Author's Note: Hello again. Sorry for the delay in updating. -_- I
wanted to get my other Outsiders ficcy and my Holes fic up here.
(/Shamless Advertising/) My other Outsiders fic is called Between, and takes place after Pony faints after Dally dies, until where he wakes up in the presence of Soda. My Holes fic is called Cursed, and, well, I beat on Stanley.
Fun, fun.
Ahem. Sadisticness aside, this is the next chapter of It's Not Over. Sorry it's so short. I was going to go longer, but well, I just got to that part and it was a good place to end it, so I did! The joys of being the author....^_^
Oh, and the pace is going to be picking up soon, and the chapters won't drag as these last few did (I think, anyway). Hell isn't over for poor Ponyboy quite yet! ^_~
Uhm. If you have notices the /wonderful/ quietness, it's because Lynne and Kate still haven't returned from their little 'play date' with Burnin's Horse and Johnny the coconut. Last I heard the consciences were getting used as bowling pins by the baddies. Uh, yeah.
My wonderful reviewers!:
Cassie: Thanks! I will, no doubt about that!
Tim the Enchantress: Updates rock, don't they? ^_~ How can I EVER get sick of that?!? I love it! I just eat it up, I mean, who doesn't love receiving praise?? Heh! Oh yes, the 'i'm studying...really!' Approach. I've used that one a couple times.....It works best if you have fanfiction.net minimized, and a 'useful' site up when a parent/sibling/teacher/librarian comes around to check if your studying! Oh, and if you get caught, you don't know me. * shifty eyes *
Burnin': Oh hell, here we go again! ^_^ How's life? It's life. No more, no less. What IS the meaning of life while we're at it? Heh. * scratches head * all that without actually reading it? ok. Thanks for the poemness, I'm going to use it in possibly the next two or three chapters...I hope your wrist's ok. What happened? The flamness finally get to you? Sparkey use you as a chew toy? The damn coconut fell on your arm? SAVE SOME SUGAR FOR MESIS!!!!! I wants some sugar. Heh, my friend used to get pissed because I'd go to her house and literally -eat- her sugar. Oh, and eating spoonful after spoonful of brown sugar is good too! ^______^ Goodness. Hyperness. * looks at rather large dent in the wall * Uhm, * scratches head * I hope insurance covers random peoples running into your wall....
Queen Seta/Remmy-The-Insane: Thanks! Well, my stories do have a little comic relief hidden in them even when their supposed to be serious. It's just how I write. You can usually find it in the form of remarks from Two- Bit or Soda...Thank you both! And by the way, I'm writing an original story that is going to be read by publishers! Writing is my obsessive hobby. Thank you, thank you for the praise!
Sweetstuff: I want to know what happens too! O_o heh. I know, I've been doing the lets-torture-our-favourite-character thing since I was 9. * Shrugs * I don't know. Yeah, Soda's a sweetie. He's like the big brother I never had.... * glares at older brothers * ... * sob *
Crazy4nc128: Thank you! Oh, something IS going to happen! ^____^ Good for you to realize the hint of foreshadowing! I'm glad you think it's worth it!
Lil Chaos Angel: Thank you so much for the info! It helped a lot!
Monique: I don't know if you reviewed this story before, but I remember writing your name. You reviewed Between, that's when I wrote it I think. Thank you!
Celestra: Thank you for the review and the lolly-pop! * eats the lolly happily *
MarLyG Riddle: * Pulls up from knees * Ok! Thanks for the review!
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!
And now on to the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders
******************************************* - - - - ((Pony's POV))
"Soda! Darry!" I hollered as I slammed through the door after school. The wooden door clambered shut behind me as I stood panting in the front hall. I grasped the thick package in my hands and wiped one sweaty hand then the other down my jeans. I assumed I was sweaty because I ran all the way home. Or because I was nervous. Or because I had never really recovered from all the stuff that's happened lately. Whatever it was. I was shaking.
"Pony? What is it?" Darry yelled back quickly. Suddenly Darry and Soda came into the entranceway with Steve and Two-Bit following behind them. They all looked nervous.
I mentally cursed myself. I don't use my head, as Darry's always reminding me. Not so much anymore, but still. How smart do you have to be to remember not to come slamming through the door calling for your brothers after your parents die, two friends die, and you just got out of the hospital from getting beat up by a bunch of Socs?
"Pony? Are you Ok? Why are you shaking?" Soda asked worriedly, coming over and putting an arm around me. "You shouldn't have walked home alone."
"I'm fine, Sodapop." I said, pulling away. "But, uhm. I want you to read this. It's my English theme. My teacher wants to publish it, but I need permission from my 'legal guardians' because I'm underage." I finished hurridly.
