Author's Note: I would just like to apologise for a mistake I made in
chapter one- Dally's eyes are blue, not black. No one commented on it, but
I noticed it when I re-read the chapter. So his eyes will be blue from now
on.
Response to reviews:
VSGG: My first reviewer! Thank you so much for your kind words and amazing support. Your review was incredibly encouraging, so thanks. *grins* Hope I updated soon enough for you!
Tashue: I did pick up on it! There was total chemistry between them the entire book, but I haven't been able to find any other stories with this pairing so I thought maybe it was a figment of my own imagination. It's good to know someone else picked up on it! By the way, I absolutely adore your fics- I think they're fabulous! Did you get my e-mail? Anyway, thank you for the encouragement!
ModestVanity: Thank you so much for the compliments; I'm so flattered! I hope you like this chapter just as much!
Also, my thanks go out to MissLKid, Estelle Yavetil, cat, alexa and Hanah for your reviews. Thanks guys!
*Look to first chapter for warnings and disclaimers.
Chapter Two: "Nightmares"
* * *
Insistent hands tugged at his clothing, ruining the already damaged garments further, oblivious to the sounds of tearing cloth and panicked cries, though they echoed clearly in the silent darkness of the starless night. ' Or, maybe just ignoring them,' he thought with sudden detachment, though he couldn't understand how it was possible, as the sounds grated on his own ears.
Sound was all he was aware of.the sounds of his attackers actions and the furious thumping of his own pounding heart. Just noise.and touch. Oh, touch most definitely. He could neither see nor move, but he was conscious of all that happened to his immobile body. It was all too real- the large, muscular frame crushing him. the hot, harsh breathing of his assailant on his neck, and rough, groping hands moving aggressively all along his body, aiming to hurt as their owner sought his own pleasure.
He was panicking, twisting and bucking wildly, attempting to escape the imprisoning embrace, but all his attacker did was push his hips forward, pinning the body underneath him and thrust forcefully, letting his victim feel his bulging erection.
He was trapped, caged.there was no escape.that was all he was aware of-the all-consuming fear and horrible feeling of being trapped.he was sweating uncontrollably, and struggling to open his eyes, yet they were glued shut. He was screaming in terror, and suddenly he caught a glimpse of blue madras, as his body was shaken violently.
* * *
He was trembling uncontrollably; still screaming blue murder, his shoulders still being shaken roughly, so he was unaware that he'd escaped the strong clutches of his dream. Yet abruptly he realised that he was capable of movement, and shutting his mouth with an audible click, green- grey eyes snapped open in alarm, clashing with worried brown ones.
"Pony? Are y'alright, honey?" Soda asked urgently, coffee-coloured orbs darkened with concern, hands now massaging hid brother's shoulders gently. "Glory, I was so worried." he continued, relief that Ponyboy had finally awoken palpable in his soft voice.
"Sodapop?" Ponyboy murmured in confusion, wide eyes blinking rapidly in an effort to clear the thin veil of cloudiness that still partially obscured his vision, as well as adjust to the bright light of the overhead bulb. Slim, pale hands reached out for his older brother, and Soda took them without hesitation, grasping the long fingers comfortingly.
"Yeah, honey, it's me.you scared me somethin' awful there, you know.normally you wake up real quick after these dreams, but this time you just kept on screaming." Soda's voice was soothing, but there was an underlying hint of genuine fear, and Ponyboy immediately felt guilty.
"Sorry, Soda," he said remorsefully. His older brother shook his head firmly, his words insistent.
"S'not your fault, Pon, you can't control it. Don't be feelin' guilty, ok?"
Marvelling at his brother's understanding nature, a half-smile tugged at Ponyboy's lips, and he nodded, eyes conveying the depth of his gratitude as they met the warm chocolate ones of his beloved sibling. Soda cracked a grin, draping a wool blanket around the young boy's shoulders, and gathering him in an enthusiastic hug, squeezing him affectionately. Pony sighed contentedly, melting into the embrace, relishing the feel of his brother's arms around him. There was no time that he felt safer than when he was with Sodapop.
