The Outsiders © S.E. Hinton. This story is non-profit.
All notes/disclaimers in Chapter 1.





Not Today
Chapter 5: Pony's Logic


"Darry?"

I'd gotten back to the house real late and both Pony and Soda were standing on the porch with their arms folded across their chests. They didn't say anything to me at first, just stood there and I thought maybe that's how I look when I'm fixing to come down so hard on Pony that I have to take a few minutes to figure out just how I'm gonna do it for the maximum impact.

They didn't say anything when I put Jules in her car, not even about me leaning in and kissing her on the forehead before she drove off. They didn't say anything about how we both were soaked to the bone and smiling about it like crazy people. It wasn't until we got into the house and I started to tell them to just save it, when Pony started in about me leaving and not telling them where I was going. It was irresponsible and I just didn't think and how dare I make them worry like that?

I didn't even bother with the whole I'm an adult and you're not rebuttal. I just took it. Now I know how Soda feels when he's trying real hard not to laugh while I'm lecturing him.

"Darry? Soda, he's in bed still. I think he's sick."

Right. Pony had been trying to get my attention for a while now. I wasn't in bed still. I was in bed again. I'd already been up, showered, shaved and dressed, but I hadn't even started making the eggs when my foreman called and said we weren't working today. It was supposed to storm all day.

"I'm up, Pony," I said, still buried in my pillow. "I ain't working today."

I heard Soda's shrill yell just before he took a flying leap and landed right on top of me. He knocked the breath outta me, that's for sure. "He ain't sick!" Soda yelled out, ruffling my hair. I hadn't greased it yet, but it'd combed it up real nice after my shower. He put his knees on either side of me, trapping me where I lay. "Except maybe lovesick!"

Pony landed on top of us with a muted mmph and knocked the wind outta me again before both my brothers dissolved into hysterical laughter. I let them calm down enough to become bone-heavy on top of me, then I poked Pony in the ribs. Pony's real ticklish. He yelped and kicked out, hitting Soda in the stomach. My mission was accomplished. They'd shifted enough so that I could wiggle out from underneath, and once I was standing, I grabbed two corners of the bed quilt and yanked it as hard as I could. Both my brothers tumbled to the ground in a heap of curses and complaints.

That's what they get for trying to tackle me.

"You," I pointed at Soda, "have to be at work in twenty minutes." Fun and games was over. If Soda was late one more time this week, no amount of looks and charm would get him by with his boss. As Soda stood, I noticed he was already in his jeans, socks and a white t-shirt, which meant he only needed his DX shirt and shoes. That was good progress considering where Soda usually is with twenty minutes until he's expected at work.

Pony stood up as well, wiping his hands on the back of his jeans. He had no shirt on, no socks or shoes either, but I wasn't too worried. He had a little more time before school and he wasn't half as hard as Soda was to get moving in the morning. "I'll drop you off at school, Pony," I said, running my hand through my hair. "I'm gonna try to get some work on the new gymnasium today."

Soda put his hand on my shoulder. "Or you could take the day off, Darry!" he said jovially, and I must have had a look on my face because he cracked up laughing and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Crazy, I know!"

I ignored him and pointed at Pony. "Shirt. Shoes. Let's go."

Pony had his hands hooked into his pockets, the way he sometimes looks when he's getting an idea. I didn't know if he was okay about last night or if he was still sore at me or what. He answered that question when he smiled at me. "You know, Dar, you could take breakfast over to Jules' house or meet her for lunch or somethin'. I mean, it ain't every day you get a day off."

I figured they know me well enough to know the answer to that, so I didn't even bother saying no before I picked up the quilt and started making up the bed. My brothers didn't understand why I did that -- why waste your time making up the bed when you're just gonna sleep in it again, Soda asked -- but it was just something I had tried to start doing since mom and dad died. Plus, I told Soda that logic was like saying you ain't gonna do the dishes or brush your teeth because you were gonna just dirty em up again. I shoulda known Soda woulda thought that was a good idea.

When I made my way out to the kitchen, I found Steve already rummaging around in our icebox for cake. I ruffled the top of his head, messing up his careful hairdo. He cursed loudly at me and reached out for a swing, but I was already on the other side of the room. I figured I had to get my digs in now, because it was only a matter of time before Soda told Steve about last night and Steve'd start in on me about Jules somethin' awful.

