"Checkmate." Pony snickered.
"Damn." I tipped over my king.
We started playing chess after getting bored with cards.
Steve came in as Two-Bit got ready to play Pony, "Hey, hobos."
"Hey, bachelor," I stood, tossing him a beer and chewing on a doughnut.
"You hear the news?" Steve plopped down on the couch.
"We know already," Pony said, taking Two-Bit's rook, "you and Evie are moving soon."
"Want me to plan your bachelor party, Mr. Car Maker?" Two-Bit got a pawn of Pony's, "I'm all for it."
"Thanks, man," Steve said, "but that's the best man's job…and Pony's my best bet."
Ponyboy dropped his queen after capturing Two-Bit's bishop, "What?"
"I mean, I know you ain't old enough to host a bachelor party," he explained, "but I would love you as my best man."
Pony questioned this, but soon smiled, "Sure thing."
Steve grinned, once again his tooth out of place, "All right, Ponyboy! And Two-Bit and Sweet, maybe you can throw me the party."
"Hope you like blondes!" Two-Bit snickered.
"You already got one," I said, Steve nudging my shoulder, "Why not have Dally do it?"
"Well, I'm afraid Dallas would get himself in jail," Steve said, "I mean, it's normal, but I don't want anyway to miss my wedding 'cause they in the cooler," he sipped his beer, "That's what I came to tell you."
Pony cocked an eyebrow, "About Dally?"
"He got arrested." Steve casually said.
"Are you serious?" I laughed.
"Dally don't dilly," Two-Bit knocked over his king, then stood heroically, "and I must save him!"
He grabbed the tablecloth from the dining room table and wore it like a cape, "I shall post his bail!"
"With what?" Pony asked, realizing how ridiculous Two-Bit was acting.
"The power of Mickey." Two-Bit said while acting like Batman.
I chuckled as Steve went on about what happened with Dally, "He was trying to steal a car for his road trip. Maybe jail will give him some time to think about it," he came over to the chess table as Two-Bit sat back down, "What you playing, anyways?"
"What's it look like?" Pony reset the pieces.
"Checkers?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, with the whole royal family," Two-Bit sarcastically said, "This Chinese Checkers, Steve."
Fascinated, Steve watched, which made me unable to tell if he knew they were kidding.
After a while Steve played Pony, realizing he lost, but claiming he won by knocking over the board.
As we picked up the pieces the door opened.
"Darry, you okay?" I heard Two-Bit ask.
I looked up. Darry seemed disappointed and rather down.
They…they didn't lose I told myself. Did…did they?
"Darry?" Ponyboy stood and so did I.
He walked slowly in the direction of the kitchen, soon stopping and looking back at us.
"Pony, what college do you want to go to?" Darry asked.
Pony put his hands in his pocket, "Johns Hopkins University. Why?"
"Well, you're going," Darry said, "for as long as you want, for whatever you want."
"Darry…" I began, "did you-"
"Over three hundred thousand bucks!"
All of our jaws dropped as Steve howled and gave Darry a hug that made them both fall over. I pulled Pony into a hug as Two-Bit joined Steve and Darry.
After the small celebration and Darry and Pony's tears, Steve stood and smiled, "Does Dally know?"
"He ain't here, is he?" Darry wiped his eyes.
"In jail, in fact." Pony sniffled with a smile on his face.
"Well, let's go post his bail, li'l buddy!" Darry said, grabbing Ponyboy and racing out the door.
"I'm tellin' Evie and Cherry!" Steve cackled and ran out.
"I'll tell mom!" Two-Bit pretended to fly out the door.
"And I'll tell Johnny," I smiled, "and I bet Soda already knows."