Two-Bit didn't tell Darry or Soda that Steve was getting released. He figured they already knew, or at least Darry did. Either way, it would be a sour topic to talk about. Two-Bit was on his own with this one. Overall, in this situation, Two-Bit was becoming aware he'd probably have to be the middle man.
The next morning, Two-Bit drove to the jail house. He sat in his car, waiting for Steve to walk out. He hoped Steve would walk out. Two-Bit wasn't even sure if Steve would go with him anywhere. Steve could walk out the front and just avoid Two-Bit. He could find a way to sneak out the side.
"Jesus, I may be jumping out to run him down," Two-Bit said, shaking his head. "Who would've thought I may have to jump a greaser?"
"Darry!" Soda yelled in a harsh whisper. "Darry!"
Darry jumped from his deep slumber. "Wha-What? What is it Soda?" Darry started to desperately look around the room.
"Pony's moving," Soda said.
"What?"
"He started moving a little," Soda said, excitedly.
Darry shot up from the chair. He hurried over to the bed that held his little brother. He watched Ponyboy very closely, hoping to see something as small as his eyelashes shift side to side.
"Come on, buddy," Darry whispered. "Please." Darry tried being patient, but it didn't help that there was a thumping sound right behind him. "Sodapop Patrick, stop that...jumping up and down nonsense!"
The response he got was a slight moan. Darry's eyes shot back to Pony.
"Pony? Can you hear me?" Darry asked. Darry and Soda waited, but nothing happened. "You heard that?"
Soda nodded. "Yes, he's trying to wake up!"
Darry took his hand and ran it through Pony's hair.
"Who would've thought you yelling at me would trigger something in there?" Soda softly chuckled. "Maybe I outta annoy you some more."
Darry shook his head, but he couldn't fight the smile that grew across his face. He squeezed Ponyboy's hand twice more. Then again, but with a tighter grip. Then again with another tight grip, but he didn't let go this time. Closing his eyes, Darry waited for the squeeze to be returned. He couldn't get himself to let go. "I'll never let go, buddy. We'll be waiting. Whenever you're ready."
A lot of time passed. Two-Bit wasn't actually sure how much time had passed, but it felt like a lot. He ate through a candy bar. That was a lot of time. However, Two-Bit did know it took time to be released. He just didn't know if this was because of the release process or if Steve snuck out. Maybe Darry decided to press charges and Steve had to be bailed out now. Maybe he should've gone to the hospital first to find out if Darry had done anything. Two-Bit tapped his steering wheel, debating what to do. He decided to give it a few more minutes before walking in to check on everything. He just hoped he wouldn't find out the worst.
Darry reentered the room with a coffee in hand. He saw Soda standing on the side of the bed, back towards the door. Looking down to the floor, Darry saw Soda's heel tapping at a rapid pace. "Anything?" Darry asked, setting the coffee on a table.
Soda turned. "Nothing for me?"
"Yeah, you need coffee." Darry shook his head imagining his younger brother on caffeine at a time like this. They both were already sleep deprived, but had different sides of it. Darry showed exhaustion with lack of sleep, Soda only got more energetic.
"His eyelashes keep moving," Soda said.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, and I think I can tell when he goes back to sleep. His breathing changes."
"Breathing changes?" Darry asked. "He's been getting help breathing."
"I know, but I think he's coming around more. He does this quick breath, I talk, and he moves his eyelashes. His breathing slows down and I think he's asleep again. It happened a couple times while you were grabbing some breakfast."
Darry nodded before taking a seat. He really only grabbed coffee and took a few bites of an apple from the cafe. Other than that, he had been on the phone with the police, finding out what was going on with Steve. The same question was asked again, about pressing charges against Steve. It wasn't a typical thing for the fuzz to ask that after the initial arrest, but the police really seemed to have it out for Steve this time. They wanted to teach Steve, possibly all the greasers, a real lesson for the shenanigans they get into. "Has the doctor come in?"
"Not since you left," Soda answered.
"Anyone else?"
Soda looked at his older brother. "Darry, no one is coming to take us away."
Throughout the past couple days, Darry has had the overwhelming feeling of the courts coming in. This was the exact situation they would use to take Soda and Ponyboy away. After the incident with Bob's murder and Johnny and Dally's deaths, Darry got full custody of them. That was it. Darry got to run their lives as he saw fit. Everyone would be off their back. Darry couldn't help, but wonder if that could be revoked, though. If they found out about this, could they come in and decide Pony needed to be elsewhere?
"Darry."
Darry looked up at Soda.
"We're fine. You aren't going to lose him."
Darry nodded as Soda turned back down to Pony.
Two-Bit finally let his breath out when Steve walked out the front doors. "Thank God." Steve stood there, looking unsure of his next move. Two-Bit raced his car up to the front steps. He reached over and pushed open the passenger door, letting his sly smile come across his face. "Looking for a ride, hot stuff?" There was never a wrong time to crack a joke for Two-Bit.
"Oh God," Steve groaned. He couldn't completely lie. He was somewhat relieved Two-Bit was there. He wished it could be Soda. Maybe in the least, Steve would find out Soda forgave him. He could hope.
"Okay, okay, I'll lay up." Two-Bit put his hands up in surrender. "Come on. Get in. Let's get some food."