Soda had one shoe on and was running around trying to find the other one. I pointed at the clock and he muttered, "I know, I know," before disappearing under the dining room table. He emerged with his other shoe and a huge grin. They now had ten minutes to get to work.

Steve was fixing his hair in the mirror and Soda gave me a playful punch in the stomach. "Think about what Pony said," he offered, eyes twinkling. "Girls dig that sort of stuff."

With a series of yells and acrobatic flips, Steve and Soda disappeared out the door and I heard Steve's car squeal off down the street. As an afterthought, I hoped Steve hadn't let Soda drive. While they could use all the extra time they could get, Soda driving in this kind of weather was just asking for disaster.

Pony and I were in the truck ten minutes later and I pulled him around to the front of the school, close as I could get him without driving onto the lawn. Pony pulled the hood of his jacket over his head as he opened the door.

"Hey, come up and visit at the new gym at lunch if you want to," I said, rummaging through the glove compartment and coming up with a crumpled dollar bill. "Bring us some sandwiches."

Pony looked at the dollar bill and then at me, and he had this expression that I wasn't entirely used to. "Why don't you take some time off?" he asked. "Go see Jules."

I examined the steering wheel of the truck before answering. I held up one finger. "One, because I don't have the faintest clue of what her schedule's like today." I held up another finger. "Two, because we need the money I'm losing today by not roofing." I held up a third finger. "Three, why are you and Soda pushing this so hard?"

Pony grinned. "She's real sweet on ya, Darry, and it seems like she makes you happy. If you're happy when you're around her then you should be around her more often."

Pony's logic doesn't usually make me grin, but this time it did. I often thought Pony's logic was rooted firmly in wishes and dreams rather than reality and I always was telling him that sometimes we do what we want to, but mostly we do what we have to. Still, Pony was grinning back at me. I only shook my head and put my hand on his arm.

"Have a good day at school, little buddy."

I think I'd only called him little buddy one time before. It was usually reserved for Soda. Pony's grin was so wide and genuine, even the soaking rain couldn't wipe it off as he loped across the lawn and into the school. He'd left the crumpled dollar bill on the seat.

I like my coffee black. There's this little diner close to the school that makes really good coffee, but I usually can't justify spending the money when I can just brew my own at home. I turned the truck into the diner's parking lot instead of driving up and around to the back of the school and took the dollar bill Pony had left before I went inside.

I got two large black coffees and stuffed my jacket pockets with sugar packets and those little cups of cream. Then I drove over to Jules' apartment complex and couldn't help but think I bet the owner was glad he'd gotten the place re-roofed now. You didn't want an old, broken down roof in a storm like this.

I was soaked by the time I got to the overhang in front of her apartment door. I started second-guessing what I was doing there anyway. I shoulda gone to work.

Jules answered the door in a towel, hair dripping wet. I looked away quickly but she just laughed and pulled me inside. We stood there, dripping on her floor, and we musta been a sight. It was the second time in less than twelve hours that I'd been standing around with her, soaked through.

"I'm having a strange sense of déjà vu," she said laughing. Then she crossed one arm over her chest to hold the towel in place and lifted the coffee I was balancing out of my hands. "Is one of these for me?"

"Yeah." I pulled the sugar and cream from my jacket pocket and made a little pile on the table where she'd set the coffee. It was covered with books, papers, bills and a calculator; much like my dining room table looked on any given night. The rest of the apartment was neat; much the opposite of the rest of my house on any given night. "I didn't know how you take it," I said. Or if you even drink coffee. Or if you'd even be home. I left those last parts out.

"With milk, but thanks, that was sweet," she said. Her smile was genuine and I had to smile back. I almost forgot about the fact that I was dripping all over her entryway.

"Take your jacket off and hang it over there," she said, gesturing toward a coat rack. "Do you need a towel?"

I was real glad I hadn't ended up greasing my hair, because getting drenched in the rain with grease in your hair is a nightmare. I nodded at the towel, and she looked down as if she just remembered that was all she was wearing. I wasn't sure where to look. It wasn't like the towel wasn't big enough. It was roughly the size of Texas and was covering everything she possibly wouldn't want me to see. Still, there's something…temporary…about a towel.

"I'll go get dressed," she said, without a hint of embarrassment.

I watched as she walked down the hall. The towel was hanging below her shoulder blades and her skin looked real soft and smooth there. If she woulda looked back, she woulda caught me staring. But she didn't.

