*STEVE'S POV*
I'm in the same grade as Ponyboy and it pisses the hell outa me. I
guess I've always been a little jealous. He's the only one in our gang,
well, apart from Darry, who has a chance of getting anywhere.
I hadn't seen Ponyboy since breakfast at the Curtis house. I'm not the type to get worried about other people. Pony was annoying as hell to me; hello? He's fourteen years old- can't he take care of himself? I shook my head as I thought of the times Soda had almost fell asleep when he was at the gas station because he was kept awake all night by his kid brother's nightmares. If it were him, he would have just moved into another room, or even slept on the couch. The kid didn't deserve a brother like Sodapop Curtis.
Even though I didn't like Pony, I sure as hell cared about Soda. What would he do if Ponyboy didn't show up the rest of the day? I remembered the way he was when Pony was at Windrixville. He got less sleep then than when Pony was at home. I sighed. Where the hell was that kid??
*PONYBOY'S POV*
Looking at the stormy gray sky I knew it was only a matter of time before the light sprinkles of rain into a downpour. I stood up, taking one last long look at the remains of the church.
"Goodbye Johnny."
I smiled softly and headed back to the railroads. Sitting down in the long grass, I waited for the train to arrive.
I must have dozed off, because when I opened my eyes, the sky was cloudy and pitch black, and the rain was pouring down hard. I shivered hard, hugging my arms to my chest in an attempt for warmth. Where was the train?
"What are you doing here kid?"
I looked up. It was a railroad worker, looking down at me.
"Uh. could you tell me when the next train is?" I asked, as politely as I could.
He shook his head. "The last one left about twenty minutes ago."
Trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my heart, I smiled. "Thanks."
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I live real close to here. Seeya around!" I walked away as quickly as I could. Sneaking a look behind me, I saw with relief that the railroad worker had gone. I checked my wristwatch. It was only 11:30 am.
I weighed my chances. If I called Darry from work he'd have to drive all the way to Windrixville and back, and he'd blow off the roof once we got home. I didn't like Soda to worry about me, so I couldn't call him either. I had no idea where Two-bit, Dally or Steve were, and the thought of asking Steve of all people for help made me feel sick.
Sighing, I started running home.
*TWO-BIT*
I went back to school half way through the day. Might as well. There was no action to be found at the Dingo's or the drive-in. I grabbed a late note and walked into gym class. For some reason, I had gym with Ponyboy, even though I'm a senior and he's in 10th grade. I looked around the gymnasium, shrugging when I couldn't find him. I slouched on the bench, waiting for the gym teacher to notice me sitting there, not participating, and yell at me.
I groaned inwardly as she strode toward me, spotting me almost immediately.
"Keith Matthews?"
"It's Two-bit."
"Do you know Ponyboy Curtis?"
I straightened up. "Yeah. Is there anything wrong?"
She shrugged. "He wasn't at school the whole day and nobody called the school to say he was sick."
"I don't know- haven't seen him either."
She sighed and walked away, calling over her shoulder. "Grab a ball and join in or I'll fail you!"
I stood up. Where was Pony? He was never the type to play hooky. Definitely not. Hell, that kid took school way too seriously. A flutter of worry worked its way into my stomach. The socs hadn't bothered us up till now. What if . . .
I hadn't seen Ponyboy since breakfast at the Curtis house. I'm not the type to get worried about other people. Pony was annoying as hell to me; hello? He's fourteen years old- can't he take care of himself? I shook my head as I thought of the times Soda had almost fell asleep when he was at the gas station because he was kept awake all night by his kid brother's nightmares. If it were him, he would have just moved into another room, or even slept on the couch. The kid didn't deserve a brother like Sodapop Curtis.
Even though I didn't like Pony, I sure as hell cared about Soda. What would he do if Ponyboy didn't show up the rest of the day? I remembered the way he was when Pony was at Windrixville. He got less sleep then than when Pony was at home. I sighed. Where the hell was that kid??
*PONYBOY'S POV*
Looking at the stormy gray sky I knew it was only a matter of time before the light sprinkles of rain into a downpour. I stood up, taking one last long look at the remains of the church.
"Goodbye Johnny."
I smiled softly and headed back to the railroads. Sitting down in the long grass, I waited for the train to arrive.
I must have dozed off, because when I opened my eyes, the sky was cloudy and pitch black, and the rain was pouring down hard. I shivered hard, hugging my arms to my chest in an attempt for warmth. Where was the train?
"What are you doing here kid?"
I looked up. It was a railroad worker, looking down at me.
"Uh. could you tell me when the next train is?" I asked, as politely as I could.
He shook his head. "The last one left about twenty minutes ago."
Trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my heart, I smiled. "Thanks."
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I live real close to here. Seeya around!" I walked away as quickly as I could. Sneaking a look behind me, I saw with relief that the railroad worker had gone. I checked my wristwatch. It was only 11:30 am.
I weighed my chances. If I called Darry from work he'd have to drive all the way to Windrixville and back, and he'd blow off the roof once we got home. I didn't like Soda to worry about me, so I couldn't call him either. I had no idea where Two-bit, Dally or Steve were, and the thought of asking Steve of all people for help made me feel sick.
Sighing, I started running home.
*TWO-BIT*
I went back to school half way through the day. Might as well. There was no action to be found at the Dingo's or the drive-in. I grabbed a late note and walked into gym class. For some reason, I had gym with Ponyboy, even though I'm a senior and he's in 10th grade. I looked around the gymnasium, shrugging when I couldn't find him. I slouched on the bench, waiting for the gym teacher to notice me sitting there, not participating, and yell at me.
I groaned inwardly as she strode toward me, spotting me almost immediately.
"Keith Matthews?"
"It's Two-bit."
"Do you know Ponyboy Curtis?"
I straightened up. "Yeah. Is there anything wrong?"
She shrugged. "He wasn't at school the whole day and nobody called the school to say he was sick."
"I don't know- haven't seen him either."
She sighed and walked away, calling over her shoulder. "Grab a ball and join in or I'll fail you!"
I stood up. Where was Pony? He was never the type to play hooky. Definitely not. Hell, that kid took school way too seriously. A flutter of worry worked its way into my stomach. The socs hadn't bothered us up till now. What if . . .
