1.1.1.1.1 Posted By: starjessie2001
Ponyboy sat in the truck unsure whether to say anything to the
other two or not. Darry was furious & he was worried about what he
was going to do to him after taking Two-Bit to the hospital. He
hoped they would be a while at the emergency room so Darry would have
a chance to calm down. "Darry was always overreacting," thought
Ponyboy. He wanted to tell Darry to "chill out," but he knew he
would get flattened for a remark like that. Pony sat staring out the
window, figuring that was the safer option for the remainder of the
trip to the hospital. He hated hospitals & wished Darry had dropped
him home first, but he didn't dare ask.
They finally arrived at the emergency room. Darry & Pony
helped Two-Bit out of the truck & half carried, half dragged him
through the doors. A nurse hurried over & immediately settled Two-
Bit in a wheelchair. Handing Darry a bundle of forms, the nurse
checked Two-Bit to assess his condition then muttered that she would
be back soon with a doctor. Darry filled out the forms as best he
could. Two-Bit was too drunk & in too much pain to be of any help.
The nurse reappeared with a doctor, who briefly questioned Darry
about what had happened. Looking slightly disgusted with the
situation, the doctor wheeled Two-Bit to a room & examined him while
Darry & Pony waited outside.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Pony sat there, biting his nails and staring at the receptionist's
counter. They've been sitting there for awhile and he was dreading
two things: Two-Bit's condition and lecture number 105 (getting
drunk) from Darry. He knew that Two-Bit was going to be just fine,
nothing serious, but lectures from Darry are never fun. Especially
when he has to start it off.
"Da-Darry?" Ponyboy started. "I-" He paused. "Look, I am sorry ab-"
"Pony," Darry sighed. "I really don't want to hear it." He rubbed the
back of his neck, stressed.
"Fine." Ponyboy sat back in his chair, avoiding eye contact. If Darry
didn't want to talk about it, it was fine with him.
"I was meaning I don't want to hear that you are sorry, okay? I am
sick of you screwing up. You know when you are doing something wrong
and when you are messing up." Darry told him, surprisingly not that
angrily. Of course he was mad, who wouldn't be? But he didn't seem as
mad as before.
"I know."
"Then why the heck did you do it?" He asked. "We have been through
this before. I thought you said you hated the stuff. Why are you
doing it again?"
"I'm sorry Darry. I don't feel like talking about it. What I chose to
do is my own business." Forget talking about it rationally. There was
no way that he was going to tell explain everything. Darry wouldn't
think he was being logical.
"Your apology means nothing to me Pony!" Darry said. "Now tell me why
the hell you were drinking!"
Pony felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Since when has
Darry never accepted an apology...? Except that one time...
"I told you. It ain't any of your business." He stood up.
"Sit down Pony!" Darry grabbed his arm and made him sit down. "I am
ordering you to tell me. Now!" He said, his voice still raised,
looking him in the eyes.
Pony tried to stare him down too, but found that he could. He gulped
and looked away. No way he was going to tell him. He wouldn't
understand. He felt his chin quiver slightly and he tried not to cry.
Greasers don't cry. Especially in front of Darry.
"Pony?" Darry's tone changed. "Come on baby. Is it really that bad?"
Ponyboy sniffed. "You wouldn't understand."
"How many excuses are there for drinking?" Darry asked confused.
"Darry! It had nothing to do with drinking, okay?" Pony almost broke
down. "I need to get new friends," he paused. "I thought that if I
started to hang out with Angela...and Tim, that...that it will be
easier to get over Johnny and Dallas."
That obviously wasn't the answer that Darrel was expecting. He paused
for a second. "What does that have to do with you drinking?" He asked
confused. "I don't get it."
"I told you you wouldn't," Pony said.
"Okay Pony. Enough of this beating around the bush thing. Just tell
me. You are in enough trouble as it is," Darry said getting stressed
again. He felt bad, but it wasn't making any sense to him.
Pony stayed quiet for a minute. It was so hard for him to begin. "I -
I thought...that if I was going to hang out with them...that I was
going to have to do the stuff that were doing. And if that includes
drinking, it includes drinking," Pony said, collecting himself. "You
dig?"
Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Darry placed his head in his hands and sighed deeply. "Gosh it's hard
to parent." he thought. "So you were drinking only so Tim and Angela
would except you?" Darry asked. Pony nodded.
"Well you'd better listen up kiddo." Darry said more seriously "You
aint gonna do it again. If you need to drink with them in order to
talk with them than it isn't a friendship that I'm permitting."
"Aw, just lay off Darry. It aint your business."
"It is my business, Ponyboy Curtis. You're my responsibility and
everything that you do goes through me first.
