Chapter Ten
You've got the Power
Sodapop came home an hour or so later. He sat down on the couch and just stared at the TV.
"The state was here." I told him, crossing my arms.
He looked at me and nodded. "How'd it go?"
"I don't now. She told me you give Darry this note when he gets home." I said, sitting on the couch next to him. "Did you tell Steve?" I asked.
He was silent.
"Huh?" I asked, desperate for him to say no.
"Yeah." He answered, not looking at me.
I felt like I was dieing. I mean what a shitty thing to do. I looked at the floor and nervously tapped my foot. "Why?"
"Pony, you're not gay! You're confused!" Soda said, giving me a desperate look.
"You can't tell me what I am. Darry accepted me, why can't you?!" I yelled, getting up and hurting my bad ankle.
"You can't be gay, Ponyboy. What about Cherry Valance? Evie? Sandy? All those girls" Soda asked, grabbing my shoulders.
"Stop it!" I spat, pushing him. "Just drop it! I thought you said you'd love me no matter what." I felt like crying and I didn't care if I did.
Sodapop was silent again as he looked at his feet.
I stormed into my room, grabbing all the stuff I knew was his. I tossed it out to the living room. "Go back to your room!" I yelled through my tears.
"Ponyboy, your dreams…"
"I have another brother to go to now!" I yelled, tossing everything out. "I'm not going to be in the same bed with someone who's discussed with me!"
"Ponyboy, I'm sorry." He said as I came out, putting his tool box down.
"Too late." I snapped going back to my room and slamming the door shut. I sat on the bed, putting my knees to my chest. I could feel my heart breaking as I heard Sodapop transferring his things to his old room.
He used to love me. He was my brother, he had to love me. But he just stopped. It was a horrible feeling that made me sick to my stomach.
There was a knock at my door after a few minutes.
"Go away!" I yelled.
"Ponyboy, we need to talk." Soda said through the door.
"You had a chance and you messed it up!" I told him, going over to the door.
"I'm real sorry, honey." He said.
Fresh tears formed and rolled down my cheeks. "Shut up." I choked out.
"I do love you. Please believe me." He begged.
I slammed my fist against the door. "Shut up!" I yelled. "Please… Just leave me alone."
"Okay…" He said and I heard his foot steps.
I got back on the bed and pulled the blanket over my shoulders.
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"Ponyboy?" I heard.
It was Darry.
I opened the door and looked up to my oldest brother.
"Are you okay?" He asked, coming in and letting my close the door.
"I guess." I answered, sitting back on the bed.
Darry sat with me, putting his arm around me.
"I have a note from the state for you." I said, handing it to him.
He read it quickly then looked at it weird.
"What'd it say?" I asked.
"You home was satisfactory this time around. I would like to talk about the problems over dinner tonight. My number is 346-8901.
-Sandra Hills"
He read.
"She wants to come here?" I asked, looking the note over.
"I don't know." Darry answered, grabbing the pone that sat on my desk. He dialed the number quickly.
"Hello, Sandra Hills?" He asked.
"I'm Darrel Curtis. I'm okay. I was just calling to ask about dinner. Do you want to have dinner at the house or do you want to go out? Out. Okay well I'll pick you up at five? Okay bye."
"Darry you can't go out." I wined.
"You'll be fine here." He said, patting me on the shoulder. "Come on out to the living room. You can't lock yourself up all day."
"Yeah I can." I said, pulling my knees to my chest.
"Johnny's here." Darry said.
"Then tell him to come here." I said, burying my face in my knees.
"Okay, well I'll tell you before I leave." Darry said, kissing me on the head.
After a minute Johnny came in, quietly closing the door behind him.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked, feeling new tears.
"No." he answered, sitting beside me and putting his arm around me.
"I feel stupid." I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
"You're not. It was just a mistake." He told me.
"Will you love me no matte what?" I asked, putting my arms around his waist.
"Yeah, I will." He answered.
"Well you do anything for me?" I asked, slipping my hand up his shirt, resting it on his warm stomach.
"Y-yeah…" He answered, getting nervous.
"Well then come with me to the doctor and get tested." I said.
"Okay." He said after a minute.
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Johnny and I stayed in my room the rest of the night, but no matter how much a pleaded with him he wouldn't stay the night.
"I was with you last night. I have to go home tonight." He explained before kissing me.
I pulled away, putting my arms around his neck. "Don't."
"Ponyboy, don't make it harder. We still have a while before I have to leave anyway." He said, hugging me back.
I nodded, letting him kiss me.
There was a knock at me door, making me pull away quickly.
"Pony?" Darry asked from the other side.
I looked at the clock it was seven. "Come in."
Darry slipped in, he was in nice cloths from dinner.
"What'd she want to talk about at dinner?" I asked.
"She just said to get you a new sitter. Then she started… putting the moves on me."
"So…" I asked.
"So… She wants to come over tomorrow for dinner." Darry said. "Ponyboy… I think you should talk to Sodapop."
"I don't want to." I complained.
"Ponyboy, just do it. I promise good will come out of it." Darry said.
I nodded, getting up and stepping out to the living room where I saw Soda sitting on the couch.
He looked up at me. "Hey."
"Hey." I said, walking over and sitting on the couch
Before I could say anything he hugged me.
"I'm sorry for all I said." He whispered.
I hugged him back, burying my head in his shoulder.