They remained like that for a moment; Pony enfolded in his brother's embrace, Soda idly stroking silky auburn locks, when abruptly Ponyboy's head shot up in sudden worry. As Ponyboy wriggled out of the embrace, Soda gazed at him with concern, brow creased and lips parting to question his younger sibling, but Pony cut him off.
"Hey, Soda, I didn't wake up Darry, did I?" he asked anxiously, chewing uneasily on the inside of his cheek and praying fervently that he hadn't. After all, his eldest brother, while maintaining the appearance of a strong, untouchable man, was particularly protective of him and worried about him almost to the point of collapse.
Green-grey eyes swept over his Soda's handsome face intently, but his sibling's attention was now focused on the doorway. Ponyboy, whose back was facing the entrance to their bedroom, sighed as he realised the implication.
"Hey, Dar," he said lowly, by means of acknowledgement, head tilting upwards as he turned his head to meet his brother's ice blue gaze.
The hard blue eyes of the oldest Curtis softened somewhat as he entered the room, approaching the bed with long strides. "Pony," he greeted quietly once he stood at the edge of the bed, towering over his brothers. "How are ya feelin', baby?"
Pony turned around, the green wool blanket pooling in his lap as his lithe body twisted so that he was able to face Darry completely. He played distractedly with the coloured fringe of the coverlet as he pondered how to answer the question.
He wasn't feeling particularly well, now that he thought about it.his mind was in chaos- the dream had scared him. Real fear; not the kind of fear where you receive a shock, and afterwards it's just a matter of calming the adrenaline coursing through your veins, but neither is it the nervous sort of fear, where your hands become sweaty and you stutter when you speak. It's fear in its purest form; the all-consuming terror that results in clammy hands and provokes loss of sleep and appetite and paranoid behaviour. The type of fear that paralyses, that causes that occasional feeling of an ice serpent uncoiling in the pit of your stomach and freezing the blood throughout your body to become more common. That kind of fear.
However, it wasn't in him to worry his brothers further with this situation with the Socs, even if he wished for nothing more than their comfort, and so the young Greaser smiled as reassuringly as possible, displaying a calmness he didn't feel in the least.
"I'm fine," he said evenly, "sorry for waking you, Dar." He finished, bright eyes apologetic as he stared at his brother.
Darry smiled tenderly, brushing the back of a tanned, calloused hand along Pony's smooth, creamy-skinned cheek, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and protectiveness well up inside him at the plainly vulnerable state of his youngest brother.
Darry settled down next to the ginger-haired boy, wrapping a muscular arm around slim shoulders affectionately and pressing a firm kiss on the crown of auburn silk, ruffling the satin locks slightly. Ponyboy swatted at him playfully, and Darry shoved him into a laying position, pinning him to the mattress and tickling him mercilessly as Soda laughed uproariously, clutching his stomach in humour.
Ponyboy screamed with laughter, the feather-light touches over his ribs unbearable, and he pleaded breathlessly between giggles for mercy. Darry grinned and paused for a moment.
"Holler uncle." He said, eyes twinkling and fingers poised to resume their attack. Ponyboy eyed him warily, but raised his chin indignantly and, lips stretching into a smile, stuck out his tongue.
"Never!" he cried, squirming underneath his brother in an attempt to escape the firm hold, but it was to no avail; Darry held him down resolutely, extracting mirthful squeals and giggles from the slim boy beneath him as he tickled him to the point of torment. His own rich laughter eventually rang out in the cramped bedroom as well, contributing to the joyful atmosphere, and only after he felt that Pony had suffered sufficiently did Darry allow himself to collapse beside his youngest sibling.
