Chapter 26

Bachelor Party

XXX

"Welcome to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Local time is 5:48 P.M.. We hope you have enjoyed flying with us today!"

I couldn't move very well. I puked on the plane for the first few minutes of the flight, then dry heaved for a while afterward. The surrounding passengers looked annoyed with me at first, which I understood but didn't give a rats ass about either. Eventually they just seemed to resent my being here, which believe me- the feeling was mutual. I didn't want to be here either, but there was no other way I could get to Soda's wedding then get back to Montana without missing school. The train would simply take too long round trip. Then the stewardess decided to get involved, as if I needed more attention.

"Sir, are you sick?"

No shit honey, obviously you missed the show. Ask the folks around me...they'll fill you in! I was too weak and tired to talk. I just looked up at the stewardess while Ashley updated her.

"My fiancé was on that flight that crashed in Osage back on October 8. This is his first flight since. He's still getting used to flying. Sorry for the disturbance."

As soon as Ash mentioned the last flight...the other stewardess came over. They started talking to each other, ignoring the fact we heard every word.

"That was the one Michelle was on, remember? She was lucky," said stewardess number one.

"Yeah, some young man on that flight saved a family from burning up," answered stewardess number two. "She told me he was just like a hero, running back to save those kids. Thought he was dead for a few days till he showed up again."

I felt my stomach lurch again and squeezed Ash's hand.

"If you don't mind, that young man you're referring to is Ponyboy here, and I doubt he needs more reminders of what happened. What he does need is a little more quiet and little less notoriety. So please..."

I looked at Ashley, her face and tone were begging, and the stewardesses took the hint and finally went back to their spots in the kitchen.

"Thank you," I mumbled feebly.

"Close your eyes, Pony. We'll be there soon."

I did as she said, but doubt I slept. I kept waiting to hear the engines die out on the wings. The only time I got panicked was when I felt the plane start to fall some and felt a jerking sensation below me, from under the plane. My eyes shot up and I nearly broke Ash's hand squeezing it so tight.

"It's just the landing gear, Pony. We're at the airport. We're in Tulsa." Her eyes met mine and she smiled, calming me down. I tried to let go of her hand, and even though I let off of my grip, I couldn't pry myself away. As long as I held her, I was safe. She didn't argue. The landing gear made contact with the runway and the plane slowed down. All that was left to do was get off this death trap. Even though we made it, I still hated flying.

The door opened and all the passengers began to file out, Ash and I along with them.

"Well, I'll be damned. I thought for sure I was gonna have to go to the train station in the early morning hours to pick you up. I never would have thought you'd fly again, Pony. Hey Ashley. Good to see you too."

"And you'll note, Darry... I'm not pregnant, despite what you may have thought." I looked at Ashley, her face smiling evilly.

"So he told you, huh? Sorry ...well he didn't explain it.... I mean, I..."

"Darry.... just be quiet," she said, watching Darry turn a few shades of red. I hadn't seen Darry be embarrassed in years. This was almost comical, if only I could really enjoy it.

"Pony, you okay? You look … green," Darry noticed.

"I hate flying," was all I could say. He laughed at me as Ash took my hand and Darry led the way to baggage claim.

Later, I sat back in the truck, resting my head on the seat back. Darry and Ashley chatting about the last month, the horses, her classes, my classes, and everything else. I stayed quiet. As long as I didn't have to talk, I think I would be fine.

"Ponyboy, you gonna be okay for the party?" Darry asked, looking at me.

"What party?" I said, lifting my head up.

"Soda's bachelor party. I'm gonna drop Ashley off at Soda's where the ladies are doing their own thing, then you and I are gonna join the rest of the gang at Bucks."

"Darry, I'm not dressed for anything nice," Ashley said, starting to worry the wrinkles from her blouse.

"Ashley, don't worry about it. All the women are there. Pony and I have to get on to the guys. Take your bag with you and stay there tonight. It's all set up for you."

Ash looked at me. I sat up, forcing myself to feel better. "Go on. Trust me, you won't want to be at Darry's tonight."

