1.1 Posted By: fudgegirl890
"Answer me, Soda!" Darry yelled. "I asked you a question. Now answer
me!"
"I don't know, Darry. I really don't know," Soda tried to pry his
strong grip off of him, but years as a football star and a roofer
made him really strong. "Darry, please." He quietly begged.
Darry stood there for a minute in silence. "Soda, I thought you had
more sense then to do something like that. I guess I was wrong."
"Lay off, Darry," Pony stepped in. "Leave him alone. He feels bad
enough as it is."
"Don't you start with me, Ponyboy." Darry turned on him, not letting
Soda loose. "I am so sick of all of this crap! Why can't you guys
just be easy? For once!"
Next thing Pony knew, his fist had collided with Darry's jaw. He had
hit them. It was about time he got a taste of his own medicine. "Stop
blaming us for everything!"
1.2 Posted By: totallyindie411
"Half the stuff you yell at us for isn't even our fault!" Ponyboy
continued.
"God damnit, Ponyboy!" Darry swore, rubbing his jaw. "I'm going to
kill you!"
"Oh just try." For once, Ponyboy wasn't scared. He was too angry
about the fact that someone had hit his brother and now Soda was
close to crying and no one made his brother cry.
"Pony, don't," Soda mumbled, "It- It doesn't matter. He turned
completely away, trying to hide the lone tear that slid down his
face. "I screwed everything up." Darry sighed, Soda's crying not
escaping his notice.
"Pepsi-Cola, I-"
"Don't!" Soda whirled around, more tears streaming down his
face. "Don't call me that!" Darry was stunned. Soda had never
stopped him from using Dad's pet name when he was upset. He had
really messed up this time.
"Soda, I'm sorry." Darry placed his hand on his brother's shoulder,
only increasing his crying. "Damn, Soda, please."
"Hey, hey, Greasers," Steve suddenly entered the room, a smile on his
face, "Just wanted to see how things were-" He stopped short when he
saw Soda leaning against the wall, tears rolling down his face. "What
did you do to him?" He turned to Darry, accusingly.
1.3
1.4 Posted by bsbfanatic7
All three brothers turned to see Steve standing in the doorway. Darry
sighed. "Can you give us a minute, please?" "Well why's Soda crying?"
Steve asked kind of demanding an answer. "Cuz Darry hit him!" Pony
yelled. "What!" Steve exclaimed. Soda felt more tears streaming down
his face. Listening to this just made everything worse.
"I said give us a minute, Steve!" Darry yelled. "Why'd you hit him!?"
Steve wanted to know. "Soda you ok?" Steve asked. Soda nodded. "Yeah
don't worry about it. I'm all right." "No he aint." Pony
said. "Everything's been hard enough for him and then Darry goes and
hits him!" "Ponyboy!" Darry roared. "You stay outa this. You just sit
down and shut your trap." "No!" Pony yelled.
"Pony... I said..." Suddenly Soda dashed out of the room so fast that
nobody had a chance to stop him. He past by Two-Bit who was still
lying on the couch sleeping and ran out of the door fighting back hot
tears that were threatening to pour out but he wasn't successful.
Darry, Ponyboy, and Steve bounded after him, out the door...
1.5 Posted by fudgegirl890
"Soda!" Pony called. "Come back!"
Soda looked over his shoulder and saw them coming after him. He cut
across the street and through the block, tears blinding his vision.
"Pony, go around that side, and Steve go that way." Darry instructed.
-
Soda climbed on top of an apartment building and watched his brothers
run around looking for him. He felt really bad they were trying
to 'help' him and he wasn't letting them.
After about ten minutes, they figured that he must have left to go
somewhere else, so they took off to the next block.
Soda climbed down the ladder and jumped on to the ground. He dusted
off his pants after he fell and straighten up. He couldn't *really*
take off. Darry would kill him. He had to go home. Besides, he could
end up in a worst fix then Pony and Johnny had been in.
"Two-Bit?" Soda walked in the front door. "Two-Bit? Ya gotta wake up!"
He shook him.
"Whada you want, Soda?" he rolled over and looked at him. He quickly
sat up. "Are you okay buddy?"
Soda shook his head. He was so going to be dead.
Posted by ladyzevie
"You go left, I'll go right, we'll find him sooner or later. This
town ain't that big," Steve told Ponyboy. He ignored Darry.
"I'm on it!" Pony yelped, taking off down the street.
Darry watched them both go helplessly. Should he go left or right?
Slowly, he sat down. Maybe it was better if he didn't go anywhere.
Soda didn't want his comfort, hell, with his temper it might not even
be comfort. An image of himself hitting Soda went through his mind.
Darry winced. His hand was still red from the contact. Darry shook
himself, trying to rid his mind of the awful memory.