Harsh breathing and the occasional chuckle were the only sounds heard in the room for the next few moments, but gradually both Darry and Ponyboy became aware of muffled peals of laughter issuing from the area near the side of the bed. Sharing an amused look, the two brothers moved to peer over the edge of the mattress, Pony flipping onto his stomach so he could hang his head off the bed, while Darry simply propped himself up on an elbow, leaning forward so that he could gaze over his brother's shoulder.
The sight that greeted them was priceless.
Soda lay curled up in a ball, fist shoved between his teeth to stifle his giggles, wheat-coloured hair sticking in every direction from rolling about on the floor, and dark eyes, while normally laughing and carefree, were now virtually glowing with humour as they rose to stare at his brothers.
"Soda." Darry began slowly, eyeing his brother's position with interest, "is there any particular reason you're lying on the floor?"
Sodapop managed to calm himself, and staring at Darry with seriousness etched into every feature of his handsome face, said, "Yeah, Dar, the floor is very comfortable. I've decided that I'd rather sleep here than with this filthy Greaser." He jerked his head in Ponyboy's direction, ignoring the younger boy's mock-offended gasp, and continued, "He stinks somethin' awful, 'specially after track practice." He finished, pinching the bridge of his nose exaggeratedly. Darry snorted, and Soda's face stretched into a grin, and he caught Pony easily as the youngest Curtis leapt off the bed and dove onto him. They grappled for a moment, but Soda, being the stronger of the two, eventually ended the wrestling match by pinning Pony to the ground.
"Holler uncle." Commanded Soda. Ponyboy rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically.
"You two oughta come up with somethin' new," he said laughingly, 'Holler uncle's' getting' real old, real fast."
Soda made a move to tickle him again but Darry caught his arm.
"Not now," he mumbled with a half-smile, "it's four in the morning and we both have work in the morning. We all need some sleep." He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm gonna sleep with you guys tonight, ok? I don't really feel like headin' back to my room."
Pony realised in the far corners of his mind that Darry most probably just didn't want to leave him after the nightmare, but as Soda pulled him to his feet, he found he wasn't bothered by Darry's protectiveness, just grateful for his oldest brother's comforting presence. The ginger-haired boy stumbled over to the bed, into Darry's waiting arms, and snuggling closer to his older brother's warmth, he barely registered Soda's actions, as the normally exuberant Greaser switched off the light, and climbed into the bed beside his brothers.
"Scoot over," the blonde boy whispered, nudging Pony, and as his younger brother complied, he flung an arm over Ponyboy's neck, effectively sandwiching Pony between his two older brothers. In no time at all, Pony could hear his brothers' soft snores and even breathing, signifying that they were deep in sleep. Sighing contentedly, the young Greaser made to follow them, yet as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw a vivid image of himself surrounded by several Socs, sadistic smirks contorting every single one of their handsome faces. Green-grey eyes shot open in panic, and Pony sighed in defeat, resigning himself to a long, sleepless night.
Ponyboy gazed into the pitch darkness of the room forlornly, wishing he could tell his brothers the details of his assault by the Socs earlier that day. They had asked questions, of course, when he had walked into the house that afternoon, but he had skillfully avoided broaching the true topic.
* * * FLASHBACK * * *
Ponyboy crept into the house as quietly as possible, but the creak of the porch steps and squeak of the screen door had alerted the entire house to his presence.
"Ponyboy?" Soda gasped, approaching his younger brother on swift feet. He grasped the delicate chin in one hand and turned Pony's head from side to side, examining his face for injury. Brown eyes widened in outrage, then darkened in anger as they fixated on the dark bruise colouring Pony's jaw.
"What happened?" he demanded, eyes scanning his brother's face. " Who did this?" Ponyboy placed a gentle hand over Soda's, carefully removing his brother's long fingers from his face and giving him a swift peck on the cheek in an effort to reassure.