Do you understand?" Darry asked.
"Well I-" Pony started but Two-Bit walked out bandaged, with
stitches, and on crutches. Darry and Pony stood up and helped him out
to the car after Darry signed some final papers.
"Do either one of you have any idea where Sodapop might've gone?"
Darry asked as they got in the car and he turned on the engine. They
both shook their heads.
"Two-Bit want a ride home or do you wanna come with us?" Darry
asked. "I'll come with you's." Two-Bit replied still drunk. "I do
like a good adventure."
Darry hardly considered it an adventure. He was worried. Soda'd been
gone for hours now and in the state he was in when he left the house
Darry didn't know where he'd ran off to.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Soda sat in the movie theater and tried to pay attention to the
movie, but he couldn't. But now he could understand why Ponyboy liked
to go so much. You can think, and you can be alone, and you can think.
He couldn't believe that Sandy had actually come back. It took him so
long to get over her, and when he finally does, she comes back. Well
that wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't been married.
-
"Darry, let's go here first," Pony said as they came to The
Dingo. "If he is going to go anywhere, he will probably go somewhere
that he thinks we won't look."
"Okay," Darry said. "Why not." He pulled into the parking lot and got
out. "You guys stay here okay? I'll be back. I'm gonna go in and
check it out, savvy?"
"Yup," Two-Bit said, still totally cronked.
-
"Soda?" Darry walked down the isle of seats. He looked around, trying
to see him through all the people sitting scattered around.
"Hey Soda!" He whispered loudly. He could see him slouched down in
the middle row, munching on popcorn and Mike and Ikes. Okay, so more
like throwing pieces of popcorn a the back of peoples heads.
Soda jerked his head around and saw him. His face fell. "Hey Darry."
"Come on," Darry motioned to the exit. "I think it's time you get
home."
Soda rolled his eyes and got up. Darry draped an arm across his
shoulders as he slumped out.
-
"You guys gotta stop doing this to me." Darry sighed as they drove
home. "I swear, if you keep putting me through of all this, I am
gonna beat the tar out of you." They knew he was joking, partly...
"Yah me too!" Two-Bit drawled. "Do you have any idea what you two put
me through? I have been worried outa my mind. I oughta smack you a
good one upside da-"
"Shut up Two-Bit." Pony said grumpy.
1.2 Posted By: fudgegirl890
"Pony, you can't drink just to make friends," Darry said, sitting at
Pony's desk. "You're smarter than that."
"I know," Pony mumbled quietly from his position on the bed. "Please
don't be mad, Darry."
Darry gave a short laugh. "Don't be mad? Pony-" he stopped and
sighed. He had tried to consider what Ponyboy had told him earlier on
that day. It didn't make much sense, and it didn't help in making him
any less mad. "Da**it Ponyboy. We're just as upset about Dallas and
Johnny, but you don't see me going out and drinking."
Pony closed his eyes and just lied there. He knew he wasn't going to
understand, but in away...he was right. Darry and Soda didn't go and
drink to make new friends. They didn't have to. They knew that they
had each other and Two-Bit and Steve still. They were hurting, but
they didn't do stupid stuff. But still, that wasn't how Pony had been
feeling at the time of the crime. "I'm sorry Darry."
"Pony, you know I have ta do something. I told you last time that if
you ever drank again that it was going to be worst then two weeks,"
Darry said. He told him that he had better not do it ever again or he
was going to skin him alive. "Three weeks Ponyboy Curtis, and
consider yourself lucky. Savvy?"
Pony rolled his eyes.
Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Darry got up to leave. "And Pony... Don't let me catch you out of
this room, understand?" Pony sat up and let his shoulders
drop. "Yeah." he mumbled.
Darry walked out leaving a depressed Ponyboy on the bed and went to
see if Soda was ok. He was stretched out on the living room couch
staring at the ceiling. "Sodapop." Darry said walking over and
sitting down on the small space left on the couch. Soda continued to
stare at the ceiling. He really didn't want to talk about it. Darry
continued and asked the question that had been bothering him since
that morning when Soda had mentioned something about a baby. "She's
pregnant, huh?" Soda nodded. "Well you left out that part when I
talked to you earlier today. How come?" "I dunno." Soda mumbled. "It
was bad enough admitting that she was getting married." Soda sat up
and stared at the floor. Darry put an arm around him and rubbed his
back.