"Why can't I just be a good parent," he murmured, gazing back into
the house. For what felt like the first time in a long while, he saw
how truly broken down his house was. He couldn't give them a good
home. He couldn't help Pony with Johnny's and Dally's death. He
couldn't do a thing to comfort Soda when Sandy came back, except give
him awkward hug and mutter "it's okay" when he knew it never was.
He'd been a crappy parent to them, and now...
Darry shuddered, thinking about how things were now. Soda probably
hated him, or at the very least didn't trust him anymore. Ponyboy
could barely stand him and thought Darry wouldn't understand anything
about him. Darry swallowed hard. He couldn't even remember when he'd
just plain been their brother and not tried to be their parent,
nagging or punishing...what did they think of him? Would they - could
they - ever think of him as just their brother?
Darry stared out into the growing darkness, his stomach aching
something fierce, and the insistent feeling that everything was as
good as lost blossing inside him.
'Nothing's right,' he thought, his eyes stinging. And he doubted
whether it would ever be right again.
Something rustled nearby - Darry looked up, expecting a rabbit, a
squirrel...Sodapop stared at him, his huge blue eyes like the moons
of mars. They suddenly he looked away, a frown creasing his face.
"You gonna give me a lecture? Cause I don't want it," he mumbled.
"Naw, Soda," Darry said softly, wincing at how much his voice
quavered. "I'm done with all that. I am done."
And then much to his surprise and Soda's, Darry Curtis burst into
tears on the front porch.
Added by bsbfanatic7
Soda rushed back into the house to wake up Two-Bit.
Posted by Japanese Anubis
"What's wrong?" Two-bit asked.
"I got in a fight with Darry..." Soda stopped. Why was he bothering
to explain himself? Something else would just go wrong. It seemed as
if his life had been turned upside down. How could he be a father
(even theoretically) already? Things were just so weird.
Two-bit stared at him, trying to piece it together. What had gotten
into him and Ponyboy lately?
"You can trust me." He said gently. Soda told him the whole thing,
sobbing. Even Two-bit couldn't come up with anything to say.
A knock at the door made them both jump. Soda got up and went to
answer it. Outside the door was Angela Shepard.
Posted by fudgegirl890
"Um, Angela?" Soda said, his voice quavering some. "This really is't
a good time."
"I'm sorry Soda," she said, "but I really need to talk to Ponyboy."
"He isn't here right now." Two-Bit said. "Why don't you come back
later?"
She shook her head. "Think I should stay and maybe clear some things
up with you guys," she paused. "I want to explain what Pony was doing
the other night."
-
"Maybe we should go back Steve," Pony said. "He might be back now.
Darry mighta found him."
"Sure."
The headed back to the Curtsies from the Park. Ever since that one
night - when Bob had been killed - he couldn't stand the park. It
always made him have flashbacks and awful memories of that night and
the days that followed.
Pony and Steve turned the corner, walking past the lot. They could
see everyone sitting on the porch, except Angela and Darry.
"Are you saying that Pony lied to me?" Darry boomed at her. "He's
never lied to me before. Why would he now?"
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Pony and Steve walked up to the front porch wondering what Angela was
doing there. Darry noticed them and got up. "Ok well thanks for
giving me the 411." He said to Angela. "I don't mean to be rude but I
got some stuff to take care of around here so I'm gonna ask you to
leave." "Ok." Angela said getting up but she was a bit insulted. "By
Pony." She waved as she trotted down the street. Ponyboy looked at
Darry wondering what that was all about. "All right." Darry said
breaking the silence. "Pony, Soda come on inside." They followed
Darry inside. Two-Bit remained on the porch and lit up a cigarette.
Steve sat down next to him to find out exactly what had been going on.
"Ponyboy, go back to your room." Darry said. Pony went reluctantly.
Darry looked over at Soda. Soda dropped his gaze to the carpet. "I'm
sorry." He mumbled. "It's ok. I'm sorry too. We don't have talk about
it anymore today." Darry said. "Ok?" Soda nodded gratefully. He
really wasn't in the mood to receive whatever punishment would be
coming his way soon.
Posted by fudgegirl890
"Pony," Darry said, sitting down at his desk. "I am not going to get
mad at you anymore unless I have a real reason to, okay?"
"Um, okay." Sounded good to him.
"But let me ask you one thing. Why did you lie to me?"
"About what?" Pony asked confused.
"About Tim and Angela," he said. "Angela told me what *really*
happened."
Pony could feel his gut as if it were punched by Darry himself. What
exactly did Angela say? He did tell Darry the truth, but was he more
open to what a hood had to say, or him?
"Darry, I don't know what she told you, but I didn't lie!" He said,
pleading with him.
"Why would she waste her time to tell me something that didn't
happen?" he asked. "I know it was you who treated them to free beers.
I know it was you who offered them to the Shepard's."