"I'm fine, Soda," he said soothingly, clasping his brother's hands between his own. "I just had a run-in with some Socs. Dally helped me out." He shrugged, struggling to paste on a comforting smile as he continued on into the living room, but Soda caught his elbow and spun him around, ignoring Pony's startled look.
"Socs?" he hissed, "Who? Who was it? I'll beat the tar outta them, I swear."
Ponyboy tucked a stray lock of ginger hair behind his ear, and tugged a full bottom lip between his teeth nervously.
"I don't know, Soda. They jumped me when I was walkin' home.I didn't see 'em."
Sodapop just stared at him, dark eyes boring intensely into green-grey ones and Pony found himself pleading.
"C'mon, Soda, just let it go," he said softly, "it was my own fault anyway; I was walkin' home by myself.I didn't think to call anyone. I'll be more careful now, ok? Just let it go." He gazed imploringly at his older brother, willing him to agree.
Finally Soda sighed, and pulling him into an one-armed hug, said in defeat, "Ok, you win, honey. I won't hunt down them Socs, but I'm gonna tell Darry no matter what you say."
Ponyboy sighed, nodding in agreement.
"Alright, fine," the auburn-haired boy muttered good-naturedly, "but you have to help me restrain him, k? He's gonna be madder than heck."
Soda chuckled, pressing a kiss to Ponyboy's brow affectionately. "You got a deal." He promised genially.
And Pony was right. When Darry had found out, he'd been all for beating the tar out of any Soc that crossed his path. The other members of the gang were with him to a certain point, even Johnny, who detested violence, and Steve, who had no real great love for Ponyboy, but Pony and Soda had managed to talk them out of it, convincing them of the futility of jumping Socs. Throughout the discussion, Pony had been watching the door anxiously, half-expecting Dally to storm in and reveal the rest of the story, but Dally hadn't been seen within a mile-radius of the Curtis house.
Pony didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
* * *
As Ponyboy thought about it, he found that the fact that he had to keep this a secret from his brothers was immensely disturbing, for never before had he kept secrets from them. A shudder ran down his spine, and as he cuddled closer to his brothers, a chilling realisation made his blood run cold.
He had to face this alone.
Response to reviews:
VSGG: My first reviewer! Thank you so much for your kind words and amazing support. Your review was incredibly encouraging, so thanks. *grins* Hope I updated soon enough for you!
Tashue: I did pick up on it! There was total chemistry between them the entire book, but I haven't been able to find any other stories with this pairing so I thought maybe it was a figment of my own imagination. It's good to know someone else picked up on it! By the way, I absolutely adore your fics- I think they're fabulous! Did you get my e-mail? Anyway, thank you for the encouragement!
ModestVanity: Thank you so much for the compliments; I'm so flattered! I hope you like this chapter just as much!
Also, my thanks go out to MissLKid, Estelle Yavetil, cat, alexa and Hanah for your reviews. Thanks guys!
*Look to first chapter for warnings and disclaimers.
Chapter Two: "Nightmares"
* * *
Insistent hands tugged at his clothing, ruining the already damaged garments further, oblivious to the sounds of tearing cloth and panicked cries, though they echoed clearly in the silent darkness of the starless night. ' Or, maybe just ignoring them,' he thought with sudden detachment, though he couldn't understand how it was possible, as the sounds grated on his own ears.
Sound was all he was aware of.the sounds of his attackers actions and the furious thumping of his own pounding heart. Just noise.and touch. Oh, touch most definitely. He could neither see nor move, but he was conscious of all that happened to his immobile body. It was all too real- the large, muscular frame crushing him. the hot, harsh breathing of his assailant on his neck, and rough, groping hands moving aggressively all along his body, aiming to hurt as their owner sought his own pleasure.
He was panicking, twisting and bucking wildly, attempting to escape the imprisoning embrace, but all his attacker did was push his hips forward, pinning the body underneath him and thrust forcefully, letting his victim feel his bulging erection.
