after him. Soda was sitting at the register flipping through a magazine. Steve winked at Dally and I had no clue why...but I didn't like it. Dally smile "Ponyboy, I want you to come help me with something real quick alright?"

I shrugged "Alright." I noticed Soda look up from the magazine to see that I was there, but he didn't say anything, and I just followed Dally to the garage. He led me into a small closet where they kept the supplies and stuff. He sighed "I need you to help me find the box with the straws in it."

I looked at him like he was crazy "Why?" He shrugged "I want a straw. Hey, check that one over there." he pointed to the end of the closet. I walk over "Over where.." I heard the door shut behind me and quickly walked over and tried to open it.

He'd locked me in "Dally!" I yelled. He laughed "Just sit tight for a second, I'll go get a key from Soda...sorry bout that man!" he laughed and walked off. I sighed and sat down. Knowing him I could be there a while.

To my surprise he came back pretty quickly. But I was caught off guard to find Steve open the door, "They're in the back Soda..." he said simply. Soda walked in "What? Why are you here pony–" he was cut off by the sound of Steve shutting and locking the door.

We heard Dally and Steve laughing "You can thank Two bit later for this wonderful Idea!" they laughed "You two can stay in there until you kiss and make up!" they laughed as we heard them leave the garage.

I sighed and stared across the closet "Don't you have a key, or a trick for getting out of here?" Soda shook his head "Nope. It's usually Steve's job to get stuff out of here." He sighed and sat down next to me.

It was oddly quiet and I didn't like it. Soda sighed "You know the only way we're gonna get out of here is if we make up?" I shook my head "I ain't about to kiss you Sodapop...brother or not." He chuckled "No, just talk to me..why are we fighting?"

I shrugged "I'm just fed up with everything soda...I mean...one second I don't want your guy's help, and I just wish to god you'd all just leave me alone, but as soon as you do, I feel left out and kinda forgotten you know?"

Soda nodded "I just wanted to give you space... since you didn't seem to like all the pressure of us worrying over you..." I nodded "I know...I just...I want ya'll to worry, but don't over crowd me like I'm dying."

We talked like that for a while...after what seemed like hours we'd gotten onto other subjects like, school, girls– Angie in particular –, Track, and the dreams.

When it got quiet again Soda stood up and slid a piece of wire down the door opening it. "Hey! I thought you said you didn't know how to get out of here!" He chuckled "I was tired of us fighting..and figured if we weren't forced to make up, it wouldn't happen."