Pony stayed silent for a minute, the pressure rebuilding itself
inside him again. Why would Darry not believe him? His own brother...
"Tell me something Darrel," Pony said. "If you are willing to give
Soda a break from everything, why not me? Especially when my problems
weren't my fault in the first place? Soda is deserving what he is
getting. He knew the consequence when he chose to do that with Sandy."
"And you didn't know yours? I find that hard to believe, Pon."
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Pony let out an exasperated sigh. There was really nothing he could
say to that in his defense. "Oh fine, but..." "But... nothing." Darry
interrupted. "You know what my rules are, you know there's a
punishment if you break them, and furthermore you know far better
than to do what you did." "But Darry..." Pony started. "No," Darry
interrupted again. "I've had enough of you excuses for one day. I'm
ashamed of you Pony, I really am." Pony looked at his feet feeling
slightly bad about hearing Darry say that. "I am sorry." He
mumbled. "Yeah, I know you are kiddo and I forgive you but you're not
off the hook here Pon. I want the full story, understand? From the
second you left this house until the second I found you and you
aren't aloud dinner until you tell me." "Aahh, but Darry." Pony
whined. "I'm serious, Ponyboy, and we're having chicken and mashed
potatoes tonight, so you'd better spill it."
Posted by fudgegirl890
"All right," Ponyboy sighed. "You want the full story? You got it."
Darry leaned in closer, just to make sure he caught ever detail.
-
"Hey Ponyboy!" Angela waved him over. They decided that they would be
picking him up at the lot. It worked out fine for Pony, he certainly
didn't mind.
"Hey Tim, Ang," he said. "What are we gonna do today?"
"Well I was thinkin' that we would just drive around see what there
is to do," Tim answered.
"Okay," Pony shrugged, "works for me."
They drove around town, trying to figure out something to do. They
drove to the bowling alley, played a game or two. Then they drove to
the theater. That is where the real story begins.
Posted by bsbfanatic7
"Lets ditch this joint." Tim said putting his ball back on the
rack. "Ok," Pony said. "Were do you want to go?" Tim thought for a
short moment and then said, "My pal is having a party tonight. We
could go check out what's up with that." Ponyboy gulped at the
thought of what kind of parties Tim attended. "Uh, um, ok." Pony
said. Tim smiled. "Good," he said. "Lets go then."
They left and got into Tim's car and drove to the party. They could
here the loud music from all the way down the street. When they got
their Pony was shocked. He had never been to such a wild party. Not
even that night with Johnny when they had gone to Buck's to find
Dally. He winced remembering that horrible night. Pony surveyed the
room. He saw vulgar dances, several fights, lots of alcohol, broken
windows, and lots of other things that I won't repeat.
"Having fun?" Angela asked them as they sat down on a nearby couch.
Tim had gone of somewhere in the house. "Uh, yah." Pony lied trying
to be polite. They were only there for five or ten minutes before
they could hear police cars outside. Tim came back quick. "Let's get
outta here." He said. Pony was thankful for this. He got up and
followed Tim and Angela out the back. They had parked down the block
to their relief because now they could get Tim's car.
"So did you like that?" Tim asked Pony. "Uh, yeah, it was ok I
guess." "What is with you kid?" Tim said. "Don't you have a wild side
or are you always only reading a book?" "No," Pony said
defensively. "I have a wild side." "Oh, really?" Angela
asked. "Yeah." Pony said. "C'mon lets go get some drinks. I'm buying."
_
Darry looked at Ponyboy stunned and Pony stared at his feet.
Posted by fudgegirl890
Darry blinked hard and stared at Pony. What had he been thinking?
"I'm - I'm really sorry Darry," he whispered. "I didn't know all of
this was going to happen, or I would have never done it," he sniffed.
"You lied to my Pony," he said, really disappointed. "You - lied -
to - me."
"I know, Darry," he wiped his eyes on his sleeve, still not looking
at him. "But I couldn't tell you the truth."
Darry closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair, thinking. Why
did he feel the need to have to do all of that, to hang out with the
Shepard's? He didn't even feel that much pressure around Curly.
He knew that he was sucking at being the parental figure. He knew
that now, the boys actually feared to talk to him about anything,
when just a year ago, they were tight and the best of friends.
But that didn't matter now. If he didn't take charge and lay down the
law, no one would, and they would be dysfunctional and worse of then
before.
"Darry, please," Pony saw the anger in his eyes. If Darry wasn't
talking, then that means that he was really mad. More than
before. "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
"Don't be mad? Don't be mad?" he stood up and threw his arms in the
air. "How the heck do you expect me not to be mad Ponyboy? Explain
that one to me."
"Darry, it was one time. I won't do it again, I swear," he begged.
