It's Not So Simple

Disclaimer: I only own the plot
A/N This story is my main project so I am definitely not going to abandon this story.
Some cussing most likely

*Darry's POV*
*One day later*

I woke up with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Was something bad going to happen? Normally, I would ignore these feelings, but now with Ponyboy........ I really don't know what to expect. I couldn't believe that the problem was something as serious as self cutting. I almost wish he was on drugs or in trouble with the law. Last night I told Soda to take all of the razor blades out of the bathroom, and just keep one with him for when he needs it. If we can do anything to prevent Pony from cutting himself, then that's a good thing. He'll find another way to do it, though. Then where will we be? Right back at the beginning, that's for sure. It's not just something that will happen automatically. This is definitely going to take a while.
"Hey Darry have you seen my pants?" called my younger brother Soda
"Which one?" I called back
" The ones I was wearing the day before yesterday,"
" I don't know, try the kitchen,"
I heard the sound of footsteps and then the sound of Soda's voice
" Here they are, thanks Darry,"
" No problem,"
That was incredibly easy. It won't be that easy with Pony. I can't just tell him that whatever he's lost is in the kitchen. I don't even know what he's lost. One possibility is his soul. I don't want to think that's completely gone. We all have to have some hope, no matter how small.
" I'm going to school," said a very pale Ponyboy as he walked out the door
I didn't even get a chance to say "ok" before he was gone. About a month ago, Pony would yell a happy goodbye when he left in the mornings. At least he would in the mornings he left early, and I was still here. Now, he acted like he didn't care about anything. None of us really knew if it was an act or not.
The door opened and in walked Dally, looking over his shoulder.
" Lose something?" I asked
" Nah, I was just looking at Ponyboy,"
"He's still here? I thought he was leaving."
" He was walking towards the school when I saw him,"
" Is it my imagination or does he look worse?" I asked
Dally looked as thoughtful as Dallas Winston could and said
" I don't know how we can tell if he's worse or not at this point,"
" Right now, it's a matter of whether he's breathing or not," I said glumly
"He's breathing all right,"
" I hate the fact that now I have to wake up each morning wondering if my little brother is alive or not."
"Yeah, everything doesn't seem normal now,"
" I used to think normal was with mom and dad, then it was with you guys. I don't want this to become normal for Pony,"
" It won't"
" How can you say that? It already has practically,"
He sighed and leaned against the wall
" Curtis, I've seen my share of bad shit in my life, and I know that Pony's problem goes right in there with the rest of them. But if there's anything valuable that living in the streets of New York has taught me, it's not to give up until the very end. Even though it seems like we are with Pony, we're not even close."
" I just don't want the end to be his funeral,"
"Yeah, I get it,"
" It was bad enough losing mom and dad........"
"You three have each other, I don't have anyone."
"Dally, you have the gang,"
"Yeah I know, but I meant someone as close as you Curtis brothers. Pony's not really himself anymore, and I can still sense that brotherly bond,"
" I can almost sense a stronger bond throughout the gang now," I said
" I can feel it too. We're not going to give up on each other,"
" Seeing you talk about unity and friendship is definitely a sight to see," I told him
" What's wrong with me talking about something other than women and fights?"
"Nothing, I've just always heard you talk about those things,"
" Well maybe I'm a different person then people think I am," he said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I didn't mean anything bad about what I said," I told him.
He just smirked and went outside. I had to leave for work soon anyway, so I decided to follow him.
" Sometimes people change on you," he said when I was standing next to him outside.
"I've noticed," was my only reply.
Dally took a cigarette out of pocket and lit it with slightly trembling fingers. He put the lit cigarette to his lips and inhaled. That seemed to relax him. I don't smoke so I have to find other ways to calm my nerves. Believe me, it's not easy.
" It can be a slow change, or it can spring on you," he continued.
" Pony's change sure sprung on us," I said
" Yeah it sure did,"
" Maybe Pony's change was slow, so slow we didn't notice anything until now." I said
"That's a possibility," Dally agreed.
" If he was changing, I should've noticed," I said in frustration.
"How could you've noticed? No one noticed until about a week ago,"
" I'm his legal guardian, and it's my job to care for him,"
"You have been, or at least as far as I can tell."
" I still should've noticed that something was wrong,"
" Hey man, Johnny's like a little brother to me and I don't always right away if he's upset."
That last comment made me smile a little. I had always known that Dally held Johnny in higher regards than the rest of the gang, and it was nice to hear him confirm it. He noticed my slightly happy expression at his comment and growled. I gave him one of my authority figure glares, and he looked away mumbling.
" You're not a super hero Darry, and that's ok. You're human just like the rest of us and this whole thing with Ponyboy is not your fault." Dally told me
"Thanks Dally. I know that you're right."
"It's nothing, now that Pony is so down I don't want the rest of the gang down in the dumps too." he said
" I should probably leave for work now, thanks I guess." I said and started walking towards my truck. When I pulled into the road I saw Dally give me a small wave and a thumbs up. I waved back.
Dally was right. I wasn't a super hero, and I couldn't have prevented what was happening with Ponyboy. I could help him to stop it. Of course, with situations like this you need patience and understanding. You need time and even more time for listening. It's not so simple but I believed in the gang.

A/N. Yup, lot's of dialogue. Ok that was chapter 9, I hope you enjoyed it.
Fyre