He was trapped, caged.there was no escape.that was all he was aware of-the all-consuming fear and horrible feeling of being trapped.he was sweating uncontrollably, and struggling to open his eyes, yet they were glued shut. He was screaming in terror, and suddenly he caught a glimpse of blue madras, as his body was shaken violently.
* * *
He was trembling uncontrollably; still screaming blue murder, his shoulders still being shaken roughly, so he was unaware that he'd escaped the strong clutches of his dream. Yet abruptly he realised that he was capable of movement, and shutting his mouth with an audible click, green- grey eyes snapped open in alarm, clashing with worried brown ones.
"Pony? Are y'alright, honey?" Soda asked urgently, coffee-coloured orbs darkened with concern, hands now massaging hid brother's shoulders gently. "Glory, I was so worried." he continued, relief that Ponyboy had finally awoken palpable in his soft voice.
"Sodapop?" Ponyboy murmured in confusion, wide eyes blinking rapidly in an effort to clear the thin veil of cloudiness that still partially obscured his vision, as well as adjust to the bright light of the overhead bulb. Slim, pale hands reached out for his older brother, and Soda took them without hesitation, grasping the long fingers comfortingly.
"Yeah, honey, it's me.you scared me somethin' awful there, you know.normally you wake up real quick after these dreams, but this time you just kept on screaming." Soda's voice was soothing, but there was an underlying hint of genuine fear, and Ponyboy immediately felt guilty.
"Sorry, Soda," he said remorsefully. His older brother shook his head firmly, his words insistent.
"S'not your fault, Pon, you can't control it. Don't be feelin' guilty, ok?"
Marvelling at his brother's understanding nature, a half-smile tugged at Ponyboy's lips, and he nodded, eyes conveying the depth of his gratitude as they met the warm chocolate ones of his beloved sibling. Soda cracked a grin, draping a wool blanket around the young boy's shoulders, and gathering him in an enthusiastic hug, squeezing him affectionately. Pony sighed contentedly, melting into the embrace, relishing the feel of his brother's arms around him. There was no time that he felt safer than when he was with Sodapop.
They remained like that for a moment; Pony enfolded in his brother's embrace, Soda idly stroking silky auburn locks, when abruptly Ponyboy's head shot up in sudden worry. As Ponyboy wriggled out of the embrace, Soda gazed at him with concern, brow creased and lips parting to question his younger sibling, but Pony cut him off.
"Hey, Soda, I didn't wake up Darry, did I?" he asked anxiously, chewing uneasily on the inside of his cheek and praying fervently that he hadn't. After all, his eldest brother, while maintaining the appearance of a strong, untouchable man, was particularly protective of him and worried about him almost to the point of collapse.
Green-grey eyes swept over his Soda's handsome face intently, but his sibling's attention was now focused on the doorway. Ponyboy, whose back was facing the entrance to their bedroom, sighed as he realised the implication.
"Hey, Dar," he said lowly, by means of acknowledgement, head tilting upwards as he turned his head to meet his brother's ice blue gaze.
The hard blue eyes of the oldest Curtis softened somewhat as he entered the room, approaching the bed with long strides. "Pony," he greeted quietly once he stood at the edge of the bed, towering over his brothers. "How are ya feelin', baby?"
Pony turned around, the green wool blanket pooling in his lap as his lithe body twisted so that he was able to face Darry completely. He played distractedly with the coloured fringe of the coverlet as he pondered how to answer the question.
He wasn't feeling particularly well, now that he thought about it.his mind was in chaos- the dream had scared him. Real fear; not the kind of fear where you receive a shock, and afterwards it's just a matter of calming the adrenaline coursing through your veins, but neither is it the nervous sort of fear, where your hands become sweaty and you stutter when you speak. It's fear in its purest form; the all-consuming terror that results in clammy hands and provokes loss of sleep and appetite and paranoid behaviour. The type of fear that paralyses, that causes that occasional feeling of an ice serpent uncoiling in the pit of your stomach and freezing the blood throughout your body to become more common. That kind of fear.