I held the slightly tattered brown package out to Darry who was in front of me.
"Well, I'm going back and watching TV now that we know the kid hasn't gotten himself killed." Steve said while shaking his head and left the room. 'Yeah, I love you too, Steve Randall." I thought sarcastically. Two-Bit glanced back in my direction, but followed Steve out.
Darry just looked at me. He didn't take the package I still held out to him. There was a strange look in his eyes; a mixture of sadness, regret, guilt, grief, pity and pain. Why was he looking at me like that?
I bit my lip and slowly brought the package back to my chest, trying to keep the hurt out of my expression. I felt Soda's hand on my shoulder. I still stared at Darry.
"Ponyboy..."He said carefully. "I've already read your theme."
I unconsciously took a step backwards. He knew. All this time, he -knew-. Knew I used to hate him, and think he hated me. Knew I always loved Soda more. Knew how I felt about...Everything. I had been planning for him to find out, but not like this.
"Pony." Darry said suddenly, his voice breaking. He took a jerky step forward, then another. He pulled me into a hug, like the one he gave me when I came back from Windrixville. I closed my eyes against the tears that threatened. When we pulled apart I saw Soda standing near the door looking awkward and a bit confused.
I offered the now more-then-slightly tattered package and he took it. With a glance at Darry and me, he went into the living room. Darry just put his arm around my shoulders and led me into the living room after him.
Soda lay across the couch, my theme in his hands, eyes scanning the handwritten pages. The brown envelope lay on the ground. Steve and Two- Bit were sitting on the floor watching cartoons, obviously kicked off the couch by Soda.
This was going to be one interesting night.
******************
The sky behind the window faded from blue to black. Two-Bit lay on the floor drunk, and Steve had gone home. Darry sat quietly in an armchair and stared off into space. Soda sat intently on the couch, reading page after page of my theme. I sat uncomfortably on the other end of the couch and received the odd strange look from Soda.
I sat there, waiting.
And waited some more.
Suddenly, there was an odd choking sound from Soda. He was clutching the pages, and had his eyes squeezed shut, but some tears leaked out from beneath them. He was crying. Darry moved to get up, but I shook my head and he sat back down.
The world increased its steady spin in my view, to the point of it being difficult for me to focus on anything thing in the room. My ribs ached and my shoulder burned.
I was walked slowly and slightly shakily to the bathroom, where I swallowed a couple pills. I don't know how many. I didn't count. Truly, I didn't care. But the spinning was getting annoying.
As I came back to the living room, Two-Bit was emptying his bottle.
"Pony, ya wanna grab me 'nother bottle of the good stuff?" He asked. It was usually hard to tell if Two-Bit Matthews was drunk, but it wasn't difficult if you just watched him down half a dozen bottles of beer.
"Nah, none left." I told him as I sat next to him on the floor.
"Dammit. Hey, how come you never drink wit' us, Ponyboy?" He mumbled. Darry glanced sharply up at me and I grinned.
"Number one: Darry would skin me. Number two: Spending the night and morning-after puking my guts out somehow doesn't appeal to me."
Two-Bit shrugged. "Whatever sinks your boat."
Darry snorted and I laughed. "I think it's 'whatever floats your boat', not 'sinks'." I told him.
"'Sinks' is better. 'Floats' is too optimistic."
"Whoa!" I shouted, raising my hands to my face in fake shock. "Where did you learn that big word?"
"From hanging 'round brains like you all day." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Darry rolled his eyes. "Figures. He learns more from you, Ponyboy, then years in school."
I nodded, and looked over to where Soda was reading with wide eyes. He had only a few pages left. Darry saw where I was looking and gave me a weak smile.
Finally, after all the waiting, Soda was done.
He wordlessly stared at me for a long time, and I met his gaze. Then he turned to Darry.
"Ever been to Windrexville, Darry?" Soda asked. Darry shook his head, and raised an eyebrow.
"Me neither. I say it's damn time we went. Besides, I wanna see this church." Soda said firmly, the usual laughter and cocky grin gone from him temporarily.
Windrixville. The church. The burning church, the flames licking the old wood. The cries of the children. Seeing Johnny beside me as we climbed though the window. Saving the kids, then the roof collapsing. Dally. The hospital. The rumble. Johnny dying.
Did I want to go back to Windrixville? Visit the charred remains of where I'd lived for a week with Johnny, smoking cigarettes, eating baloney, and reading Gone With the Wind?
Yes. I did.
*******************************
Author's Note: Muah! Ok, so not much happened there. Sorry about that. I'll try to make the next ones longer.
Alrighty. You know the drill.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will answer you personally if you do, as you see it takes about as long as writing the chapter does, but I do it anyway! Lol, that's just how much I love you guys! Heh.