"That's what you said last time! Last time you were mad at yourself
and you swore off ever drinking again," Darry yelled. "What happened
to seeing what it did for you at Johnny's house? Huh? I did look over
your English theme, remember?"
At the thought of Johnny, and his dysfunctional family, and alcohol
and how it all rolled into one package, and how Pony had actually
dared to drink some beer after knowing all about this stuff, he burst
into tears.
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Darry tried not to show any pity because he new he had to punish him
but it was hard because he hated to see him cry. Yet, Pony'd been a
brat all day and Darry was kind of relieved to see his regular soft
hearted little brother again even if it made him sad when he
cried. "Well I see you've finally started thinking about the reality
of this." Darry said sternly. Pony sobbed harder.
"You know, I wish that you could just be good." Darry said. "If you
would just behave yourself and listen to me when I tell you when and
when not to do something, then we wouldn't have to go through this
all the time. You make everything much more difficult for yourself
and me than it has to be." Pony just sobbed harder into the bed.
Darry sighed, defeated at the sight of his brother like that.
He sat down next to Ponyboy and rubbed his back gently. "C'mon now.
Quite that crying. Crying aint gonna solve any of this." Pony's sobs
soon decreased to small hiccups and then silent tears. "Now, listen
to me and listen good, Ponyboy Curtis. Don't do that again. I don't
care what reason you have for it. Do I make myself perfectly
clear?" "Yeah." Pony said softly into the bed sheets. "Good." Darry
said giving Ponyboy a pat on the back and getting up to leave.
"Hey, Darry?" Pony said. Darry turned back. "Yeah?" "I'm sorry I hit
you." Darry smiled. "Thanks for the apology kiddo, though I guess I
kind of deserved it. He turned again to leave but then spun back
around to see a smiling Pony. "That doesn't mean it was ok
though." "I know." Pony said trying not to grin. "I'll tell you when
dinners ready." Darry said. Ponyboy nodded.
Posted by Japanese Anubis
Pony lay stretched out on the bed, waiting impatiently for Darry to
call for him. He hadn't had anything to eat all day, and his stomach
was letting him know it.
"Pony, Soda, dinner!" Darry yelled. Pony scrambled off the bed and
joined his brothers at the table. The meal was shortly interrupted by
a knock at the door, which Darry answered. He came back, frowning.
"Soda, it's for you." He said quietly. "It's Sandy."
Posted by totallyindie411
"Oh no," Soda groaned, burying his head in his arms. "Not now. I
can't deal with any more of this today. Darry, please just tell her I
feel sick. Tell her I can't talk to her right now."
"Okay, little buddy," Darry headed back out the door and Ponyboy and
Soda heard the quiet conversation. A couple of seconds later, Darry
came back into the room and sat back down. The three brothers ate
silently for a few minutes, until Darry noticed Soda picking at his
food, listlessly. He reached over and gently felt Soda's forehead
with the back of his hand. "You okay?" He asked softly. Soda nodded,
then shook his head, then nodded again. Finally he groaned and
dropped his head back down onto the table. "Well, it's all clear
now," Darry joked. Ponyboy watched as Darry got up to get a
thermometer. Silently, he slid over to sit next to Soda and gently
patted him on the back.
"Thanks, Pony," Soda whispered. Darry came back and slid the
thermometer between Soda's lips. While he waited, he massaged his
younger brother's shoulders, thinking to himself how the day couldn't
possibly get any worse. When he finally pulled it out, a soft gasp
came out of his lips, "Dang, Soda!"
1.6 Posted By fudgegirl890
"What?" Soda asked, wiping off his face with his hand. "What does it
say?"
"Soda, you get in bed right now!" Darry said, a little worried. "I'm
gonna run to the DX and get some medicine."
"What does it say, Darry?" Soda asked as Darry forced him out of his
chair and guided him - his hands on his shoulders - to his room.
"103," Darry said, pushing him onto the bed. "I mean it Soda, you
stay here. Don't move. I'll be back in a few minutes. Pony do me a
favor and go make some chicken broth," he said, leaving the room.
Pony just stood there, and watched him leave. Something was bugging
him really bad.
"Soda," he asked. "This doesn't have to do anything with your being
sick, but remember that one friend that got married really young?"
"Benny?" he asked. Pony nodded. "Yeah, he was only 15 when he got
hitched. Stupid kid," he laughed.
"Uh, right," he laughed, not really meaning it. "That is kinda what I
was wanting to talk to you about, Soda."
Soda, who already looked like death warmed over, felt his face
fall. "What's going on Pony?"
"Soda," he said. "I'm engaged."
"What?!" he yelled, shaking the floor and ceiling boards of the
house. "To who?!"
"Anlshp," Pony muttered.
"Louder Ponyboy," Darry said from the doorway. "Yeah that's right, I
haven't left yet. Spill it little man."
Pony gulped. "Angela Shepard."