She nodded and Darry pulled up at Soda's building. I walked her to Soda's door and waited until it opened. Squeals of female laughter rang from inside.

"Ashley's here! Yahoo!" was heard from within.

"Have fun," I said, kissing her before I returned to Darry's truck.

"So what's the plan?" I asked as I settled back in the seat.

"Buck's got the place cleared out for us. Steve's working on getting him drunk. You know how he hates to drink, especially after almost losing his kidney... so it's been a challenge. I don't care if you get drunk either, as long as you're functional tomorrow. You got your suit?

"Yeah. It's in my bag. So you're best man, huh?"

"You know he wants us both there. He wasn't sure you'd make it down. He's worried he's taking you from your school work."

"That's why I flew down. Only you and Soda will ever get me on a plane. I still cant believe I actually flew again." I rubbed my temples. Darry saw me and handed me a bottle of aspirin.

"Here, take two now. That way the hangover you might have later wont be as bad."

I took them, but not for a hangover. I had no intention of drinking. Once was enough in my life.

I had turned fourteen a few weeks before the night I got drunk, and I was miserable. My parents were dead, Darry was bossing me around, my nightmares left me exhausted and to get my mind off everything else, I stupidly decided it was time to see what the big deal about alcohol was. I had been curious about it for a while, seeing as how Two-Bit drank like a fish. So I tried it. Several cups worth of it. Cured the curiosity factor for that and everything else in my life.

Me and the bushes had a meeting, then I moved on to embrace the toilet. Puking for what felt like an hour straight, Darry screaming at me the whole time and throughout the night, the gang laughing at me... well except for Johnny. He didn't laugh, just looked down, disappointed like. I don't remember what Soda did or even if he was there, but his disapproval was clear to see after I sobered up. At some point I went to sleep only to wake hours later with a splitting headache that Darry decided to coincide with yet another lecture. A loud lecture. To be honest, nothing he said lasted as long as the memory of feeling as bad as I had. That was it. No more alcohol in my life. I didn't need it, didn't want it and had no desire for it.

XXXX

"Well, look who finally decided to come down and join the party! Howya been, Pony-- boy," Steve wasn't quite drunk but he was well on the way there. "Still tag-a-longing after Soda, after all these years. Why ruin your own record?"

The music was loud, the smoke present but not thick, and the room somewhat crowded. People were everywhere...almost like back at Christmas. All friends of ours, folks who backed us at rumbles and bled with us no matter what the cause. Not a bad show. Between Steve and Tim, I think everyone was here.

Soda got up and met Pony as he followed in the door behind me. "Hey, Pone. Glad you made it. I wasn't sure if you'd get to be here or not. It wouldn't be the same without you. You ain't mad at me, are ya, as far as having Darry be my best man an all? I want you up there with me, I insist."

I was pretty sure Pony could smell it on his breath, lord knows I could. I left those two and sat back at the table. Tim dealt a new hand and everyone went back to their conversations while Soda and Pony talked at the bar. I kept an eye on them, Buck handing Pony a glass of Pepsi while they talked. I noticed the subtle nod at Steve and Steve's grin appear on his face as he sat across from me.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked Steve.

"Whaaa? Me? Nothin' Darry, nothin!"

Pony downed the whole thing, typical for him which we all knew. He lived off that carbonated sugary mix for the longest time, until I couldn't afford to buy them as often. Buck simply handed him another glass, which I noticed he just sipped this time. Finally Soda meandered back to the table and the poker game resumed. What I couldn't tell was if Soda was in on it too, or if this was solely Steve's handiwork. Or Steve's and Two-Bit's. Now that I thought about it, where was Two-Bit?

"Where's Mathews?" I asked openly.

"Pool table," Tim answered back.

My glance went back to Ponyboy, who was still downing that second drink. He got up to join us and suddenly reached out to grab the bar. He had no idea what Buck had done, and I wasn't gonna let this get carried away any further. It was one thing if he chose to get hammered, another if someone else did the hammering.

