Chapter 26 – "That Depends..."
The first day after Christmas break Mr. Lamarck entered the classroom looking as if somebody had just informed him that instead of a pay raise he had been assigned extra classes. He slammed down his briefcase on the table and eyed the students with a sour expression.
"We will continue working with statistics. You will work in groups, using real life examples in your calculations and charts."
He walked around and split the students up in fours. When he reached Ponyboy and Johnny's table, he stopped.
"We better find a couple of good students to pair you two up with or you'll have no idea what you're doing."
Ponyboy was actually fairly good at math and rarely scored lower than an B+. At least that had been the case before Sodapop had had his clash with Mr. Lamarck about bullying weak students. After that, Pony's grades had mysteriously started dropping.
"Let's see..." said the teacher, tapping his chin with his index finger. "Cathy and Sandy - you pair up with these two hopeless cases. See if you can help them out."
Sandy sighed ostentatiously and glanced at the two boys. "Do we really have to, Mr. Lamarck? I'm afraid my IQ might drop."
"I doubt it can drop any lower..." Johnny mumbled, just for Ponyboy to hear.
"Yes, you have to. I am not in the mood for another failed assignment," Mr. Lamarck said and went back to his desk. "Now get going, all of you. Spread out."
"Look –" started Sandy as they sat down together. "Why don't me and Cathy just do the assignment and you two go lock yourselves in a closet or something..."
"Be nice, Sandy," Cathy said, looking at her in surprise.
Ponyboy ignored Sandy and sat down, pulling out his papers and calculator. Cathy was an okay girl, as far as Pony knew. She probably didn't know anything about the bad blood between Sandy and the two boys.
Johnny sent Pony a look and sighed. Of all people they could be put in a group with, it just had to be Sandy. The girl hated him and he feared how she would react if she ever found out about him and Sodapop.
"So, we need to find some examples to do some calculations on," said Ponyboy. "Any ideas?"
"How about trash import from the South?" Sandy suggested.
Cathy looked at Sandy, a little puzzled. "Trash? What trash?"
"She means people like Johnny and me," said Ponyboy without looking at Sandy. "And Sodapop, obviously, since he's my brother."
Sandy looked at Pony a little startled. "Soda is different," she said, looking irritated.
"Didn't you two break up?" Cathy asked.
"We're on a break. That's all."
Johnny looked down at his papers, clutching his pen so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Liar! She's a damn liar!
Ponyboy raised his eyebrows, watching Sandy. So she hadn't given up on Sodapop. The girl had to be retarded or something. If she hadn't been such a bitch, Pony would have felt sorry for her.
They agreed on another topic and started on the task. Ponyboy and Cathy ended up doing most of the work since Johnny wasn't very good at it and Sandy was just sitting there in a sulk.
Ponyboy sneaked a peak at Cathy. She was really a nice girl. She probably smiled like that at everybody, but he couldn't help feeling a suck in his stomach every time she smiled at him. She was a year older, though, so he might as well not get any ideas. Girls weren't interested in boys who were younger. Well, except Sodapop. All girls were interested in Sodapop. But Pony was just Soda's brother. He was nothing special...
The bell rang and Sandy was quick to get up from her seat. "Come on, Cathy. Let's go get some food."
Cathy nodded and got up.
"See you guys later. And Ponyboy? You want me to type this in?" She held up the assignment. "Then maybe you can look it through for mistakes and I'll rewrite it if needed."
Pony nodded eagerly and she sent him another smile.
When they had gone, Johnny rested his head on his hand, watching his friend with a smile playing on his lips. "So... When ya gonna ask her out?"
"W-what?" said Pony and felt himself go red in the face. "I ain't interested in her. I mean - she ain't interested in me."
"How do you know? I didn't think Soda was interested in me. And look at us now."
"Well that's... that's different."
"How's that different?" asked Johnny. "You could just ask her if she wanna study after school or something... Not a real date. Just a study date."
Johnny had no idea when he had become a dating expert. Soda was his first boyfriend and Johnny had been stuttering and making a fool of himself whenever Soda had been around. He still did sometimes.
"I... well, maybe. Don't tell Soda I like her," Ponyboy pleaded. "He'll just find her and force her to date me."
Oh, God. Pony could just imagine.
"I won't." promised Johnny.