"What she say that made you so upset this morning? I aint never seen
you yell at her before." "She says she wants me to try and
understand. She still wants to be friends, she..." Soda paused as
tears spilled down his face. "Oh, Darry! I can't stand it! I aint
never felt the same way about anyone before!" Soda yelled. "I love
her and she's getting married and I can't ever be with her!" Soda
burst out in loud sobs. He couldn't hold it back any longer. It was
to much emotion to hold in. Darry pulled Soda close and tried to
comfort his little brother as he sobbed into his shoulder. "It's
gonna be ok, Pepsi-Cola. It's gonna be all right." "No it's not."
Soda half spoke half sobbed. Darry held onto Sodapop and rubbed his
head gently. "It's gonna be ok, baby." Darry soothed. Soda cried into
Darry's shoulder until he got to tired to cry anymore.
"I don't think you should go to that wedding." Darry stated quite
certain of himself. "No. I want to." Soda sniffled. "Only if you are
sure you can handle it." Darry said. Soda didn't answer. He really
didn't know if he could. "Why don't you come have something to eat.
You didn't have anything before you left this morning." Soda nodded
because he was hungry. They both got up and walked to the kitchen and
Darry made sandwiches. "Hey Darry, Pony aint had nothing to eat
neither. Can't he come out for lunch?" "I know he aint. I'll bring
him something. Don't worry." Darry sighed as he thought about all the
things that had been going on. "I'm gonna make things right." He told
himself silently. "I have to and I will."
1.3 Posted By: totallyindie411
Darry walked into Ponyboy's room and placed the plate with the
sandwich down on the desk.
"Here's your food," He said, startling his brother.
"What?" Ponyboy snapped out of his daze.
"I said here's your food," Darry repeated.
"Thanks," Ponyboy mumbled, mouth already full of sandwich. "How's
Soda? Is he okay?"
"Do ya have to talk with your mouth full?" Darry sighed, exasperated.
"Sorry," Ponyboy lowered his eyes. He could never do anything right
these days and it seemed as if he was snapped at for the tiniest
things. Darry felt a twinge of guilt looking at his brother's
downcast face. He didn't mean to get angry so quickly, but what with
Pony drinking, Soda crying over Sandy, Two-bit getting hurt...the
list went on and on.
"It's all right," Darry shook himself out of his own daze. "Soda's
okay."
"Can I go talk to him?" Ponyboy asked hopefully. Darry fixed him with
a stern gaze.
"What was that I said about leaving your room?"
"Whatever," Ponyboy looked away again, making it clear that the
conversation was over.
"Ponyboy, don't-"
"I said whatever!"
"Don't take that tone of voice with-"
A scream from the front room ended the conversation and the two
brothers looked at each other before running out.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Soda was sitting there, struck dumb. As far as the others could see,
no one else was in the house. What was going on?
"Soda?" Darry asked gently. "What's wrong buddy?"
"I-I-" Soda started to sweat and shake. He couldn't tell Darry. Not
yet. He would go ballistic. "Pony, come with me for a minute." He
stood up, shaking. "I have to talk to you about something."
Darry stood there as his little brothers left the room. Suddenly, he
felt more left out and un-included then he had in...forever. He had
been feeling like they were drifting away from him, but until now, he
didn't really think that it was that big of a deal.
-
"Pony," Soda said, "I ain't never told this to anyone, but-" he
gulped.
"What?"
"I - you - you know how Sandy is - pregnant?" Soda asked,
scared. "Well..."
Pony nodded for him to continue, but part way through got the
picture. "Oh my gosh." He yelled and Soda clamped a hand over his
mouth to silence him.
"Shh!" He said. After a moment, he carefully removed his hand from
Pony's wide-eyed face, daring him to say something else.
"Are you saying that - that - oh my gosh - I can't even say it." Pony
backed away from him. "You - you - got her pregnant?" He grabbed the
doorknob.
"Pony, please!" Soda begged. "Don't say anything! Not yet!"
"Soda!" He yelled. "What were you thinking?"
"I don't know for sure, if - if it is because of me, okay?" Soda
silenced him again.
Pony shook his head. His big, older, handsome brother just revealed
something to him that he couldn't believe. "I can't believe you,
Sodapop Curtis." He opened the door to leave. "Darry has to know!"
Soda jumped up and ran after him.
Darry heard an OOOF! and a 'Get off of me!' and he ran to the boys
room.
1.4 Posted By totallyindie411
Darry rushed into the boy's room to see Soda and Ponyboy wrestling on
the floor, Ponyboy screaming for Soda to get off and Soda screaming
for Ponyboy to shut up.
"Everyone, shut up!" Darry roared and the two boys fell silent. "Soda
what the hell are you doing?" Soda didn't know what to say and sat
back, still sitting on top of Ponyboy.
"Can you get the hell off of me?" Ponyboy grunted and pushed hard
against Soda. Soda didn't move, knowing that he was in no uncertain
terms, screwed.