"Answer me, Soda!" Darry yelled. "I asked you a question. Now answer
me!"
"I don't know, Darry. I really don't know," Soda tried to pry his
strong grip off of him, but years as a football star and a roofer
made him really strong. "Darry, please." He quietly begged.
Darry stood there for a minute in silence. "Soda, I thought you had
more sense then to do something like that. I guess I was wrong."
"Lay off, Darry," Pony stepped in. "Leave him alone. He feels bad
enough as it is."
"Don't you start with me, Ponyboy." Darry turned on him, not letting
Soda loose. "I am so sick of all of this crap! Why can't you guys
just be easy? For once!"
Next thing Pony knew, his fist had collided with Darry's jaw. He had
hit them. It was about time he got a taste of his own medicine. "Stop
blaming us for everything!"
1.2 Posted By: totallyindie411
"Half the stuff you yell at us for isn't even our fault!" Ponyboy
continued.
"God damnit, Ponyboy!" Darry swore, rubbing his jaw. "I'm going to
kill you!"
"Oh just try." For once, Ponyboy wasn't scared. He was too angry
about the fact that someone had hit his brother and now Soda was
close to crying and no one made his brother cry.
"Pony, don't," Soda mumbled, "It- It doesn't matter. He turned
completely away, trying to hide the lone tear that slid down his
face. "I screwed everything up." Darry sighed, Soda's crying not
escaping his notice.
"Pepsi-Cola, I-"
"Don't!" Soda whirled around, more tears streaming down his
face. "Don't call me that!" Darry was stunned. Soda had never
stopped him from using Dad's pet name when he was upset. He had
really messed up this time.
"Soda, I'm sorry." Darry placed his hand on his brother's shoulder,
only increasing his crying. "Damn, Soda, please."
"Hey, hey, Greasers," Steve suddenly entered the room, a smile on his
face, "Just wanted to see how things were-" He stopped short when he
saw Soda leaning against the wall, tears rolling down his face. "What
did you do to him?" He turned to Darry, accusingly.
1.3
1.4 Posted by bsbfanatic7
All three brothers turned to see Steve standing in the doorway. Darry
sighed. "Can you give us a minute, please?" "Well why's Soda crying?"
Steve asked kind of demanding an answer. "Cuz Darry hit him!" Pony
yelled. "What!" Steve exclaimed. Soda felt more tears streaming down
his face. Listening to this just made everything worse.
"I said give us a minute, Steve!" Darry yelled. "Why'd you hit him!?"
Steve wanted to know. "Soda you ok?" Steve asked. Soda nodded. "Yeah
don't worry about it. I'm all right." "No he aint." Pony
said. "Everything's been hard enough for him and then Darry goes and
hits him!" "Ponyboy!" Darry roared. "You stay outa this. You just sit
down and shut your trap." "No!" Pony yelled.
"Pony... I said..." Suddenly Soda dashed out of the room so fast that
nobody had a chance to stop him. He past by Two-Bit who was still
lying on the couch sleeping and ran out of the door fighting back hot
tears that were threatening to pour out but he wasn't successful.
Darry, Ponyboy, and Steve bounded after him, out the door...
1.5 Posted by fudgegirl890
"Soda!" Pony called. "Come back!"
Soda looked over his shoulder and saw them coming after him. He cut
across the street and through the block, tears blinding his vision.
"Pony, go around that side, and Steve go that way." Darry instructed.
-
Soda climbed on top of an apartment building and watched his brothers
run around looking for him. He felt really bad they were trying
to 'help' him and he wasn't letting them.
After about ten minutes, they figured that he must have left to go
somewhere else, so they took off to the next block.
Soda climbed down the ladder and jumped on to the ground. He dusted
off his pants after he fell and straighten up. He couldn't *really*
take off. Darry would kill him. He had to go home. Besides, he could
end up in a worst fix then Pony and Johnny had been in.
"Two-Bit?" Soda walked in the front door. "Two-Bit? Ya gotta wake up!"
He shook him.
"Whada you want, Soda?" he rolled over and looked at him. He quickly
sat up. "Are you okay buddy?"
Soda shook his head. He was so going to be dead.
Posted by ladyzevie
"You go left, I'll go right, we'll find him sooner or later. This
town ain't that big," Steve told Ponyboy. He ignored Darry.
"I'm on it!" Pony yelped, taking off down the street.
Darry watched them both go helplessly. Should he go left or right?
Slowly, he sat down. Maybe it was better if he didn't go anywhere.
Soda didn't want his comfort, hell, with his temper it might not even
be comfort. An image of himself hitting Soda went through his mind.
Darry winced. His hand was still red from the contact. Darry shook
himself, trying to rid his mind of the awful memory.
