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Phone Numbers

Sodapop leaned over the counter, grinning at the girl holding a bottle of coke, their faces so close they were almost touching. I mean, I knew he needed a distraction with his brother gone, and I knew Sandy had dumped him and everything, but glory, did this guy ever stop flirting with girls? Keith had dropped me off here two hours ago and it had been non-stop. Steve was out back fixing cars, and honestly, I was thinking about joining him instead. It was cleaner in here, but Sodapop and the brunette were gonna start making out any moment if that look on her face was anything to go by.

"What time do you get off?" She asked him, pushing her boobs out, and I rolled my eyes, sighing loudly and jumping off the back counter where I'd been sitting, trying to read a book. "That your kid sister or something?" She asked, quieter as she glanced at me, and I put the book under my arm.

"Nah, I'm babysitting." He told her, shooting me a look.

"Is that what you call…that?" I asked, gesturing vaguely at the girl's chest which she was resting on the counter, and Sodapop clenched his jaw a little. I mean, I appreciated him looking after me…I'd been with one of his gang or my brother every day, all day, and I sure felt safer, but this was boring. Darrel was working late and Keith wouldn't let me go to with Dally to Buck's…Dally was the most fun to hang out with if I had to choose. He taught me how to fight sometimes, or we'd play cards…he took me to the library too, and once, to a drag race, but had made me promise not to tell Keith. When some guy started bugging me, he'd put an arm around my shoulder, blowing smoke in his face, and threatened to…well…do serious damage to the guy's nether regions.

When I'd asked him if he'd really meant it, he'd looked almost embarrassed, telling me not to repeat stuff like that, and I'd promised not to tell Keith…or Darry. Darrel Curtis wasn't my big brother or anything, but sometimes he acted like it, and he was so big I wasn't about to disobey him. Not openly, anyway. Then he'd found us seats and the rest of the night had been uneventful. Watching the races was fun, since Keith never let me go. I could sneak and do it but I was always scared him or one of his friends would be there and they'd rat me out for sure. I wasn't really part of the gang, just Keith's little sister. Not like Ponyboy.

Thinking about Ponyboy being gone made me feel bad for Sodapop. He was just trying to distract himself, and the pretty brunette was more than willing to distract him. I was just getting in the way. Lots of my friends had crushes on Sodapop, but to be honest, even though he was real handsome and everything, I preferred his little brother, something I wouldn't tell anyone for nothing. Especially not Keith, who'd tease him and me. Pony was quiet and real nice most of the time, and he was just as good-looking as Sodapop, to me anyway. I liked hanging out with him, too, and he wasn't embarrassed to hang out with a girl like other guys our age.

"I'm gonna go help Steve with the cars." I told him, lifting an eyebrow at the brunette, knowing it made me look kind of like Keith. "Good luck." I told her, and she snorted while Sodapop barked out a laugh. Heading back to the garage in the back, I found Steve's legs poking out from underneath a jacked up pickup truck, lying on a towel. I leaned onto the front of the truck, staring down at him in the gaps between the engine and other stuff I couldn't name until he jumped a little, meeting my eyes.

"What?" He barked, and I shrugged.

"Nothing. What are you doing?"

"Changing the oil."

"How come?"

"Oil has to be changed or it fu…or it screws with your engine."

"How come?"

"Just does." He told me, obviously distracted.

"How often do you gotta do it?"

"Every few months. Wanna hand me that wrench on by your foot?" I glanced around, finding it on the floor, and grabbed it, dropping to my knees and crawling down to lay beside him on the towel. He muttered a 'thanks' and started unscrewing something. I flipped over on my back, watching the oil drain into a bucket in silence. I'd never been under a car before, and I looked around, curious, but not curious enough to learn more. "Thought you were reading or something."

"Got bored," I told him, deciding against informing him of Sodapop's new brunette buddy. "Can't I just walk home? It ain't far."

"You know you can't."

"C'mon, Steve." I whined. "Anybody bugs me, I'll knife 'em!" He snorted, reaching up and retightening something or another.

"Two-Bit'll kill me if I let you go somewhere alone."

"Have you guys heard from Ponyboy?" I asked, making him pause and look at me, a kind of weird expression on his face. I knew his foster siblings were all gone...the girl had turned eighteen and split, and the boys had left right before their own birthdays. That's where Keith was off so much these days...looking for anyone around that place that would help us out. So far, even with Tim's help, they'd had no luck.