"Soda, I asked you a question," Darry gritted his teeth. "What the
hell is wrong with you?" Once again, Soda failed to answer and
silently climbed off of Ponyboy, retreating to the far wall of the
bedroom. He proceeded to stand quietly at the window, staring out at
the bleak scenery. Darry stood in shock, disbelieving that Soda would
blatantly ignore his question. He stepped over and pulled Ponyboy up
saying to him, "What is his deal?" Ponyboy looked over at his
brother, Soda and turned back to Darry saying,
"Nothing." Darry and Sodapop both looked at Ponyboy in shock.
"I don't believe this," Darry growled. "You can both just stay here
then until one of you decides to tell me what the hell is going on."
The older man stalked out of the room, leaving Soda and Ponyboy alone
together in their room.
"Ponyboy..." Soda swallowed hard. "Why didn't you tell?"
1.4.1.1 Posted By: sesalian
Pony shrugged, looking at the ground. "I.... Its none of my
business.... I guess. I mean, it is.... sort of.... but.... Oh, I
don't know. I wouldn't have wanted you telling Darry about my
drinking, and Tim, and Angela."
"Hey, Pony, what has been going on with you?" Soda asked
quietly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I've
been worrying so much about Sandy... and stuff, I haven't even asked."
"How much do you know about?" asked Ponyboy, still staring at the
floor.
"Well, Darry told me he found you out drinking with Tim and Angela."
Ponyboy nodded at the floor.
"But.... why?"
Pony looked up finally. Maybe Soda would be able to understand. "I
don't really know why," he told him. "I gotta hang out with somebody,
and ever since Dally and Johnny died, I feel like none of the old
gang really wants me anymore. We ain't gettin together as often as we
did before. And all my friends from school have acted all weird since
Me and Johnny killed that soc. No one understands me anymore. I
thought maybe Tim and Angela would. I think they did, for a while..."
Pony trailed off. "But it scares me," He started again, almost
panicked. "I don't want to be understood by people like Tim. Doesn't
that make me a hood? I don't want to be like Tim or Dally or some
other hood!" He stopped, looking down again, avoiding looking at
Soda.
1.5 Posted By: fudgegirl890
"No," Soda said, a little shocked. "Of course that don't make you a
hood.
"And why do you say that?" Pony asked confused. "If anything, it
does."
"No. Look at us. We hung out with Dally all the time, didn't we?"
Soda stressed a point.
Pony nodded. "But he wasn't exactly a bad person, Soda. He doesn't
count."
"Yeah, he does. Pony, there is something you gotta understand," he
said. "Just because someone is a hood, doesn't make them a bad
person. Hood is a classification, not a personality."
"So then it would be okay if I was a hood?" Pony asked.
"If you become a hood, Ponyboy Curtis," Soda said, "I swear I will
kick your ass. You hear me? Don't you dare even think about it
anymore." He laughed. Pony was a little confused.
"Soda," Pony said, "you almost sounded like Darry there."
1.6 Posted By: totallyindie411
"Oh so he's getting some sense into him, then," Darry re-entered the
room. Allowing Soda and Ponyboy to be alone, had done everything but
calm him down. He was now more mad than ever. Ponyboy and Soda
exchanged glances; they were really going to get it now. "Sodapop, I
want to know right now what the deal is. Savvy?" Soda glared at him.
"Fine, then." He snapped, "You really want to know?" Darry gave him
a 'duh' look. "I told you how Sandy's pregnant?" Darry nodded. "Well,
there is a chance that- that the baby could- could be mine." A hard
slap across the face drove him back.
1.7 Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Soda held his cheek were Darry had struck him. He could feel it
turning red. Darry sighed. He'd done it again, except this time to
the other brother. His temper was to much for him and the words that
had just came out of Soda's mouth were not at all what he'd been
expecting. It was far worse than whatever he was
expecting. "Soda..." Darry began. He didn't know if he should start
yelling at his brother or telling him he was sorry about hitting him
even though a small part of him thought Soda deserved it but most of
him felt horrible about it.
Soda just stood there holding his cheek in utter shock and close to
tears. Ponyboy looked just as shocked and he wanted to say something
but he was afraid Darry would hit him too. Darry had never struck him
before. Not ever and he never imagined that Darry would. Soda tried
to run out of the room but Darry pulled him back in and Soda's
struggle didn't help him get free. "Soda, I'm sorry. I lost my cool,
but..." Darry stopped for a moment and then his voice rose. "What in
the world where you thinking!?" Soda closed his eyes and rested his
head against the wall. He new he was in more trouble than ever before.