"Why can't I just be a good parent," he murmured, gazing back into
the house. For what felt like the first time in a long while, he saw
how truly broken down his house was. He couldn't give them a good
home. He couldn't help Pony with Johnny's and Dally's death. He
couldn't do a thing to comfort Soda when Sandy came back, except give
him awkward hug and mutter "it's okay" when he knew it never was.
He'd been a crappy parent to them, and now...
Darry shuddered, thinking about how things were now. Soda probably
hated him, or at the very least didn't trust him anymore. Ponyboy
could barely stand him and thought Darry wouldn't understand anything
about him. Darry swallowed hard. He couldn't even remember when he'd
just plain been their brother and not tried to be their parent,
nagging or punishing...what did they think of him? Would they - could
they - ever think of him as just their brother?
Darry stared out into the growing darkness, his stomach aching
something fierce, and the insistent feeling that everything was as
good as lost blossing inside him.
'Nothing's right,' he thought, his eyes stinging. And he doubted
whether it would ever be right again.
Something rustled nearby - Darry looked up, expecting a rabbit, a
squirrel...Sodapop stared at him, his huge blue eyes like the moons
of mars. They suddenly he looked away, a frown creasing his face.
"You gonna give me a lecture? Cause I don't want it," he mumbled.
"Naw, Soda," Darry said softly, wincing at how much his voice
quavered. "I'm done with all that. I am done."
And then much to his surprise and Soda's, Darry Curtis burst into
tears on the front porch.
Added by bsbfanatic7
Soda rushed back into the house to wake up Two-Bit.
Posted by Japanese Anubis
"What's wrong?" Two-bit asked.
"I got in a fight with Darry..." Soda stopped. Why was he bothering
to explain himself? Something else would just go wrong. It seemed as
if his life had been turned upside down. How could he be a father
(even theoretically) already? Things were just so weird.
Two-bit stared at him, trying to piece it together. What had gotten
into him and Ponyboy lately?
"You can trust me." He said gently. Soda told him the whole thing,
sobbing. Even Two-bit couldn't come up with anything to say.
A knock at the door made them both jump. Soda got up and went to
answer it. Outside the door was Angela Shepard.
Posted by fudgegirl890
"Um, Angela?" Soda said, his voice quavering some. "This really is't
a good time."
"I'm sorry Soda," she said, "but I really need to talk to Ponyboy."
"He isn't here right now." Two-Bit said. "Why don't you come back
later?"
She shook her head. "Think I should stay and maybe clear some things
up with you guys," she paused. "I want to explain what Pony was doing
the other night."
-
"Maybe we should go back Steve," Pony said. "He might be back now.
Darry mighta found him."
"Sure."
The headed back to the Curtsies from the Park. Ever since that one
night - when Bob had been killed - he couldn't stand the park. It
always made him have flashbacks and awful memories of that night and
the days that followed.
Pony and Steve turned the corner, walking past the lot. They could
see everyone sitting on the porch, except Angela and Darry.
"Are you saying that Pony lied to me?" Darry boomed at her. "He's
never lied to me before. Why would he now?"
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Pony and Steve walked up to the front porch wondering what Angela was
doing there. Darry noticed them and got up. "Ok well thanks for
giving me the 411." He said to Angela. "I don't mean to be rude but I
got some stuff to take care of around here so I'm gonna ask you to
leave." "Ok." Angela said getting up but she was a bit insulted. "By
Pony." She waved as she trotted down the street. Ponyboy looked at
Darry wondering what that was all about. "All right." Darry said
breaking the silence. "Pony, Soda come on inside." They followed
Darry inside. Two-Bit remained on the porch and lit up a cigarette.
Steve sat down next to him to find out exactly what had been going on.
"Ponyboy, go back to your room." Darry said. Pony went reluctantly.
Darry looked over at Soda. Soda dropped his gaze to the carpet. "I'm
sorry." He mumbled. "It's ok. I'm sorry too. We don't have talk about
it anymore today." Darry said. "Ok?" Soda nodded gratefully. He
really wasn't in the mood to receive whatever punishment would be
coming his way soon.
Posted by fudgegirl890
"Pony," Darry said, sitting down at his desk. "I am not going to get
mad at you anymore unless I have a real reason to, okay?"
"Um, okay." Sounded good to him.
"But let me ask you one thing. Why did you lie to me?"
"About what?" Pony asked confused.
"About Tim and Angela," he said. "Angela told me what *really*
happened."
Pony could feel his gut as if it were punched by Darry himself. What
exactly did Angela say? He did tell Darry the truth, but was he more
open to what a hood had to say, or him?
"Darry, I don't know what she told you, but I didn't lie!" He said,
pleading with him.
"Why would she waste her time to tell me something that didn't
happen?" he asked. "I know it was you who treated them to free beers.
I know it was you who offered them to the Shepard's."