I didn't like when she left me alone. I took off my jacket and boots, and felt a little less detrimental to her cozy apartment, but when there was nothing to do but wait for her to come back, I started thinking about how I really should be getting work. It wasn't like me to be so irresponsible. I took most Sundays off and had once gone skiing with some old buddies for a few days. But that had been right after mom and dad died and I hadn't quite had time to realize the gravity of the situation my brothers and I were in. We're not completely broke, but I have to watch the money real carefully and work six days a week if we're gonna be able to pay all the bills and eat every month.

Plus, Pony doesn't know, but I put ten dollars every month into a savings account for him. I got an athletic scholarship to college and mom and dad still couldn't afford for me to go. Other stuff costs money, even if they are willing to pay your tuition. You've still got books and housing and living expenses. I don't want that to happen to him.

Jules came back into the living room holding two towels. One she handed to me and the other she used to squeeze the length of her hair dry. She looked real good in the red top she was wearing. It was one of those off-the-shoulder deals and she had real nice shoulders. I dried off my hair as much as I could without messing it up too much. I wasn't about to ask her for a comb.

I watched as Jules walked over to her big picture window and pulled the blinds. It wasn't much of a view -- I could see where I'd parked my truck in the parking lot -- but if you craned your neck real good you could see a little bit of the park. Today it was all gray skies and rain, and she smiled at it like it was the most beautiful, clear day she'd ever seen.

"I assume this is the reason you're standing in my living room and not on a roof somewhere," she said, gesturing to the window.

I nodded, but I was feeling real guilty. "I should go…"

Her smile disappeared fast. "You're delivering coffee and that's it?" she asked doubtfully. "Doesn't sound like something Darrel Curtis would waste his time doing."

I had to smile at that one. It wasn't something Darrel Curtis would waste his time doing. And I wasn't about to tell her this, but seeing her in a towel had sorta made the trip worth it, even if I was gonna force myself to go back to work instead of goofing off the whole day.

"I can get some work on the new gymnasium they're building at the high school," I said by way of explanation.

She wasn't biting. "You were gonna goof off today," she said, eying me closely. "I can tell. You've got that guilty look in your eyes."

When I didn't answer, her grin softened. "It's okay, Darry. You aren't going to be struck down by lightening if you take a day off now and then. That's why they call it goofing off. It's fun!"

Her voice lilted up when she said the last part and I was reminded of Soda for some reason. "It's fun" would be a perfectly reasonable excuse to do anything in Soda's book. In fact, it didn't matter what you were doing; you could be watching paint dry or figuring out advanced geometry, and if you told Soda you were having fun doing it, he'd take your word for it and be happy that you were having a good time.

"I have two very big mouths to feed," I defended, shoving my hands into my pockets.

Jules wasn't having any of it. She crooked her hand into my elbow and trailed her fingers down my forearm until she was pulling on my wrist, forcing me to take my hands out of my pockets. When I did, she tucked her hand into one of mine and dragged me toward the kitchen.

"Okay, let's compromise. You brought over this coffee, so let's drink it. I'll make some breakfast and then you can give me a ride to school, how's that sound?"

I was too busy trying to look composed to answer. When she touched me like that, I swear I trembled from my head to my toes. She let go of my hand and picked up one of the coffees, taking it with her into the kitchen. She added milk, snapped the lid back on top and took a sip with a large smile. "And before you beg off, let me tell you that I don't drive my car in weather like this because the brakes tend to flood. I was going to try to take the bus, but who wants to do that in this weather either? It's fate that you came over, so that you could take me to school."

"It's not fate," I said quickly, ignoring the twinkle in her eyes. She knew she was riling me up, but I couldn't not say anything. "It's not fate!" I said again. "You drive a car that sits low to the ground, and the brakes might flood in this kind of weather. It's basic mechanics is what it is."

She arched an eyebrow much like Two-Bit. "But you came over without me calling and asking for a ride or anything. Fate didn't want me to take the bus."

I laughed at that one. If there was such a thing as fate, I was pretty sure it wasn't worried about whether or not Jules had to take the bus. "I came over because…"

I stopped myself and hesitated. What was the answer to that? Because Pony and Soda made me? Because I can't stop thinking about you? There was no way I was giving either one of those reasons.

"Temporary lapse in sanity?" she finished for me.