"She... she's nice, though, ain't she? I know you don't dig girls, but still..."
"Yeah, she is."
o0o0o
They met Sodapop as they entered the dining hall.
"Hey!" he cried and patted Ponyboy so hard on the back that he started coughing." Let's go eat in the kitchen."
They followed him into the kitchen, where Mrs. Harris broke a big smile upon seeing them.
"I've missed you boys! Have you behaved or do I need to give you all a good old whoopin'?" she grinned. "Sit down and get something to eat."
Two-Bit stood in the back and was trying to cut some carrots, looking like he was half-asleep.
"Keith! Wake up or I'll boil you and server you for dinner!"
"Eww... Two-Bit stew!" said Soda.
Two-Bit heard him and came over, grinning at them.
"Hey there, Sodapop, Ponyboy, and… Johnnycake, right? Man, I get hungry now. Cake and Soda."
"Keith, do you mind going out back and get some boxes of lettuce and cucumbers for me?" Mrs. Harris said and returned to the stove.
"Hey, by the way I got some new stuff the fancy rich kid's didn't pick up," said Two-Bit, ignoring Mrs. Harris. Stupid rich kids, man. No offence, Johnny..."
"None taken," Johnny said and sat down.
"Well, Pony and I ain't rich," said Soda. "There's no way we can afford your outrageous prices. And you probably don't have anything we're interested in anyways - booze and porn... we have higher standards," grinned Sodapop.
"Oh? And what would these fine gentlemen want, then?" Two-Bit asked.
"I got everything I want," said Sodapop. "You, Pony?"
Ponyboy shook his head.
"We could use some lunch, though," said Sodapop. "You gonna be our waiter?"
"Here you go," Mrs. Harris said and placed a burger and coke in front of each of the boys. "It's soup day," she said and winked at them.
"Aww, we get special treatment," said Soda and blew Mrs. Harris a kiss
He discretely edged closer to Johnny, placed a hand on his thigh, and gave it a squeeze. "Hey," he whispered. "I missed you."
"You saw him this morning," said Ponyboy and bit into his burger.
"I missed you too," Johnny said in a low voice.
Soda felt a little stupid for missing Johnny so much already. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night with Johnny back in his dorm. He wasn't really used to sleeping alone, and to be honest he didn't like it too much. He had almost snuck into Ponyboy's room to ask if he could sleep there, but that would just be... pathetic.
He hadn't been in the best of moods at the breakfast table.
"You're lucky," he said to Ponyboy, pouring milk on his cornflakes. "You get to spend all day with him, having most of your classes together and all."
"Lucky for Johnny that it's me and not you," said Ponyboy.
"Huh?"
"He'd never learn anything. You'd distract him all the time."
Pony was kind of pleased he didn't have to share classes with Soda either. He loved his brother to death, but he was so annoying sitting next to you when you wanted to concentrate. Soda got detention regularly for being disruptive in class. Darry had given up on commenting on it. It was just the way Soda was and there was probably no changing it.
Johnny sighed. He had not slept well last night. Being back in his dorm with Victor and Harry was not something he had been looking forward to.
"Keith – didn't I tell you to go get those boxes?" said Mrs. Harris in a threatening tone.
As soon as Two-Bit was out the door Soda turned Johnny's face with a hand on his cheek and started kissing him.
Ponyboy looked apologetically at Mrs. Harris. "They do that every chance they get."
Mrs. Harris looked at the two and smiled a little. "Well if they ain't out yet I guess they have to."
"Come with me to our apartment after school," whispered Soda in between kisses. "Pony has something in movie club and Darry's going somewhere with Lauren."
Johnny nodded and laid his head back against Soda's shoulder to hide the blush that was appearing on his face.
"So you're coming? Man, I can't wait."
o0o0o
Sodapop was waiting outside the classroom of Ponyboy and Johnny's last class. He grinned widely when they came out and spotted him.
"Hey, baby brother!" he said and hugged Pony so hard he dropped his bag. "And you," Soda continued, giving Johnny a big smile. He couldn't very well give him a hug in the middle of the hallway.
"Well, see you guys," said Ponyboy and picked up his bag.
"Sure thing," said Sodapop and walked off with Johnny.
o0o0o
They had barely gotten inside before Soda grabbed Johnny by the front of his jacket and pushed him up against the door.