Steve rolled his eyes. He walked down the steps and approached the car. "The only reason I'm willing to come with you is for the food, and I badly need a smoke."
"It's your lucky day. I am ready to provide both."
Steve reluctantly got into the car. He immediately reached into the center console and grabbed the pack of cigarettes. He slipped one into his mouth, closed the car door, and lit a match.
"Well?" Two-Bit asked, pulling out of the parking lot, "how are you doing?"
"How do you think?" Steve snapped.
"No need to have an attitude with me. Need I remind you I'm basically your only friend right now?" Two-Bit asked.
Steve closed his eyes tight. "Lucky me."
Two-Bit got the hint. It wasn't the time to talk much. Steve was going to be in a nasty attitude, and Two-Bit didn't want to push it. Not if he really wanted to get to the bottom of things and hopefully re-patch the gang. Two-Bit drove Steve to the Tasty Freeze. They got inside just as they were opening for lunch. They approached the counter and put in their orders of burgers and shakes. They both turned away and found a booth to sit in near the corner.
It was no mystery what had happened was getting around town. There were a few greasers inside the Tasty Freeze, and they were all taking their glances. Even if they didn't know about Ponyboy, they had heard about Steve going to jail. They wanted to know why. They wanted to listen in to whatever conversation was about to be had, and then go tell other greasers about it.
Steve was looking between the table, the window, and going through his wallet over and over again. Two-Bit knew he'd have to be the one to start any talking. "So, any word about what's gonna happen next?"
"Nothing as far as I know. The fuzz will have eyes on me, that's for sure." Steve tapped the table, checked behind him. A couple more greasers had walked in, all of them putting on fake conversations as if they weren't eavesdropping. He turned back to Two-Bit, keeping his voice low. "How is he?"
Two-Bit shrugged. "I haven't heard anything different. I haven't been there today, though."
"I'm not going with you," Steve shook his head.
"I know, I know. Trust me, I'm not itching to piss off Darry or Soda. Baby steps." Two-Bit looked up towards the entrance and sighed. "Oh boy."
"What? Who is it?" Steve asked, not daring to look.
"Tim."
"Jesus," Steve shook his head, bringing his hands to his face.
Sure enough, Tim Sheppard walked over. "Hello boys," Tim nodded, sitting next to Two-Bit on his side of the booth.
"Hey, Tim," Two-Bit said.
"So, Randle, you had your turn in the slammer, huh?" Tim asked.
Steve gave Tim a dirty look. "Can it."
"What happened? There's a lot of talk going around."
"I don't care," Steve muttered.
"What kind of talk," Two-Bit asked, genuinely curious what people thought happened.
"Some say it was the Socs. You beat their ass so you got arrested for it." Tim took out a cigarette and lit it up. "Then we heard that Curtis kid is in the hospital. Did the Socs beat on him? Is that why you got onto the Socs? You know we would've been there for that. Hell, we'll start something now."
Two-Bit shook his head. "I hate to burst your excitement for a rumble bubble, but the Socs have nothing to do with this."
"But," Steve added, "If you wanna keep that rumor going, it wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Then what is it?" Tim asked. "Does it have to do with the Curtis'?"
Two-Bit looked at Steve, waiting to see how he wanted to answer. It stayed silent as the waitress walked by, setting down the burgers and shakes. Two-Bit nodded to the waitress with a smile. He picked up his strawberry shake, taking a long sip. It wasn't often Two-Bit considered a silent moment awkward.
"It does," Steve answered.
"What happened?" Tim asked.
"Right now, not being talked about," Steve quickly said.
Tim looked at Two-Bit, who didn't make eye contact, then looked back at Steve. "Did you hurt the kid or something?"
"Sheppard, why don't you mind your business and get out of here?" Steve nearly barked.
Tim never took well to being talked to like that. Two-Bit wasn't about to argue it, though. Tim put his hands on the table, pushed down as if he wanted to hit it, but stood up and left the booth. The moment he walked out of the Tasty Freeze, Steve went on eating his burger. Two-Bit didn't say anything as he took his own bites.
"So," Two-Bit began as he finished his burger, "what now?"
"I don't know," Steve shrugged. "I'll just go home."
"Yeah, probably a good idea."
"Look, just go see how he's doing and let me know, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah. I will. I'll call you from there." Two-Bit tapped the table. "Do you want me to talk to Soda about anything?"
"Like what?" Steve asked quietly.
"Maybe see if he's cooled off and wants to talk to you?"
"He won't want to."
"I can still talk to him. I can let him know how awful you feel. I can tell him anything you want me to pass along."
"Two-Bit, don't you get it? It doesn't matter what I say or what you tell him. He's not going to forgive me easily, and he shouldn't. I give him every right to be however he wants to be towards me. I deserve it."
"Steve, you don't deserve to be beat up for this forever."
Steve shook his head. "Are you gonna tell Soda I got out?"
"Probably," Two-Bit answered. "He should know."
"Fine. Can you just bring me home now?"
"Yeah." Two-Bit slowly stood up. "Let's go."
Before they walked away from the table, Steve stopped Two-Bit in his steps. "Hey, thanks for picking me up today."
"Not a problem, buddy."
"Do you think you could come by tonight? Sometime after the hospital?"
"Yeah, sure. We can do something tonight," Two-Bit smiled.