"Uh…yeah. Soda talked to him a couple of days ago."

"How come he don't call more often?"

"You'd have to ask him, Suze." He started to crawl out from under the truck and I shimmied out, using the truck to pull myself up and brushing the dirt off my shirt and pants. I started to tell him I couldn't since he never seemed to call when I was around…or awake, but then remembered the phone number taped to Darrel's refrigerator. I sure wasn't brave enough to try and call, though. Didn't want to irritate the guy he was living with.

"Do you think it'll ever be safe for him to come back?" I didn't just mean that…I also wanted to know if it would ever be safe for me to be alone. He nodded, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, kid. We're gonna make sure that ass…that jerk gets put away, then it'll be safe."

"But how?" He sighed.

"I don't know. But we'll figure it out, even if we have to use Tim and his guys."

"Will they kill him?" He glanced around like Keith was gonna pop out of a garbage can and yell at him for corrupting his sister. That didn't happen though, of course, and he nodded.

"Yeah. That's Tim's solution. Kill a couple of them, then bring Ponyboy back to talk about what happened." I knew Steve didn't get along with Ponyboy too well, but the way he talked made me think he really missed his best friend's brother. Or maybe he just wanted to help his friend out.

Deciding to leave him to his work, I grabbed my book and one of the milk crates they used to sit on. They were so uncomfortable I'd almost sit on the ground, but the ground was filthy with oil and grease and car parts. I'd never get any of that crap out of my clothes, so I resigned myself to the milk crate, trying to get comfortable and failing. Opening the book, I tried not to think about it.

Steve was busy with another car and from what I could tell, the gas station was busy, so I figured I'd get out of the way. The book was Ponyboy's. He'd told me I could borrow any of his books I wanted and I was currently making my way through the Carpetbaggers, which I think was Darry's, but it was so boring I figured I'd return it. If Keith took any kind of interest in what I read, I think he would have taken it away from me, since it talked about sex and stuff, kind of like his dirty magazines. I didn't see why he cared so much if I saw those…I knew what naked girls looked like. I had a mirror…even though I didn't much look like those girls.

I did my best to concentrate on the book until I felt someone watching me. Figuring Steve or Sodapop had come out to check on me, I glanced up, freezing at the sight of the girl. Her hair was up and tucked in a baseball cap, and she was leaning against light post across the street. Our eyes met and she lifted a finger, gesturing for me to come over. I looked back at the garage…Steve was under a car. He wouldn't notice I was gone if I hurried. I didn't recognize her, and I was aware that the asshole who'd hurt Ponyboy had friends around. Still, this girl didn't look like the kind of person to pal around with an abusive foster parent.

Jumping up and leaving my book, I crossed the street. The DX faced the other street, so Sodapop wouldn't see me, but I didn't want to risk Steve catching me, even though I didn't know if I was doing anything wrong. I guess I could have just told them she was a friend from school or something. Letting curiosity win, I turned to the girl. As I got closer that she had a black eye and a busted lip. "What happened to you?" I asked, not able to help it. I didn't see lots of girls that were beat up, even around here.

"I got a real asshole for a boyfriend." She told me with a smirk. "Are you related to Sodapop and Darrel Curtis?" She didn't look like she thought I was, cause the question was real skeptical, and I shook my head.

"Nope. I'm their friend's sister. Who're you?"

"Which friend?" She asked, ignoring my question.

"Keith Matthews." She nodded, pursing her lips. "I'm Susan," I told her.

After a moment, she glanced back at the garage, then at me. "Susan, I'm Rita. I was Ponyboy's foster sister." I felt my mouth drop open and immediately glanced around, looking for Sodapop or Steve. Neither of them were around, and she grabbed my wrist. "Don't." She warned.

"Don't what?" I asked, trying to pull away.

"Don't call for them."

Incredulous, I lowered my voice. "They've been trying to find you…"

"I know…"

"I thought you were out of that house." She touched her black eye, sighing.

"I need a favor." Rita told me, not acknowledging that.

"What kind of favor?" I asked, wary.

"Ponyboy's alive." She told me, crossing her arms. I crossed my own, lifting an eyebrow and channeling my tough big brother. "Richard is after you guys…two of 'em came after you right?" I just nodded. "He wouldn't be after Ponyboy's brothers if the kid was dead. He lived." She wasn't asking me a question so I was quiet. "I need to know where he is."