"God, I've been horny all day, he said and started kissing him passionately.
Johnny was rather surprised as Soda grabbed a hold of him. He hadn't seen him like this before but he figured Soda had gotten used to sex every day by now since Johnny had stayed with them for two whole weeks. As Johnny had gotten a hold of himself, he took a firm grip on Soda and pulled himself closer, kissing back. He had certainly missed Soda as well.
Without breaking the kiss, Soda started fumbling with Johnny's jacket, finally getting it unzipped, and pushed it off his shoulders. He quickly shrugged out of his own and Johnny pulled him back in. Soda pressed himself hard against Johnny, rocking his hips forward rhythmically. The sounds he could get Johnny to make drove him crazy.
"Oh, God..." Johnny gasped into Soda's mouth and clutched his hair with a hand. "I need you so bad!"
He got a little embarrassed but he just couldn't control himself anymore.
"Yes - say that again!" gasped Soda as he fumbled frantically with Johnny's shirt buttons. "God, you're so sexy in your uniform," said Soda as he got the last button and let his hands smooth over Johnny's bare stomach and sides.
Johnny shivered a little as the other boy's fingers ran over his hot skin. He loosened his grip on Soda's hair and let his fingertips dance down Soda's neck. He was going crazy. He needed Soda. He wanted to feel him. Feel him closer than he had ever been before. He wanted him to take him. But he wasn't sure Soda wanted to go that far, and he wasn't sure how to ask him about it.
Soda's hands moved down to the fly of Johnny's pants. He wasn't up for more foreplay - he was rock hard and just needed to get off. From the frantic way Johnny was moving and pulling at Soda's hair and clothes it was clear he was feeling the same way. So Soda quickly undid the other teen's fly and stuck his hand in.
"Mmm… You really do want me," he said, trying to grin while not breaking the heated kiss.
"God, yes," Johnny said in a short breath.
He fumbled with the zipper in Soda's pants and closed his hand around his erection.
Soda made a sound in the back of his throat and pushed his hips forward, rubbing their cocks together. He pushed Johnny's hand away so it wasn't in the way.
Johnny braced himself against the door behind him and leaned his head to the side, letting out a soft moan. He could feel the sweat starting to appear on his forehead.
Soda picked up Johnny's leg behind the knee and hooked it around his own to allow closer contact. He kept his hand there for support and started thrusting harder.
Johnny wrapped his leg tighter around the back of Soda's thigh and an arm around his waist to better steady himself. He gasped at the closer contact and put a hand on the back of Soda's neck, pulling him down into a passionate kiss.
Soda kept rocking his hips back and forth, making them both moan.
"God, Johnny - I'm gonna..."
He had wanted to wait for Johnny so they could come together, but that just wasn't going to happen. He didn't know why he was so fired up today; it wasn't as if they had been apart for long. He thrust violently a couple more times and came hard.
Johnny moved his hand down and helped himself along. It didn't take long before he also climaxed with a moan. He was surprised that he hadn't come first, because he had been so worked up. Feeling his body go limp, he sank forward, leaning his head against Soda's shoulder.
After a moment Sodapop took Johnny's face between his hands and kissed him. "Wanna go lie down for a bit?"
"That would be nice," Johnny said, still holding onto Soda for support. Once again the other teen had managed to knock his feet away from under him.
They cleaned themselves up a bit and lay down on Sodapop's bed facing each other. Soda smiled and ran his fingers through Johnny's damp bangs. "We're real good together, huh? In all ways."
Johnny nodded and smiled at him. "I don't think I've ever been this happy in my whole life. No – I know I've never been this happy."
Soda smiled and gave Johnny a tender kiss on the forehead. "I'm happy too. The most I've been since my parents died."
Johnny kissed Soda softly on the lips and ran a couple of fingers down his cheek. It wasn't fair that his parents had died. It was hard for Johnny to grasp why good people like that had to die so young, when horrible people like his own mother and father were alive and well.
As they lay snuggling Johnny tried to work up the courage to ask Soda something he had wanted to for a while. "Um… Soda?" he said and bit his lip nervously.
"Mm…?"
"If you want... I mean... I dunno if you do but... I mean… I'd like to go further at some point..." Johnny said, feeling his heart pumping harder.