Till next time my wonderful readers + reviewers,
~Man
(/Shamless Advertising/) My other Outsiders fic is called Between, and takes place after Pony faints after Dally dies, until where he wakes up in the presence of Soda. My Holes fic is called Cursed, and, well, I beat on Stanley.
Fun, fun.
Ahem. Sadisticness aside, this is the next chapter of It's Not Over. Sorry it's so short. I was going to go longer, but well, I just got to that part and it was a good place to end it, so I did! The joys of being the author....^_^
Oh, and the pace is going to be picking up soon, and the chapters won't drag as these last few did (I think, anyway). Hell isn't over for poor Ponyboy quite yet! ^_~
Uhm. If you have notices the /wonderful/ quietness, it's because Lynne and Kate still haven't returned from their little 'play date' with Burnin's Horse and Johnny the coconut. Last I heard the consciences were getting used as bowling pins by the baddies. Uh, yeah.
My wonderful reviewers!:
Cassie: Thanks! I will, no doubt about that!
Tim the Enchantress: Updates rock, don't they? ^_~ How can I EVER get sick of that?!? I love it! I just eat it up, I mean, who doesn't love receiving praise?? Heh! Oh yes, the 'i'm studying...really!' Approach. I've used that one a couple times.....It works best if you have fanfiction.net minimized, and a 'useful' site up when a parent/sibling/teacher/librarian comes around to check if your studying! Oh, and if you get caught, you don't know me. * shifty eyes *
Burnin': Oh hell, here we go again! ^_^ How's life? It's life. No more, no less. What IS the meaning of life while we're at it? Heh. * scratches head * all that without actually reading it? ok. Thanks for the poemness, I'm going to use it in possibly the next two or three chapters...I hope your wrist's ok. What happened? The flamness finally get to you? Sparkey use you as a chew toy? The damn coconut fell on your arm? SAVE SOME SUGAR FOR MESIS!!!!! I wants some sugar. Heh, my friend used to get pissed because I'd go to her house and literally -eat- her sugar. Oh, and eating spoonful after spoonful of brown sugar is good too! ^______^ Goodness. Hyperness. * looks at rather large dent in the wall * Uhm, * scratches head * I hope insurance covers random peoples running into your wall....
Queen Seta/Remmy-The-Insane: Thanks! Well, my stories do have a little comic relief hidden in them even when their supposed to be serious. It's just how I write. You can usually find it in the form of remarks from Two- Bit or Soda...Thank you both! And by the way, I'm writing an original story that is going to be read by publishers! Writing is my obsessive hobby. Thank you, thank you for the praise!
Sweetstuff: I want to know what happens too! O_o heh. I know, I've been doing the lets-torture-our-favourite-character thing since I was 9. * Shrugs * I don't know. Yeah, Soda's a sweetie. He's like the big brother I never had.... * glares at older brothers * ... * sob *
Crazy4nc128: Thank you! Oh, something IS going to happen! ^____^ Good for you to realize the hint of foreshadowing! I'm glad you think it's worth it!
Lil Chaos Angel: Thank you so much for the info! It helped a lot!
Monique: I don't know if you reviewed this story before, but I remember writing your name. You reviewed Between, that's when I wrote it I think. Thank you!
Celestra: Thank you for the review and the lolly-pop! * eats the lolly happily *
MarLyG Riddle: * Pulls up from knees * Ok! Thanks for the review!
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!
And now on to the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders
******************************************* - - - - ((Pony's POV))
"Soda! Darry!" I hollered as I slammed through the door after school. The wooden door clambered shut behind me as I stood panting in the front hall. I grasped the thick package in my hands and wiped one sweaty hand then the other down my jeans. I assumed I was sweaty because I ran all the way home. Or because I was nervous. Or because I had never really recovered from all the stuff that's happened lately. Whatever it was. I was shaking.
"Pony? What is it?" Darry yelled back quickly. Suddenly Darry and Soda came into the entranceway with Steve and Two-Bit following behind them. They all looked nervous.
I mentally cursed myself. I don't use my head, as Darry's always reminding me. Not so much anymore, but still. How smart do you have to be to remember not to come slamming through the door calling for your brothers after your parents die, two friends die, and you just got out of the hospital from getting beat up by a bunch of Socs?
"Pony? Are you Ok? Why are you shaking?" Soda asked worriedly, coming over and putting an arm around me. "You shouldn't have walked home alone."
"I'm fine, Sodapop." I said, pulling away. "But, uhm. I want you to read this. It's my English theme. My teacher wants to publish it, but I need permission from my 'legal guardians' because I'm underage." I finished hurridly.
I held the slightly tattered brown package out to Darry who was in front of me.