I shook my head, but she only laughed. "It's okay, Darry," she said, pulling bread, eggs, milk and butter from the refrigerator. "I'm glad you came over, and you're just going to have to put your misgivings aside because I'm making my famous French toast."

I hadn't eaten yet that morning, and my stomach rumbled at the thought of it. If she needed a ride to school, I figured I'd give her one. And if that meant getting to the gymnasium an hour late, well it would just have to suffice. Three-quarters of a day's work was better than no work at all, I supposed.

The French toast was real good. I told her about Soda's habit of cooking with color. She seemed to think this was a novel idea and got up from her seat to search the pantry for food coloring. She looked delighted when she realized she had some, and set the box out on the counter. I realized I'd created a monster. She and Soda probably had tons in common, at least when it came to their idea of fun.

"Sodapop's right up your alley, ain't he?"

I hadn't meant it like that.

She looked sharply at me as she walked back into the dining room. Before she took her seat next to mine, she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "You're right up my alley," she said firmly. Then she went right back to eating her breakfast.

It made me feel real good when she did that. Not that it had even crossed my mind to be jealous of Sodapop, because I wasn't. I'm not a jealous person by nature, and I never had any trouble getting girlfriends when I was in high school. I was real popular, kinda the way I think Soda would be if he hadn't dropped out and we hadn't been labeled 'greasers' by everyone in town. Before mom and dad died, Soda and I double-dated a lot. We don't usually go for the same type of girl, but one time we dated sisters. That ended real quick when they found out that Soda had dumped the younger one's best friend only the week before.

I liked sitting at Jules' table eating breakfast and I even liked helping her do up the dishes afterwards. She kept up a steady stream of chatter, and I'm pretty used to that, but the difference was that she asked me all kinds of stuff about myself, and I'm not used to that. I'd even forgotten, just for a moment, that I probably should have been working.

When Jules started sorting through the piles of books and papers on her table to pack her book bag, I started feeling guilty again. I don't know if maybe along with all these superstitions and theories and stuff, Jules can read minds too, because she put her hand on my shoulder and smiled up at me, real sweet.

"I really, really appreciate you giving me this ride, Darry. Don't be so hard on yourself for missing out on some work. Taking time off isn't worth it if you don't enjoy it."

"Is that another theory of yours?" I couldn't help but ask.

She finished packing her bag and slung it over her shoulder, grinning at me. "It's not a theory, it's a simple fact."

She happened to have two umbrellas in her closet so we each used one as we ran out to the truck. It helped a lot, and when we were shut inside, with the rain hammering on the roof and thick rivulets of water running down the windshield, she leaned over and kissed me. Just like that. It wasn't all deep and passionate, but it was more than just a thanks-for-doing-this kind of kiss, I could tell by the way she fiddled with her book bag afterwards and wouldn't look at me.

I started up the truck and licked my lips. She tasted like syrup.

When I pulled up in front of the college, it was deserted. She had the umbrella poised and ready to open as soon as she got out, but she turned to me first and tilted her head. Golly, she looked young when she did that.

"I had fun this morning," she said earnestly. "I'm glad you came by."

"I'm glad I did, too," I said, and I meant it. My watch said it was a quarter after ten, and yes, I could have been working for the last hour and forty-five minutes, but everything that Jules had said and done made it completely worth the money I'd lost out on. And sometimes money seemed like the only important thing in my life, beside my brothers of course, so it was a nice change to be thinking about something else.

"Do you need a ride home?" I asked suddenly. "I can be here around six."

She bit on her lower lip and nodded. "Yeah, thanks." Then she pushed her door open, and flipped the umbrella up as she jumped out of the truck. I watched her huddle against the rain, clutching her jacket together with one hand, the umbrella with the other. Her book bag flopped against her back like it was too heavy. I sighed. Sometimes it seemed like she was teaching me all the lessons, and sometimes I couldn't help but think she's just a kid.

TBC…

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Reviewers for Chapter 4:

Holy crap you guys sure had a lot to say! Thank you to each and every one of you who left comments, and thanks to those of you that are reading and not leaving comments, because I'm just glad you're reading. But you could leave a comment, you know, if you really wanted to. Sodapop would want you to. Ha ha. ((Takes a deep breath…)) Here goes.

Jenna - I'm glad you're enjoying, and very excited that you noticed a relation to Darry and his brothers and Darry and Jules. I'm trying to do some parallels. Thanks for dropping by and giving me such a great review!

