Hey! Sorry it's taken so long, I bet by now I've lost all the regular reviewers... I'm sorry about this... please know that I haven't abandoned anything on this website! If anyone's wonderin' why it took so long, please check out my profile--there's an explanation there...
Well, to the reviews:
MAction: Say what you will; I will not repeat myself. If you want to flame me then have the guts to sign in.
Pepsi-Cola Chick: Ah! Thank you so much!
the return of merry: Don't you just hate me... lol! thanks, dude.
Mrs. Soda Curtis: Thank you! Thank you!
virgil-t-stone: Hmmm... I'm not sure just yet... well, if you have the time--I'd be delighted to see what you have in mind! Only if you have the time though!
horrorpop: Well, that time stamp... I know it sounds corny... but it's how long they've... (cough) gone out... corny, isn't it? lol, thanks for reviewing!
Hahukum Konn: Hehehe, I already have that planned out--it's gonna be fun writing it! lol! thanks for the review!
Chapter Five: Final Decisions...
Disclaimer: I, in now way, own The Outsiders...
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"A road trip? That's so corny!"
"Hey! That's what Dally said too!"
Rox shot Soda a death baring glare, "Don't talk to me about that moron!" she said bitingly, tightening her jaw. She didn't want to be reminded of their latest problems... Sighing, she turned to the rest of the gang, "Well, what do y'all think?"
The 'spazz' of the group began to bounce wildly in response, "It's such an awesome idea! Glory--I'm in! Please Lilly? Can we?"
Lilly rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh, "What about the basics?" she questioned, "Food, money, a place to stay?"
Two-Bit laughed hysterically, "Now I see why all you guys are together!"
"Same goes for you..." Rox scoffed, faking offense, "But I can't even talk to my opposite with out feeling like I'm lightin' up near gasoline!"
"Bet he feels the same about you, dollface..." a low voice grumbled behind her.
It was a rare sight to see Rox jump out of her skin. But before she could do anything, Dally wrapped an arm around her waist and held her tight. Rox smiled in spite of herself, and seeing this, Dally smirked triumphantly.
"So," Pony asked, rolling his eyes, "Who's in?"
Everyone raised their hands--some waving them wildly.
"Road trip, baby!" Peg howled, causing Johnny to smile as well.
"Oh ya!" Sharry cheered.
Casey jumped up and danced around excitedly, grabbing Two-Bit as she went. The two started making laps around the small living room, laughing as the whole while.
"Soda, baby! Help me pack!" Sabrina chimed.
Soda looked over to his elder brother as he was sitting with Lilly on the couch. Wanting permission, he asked, "Can I, Dar?"
"Only packing..." he replied sternly.
"And no funny business..." added Lilly.
"See ya at home!" Sabrina called over to Casey, who was now sitting and joking with Two-Bit.
The two hyper-actives said they good-byes and shot out.
Sharry rolled her eyes, "Morons..." she laughed softly.
"Well," Cass began, "I think I'm gonna catch up with those two--get my packing done for tomorrow too."
"Aw, babe--don't go!" Two-Bit moaned, then an idea came to him, "Can I come?"
She nodded with a giggle, as he stood and picked her up as he went, "Later guys!"
The two weren't even out of the door and they were already lip-locking... The gang was silent for a few minutes until Sharry stood up, stretching, "I'm gonna head off too... and I need to ask my folks... later y'all."
Pony didn't argue, but pouted slightly and kissed her goodbye. After she left, Pony then headed to his and Soda's room.
Peg and Johnny had slipped out quietly to do the same: pack.
Rox soon left Dally's grasp and walked over to the door, "Hey, tell Susan I'm home, okay?" she called, hand resting on the door knob.
"Well, where is she?" Lilly asked, looking around wildly.
"And where's Steve?" Darry added, doing the same.
Rox rolled her eyes, 'Oh glory... this is where the parent instinct comes in...' But that was just Lilly--she was naturally the 'mother-hen' of the gang, 'Well,' Rox thought, 'Better than what my parents could have ever bothered...' with a simple wave, she left.
"I'm gonna go look for Susan... Steve too." Darry grumbled, thinking the exact same thing as Lilly: They were in the bathroom, "You stay an' relax..." he added to her softly, and turned towards the hall, leaving Dally and Lilly alone.
"So," Lilly began calmly, turning to the tow-headed hood, "What did you do to piss her off this time?"
Dally huffed in reply, "I ain't done nothin' she ain't before..."
Lilly pressed on, "Which was...?"
He huffed again, "She caught me at the movie house..." he trailed off, looking interested in the stuffing erupting from the corner of the couch.
"Dally!" she gasped, "You weren't with someone else, were you?"
He didn't catch what she was implying, "Ya... I was f--"
"--Oh my gawd!" she cried, shooting up and running to the phone, "I can't believe it! I have to call Rox!" she shot Dally a disgusted look, "I can't believe you were sleeping around!"