"I don't know," I told her, glancing back across the parking lot. Still not Steve or Sodapop.

"You don't know or you won't tell me?"

I snorted, incredulous. "Both."

"Please, Susan." She sighed, letting her arms hang at her sides. "I...I just want to talk to him. And then…maybe I can help." Something in her tone stopped me. As far as I knew, her and Ponyboy hadn't been close. According to the guys, they'd barely had any kind of relationship at all. But she was acting like she missed him or something. I felt a pang in my stomach. Maybe…maybe they'd been close? Real close? I mean, she was older than him…did that matter? The thought kind of bugged me, but I didn't have time to think about that.

"Help?" I asked.

"Talk to the cops. Make it safe for him to come back somehow…something." She shrugged. "I just…I really need to talk to him first."

"I really don't know where he is." I told her, my voice real quiet, my stomach doing flips. "I swear. None of us do." Well, Dallas did, but I didn't want to tell her that. Then it hit me…I did know something. And if she would talk…all of this could be over. Darrel and Sodapop could get their brother back and I wouldn't have to be babysat all the time and…everything could go back to normal. "I can get the phone number of the place he's staying." I almost whispered.

"Seriously?" She leaned in, starting to reach for me, but dropping her hands at the last second.

"How come you won't talk to any of the guys?" I asked. She gave me a look, almost disbelieving. "They've been trying to look for you…they need you to talk about what Richard did to Ponyboy. The other two ain't gonna talk! They disappeared. And you're the last chance they've got to get Ponyboy back." She just stared at me, her jaw tight. "Sodapop and Darry don't know what to do. They miss him so much. We all do. It ain't right he should have to hide from that asshole." The girl stared at me for a long time and I found myself glancing back at the garage where, thankfully, neither Sodapop nor Steve was outside looking for me.

"Get me the number and I'll think about it." She told me suddenly, jaw tight. "Can you have it by tomorrow?"

"I don't even know if I'll be here tomorrow." I stalled. If I did this and it went wrong…if that guy found Pony somehow…if he hurt him…it would be all my fault. Could he find Ponyboy based on a phone number? Would the guys find out I'd given it out? Could I trust this girl? Most importantly, was this our only option? My heart raced and my palms started to sweat. What if I could save him?

"Can you meet me somewhere? Without your bodyguards?" She prompted.

I wasn't sure, honestly. Steve didn't work tomorrow, but Sodapop did. I wasn't sure what Keith's plans were. Darry wasn't working either. "I'll try to meet you at the library." I gave in after a moment. "I can't promise when…"

"I'll hang out there all day." She grinned a little.

"Maybe sometimes in the afternoon?" I suggested. "I can't promise but…I'll try…"

"Sure." She agreed immediately. I wasn't sure how I'd pull it off, but I'd figure it out.

"I'd better get back before one of them notices I'm gone," I told her, voice weak.

"Okay." She took a step back, and I hurried back across the street, parking back on the milk crate with Darry's book that I couldn't focus on anymore. I just stared at the same page, my eyes going in and out of focus, mind racing until a hand landed on my shoulder and I about fell off the milk crate, my hand going to my pocket where Keith's knife was.

"Woah there, kid!" Steve jumped back, hands up as he chuckled. "Don't stab." He had his eyebrow lifted, smirking, and I sighed, hoping he couldn't see it on my face.

"Hey. Sorry…time to go?" He shook his head.

"Nah. Me and Soda are stuck here for a few more hours, but Darry's gonna swing by and take you back to the house."

"I can walk…he doesn't have to drive out here."

"It ain't that far, and he don't mind." I hated being treated like a baby, but I had to admit, I was glad they were with me. Still, I couldn't believe this. Rita wanted to contact Ponyboy…she'd promised to think about talking to the cops. Why? Why did she want to talk to him so bad? Did she like him or something? Had they…I don't know…been close? I felt my face heat up as I waited for Darry and did my best to think of anything else. I was being stupid. What Ponyboy did was none of my business. But I knew that if I asked Darry or Sodapop for permission to give out that number, they'd want to talk to Rita, then she might disappear…then she might never tell the cops what had happened, and then Pony might never get to come back.