Ponyboy sat in the truck unsure whether to say anything to the
other two or not. Darry was furious & he was worried about what he
was going to do to him after taking Two-Bit to the hospital. He
hoped they would be a while at the emergency room so Darry would have
a chance to calm down. "Darry was always overreacting," thought
Ponyboy. He wanted to tell Darry to "chill out," but he knew he
would get flattened for a remark like that. Pony sat staring out the
window, figuring that was the safer option for the remainder of the
trip to the hospital. He hated hospitals & wished Darry had dropped
him home first, but he didn't dare ask.
They finally arrived at the emergency room. Darry & Pony
helped Two-Bit out of the truck & half carried, half dragged him
through the doors. A nurse hurried over & immediately settled Two-
Bit in a wheelchair. Handing Darry a bundle of forms, the nurse
checked Two-Bit to assess his condition then muttered that she would
be back soon with a doctor. Darry filled out the forms as best he
could. Two-Bit was too drunk & in too much pain to be of any help.
The nurse reappeared with a doctor, who briefly questioned Darry
about what had happened. Looking slightly disgusted with the
situation, the doctor wheeled Two-Bit to a room & examined him while
Darry & Pony waited outside.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Pony sat there, biting his nails and staring at the receptionist's
counter. They've been sitting there for awhile and he was dreading
two things: Two-Bit's condition and lecture number 105 (getting
drunk) from Darry. He knew that Two-Bit was going to be just fine,
nothing serious, but lectures from Darry are never fun. Especially
when he has to start it off.
"Da-Darry?" Ponyboy started. "I-" He paused. "Look, I am sorry ab-"
"Pony," Darry sighed. "I really don't want to hear it." He rubbed the
back of his neck, stressed.
"Fine." Ponyboy sat back in his chair, avoiding eye contact. If Darry
didn't want to talk about it, it was fine with him.
"I was meaning I don't want to hear that you are sorry, okay? I am
sick of you screwing up. You know when you are doing something wrong
and when you are messing up." Darry told him, surprisingly not that
angrily. Of course he was mad, who wouldn't be? But he didn't seem as
mad as before.
"I know."
"Then why the heck did you do it?" He asked. "We have been through
this before. I thought you said you hated the stuff. Why are you
doing it again?"
"I'm sorry Darry. I don't feel like talking about it. What I chose to
do is my own business." Forget talking about it rationally. There was
no way that he was going to tell explain everything. Darry wouldn't
think he was being logical.
"Your apology means nothing to me Pony!" Darry said. "Now tell me why
the hell you were drinking!"
Pony felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Since when has
Darry never accepted an apology...? Except that one time...
"I told you. It ain't any of your business." He stood up.
"Sit down Pony!" Darry grabbed his arm and made him sit down. "I am
ordering you to tell me. Now!" He said, his voice still raised,
looking him in the eyes.
Pony tried to stare him down too, but found that he could. He gulped
and looked away. No way he was going to tell him. He wouldn't
understand. He felt his chin quiver slightly and he tried not to cry.
Greasers don't cry. Especially in front of Darry.
"Pony?" Darry's tone changed. "Come on baby. Is it really that bad?"
Ponyboy sniffed. "You wouldn't understand."
"How many excuses are there for drinking?" Darry asked confused.
"Darry! It had nothing to do with drinking, okay?" Pony almost broke
down. "I need to get new friends," he paused. "I thought that if I
started to hang out with Angela...and Tim, that...that it will be
easier to get over Johnny and Dallas."
That obviously wasn't the answer that Darrel was expecting. He paused
for a second. "What does that have to do with you drinking?" He asked
confused. "I don't get it."
"I told you you wouldn't," Pony said.
"Okay Pony. Enough of this beating around the bush thing. Just tell
me. You are in enough trouble as it is," Darry said getting stressed
again. He felt bad, but it wasn't making any sense to him.
Pony stayed quiet for a minute. It was so hard for him to begin. "I -
I thought...that if I was going to hang out with them...that I was
going to have to do the stuff that were doing. And if that includes
drinking, it includes drinking," Pony said, collecting himself. "You
dig?"
Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Darry placed his head in his hands and sighed deeply. "Gosh it's hard
to parent." he thought. "So you were drinking only so Tim and Angela
would except you?" Darry asked. Pony nodded.
"Well you'd better listen up kiddo." Darry said more seriously "You
aint gonna do it again. If you need to drink with them in order to
talk with them than it isn't a friendship that I'm permitting."
"Aw, just lay off Darry. It aint your business."
"It is my business, Ponyboy Curtis. You're my responsibility and
everything that you do goes through me first.
Do you understand?" Darry asked.