"Well, I'm going back and watching TV now that we know the kid hasn't gotten himself killed." Steve said while shaking his head and left the room. 'Yeah, I love you too, Steve Randall." I thought sarcastically. Two-Bit glanced back in my direction, but followed Steve out.
Darry just looked at me. He didn't take the package I still held out to him. There was a strange look in his eyes; a mixture of sadness, regret, guilt, grief, pity and pain. Why was he looking at me like that?
I bit my lip and slowly brought the package back to my chest, trying to keep the hurt out of my expression. I felt Soda's hand on my shoulder. I still stared at Darry.
"Ponyboy..."He said carefully. "I've already read your theme."
I unconsciously took a step backwards. He knew. All this time, he -knew-. Knew I used to hate him, and think he hated me. Knew I always loved Soda more. Knew how I felt about...Everything. I had been planning for him to find out, but not like this.
"Pony." Darry said suddenly, his voice breaking. He took a jerky step forward, then another. He pulled me into a hug, like the one he gave me when I came back from Windrixville. I closed my eyes against the tears that threatened. When we pulled apart I saw Soda standing near the door looking awkward and a bit confused.
I offered the now more-then-slightly tattered package and he took it. With a glance at Darry and me, he went into the living room. Darry just put his arm around my shoulders and led me into the living room after him.
Soda lay across the couch, my theme in his hands, eyes scanning the handwritten pages. The brown envelope lay on the ground. Steve and Two- Bit were sitting on the floor watching cartoons, obviously kicked off the couch by Soda.
This was going to be one interesting night.
******************
The sky behind the window faded from blue to black. Two-Bit lay on the floor drunk, and Steve had gone home. Darry sat quietly in an armchair and stared off into space. Soda sat intently on the couch, reading page after page of my theme. I sat uncomfortably on the other end of the couch and received the odd strange look from Soda.
I sat there, waiting.
And waited some more.
Suddenly, there was an odd choking sound from Soda. He was clutching the pages, and had his eyes squeezed shut, but some tears leaked out from beneath them. He was crying. Darry moved to get up, but I shook my head and he sat back down.
The world increased its steady spin in my view, to the point of it being difficult for me to focus on anything thing in the room. My ribs ached and my shoulder burned.
I was walked slowly and slightly shakily to the bathroom, where I swallowed a couple pills. I don't know how many. I didn't count. Truly, I didn't care. But the spinning was getting annoying.
As I came back to the living room, Two-Bit was emptying his bottle.
"Pony, ya wanna grab me 'nother bottle of the good stuff?" He asked. It was usually hard to tell if Two-Bit Matthews was drunk, but it wasn't difficult if you just watched him down half a dozen bottles of beer.
"Nah, none left." I told him as I sat next to him on the floor.
"Dammit. Hey, how come you never drink wit' us, Ponyboy?" He mumbled. Darry glanced sharply up at me and I grinned.
"Number one: Darry would skin me. Number two: Spending the night and morning-after puking my guts out somehow doesn't appeal to me."
Two-Bit shrugged. "Whatever sinks your boat."
Darry snorted and I laughed. "I think it's 'whatever floats your boat', not 'sinks'." I told him.
"'Sinks' is better. 'Floats' is too optimistic."
"Whoa!" I shouted, raising my hands to my face in fake shock. "Where did you learn that big word?"
"From hanging 'round brains like you all day." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Darry rolled his eyes. "Figures. He learns more from you, Ponyboy, then years in school."
I nodded, and looked over to where Soda was reading with wide eyes. He had only a few pages left. Darry saw where I was looking and gave me a weak smile.
Finally, after all the waiting, Soda was done.
He wordlessly stared at me for a long time, and I met his gaze. Then he turned to Darry.
"Ever been to Windrexville, Darry?" Soda asked. Darry shook his head, and raised an eyebrow.
"Me neither. I say it's damn time we went. Besides, I wanna see this church." Soda said firmly, the usual laughter and cocky grin gone from him temporarily.
Windrixville. The church. The burning church, the flames licking the old wood. The cries of the children. Seeing Johnny beside me as we climbed though the window. Saving the kids, then the roof collapsing. Dally. The hospital. The rumble. Johnny dying.
Did I want to go back to Windrixville? Visit the charred remains of where I'd lived for a week with Johnny, smoking cigarettes, eating baloney, and reading Gone With the Wind?
Yes. I did.
*******************************
Author's Note: Muah! Ok, so not much happened there. Sorry about that. I'll try to make the next ones longer.
Alrighty. You know the drill.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will answer you personally if you do, as you see it takes about as long as writing the chapter does, but I do it anyway! Lol, that's just how much I love you guys! Heh.
Till next time my wonderful readers + reviewers,
~Man