However, it wasn't in him to worry his brothers further with this situation with the Socs, even if he wished for nothing more than their comfort, and so the young Greaser smiled as reassuringly as possible, displaying a calmness he didn't feel in the least.
"I'm fine," he said evenly, "sorry for waking you, Dar." He finished, bright eyes apologetic as he stared at his brother.
Darry smiled tenderly, brushing the back of a tanned, calloused hand along Pony's smooth, creamy-skinned cheek, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and protectiveness well up inside him at the plainly vulnerable state of his youngest brother.
Darry settled down next to the ginger-haired boy, wrapping a muscular arm around slim shoulders affectionately and pressing a firm kiss on the crown of auburn silk, ruffling the satin locks slightly. Ponyboy swatted at him playfully, and Darry shoved him into a laying position, pinning him to the mattress and tickling him mercilessly as Soda laughed uproariously, clutching his stomach in humour.
Ponyboy screamed with laughter, the feather-light touches over his ribs unbearable, and he pleaded breathlessly between giggles for mercy. Darry grinned and paused for a moment.
"Holler uncle." He said, eyes twinkling and fingers poised to resume their attack. Ponyboy eyed him warily, but raised his chin indignantly and, lips stretching into a smile, stuck out his tongue.
"Never!" he cried, squirming underneath his brother in an attempt to escape the firm hold, but it was to no avail; Darry held him down resolutely, extracting mirthful squeals and giggles from the slim boy beneath him as he tickled him to the point of torment. His own rich laughter eventually rang out in the cramped bedroom as well, contributing to the joyful atmosphere, and only after he felt that Pony had suffered sufficiently did Darry allow himself to collapse beside his youngest sibling.
Harsh breathing and the occasional chuckle were the only sounds heard in the room for the next few moments, but gradually both Darry and Ponyboy became aware of muffled peals of laughter issuing from the area near the side of the bed. Sharing an amused look, the two brothers moved to peer over the edge of the mattress, Pony flipping onto his stomach so he could hang his head off the bed, while Darry simply propped himself up on an elbow, leaning forward so that he could gaze over his brother's shoulder.
The sight that greeted them was priceless.
Soda lay curled up in a ball, fist shoved between his teeth to stifle his giggles, wheat-coloured hair sticking in every direction from rolling about on the floor, and dark eyes, while normally laughing and carefree, were now virtually glowing with humour as they rose to stare at his brothers.
"Soda." Darry began slowly, eyeing his brother's position with interest, "is there any particular reason you're lying on the floor?"
Sodapop managed to calm himself, and staring at Darry with seriousness etched into every feature of his handsome face, said, "Yeah, Dar, the floor is very comfortable. I've decided that I'd rather sleep here than with this filthy Greaser." He jerked his head in Ponyboy's direction, ignoring the younger boy's mock-offended gasp, and continued, "He stinks somethin' awful, 'specially after track practice." He finished, pinching the bridge of his nose exaggeratedly. Darry snorted, and Soda's face stretched into a grin, and he caught Pony easily as the youngest Curtis leapt off the bed and dove onto him. They grappled for a moment, but Soda, being the stronger of the two, eventually ended the wrestling match by pinning Pony to the ground.
"Holler uncle." Commanded Soda. Ponyboy rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically.
"You two oughta come up with somethin' new," he said laughingly, 'Holler uncle's' getting' real old, real fast."
Soda made a move to tickle him again but Darry caught his arm.
"Not now," he mumbled with a half-smile, "it's four in the morning and we both have work in the morning. We all need some sleep." He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm gonna sleep with you guys tonight, ok? I don't really feel like headin' back to my room."