"Well I-" Pony started but Two-Bit walked out bandaged, with
stitches, and on crutches. Darry and Pony stood up and helped him out
to the car after Darry signed some final papers.
"Do either one of you have any idea where Sodapop might've gone?"
Darry asked as they got in the car and he turned on the engine. They
both shook their heads.
"Two-Bit want a ride home or do you wanna come with us?" Darry
asked. "I'll come with you's." Two-Bit replied still drunk. "I do
like a good adventure."
Darry hardly considered it an adventure. He was worried. Soda'd been
gone for hours now and in the state he was in when he left the house
Darry didn't know where he'd ran off to.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Soda sat in the movie theater and tried to pay attention to the
movie, but he couldn't. But now he could understand why Ponyboy liked
to go so much. You can think, and you can be alone, and you can think.
He couldn't believe that Sandy had actually come back. It took him so
long to get over her, and when he finally does, she comes back. Well
that wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't been married.
-
"Darry, let's go here first," Pony said as they came to The
Dingo. "If he is going to go anywhere, he will probably go somewhere
that he thinks we won't look."
"Okay," Darry said. "Why not." He pulled into the parking lot and got
out. "You guys stay here okay? I'll be back. I'm gonna go in and
check it out, savvy?"
"Yup," Two-Bit said, still totally cronked.
-
"Soda?" Darry walked down the isle of seats. He looked around, trying
to see him through all the people sitting scattered around.
"Hey Soda!" He whispered loudly. He could see him slouched down in
the middle row, munching on popcorn and Mike and Ikes. Okay, so more
like throwing pieces of popcorn a the back of peoples heads.
Soda jerked his head around and saw him. His face fell. "Hey Darry."
"Come on," Darry motioned to the exit. "I think it's time you get
home."
Soda rolled his eyes and got up. Darry draped an arm across his
shoulders as he slumped out.
-
"You guys gotta stop doing this to me." Darry sighed as they drove
home. "I swear, if you keep putting me through of all this, I am
gonna beat the tar out of you." They knew he was joking, partly...
"Yah me too!" Two-Bit drawled. "Do you have any idea what you two put
me through? I have been worried outa my mind. I oughta smack you a
good one upside da-"
"Shut up Two-Bit." Pony said grumpy.
1.2 Posted By: fudgegirl890
"Pony, you can't drink just to make friends," Darry said, sitting at
Pony's desk. "You're smarter than that."
"I know," Pony mumbled quietly from his position on the bed. "Please
don't be mad, Darry."
Darry gave a short laugh. "Don't be mad? Pony-" he stopped and
sighed. He had tried to consider what Ponyboy had told him earlier on
that day. It didn't make much sense, and it didn't help in making him
any less mad. "Da**it Ponyboy. We're just as upset about Dallas and
Johnny, but you don't see me going out and drinking."
Pony closed his eyes and just lied there. He knew he wasn't going to
understand, but in away...he was right. Darry and Soda didn't go and
drink to make new friends. They didn't have to. They knew that they
had each other and Two-Bit and Steve still. They were hurting, but
they didn't do stupid stuff. But still, that wasn't how Pony had been
feeling at the time of the crime. "I'm sorry Darry."
"Pony, you know I have ta do something. I told you last time that if
you ever drank again that it was going to be worst then two weeks,"
Darry said. He told him that he had better not do it ever again or he
was going to skin him alive. "Three weeks Ponyboy Curtis, and
consider yourself lucky. Savvy?"
Pony rolled his eyes.
Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Darry got up to leave. "And Pony... Don't let me catch you out of
this room, understand?" Pony sat up and let his shoulders
drop. "Yeah." he mumbled.
Darry walked out leaving a depressed Ponyboy on the bed and went to
see if Soda was ok. He was stretched out on the living room couch
staring at the ceiling. "Sodapop." Darry said walking over and
sitting down on the small space left on the couch. Soda continued to
stare at the ceiling. He really didn't want to talk about it. Darry
continued and asked the question that had been bothering him since
that morning when Soda had mentioned something about a baby. "She's
pregnant, huh?" Soda nodded. "Well you left out that part when I
talked to you earlier today. How come?" "I dunno." Soda mumbled. "It
was bad enough admitting that she was getting married." Soda sat up
and stared at the floor. Darry put an arm around him and rubbed his
back.
"What she say that made you so upset this morning? I aint never seen
you yell at her before." "She says she wants me to try and
understand. She still wants to be friends, she..." Soda paused as
tears spilled down his face. "Oh, Darry! I can't stand it! I aint
never felt the same way about anyone before!" Soda yelled. "I love
her and she's getting married and I can't ever be with her!" Soda
burst out in loud sobs. He couldn't hold it back any longer. It was
to much emotion to hold in. Darry pulled Soda close and tried to
comfort his little brother as he sobbed into his shoulder. "It's
gonna be ok, Pepsi-Cola. It's gonna be all right." "No it's not."