"Steve, either you go tell him or I will."

Steve looked humorously offended, but he wasn't getting up. He was too busy hiding his laughter behind his hand at how hard a time Pony was beginning to have.

I went over to the bar. "No more, Buck.. The next drink for either of my brothers had better be exactly what they order with no surprises inside. You read me?"

"Like a book, Darrel."

"Darry, what are you talking about?" Pony looked at me, wide eyed. I took the glass from his hand and sniffed it. I could smell it, but it was subtle. Pony wasn't a drinker and probably couldn't tell.

"Trust me, Pony. You'll understand in the morning."

I helped him to the poker table where we played for a bit, then he got up and headed off in the direction of the pool table where Two-Bit was. Later, I went to join him but he was nowhere to be found.

"Two-Bit, seen Pony?"

Two-Bit looked at me, confused. "I thought he was over with you at the card game."

I went back to the other room, scanned it again but didn't see him. Returning to the bar, I got a Pepsi...a real one this time, and asked Buck. This was his establishment, afterall.

"Seen where Pony went to?"

"Yup. Kid went upstairs to Dally's old room. Asked me for the key a while ago."

Ah shit. "Thanks a bunch," I said sourly.

I climbed the stairs and went to the room, knocking on it first then entering when there was no answer.

Pony was on the bed, curled up on his side facing me. I knew the rooms remained in the same layout they were in when Pony was here last. Buck was too lazy to change anything that major. Fresh sheets on the beds were about all he managed to rotate. My knowledge of what happened here was limited to what witnesses said in the court testimony and what he put in that essay his teacher had him write. But what little it was was burned into my memory, never forgotten.

"You okay, Ponyboy?" I sat on the squeaky bed next to him.

"You ever think of them anymore, Darry? Johnny and Dally?" His quiet voice softly asked.

"I do, but not as much. I don't think Johnny would want us to dwell on things, and Dally was never one to care about what anyone else thought anyway. I know they both cared for you, though. They wouldn't want to see you like this. Neither of them. They've moved on. I thought you had too."

He wiped his eyes. It obviously didn't take much to get him somewhat tipsy. At least I could talk to him now. I foolishly wondered if that was what I did wrong all those years. When I wanted to talk to him, I should have given him a beer from Two-Bits stash. Then we wouldn't have been so isolated from each other.

"I have. I just miss them every now and then. I sure am ruining the party, ain't I?"

"No, Pony. Anytime you can open up to Darry is a good time." Soda was at the door. "And it's my party, so I don't mind a bit." He walked over, door closing behind him and kneeled down so his face wasn't far from Pony's.

Pony smiled, reaching out to Soda from where he lay on the bed, touching Soda's cheek. I watched in awe. These two have always had a bond all their own.

"I'm so glad I didn't lose you, Soda," he barely whispered. "I thought I had. I never would have left if I thought you were alive. I waited for you to come home. I couldn't stay when I thought you were gone. It was just too much. You know? I'm so sorry."

Tears rolled off Pony's face, matched by the ones rolling off Soda's. I held back, an easier thing to do since I had refrained from the drinks Buck was handing out. Soda wiped Pony's tears away. "Well, if you had stayed, you wouldn't have met Ashley, have your home, land, jobs, money and dare I say it... a happy life. A damn good happy life. You belong in Montana. You did the right thing."

Pony sighed, closing his eyes tightly and pulling up tighter in a ball, as if he were cold.. "I think somehow, someone spiked my Pepsi."

"You're right. Here, this one's fine," I said as he sat up. He took the drink from me and swallowed some.

"You ready to get married, Soda?" Pony asked, leaning back against the wall, knees bent to his chest while sitting on the bed.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he said.

"To moving on, then." Pony held the glass up as if giving a toast then drank some, while staring at the room.

"Moving on." Soda echoed, taking the glass and having a sip.

I took the glass from Soda's hand and finished it off. "Moving on." I said solemnly, hoping the ghosts from the past would move on as well.

XXX

Calla Lilly Rose

Many thanks to LH-C for the help with the story!