"WOW!" Dally's mouth dropped open and he raised his hands defensively, "Lilly--I wasn't sleepin' around! I was flirtin'! I ain't..." he waved his hands a little, thinking for the right word, "Desperate! I mean we only just did... last... night..." he trailed off again.
"Wow!" it was Lilly's turn to be in shock, she dropped the phone as she walked back to the couch, "Dallas Winston! You can't go flirting around and then--" she hushed her voice to a whisper, "--have sex with Rox! You'd at least have to apologize first!"
"What're you talkin' about?" he asked innocently. He was having fun messing with Lilly's head, he spoke as if he were explaining something to a child, or Two-Bit, "The sex was the apology, dig?"
By then, Lilly had nearly fainted, "Oh... my... god..." she gasped. She then walked into the kitchen. Dally watched with laughing curiosity as she then came back, water and Tylenol (1) in hand, "My friends need help..." she grumbled, and plopped two in her mouth.
Dally rolled his eyes, "So do you... you freak out too much." She shot him a look, which he shot right back and continued, snickering, "It ain't like you never done nothin' with Darry."
Lilly said nothing but blushed profusely--a deep red.
Darry then came back in a few moments later, face just as flushed, however this time, red out of frustration. He let out a sigh and sat down as Steve and Susan shuffled out of the hallway.
Dally and Lilly sat there staring with questioning looks, but Darry only shook his head. He looked over to the two adolescents and barked, "Steve! Susan! Get over here an' explain yourselves! We're all listenin'."
Steve shot Darry a glare and Susan giggled slightly.
Coming to realization Dally laughed suddenly, "Oh! I know what you two were doin'! Hey--how far you--"
"--Shut it, Dallas!" Darry snapped, eyes never leaving Steve and Susan.
Dally had never been the one listen and do what he was told. But it was a smart move to avoid clashing with Darrel Curtis when he was seriously pissed. the tow-head said nothing, and instead nodded his head in good-bye and left, leaving the leader of the pack to deal with his prey.
"So," Darry continued, staring dangerously at the pair, "As you were, explain."
Susan then laughed, "We haven't done anything that you two haven't."
'Oh gee,' Lilly thought sarcastically, 'That sure tells me a lot. Why is everyone sayin' that?'
"Y'know what? How about this?" Steve offered, "We'll just get goin', okay?"
"Ya..." Susan caught on, "We'll be... packing." she looked around, "Guess Rox's already left?"
Before Darry could protest, the two were already out the door and halfway down the next block. He only stared blankly.
"Well," Lilly stood, stretching out of the feel of the couch, "I'm going too." He was about to turn on her too when she cut him off, "Let it go, Dar. They'll do these things regardless of what you say... or should I say--lecture?" she added quickly, smirking boldly.
Darry suddenly got a coy smile tugging on his lips, "Same could go for you."
Lilly only snickered and quickly pecked him on the cheek. With out another work, she left.
Darry then stood himself, and headed to his room for his own packing.
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"With who? Where to? And when?" two eyes gazed questioningly at Sharon.
"Um... in order--let's see..." Sharry replied, rolling her eyes. She knew her parents would react this way. She sighed, "With my gang--"
"--Who?"
She let out another sigh and began naming them on her fingers, "Rina, Rox, Peg, Susan, Lil, Steve, Soda, Dar, Dally, and--"
"--Dally? As in Dallas Winston--that hood?"
Sharry narrowed her eyes, "Ma, Dally ain't a hood. He's though--but he's a good guy. Rox's boyfriend."
"Sharry, I doubt you know what you're talking about... who else?"
"Well, Two-Bit, Johnny, Cass, and Pony--"
"--Pony--you're boyfriend?"
"Yes, dad, Pony's my boyfriend." she smiled to herself and continued, "We're just goin' through a few different places..."
"And where will you stay?"
"A hotel for showers and when we need decent sleep... the rest of the time we'll be in the cars."
"And money?"
"We're putting everything we have together, including the pay that Darry's still getting. We'll make the rest along the way..."
"And Darry's responsible?"
"Yes, dad. You've met him before... please--can I?"
A few minutes of silence passed until,
"Call us every couple of days, y'hear?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Sharry could remember all the times the gang had lectured her about how lucky she had been to still have a functioning home life. How lucky she had been to have good parents that cared about her.
"Thank you so much!"
She was the only one in the whole gang who still had both of her parents. If the Curtis' was too packed, there was always her place, and her parents were cheery welcomed it.
She sprang up from the couch and hugged them both lovingly. Letting go of them she continued, "Well, I'm headin' to pack! We're leaving first thing tomorrow!"She was about to turn to her room when her father stopped her, "We love you, Sharon... remember that."
She smiled affectionately, "I love you too... and thank you."
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(1)--I don't think they had things like Tylenol back then... but I was just wanting to add a joke... laugh.