Soda half spoke half sobbed. Darry held onto Sodapop and rubbed his
head gently. "It's gonna be ok, baby." Darry soothed. Soda cried into
Darry's shoulder until he got to tired to cry anymore.
"I don't think you should go to that wedding." Darry stated quite
certain of himself. "No. I want to." Soda sniffled. "Only if you are
sure you can handle it." Darry said. Soda didn't answer. He really
didn't know if he could. "Why don't you come have something to eat.
You didn't have anything before you left this morning." Soda nodded
because he was hungry. They both got up and walked to the kitchen and
Darry made sandwiches. "Hey Darry, Pony aint had nothing to eat
neither. Can't he come out for lunch?" "I know he aint. I'll bring
him something. Don't worry." Darry sighed as he thought about all the
things that had been going on. "I'm gonna make things right." He told
himself silently. "I have to and I will."
1.3 Posted By: totallyindie411
Darry walked into Ponyboy's room and placed the plate with the
sandwich down on the desk.
"Here's your food," He said, startling his brother.
"What?" Ponyboy snapped out of his daze.
"I said here's your food," Darry repeated.
"Thanks," Ponyboy mumbled, mouth already full of sandwich. "How's
Soda? Is he okay?"
"Do ya have to talk with your mouth full?" Darry sighed, exasperated.
"Sorry," Ponyboy lowered his eyes. He could never do anything right
these days and it seemed as if he was snapped at for the tiniest
things. Darry felt a twinge of guilt looking at his brother's
downcast face. He didn't mean to get angry so quickly, but what with
Pony drinking, Soda crying over Sandy, Two-bit getting hurt...the
list went on and on.
"It's all right," Darry shook himself out of his own daze. "Soda's
okay."
"Can I go talk to him?" Ponyboy asked hopefully. Darry fixed him with
a stern gaze.
"What was that I said about leaving your room?"
"Whatever," Ponyboy looked away again, making it clear that the
conversation was over.
"Ponyboy, don't-"
"I said whatever!"
"Don't take that tone of voice with-"
A scream from the front room ended the conversation and the two
brothers looked at each other before running out.
Posted By: fudgegirl890
Soda was sitting there, struck dumb. As far as the others could see,
no one else was in the house. What was going on?
"Soda?" Darry asked gently. "What's wrong buddy?"
"I-I-" Soda started to sweat and shake. He couldn't tell Darry. Not
yet. He would go ballistic. "Pony, come with me for a minute." He
stood up, shaking. "I have to talk to you about something."
Darry stood there as his little brothers left the room. Suddenly, he
felt more left out and un-included then he had in...forever. He had
been feeling like they were drifting away from him, but until now, he
didn't really think that it was that big of a deal.
-
"Pony," Soda said, "I ain't never told this to anyone, but-" he
gulped.
"What?"
"I - you - you know how Sandy is - pregnant?" Soda asked,
scared. "Well..."
Pony nodded for him to continue, but part way through got the
picture. "Oh my gosh." He yelled and Soda clamped a hand over his
mouth to silence him.
"Shh!" He said. After a moment, he carefully removed his hand from
Pony's wide-eyed face, daring him to say something else.
"Are you saying that - that - oh my gosh - I can't even say it." Pony
backed away from him. "You - you - got her pregnant?" He grabbed the
doorknob.
"Pony, please!" Soda begged. "Don't say anything! Not yet!"
"Soda!" He yelled. "What were you thinking?"
"I don't know for sure, if - if it is because of me, okay?" Soda
silenced him again.
Pony shook his head. His big, older, handsome brother just revealed
something to him that he couldn't believe. "I can't believe you,
Sodapop Curtis." He opened the door to leave. "Darry has to know!"
Soda jumped up and ran after him.
Darry heard an OOOF! and a 'Get off of me!' and he ran to the boys
room.
1.4 Posted By totallyindie411
Darry rushed into the boy's room to see Soda and Ponyboy wrestling on
the floor, Ponyboy screaming for Soda to get off and Soda screaming
for Ponyboy to shut up.
"Everyone, shut up!" Darry roared and the two boys fell silent. "Soda
what the hell are you doing?" Soda didn't know what to say and sat
back, still sitting on top of Ponyboy.
"Can you get the hell off of me?" Ponyboy grunted and pushed hard
against Soda. Soda didn't move, knowing that he was in no uncertain
terms, screwed.