Pony stayed silent for a minute, the pressure rebuilding itself
inside him again. Why would Darry not believe him? His own brother...
"Tell me something Darrel," Pony said. "If you are willing to give
Soda a break from everything, why not me? Especially when my problems
weren't my fault in the first place? Soda is deserving what he is
getting. He knew the consequence when he chose to do that with Sandy."
"And you didn't know yours? I find that hard to believe, Pon."
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Pony let out an exasperated sigh. There was really nothing he could
say to that in his defense. "Oh fine, but..." "But... nothing." Darry
interrupted. "You know what my rules are, you know there's a
punishment if you break them, and furthermore you know far better
than to do what you did." "But Darry..." Pony started. "No," Darry
interrupted again. "I've had enough of you excuses for one day. I'm
ashamed of you Pony, I really am." Pony looked at his feet feeling
slightly bad about hearing Darry say that. "I am sorry." He
mumbled. "Yeah, I know you are kiddo and I forgive you but you're not
off the hook here Pon. I want the full story, understand? From the
second you left this house until the second I found you and you
aren't aloud dinner until you tell me." "Aahh, but Darry." Pony
whined. "I'm serious, Ponyboy, and we're having chicken and mashed
potatoes tonight, so you'd better spill it."
Posted by fudgegirl890
"All right," Ponyboy sighed. "You want the full story? You got it."
Darry leaned in closer, just to make sure he caught ever detail.
-
"Hey Ponyboy!" Angela waved him over. They decided that they would be
picking him up at the lot. It worked out fine for Pony, he certainly
didn't mind.
"Hey Tim, Ang," he said. "What are we gonna do today?"
"Well I was thinkin' that we would just drive around see what there
is to do," Tim answered.
"Okay," Pony shrugged, "works for me."
They drove around town, trying to figure out something to do. They
drove to the bowling alley, played a game or two. Then they drove to
the theater. That is where the real story begins.
Posted by bsbfanatic7
"Lets ditch this joint." Tim said putting his ball back on the
rack. "Ok," Pony said. "Were do you want to go?" Tim thought for a
short moment and then said, "My pal is having a party tonight. We
could go check out what's up with that." Ponyboy gulped at the
thought of what kind of parties Tim attended. "Uh, um, ok." Pony
said. Tim smiled. "Good," he said. "Lets go then."
They left and got into Tim's car and drove to the party. They could
here the loud music from all the way down the street. When they got
their Pony was shocked. He had never been to such a wild party. Not
even that night with Johnny when they had gone to Buck's to find
Dally. He winced remembering that horrible night. Pony surveyed the
room. He saw vulgar dances, several fights, lots of alcohol, broken
windows, and lots of other things that I won't repeat.
"Having fun?" Angela asked them as they sat down on a nearby couch.
Tim had gone of somewhere in the house. "Uh, yah." Pony lied trying
to be polite. They were only there for five or ten minutes before
they could hear police cars outside. Tim came back quick. "Let's get
outta here." He said. Pony was thankful for this. He got up and
followed Tim and Angela out the back. They had parked down the block
to their relief because now they could get Tim's car.
"So did you like that?" Tim asked Pony. "Uh, yeah, it was ok I
guess." "What is with you kid?" Tim said. "Don't you have a wild side
or are you always only reading a book?" "No," Pony said
defensively. "I have a wild side." "Oh, really?" Angela
asked. "Yeah." Pony said. "C'mon lets go get some drinks. I'm buying."
_
Darry looked at Ponyboy stunned and Pony stared at his feet.
Posted by fudgegirl890
Darry blinked hard and stared at Pony. What had he been thinking?
"I'm - I'm really sorry Darry," he whispered. "I didn't know all of
this was going to happen, or I would have never done it," he sniffed.
"You lied to my Pony," he said, really disappointed. "You - lied -
to - me."
"I know, Darry," he wiped his eyes on his sleeve, still not looking
at him. "But I couldn't tell you the truth."
Darry closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair, thinking. Why
did he feel the need to have to do all of that, to hang out with the
Shepard's? He didn't even feel that much pressure around Curly.
He knew that he was sucking at being the parental figure. He knew
that now, the boys actually feared to talk to him about anything,
when just a year ago, they were tight and the best of friends.
But that didn't matter now. If he didn't take charge and lay down the
law, no one would, and they would be dysfunctional and worse of then
before.
"Darry, please," Pony saw the anger in his eyes. If Darry wasn't
talking, then that means that he was really mad. More than
before. "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
"Don't be mad? Don't be mad?" he stood up and threw his arms in the
air. "How the heck do you expect me not to be mad Ponyboy? Explain
that one to me."
"Darry, it was one time. I won't do it again, I swear," he begged.
"That's what you said last time! Last time you were mad at yourself
and you swore off ever drinking again," Darry yelled. "What happened
to seeing what it did for you at Johnny's house? Huh? I did look over
your English theme, remember?"