I was standing by the garage when Darry's truck pulled up to the gas station, trying to give Sodapop more time alone with his brunette friend who I assumed was still inside. Hurrying over, not wanting him to have to wait, I climbed into the truck, putting the book on the seat beside me and thanking him for the ride. He glanced at the book, lifting an eyebrow and humming in acknowledgment of the thanks. "Ain't that a little too old for you." He asked, vaguely disapproving. I could see why it bugged Pony, and it kind of bugged me too. He wasn't even my brother. But I grinned anyway. He was doing me a favor…he could have left me at the DX until Steve and Soda got off.

"Yeah." I admitted, shrugging. He smiled a little, pulling out of the parking lot, but didn't say anything else. "Hey, Darry?"

"Hm?" He kept his eyes on the road, barely glancing at me, and I was glad. I didn't know if I'd have been able to ask if he'd been looking at me.

"If Ponyboy's foster sister won't talk, do you think he can ever come back?" He was quiet, his jaw clenched, and I knew that whatever he said, the real answer was no. Rita was the only one left who could testify against Richard. "I'm sorry," I muttered, turning to stare out the window. That answered that.

He sighed, softening. "You ain't gotta be sorry, kiddo. We're gonna get him back. Even if that girl won't talk, we'll figure it out."

"Okay." He was lying. Keith did it all the time. 'I'll be home before dark.' 'Mom's gonna stop working so much.' 'We'll do something together this weekend.' 'Dad's gonna be back soon.' I realized with a jolt that I was still mad at him and felt my eyes get hot. Staring determinedly out the window, I forced the tears back, not about to start bawling in front of Darrel Curtis…not again. They were all such good liars...I was going to have to get better.

When we got to Darry's house, I dropped the book back on Ponyboy's desk, digging through his others to find a better one. Finally, I settled on a Shirley Jackson book that looked kind of dark and headed out to the living room. Darry was in the kitchen making dinner, and I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable, like a stand in for Ponyboy sometimes. It was like I was in a play, and I was his understudy…suddenly I was on stage and I had to do all his lines, but I didn't know any of them, and everyone was looking at me…

It had been almost a month since those guys had come into my house, but I still had nightmares. The night before, Keith had been home and I'd woken up screaming, just like I'd heard Ponyboy had a few times after his parents had died. Keith had come in with a baseball bat, ready to kill someone, but it was just me, and he'd sat with me until I'd fallen asleep again. That made me feel like a real baby…but I was scared to be in that house alone. I mean, I was too old to be scared of something so dumb, but I was anyway. So I was glad Darry was here…that they hadn't let me walk home on my own.

Rita was their last chance. It all hinged on her. Without her, Pony and Johnny would never get to come home. Those people would keep coming after Darrel and Sodapop…the rest of us too. But if I gave her this phone number…if she got to talk to Ponyboy and got to tell him whatever it was she wanted to tell him…once she knew whatever it was she wanted to know…she could save him. She could tell the cops everything. I glanced at the hole in the wall. Darry had made it. He'd punched a hole in their wall because of this. Keith had about drank himself to death because of it. Johnny had left his home. And me…two men had come into my home at night.

I put the untouched book down, wandering into the kitchen and glancing at the refrigerator where the number was held up with a piece of tape. It wouldn't be hard to copy down. "What's up, kiddo?" Darry asked.

"Need any help?" I asked, tearing my eyes away.

"Nah, that's alright." He glanced up at me from where he stood in front of the stove.

"Is Keith going to be around tomorrow?" I asked. He'd give me a ride to the library. Probably.

"I think he's gonna meet Tim somewhere kind of early." He glanced at me, stirring the pot of whatever he was making for dinner. Probably spaghetti. These guys ate more chicken and spaghetti than anyone I'd ever met. He gave me a half smile. "I'm off tomorrow, though. You need a lift somewhere?" Feeling bile rise in my throat, I nodded.

"Yeah…I just wanted to stop by the library." I admitted, my stomach turning over. Surely he'd see through me. "I can walk…"

He shook his head. "Nah, I can drive you. We can go after lunch if you want. I've got to meet with that cop in the morning, but it shouldn't take too long." I nodded, jaw tight and praying he wouldn't see through me. Keith was a great liar. So was Ponyboy. Dallas. Steve. But not me. I couldn't lie for shit.

"Sounds great." I told him, forcing the smile, then hurried to the living room, dropping onto the couch and praying that I was doing the right thing.

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