"Soda, I asked you a question," Darry gritted his teeth. "What the
hell is wrong with you?" Once again, Soda failed to answer and
silently climbed off of Ponyboy, retreating to the far wall of the
bedroom. He proceeded to stand quietly at the window, staring out at
the bleak scenery. Darry stood in shock, disbelieving that Soda would
blatantly ignore his question. He stepped over and pulled Ponyboy up
saying to him, "What is his deal?" Ponyboy looked over at his
brother, Soda and turned back to Darry saying,
"Nothing." Darry and Sodapop both looked at Ponyboy in shock.
"I don't believe this," Darry growled. "You can both just stay here
then until one of you decides to tell me what the hell is going on."
The older man stalked out of the room, leaving Soda and Ponyboy alone
together in their room.
"Ponyboy..." Soda swallowed hard. "Why didn't you tell?"
1.4.1.1 Posted By: sesalian
Pony shrugged, looking at the ground. "I.... Its none of my
business.... I guess. I mean, it is.... sort of.... but.... Oh, I
don't know. I wouldn't have wanted you telling Darry about my
drinking, and Tim, and Angela."
"Hey, Pony, what has been going on with you?" Soda asked
quietly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I've
been worrying so much about Sandy... and stuff, I haven't even asked."
"How much do you know about?" asked Ponyboy, still staring at the
floor.
"Well, Darry told me he found you out drinking with Tim and Angela."
Ponyboy nodded at the floor.
"But.... why?"
Pony looked up finally. Maybe Soda would be able to understand. "I
don't really know why," he told him. "I gotta hang out with somebody,
and ever since Dally and Johnny died, I feel like none of the old
gang really wants me anymore. We ain't gettin together as often as we
did before. And all my friends from school have acted all weird since
Me and Johnny killed that soc. No one understands me anymore. I
thought maybe Tim and Angela would. I think they did, for a while..."
Pony trailed off. "But it scares me," He started again, almost
panicked. "I don't want to be understood by people like Tim. Doesn't
that make me a hood? I don't want to be like Tim or Dally or some
other hood!" He stopped, looking down again, avoiding looking at
Soda.
1.5 Posted By: fudgegirl890
"No," Soda said, a little shocked. "Of course that don't make you a
hood.
"And why do you say that?" Pony asked confused. "If anything, it
does."
"No. Look at us. We hung out with Dally all the time, didn't we?"
Soda stressed a point.
Pony nodded. "But he wasn't exactly a bad person, Soda. He doesn't
count."
"Yeah, he does. Pony, there is something you gotta understand," he
said. "Just because someone is a hood, doesn't make them a bad
person. Hood is a classification, not a personality."
"So then it would be okay if I was a hood?" Pony asked.
"If you become a hood, Ponyboy Curtis," Soda said, "I swear I will
kick your ass. You hear me? Don't you dare even think about it
anymore." He laughed. Pony was a little confused.
"Soda," Pony said, "you almost sounded like Darry there."
1.6 Posted By: totallyindie411
"Oh so he's getting some sense into him, then," Darry re-entered the
room. Allowing Soda and Ponyboy to be alone, had done everything but
calm him down. He was now more mad than ever. Ponyboy and Soda
exchanged glances; they were really going to get it now. "Sodapop, I
want to know right now what the deal is. Savvy?" Soda glared at him.
"Fine, then." He snapped, "You really want to know?" Darry gave him
a 'duh' look. "I told you how Sandy's pregnant?" Darry nodded. "Well,
there is a chance that- that the baby could- could be mine." A hard
slap across the face drove him back.
1.7 Posted By: bsbfanatic7
Soda held his cheek were Darry had struck him. He could feel it
turning red. Darry sighed. He'd done it again, except this time to
the other brother. His temper was to much for him and the words that
had just came out of Soda's mouth were not at all what he'd been
expecting. It was far worse than whatever he was
expecting. "Soda..." Darry began. He didn't know if he should start
yelling at his brother or telling him he was sorry about hitting him
even though a small part of him thought Soda deserved it but most of
him felt horrible about it.
Soda just stood there holding his cheek in utter shock and close to
tears. Ponyboy looked just as shocked and he wanted to say something
but he was afraid Darry would hit him too. Darry had never struck him
before. Not ever and he never imagined that Darry would. Soda tried
to run out of the room but Darry pulled him back in and Soda's
struggle didn't help him get free. "Soda, I'm sorry. I lost my cool,
but..." Darry stopped for a moment and then his voice rose. "What in
the world where you thinking!?" Soda closed his eyes and rested his
head against the wall. He new he was in more trouble than ever before.