"Further?" Soda propped himself up on the elbow, studying at Johnny. "You mean move in together? Get married? Things like that?"
"I… I m-mean s-sex," Johnny stuttered, feeling rather stupid.
Sodapop had to bite his lip in order not to laugh at Johnny's funny expression. He didn't want to make him feel even more embarrassed.
"You mean in the butt?"
He hadn't thought It was possible for Johnny to get more red in the face but obviously he had been wrong.
Johnny just pulled the covers over his head. He felt so embarrassed when Soda said it straight out like that.
"So is that a yes? Hiding under the covers?" asked Soda and pulled them down to expose Johnny's face.
"You make me embarrassed," he said and looked down.
"There's nothing to be ashamed off," laughed Sodapop. "There's nothing unnatural about it. Just nod if you mean yes."
Johnny kept his head down, avoiding Soda's gaze, as he nodded.
"Gee, Johnny, I dunno... You sure you wanna do that?"
"W-why not? D-don't you like it?" Johnny asked, eying Soda nervously.
"Of course I like it. It's really good and I'd really love to do it with you... I just don't want you to do something you ain't ready for. I wasn't ready when I first did it."
"Well... I'm two years older than you were. And I trust you. We've been doing a lot of stuff, and I just thought it could be fun trying some more."
"You know I'll take good care of you," smiled Soda, playing with a lock of Johnny's hair. "I just wanna be sure you don't do something you'll regret. And I don't want you to do it because you feel you have to. I'm happy doing whatever you want."
"I wanna try it," said Johnny determinedly. "If you do, of course."
Sodapop nodded, smiling widely. "Okay. We'll have to get some lube, though."
He thought about it for a moment. They didn't have a free weekend until next week, and since Darry had the stupid idea that Sodapop and Ponyboy had to live by the same rules as their schoolmates and not leave the premises, Soda had to go to Two-Bit.
Johnny nodded and cuddled back against Soda.
o0o0o
Darry sat in the waiting room waiting for Lauren to come out with the verdict. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He was so nervous he almost felt sick.
What felt like hours later Lauren exited the doctor's office and asked Darry to drive her home.
She still hadn't said anything when Darry turned on the car and headed out on the road, and he couldn't read her face. It made him really uncomfortable.
"Is... Is everything okay?" he finally asked.
"That depends..."
"Depends on what?" he asked and looked at her quickly before setting his eyes back on the road.
"On... Well, I'm pregnant."
Darry pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. He turned to face her and put a hand on her knee.
"And… you're not happy about it?"
Darry was determined to do whatever he could for her and the baby. He just hoped she would let him.
She shrugged, still gazing out the front window. "I don't know. I don't know what to do."
Darry gave her knee a small squeeze. "I wanna be there for you, no matter what you decide. We will figure it out."
She finally looked at him. "You... you wanna do this?"
"Don't you wanna keep the baby?"
"I... I don't know. I don't want to terminate it, but... I don't know if I can manage it. It's a lot of responsibility taking care of a baby, and it's expensive. I don't have any skills. I don't know anything about raising children. I don't know if I can..." she said, sounding like she was fighting not to start sobbing.
"Hey, look at me," said Darry, gently turning her face with a hand on her chin. "I was terrified of getting custody of my brothers, but I had too and I think I'm doing okay… Most of the time, at least. And let me tell you: I became the guardian of two teenagers - everyone's worst nightmare," he smiled. Lauren couldn't help but giggle a little. "A little baby will be no problem, and we're two about the job. You're a very caring person, Lauren. I know you will be a great mother. And I will be there for you. Every step of the way. "
"But..." she started, tears welling up in her eyes. "We just got together. And your brothers... you have to take care of them. They need you."
"I don't care if I just met you. I know I love you, and I'm ready for this." Darry said determinedly.
Lauren took a deep breath, trying to compose herself but instead she burst into tears. "You make it sound so wonderful and easy and..."
"It will be. Maybe not easy, but we can handle it just fine if we're together."
She cried even harder and squeezed his hands like she was holding on for dear life. Then she nodded and sobbed, "I want to do it."
Darry smiled and leaned over, hugging her tight. Now he just had to break the news to Ponyboy. Soda already knew but how would Pony react?
A/N: Remember to check out the illustration for the chapter (link on my profile).