Langley - Hi again! It's a careful balance with making a relationship develop at a believable pace, because if you drag it out too long, people get bored, and if you shove it too quickly, it's unrealistic. I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job (so far) and I hope you'll stick with me through it. About Darry's fight with Pony…I think Darry was so frustrated that Pony had promised and then wanted to blow off his homework because they had company. Perhaps he was trying to take advantage of Darry's distraction… Ha. Thank you for the review and encouragement.

Zack Anderson - Thank you so much for leaving your thoughts! S.E. Hinton's heir -- ROFL!! I doubt that very seriously, but it's an honor that you even said it! I appreciate you taking the time to notice and mention the little parts of the story; the small humorous comments between the boys and stuff. Those are the details I'm most proud of and it's nice to know that someone else is noticing them and appreciating them too.

JPSquire - Thank you for your kind comments! The Pony/Darry fight was a difficult one for me to pull off because I needed it to happen but I wanted to make it realistic. I like to think Pony wouldn't have acted so unreasonable any other night, but like I mentioned to Langley, perhaps he was trying to take advantage of the situation. That was my thinking, anyway. Oh, and about clichés… I'm of the mind that anything can be done (even clichés) if its done well, and my biggest concern is doing this well. Thank you for stopping by and please leave more feedback as the story goes on!

Bandit-Gurl42 - Hey again woman. I'm so glad you're connecting with Jules. ((whew)) I'm trying to make her very different from Darry, but underneath it all, the same. Uh, not the same, but you know, sharing values and stuff. Yeah, whatever, I can't write notes when I'm busy writing chapters. Ha. I'm glad you're liking each chapter. Stick with me, girly!

Robot In Disguise - Thanks for the note, and for answering Raggedy Anne's question. I hadn't put much thought into the time of year, I just knew that OK could get some pretty crazy weather like the rest of us!

Raggedy Anne - Oh, oh it's magic! You know! Sorry, I just chuckled at your comment. No, I'm not magic. Wanna know my secret? I don't post a chapter until I've got the next chapter finished. I didn't even start posting the story until I had at least chapters 1-3 done. Then I didn't post 3 until I had 4 done, 4 until I had 5 done, and so on. Patience is key. It gives me a comfortable window, so that I know if a chapter is giving me lots of trouble, I've always got a backup to post. I feel like it "buys" me more time. What? Other people don't do that? I'm a Type A freak? Oh well. I think Robot In Disguise answered your Tulsa question. If I'm not mistaken, it even snows there on occasion. City of Tulsa dot org has a section on winter preparedness. Yeah, I try to do research, too. Like I said, Type A. It's a sickness. Thanks for your thoughts!

Sodapop's#1Gurl - Hey girl. I think Darry's hittin' days are over, don't you? ;) I'm glad you liked the chapter. And it is my aim to keep the entire story in Darry's POV. Thanks for the review.

Julie - JULES! Well hi there! I'm glad you thought Darry and Pony's fight was believable! I didn't know how it would be received, since it's set after the book and what with Soda having gotten so upset and Darry and Pony making that promise. But like I said, asking Darry and Pony not to fight is like asking two birds not to fly! I think they're too different not to. Thanks for the feedback.

Kaz456 - Well we're on the same wavelength, aren't we? I agree with you about Darry and Pony's truce. I think it's a matter of reigning it in before it gets as bad as it was in the book (with Darry hitting Pony). That's probably what Soda's most worried about. You gotta feel bad for the kid, always being stuck in the middle. ((hugs Soda)) Thanks for the review, and it means a lot to hear you say you think I'm getting Darry right. It ain't easy, what with a character who doesn't talk much and who we don't know much about.

Tessie26 - ((hugs)) Hey woman. You liked how I wrote Pony? Well thanks! You share Jules' theory of things getting so bad something's gotta give, huh? I think we all need to believe that, or we'd just get too depressed to move. Ha ha. Start writing again, or I'll have to come after you. ((wink))

Jessie13 - I'm glad you liked the chapter. I think Pony and Soda share your feelings on Darry having a girl. Maybe it'd get him off their backs for a change. ((grin)) Thanks for the review.

pisiform - It was my biggest intention for me to balance the fight out so that it didn't look like Darry was being unreasonable. Unfortunately, maybe I compensated too much and made Pony sound unreasonable, but I'm glad it came off somehow. Thanks for reading and reviewing!