Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

"You sure you don't want me to take you boys?" Darry smiled at his dad.

'You've got work. I'm taking them. The guys are meeting us there. They'll be fine. "

"I don't know….."

"Mom I've got this. Besides the last thing Pony needs is people ragging him for one of you taking him to school. Soda or one of the guys will get him to every class. And as for getting in and out of the school. Between the six of us I think we can keep those reporters off of Pony. We'll have Dal with us and he might as well be a Rottweiler."

"Darrel!"

"Well he is right dear."

Margaret huffed. She always had a soft spot for Dallas Winston.

Soda walked in the room. "Pony's in his room. I don't think he wants to go to school today."

The room got quiet. "Did you try talking to him?"

Soda shrugged at his brother. "He has a couple classes with me. He knows I hate school."

Darry rolled his eyes. "I'll talk to him."

Darrel shook his head. "Let me."

"Dad…" Nobody had to say it. Ponyboy was half scared of their father.

Darrel Sr put his hand up to silence his son. "I'll talk to him."

He heaved a sigh and walked into the back of the house. He knocked on Pony's door. "Ponyboy can I come in?"

There was no answer. Darrel sighed. He jiggled the handle. It was unlocked. He walked in. Ponyboy sat on the bed Darrel had made clutching his arm. Darrel gave his son a concerned look. "Is your arm hitting?"

Ponyboy jumped, startled. He stared down at it and shook his head.

"Can I have a seat?" Darrel indicated the bed. When Ponyboy said nothing, Darrel sat on down. He sighed. "Soda says you're really good in school, that you're really smart. You've been a big hel to him in math."

Pony bit his lip. You always were smart you know. You started reading when you were just two. And you were so inquisitive. But this has nothing to do with that does it?"

Again Ponyboy said nothing. Darrel closed his eyes for a moment. His son should not be scared of him. His son should not have to live so anxious and full of fear. His son should be happy not, not this….

"You're scared to go because of the people, they make you anxious don't they." Ponyboy looked up. Was it that obvious?

"I thought so. You can't hide from the world forever. I know your scared and you have good reason. And people are going to bombard you today. There will probably be press there. The guys are gonna try to help you there. I know the boys are intimidating but they would never hurt you. Dallas is a little scary but your Soda and Darry's brother. That holds a lot of credit with him. Do you understand?"

How could he though? Trust was something Ponyboy had never learned to have. Nobody had ever given him reason too. For the moment this family was being great to him but surely that would change, The second they realized how hopeless he was they'd turn on him.

Darrel bit his lip again. He hated this, he really hated this. "You know, you always were shy kiddo. That's part of you that's always been there."

Ponyboy looked up. Darrel flashed him a smile. "Go on now get ready…………………….

Sorry for the wait. Lots going on right now.