At the thought of Johnny, and his dysfunctional family, and alcohol
and how it all rolled into one package, and how Pony had actually
dared to drink some beer after knowing all about this stuff, he burst
into tears.
Posted by bsbfanatic7
Darry tried not to show any pity because he new he had to punish him
but it was hard because he hated to see him cry. Yet, Pony'd been a
brat all day and Darry was kind of relieved to see his regular soft
hearted little brother again even if it made him sad when he
cried. "Well I see you've finally started thinking about the reality
of this." Darry said sternly. Pony sobbed harder.
"You know, I wish that you could just be good." Darry said. "If you
would just behave yourself and listen to me when I tell you when and
when not to do something, then we wouldn't have to go through this
all the time. You make everything much more difficult for yourself
and me than it has to be." Pony just sobbed harder into the bed.
Darry sighed, defeated at the sight of his brother like that.
He sat down next to Ponyboy and rubbed his back gently. "C'mon now.
Quite that crying. Crying aint gonna solve any of this." Pony's sobs
soon decreased to small hiccups and then silent tears. "Now, listen
to me and listen good, Ponyboy Curtis. Don't do that again. I don't
care what reason you have for it. Do I make myself perfectly
clear?" "Yeah." Pony said softly into the bed sheets. "Good." Darry
said giving Ponyboy a pat on the back and getting up to leave.
"Hey, Darry?" Pony said. Darry turned back. "Yeah?" "I'm sorry I hit
you." Darry smiled. "Thanks for the apology kiddo, though I guess I
kind of deserved it. He turned again to leave but then spun back
around to see a smiling Pony. "That doesn't mean it was ok
though." "I know." Pony said trying not to grin. "I'll tell you when
dinners ready." Darry said. Ponyboy nodded.
Posted by Japanese Anubis
Pony lay stretched out on the bed, waiting impatiently for Darry to
call for him. He hadn't had anything to eat all day, and his stomach
was letting him know it.
"Pony, Soda, dinner!" Darry yelled. Pony scrambled off the bed and
joined his brothers at the table. The meal was shortly interrupted by
a knock at the door, which Darry answered. He came back, frowning.
"Soda, it's for you." He said quietly. "It's Sandy."
Posted by totallyindie411
"Oh no," Soda groaned, burying his head in his arms. "Not now. I
can't deal with any more of this today. Darry, please just tell her I
feel sick. Tell her I can't talk to her right now."
"Okay, little buddy," Darry headed back out the door and Ponyboy and
Soda heard the quiet conversation. A couple of seconds later, Darry
came back into the room and sat back down. The three brothers ate
silently for a few minutes, until Darry noticed Soda picking at his
food, listlessly. He reached over and gently felt Soda's forehead
with the back of his hand. "You okay?" He asked softly. Soda nodded,
then shook his head, then nodded again. Finally he groaned and
dropped his head back down onto the table. "Well, it's all clear
now," Darry joked. Ponyboy watched as Darry got up to get a
thermometer. Silently, he slid over to sit next to Soda and gently
patted him on the back.
"Thanks, Pony," Soda whispered. Darry came back and slid the
thermometer between Soda's lips. While he waited, he massaged his
younger brother's shoulders, thinking to himself how the day couldn't
possibly get any worse. When he finally pulled it out, a soft gasp
came out of his lips, "Dang, Soda!"
1.6 Posted By fudgegirl890
"What?" Soda asked, wiping off his face with his hand. "What does it
say?"
"Soda, you get in bed right now!" Darry said, a little worried. "I'm
gonna run to the DX and get some medicine."
"What does it say, Darry?" Soda asked as Darry forced him out of his
chair and guided him - his hands on his shoulders - to his room.
"103," Darry said, pushing him onto the bed. "I mean it Soda, you
stay here. Don't move. I'll be back in a few minutes. Pony do me a
favor and go make some chicken broth," he said, leaving the room.
Pony just stood there, and watched him leave. Something was bugging
him really bad.
"Soda," he asked. "This doesn't have to do anything with your being
sick, but remember that one friend that got married really young?"
"Benny?" he asked. Pony nodded. "Yeah, he was only 15 when he got
hitched. Stupid kid," he laughed.
"Uh, right," he laughed, not really meaning it. "That is kinda what I
was wanting to talk to you about, Soda."
Soda, who already looked like death warmed over, felt his face
fall. "What's going on Pony?"
"Soda," he said. "I'm engaged."
"What?!" he yelled, shaking the floor and ceiling boards of the
house. "To who?!"
"Anlshp," Pony muttered.
"Louder Ponyboy," Darry said from the doorway. "Yeah that's right, I
haven't left yet. Spill it little man."
Pony gulped. "Angela Shepard."