"So what made you decide to leave with Darry?" Two-Bit asked as they continued down the road.
"I don't know," Steve shrugged, "I was at his house when he was getting ready to leave, so I figured he'd need some help."
"Uh huh."
"What?" Steve asked.
"You just ain't one to jump and help anyone lately," Two-Bit said, "We barely see you around."
"I'm busy."
"Busy avoiding us."
"If you plan to just rag on me, let me out of the car and I'll hitch a ride home," Steve said.
"Yeah," Two-Bit scoffed, "That's all we need is another one of us lost out here."
Steve shook his head, "Well I'm not going to listen to you give me shit this entire time."
"Fine," Two-Bit shrugged, "I'm just saying we haven't seen you much. And instead of lying to me and saying you're busy, just say you've been too scared to be around us."
"Scared?" Steve repeated, sounding annoyed, "Why would I be scared? If anything, I'm mad at everything going on. I'm pissed that the state is screwing Darry and Soda and Pony over. What would I have to be scared of?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
Johnny knew it was a long shot, but he didn't know where else to go. He wasn't being drawn to go home or even the lot. It was getting late, but he didn't want to go anywhere else. He just stood in the street, looking up at the Curtis house. It was bare as Darry's truck was gone and the lights were off. It was an odd setting. Usually the outside lights would be left on for anyone, but Johnny guessed Darry wouldn't have worried to turn them on before he left. He wasn't sure if Darry would have actually locked up this time. It was only by chance.
He slowly walked up to the house and grabbed the doorknob. When there was no resistance, he felt some relief. The door slid open and Johnny stepped inside. It was quiet. Even though there were times Johnny would sneak in during the middle of the night, he'd still hear the brothers snoring or turning about in their beds. This was just eerie. It was silent, and Johnny knowing there was no one else in the house made it weird and unsettling.
Closing the door behind him, he walked through the living room and into the kitchen, like it was his first time being in the house. Everything looked so clean and organized. Naturally so, as no one had been there to destroy the place. Darry just had to do what he could to please the social workers. Back in the living room, Johnny glanced at the coffee table. There wasn't the usual pile of magazines or newspapers or cups. It was spotless, besides two picture frames on the corner. One was of Sodapop and one was of Ponyboy. That was the inspiration right there. That was what Darry walked by and looked at everyday, multiple times a day, to keep his head up and moving.
Johnny barely went upstairs ever, but he wanted to this time. The only place he went though was the room Pony and Soda shared. He walked inside of it, and just stared at the empty bed. The bed that had been empty for months now. Johnny could only imagine Darry would make the bed a mess sometimes on purpose. The desk was empty. The dresser was empty. The closet was empty. It was as if no one lived in there.
Taking a seat on the bed, Johnny realized he didn't want to go back downstairs. Tonight, he didn't want to take the couch. It just didn't seem right. Instead, Johnny lay on the bed and settled in for the night.
Two-Bit slowed down as Darry came to a stop at the side of the road. He rolled down his window as the oldest greaser walked over.
"Going down this road here," Darry pointed to a turn coming up, "Is another way to get to the home. You just keep following it and you'll eventually meet back up on this main road. It's just a back way to avoid some traffic. It's possible they could be this direction too. You guys go down that way and I'll stay on the main road. If you find any areas that they could be hiding, search it. Whenever one of us gets to where the two roads meet up, just wait for the other okay?"
"Got it," Two-Bit said. Once they reached the turn, Two-Bit turned his car down the back road as Darry continued down the main road.
"We've got to find them Two-Bit," Steve said quietly. Two-Bit glanced at his friend and could see he didn't feel well. He was pale and antsy.
"You need to lay off the drinking," Two-Bit stopped the car for a moment, walked to the back and opened his trunk. He came back to his seat and handed Steve a beer. "You only get this to feel a little better, we need you to be focused."
Steve wanted to argue, but he didn't as he took a sip of the beer.
Darry knew he was checking more areas than needed. He didn't want to assume his brothers weren't in a spot though or how far they may have traveled. He grabbed his flashlight as he stepped out of the truck to look around the side of the road.
"Sodapop? Ponyboy?" Darry said, but not too loud, "It's Darry. If you're around here, please come out."
There was a hotel nearby, but Darry was skeptical. It could jeopardize him if word got to the wrong people that he was out searching for his brothers. Would Soda and Pony even risk staying at a hotel if they could possibly turn them in? What if they were in there and had been trying to call Darry at home?
He knew it would bother him if he didn't try to check, so Darry walked across the street and entered the hotel.
"Hello," the clerk greeted, "Need a room for the night?"
"No, actually I just had a question. I don't know if you recall if a couple young boys came in here at some point tonight? Or even earlier today?"
"Young boys?"
"Yeah, a 14 and 16 year old."
The clerk shook her head, "Even if they had, there's no way anyone here would have given them a room without an adult present. Are they runaways?"
"Kind of yeah," Darry nodded, "Thanks though."
"Do you need me to call anyone?"
"No, it's okay. Thank you."
"Sure."
Darry walked out of the hotel and climbed back in his truck to continue on.
"Let's try this one," Two-Bit parked his car and climbed out, Steve right behind him.
"There's no woods here," Steve commented at the open area.
"No, but there's that," Two-Bit pointed off in the distance where they could make out a little house, clearly abandoned.
"You'd think the fuzz would check there," Steve said.
"Maybe they haven't thought to come here yet," Two-Bit shrugged. The greasers began walking out into the open field and approached the house. They took one step on the porch and heard the painful creaks.
"This could fall apart any second," Steve said, "There's no way they're in there."
"Soda!" Two-Bit called through the open doorway, "Ponyboy! Hello, is anyone here?" They waited a couple minutes, calling out the brother's names, but no answer. "Well, let's keep going."
Steve desperately looked around, wanting to see Sodapop or Ponyboy walking around. Unfortunately, there was nothing. It was beginning to feel like there chances of finding them were slim to none.
"Ponyboy!" Soda yelled. He felt safe enough to be loud again. He was desperate to find his little brother. It was starting to seem like a big mistake how they handled the police. They shouldn't have separated. Soda should have kept an eye on Ponyboy. He promised to get Pony home.