Pony realised in the far corners of his mind that Darry most probably just didn't want to leave him after the nightmare, but as Soda pulled him to his feet, he found he wasn't bothered by Darry's protectiveness, just grateful for his oldest brother's comforting presence. The ginger-haired boy stumbled over to the bed, into Darry's waiting arms, and snuggling closer to his older brother's warmth, he barely registered Soda's actions, as the normally exuberant Greaser switched off the light, and climbed into the bed beside his brothers.
"Scoot over," the blonde boy whispered, nudging Pony, and as his younger brother complied, he flung an arm over Ponyboy's neck, effectively sandwiching Pony between his two older brothers. In no time at all, Pony could hear his brothers' soft snores and even breathing, signifying that they were deep in sleep. Sighing contentedly, the young Greaser made to follow them, yet as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw a vivid image of himself surrounded by several Socs, sadistic smirks contorting every single one of their handsome faces. Green-grey eyes shot open in panic, and Pony sighed in defeat, resigning himself to a long, sleepless night.
Ponyboy gazed into the pitch darkness of the room forlornly, wishing he could tell his brothers the details of his assault by the Socs earlier that day. They had asked questions, of course, when he had walked into the house that afternoon, but he had skillfully avoided broaching the true topic.
* * * FLASHBACK * * *
Ponyboy crept into the house as quietly as possible, but the creak of the porch steps and squeak of the screen door had alerted the entire house to his presence.
"Ponyboy?" Soda gasped, approaching his younger brother on swift feet. He grasped the delicate chin in one hand and turned Pony's head from side to side, examining his face for injury. Brown eyes widened in outrage, then darkened in anger as they fixated on the dark bruise colouring Pony's jaw.
"What happened?" he demanded, eyes scanning his brother's face. " Who did this?" Ponyboy placed a gentle hand over Soda's, carefully removing his brother's long fingers from his face and giving him a swift peck on the cheek in an effort to reassure.
"I'm fine, Soda," he said soothingly, clasping his brother's hands between his own. "I just had a run-in with some Socs. Dally helped me out." He shrugged, struggling to paste on a comforting smile as he continued on into the living room, but Soda caught his elbow and spun him around, ignoring Pony's startled look.
"Socs?" he hissed, "Who? Who was it? I'll beat the tar outta them, I swear."
Ponyboy tucked a stray lock of ginger hair behind his ear, and tugged a full bottom lip between his teeth nervously.
"I don't know, Soda. They jumped me when I was walkin' home.I didn't see 'em."
Sodapop just stared at him, dark eyes boring intensely into green-grey ones and Pony found himself pleading.
"C'mon, Soda, just let it go," he said softly, "it was my own fault anyway; I was walkin' home by myself.I didn't think to call anyone. I'll be more careful now, ok? Just let it go." He gazed imploringly at his older brother, willing him to agree.
Finally Soda sighed, and pulling him into an one-armed hug, said in defeat, "Ok, you win, honey. I won't hunt down them Socs, but I'm gonna tell Darry no matter what you say."
Ponyboy sighed, nodding in agreement.
"Alright, fine," the auburn-haired boy muttered good-naturedly, "but you have to help me restrain him, k? He's gonna be madder than heck."
Soda chuckled, pressing a kiss to Ponyboy's brow affectionately. "You got a deal." He promised genially.
And Pony was right. When Darry had found out, he'd been all for beating the tar out of any Soc that crossed his path. The other members of the gang were with him to a certain point, even Johnny, who detested violence, and Steve, who had no real great love for Ponyboy, but Pony and Soda had managed to talk them out of it, convincing them of the futility of jumping Socs. Throughout the discussion, Pony had been watching the door anxiously, half-expecting Dally to storm in and reveal the rest of the story, but Dally hadn't been seen within a mile-radius of the Curtis house.
Pony didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
* * *
As Ponyboy thought about it, he found that the fact that he had to keep this a secret from his brothers was immensely disturbing, for never before had he kept secrets from them. A shudder ran down his spine, and as he cuddled closer to his brothers, a chilling realisation made his blood run cold.
He had to face this alone.