Dedication: Golden Greaser - thanks so much for reviewing! 333
Notes: Ya. I updated. Don't look so shocked. Got a schedule now, see? points to profile. Oh. And like. Fifth chapter! Two more to go! Whoo…!
Once again, let it be known I love Randy.
Steve Randle knew what he thought about Ponyboy. He wasn't neutral, like most of the others. He hated the kid for all his worth. The kid used to be cool; quiet, but independent. A little too clingy to his mom, but that was to be expected, because that's how Mrs. Curtis had raised him. But now…
Ponyboy just waltzed back into everyone's lives, like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't made Soda so depressed that for a long time he didn't smile or laugh. Like he hadn't made Darry worry about Ponyboy so much he couldn't focus on his job. Like Ponyboy hadn't made them all worried sick.
The others may be sympathetic, but Steve was going to treat the kid like he deserved. He didn't care if it was Soda's kid brother - that was exactly why Steve hated him so much. Ponyboy made Soda cry, and didn't feel an ounce of remorse.
So whenever he went over to the Curtis' house, it always pissed him off. Pony was always with Darry or Soda - the two didn't let Ponyboy out of their sight. Which was understandable - they didn't want him running off. But still. Nowadays, Soda talked about nothing but Ponyboy. Darry would always be helping Ponyboy with his homework, although as far as Steve could tell the fourteen-year-old didn't need it. He seemed to get it on his own, but only accepted Darry's help in an attempt to get things back to normal. Or relatively normal, anyways.
Everything was so…different, though. Two-Bit and Johnny had to go to school every day now, to make sure Ponyboy didn't run away. Apparently they sat with him at lunch, walking with him to his class…did everything with him. It was sickening, Steve thought. Ponyboy was still on the track team, only now one of the gang always had to be at practice. It was usually Johnny or Two-Bit, but Steve had his share of babysitting Ponyboy too.
It was then, when Steve had to watch Ponyboy, that Steve would get a glimpse of the Ponyboy he used to like. The kid would be quiet, but very independent.
Steve still hated Ponyboy, though.
It was on one of the days when Ponyboy had track practice, and Steve had to stay and watch, that Steve learned Ponyboy was friend's with a Soc. It started out with Ponyboy going through warm-ups. Jog two times around the track, and then stretch for a bit. Ponyboy was sitting on the ground, his legs stretched in front of him. He was bending so he could touch his toes, when all of a sudden this taller boy kneeled down and then leaned heavily against Ponyboy. The redhead yelped in pain, before sitting cross-legged and elbowing the new boy.
Although they were wearing track clothes, it was obviously that the new guy was a Soc. The clothes just seemed…Soc-ier, if that made any sense. As compared to Ponyboy, whose track clothes looked like just that. Track clothes. Didn't seem like something a Greaser would wear, nor was it something a Soc would wear. It was a style all of its own.
Steve leaned against the fence, his arms folded on the top of the chain-link fence. He watched Ponyboy as he shoved his friend away from him, the Soc trying to tickle Ponyboy…or something. They stopped roughhousing, and the Soc said something. Ponyboy looked embarrassed for a moment, biting his bottom lip, before he replied, nodding his head to the side towards Steve. The Soc looked up at Steve, who glared at him, and then back to Ponyboy. He said something, and Ponyboy laughed. And then they continued with practice.
After it was done, Steve waited for Ponyboy to get dressed into normal clothes. He emerged from the locker room, wearing a pair of baggy pants and a grey sweater. The black-haired kid was with him, and although Ponyboy looked a bit uncomfortable, he still led the kid over to Steve.
"Er, Steve…this is my friend, Randy…er…we were gunna study for a test together so er…" Ponyboy trailed off, biting his lip. Randy stood to the side of Pony, staring at Steve, his face expressionless.
"You're ain't goin' to his house," Steve said, glaring at Randy. Randy simply rose an eyebrow at Steve, probably wondering why the greaser was being so hostile. Ponyboy looked up at his taller friend hopelessly, giving him a look that said "I told you so." Randy shrugged, and spoke.
"Pony figured that, so he was thinkin' we go to his place. You dig?" Randy asked. Steve's glare intensified, and he opened his mouth to say no, but Ponyboy beat him to it.
"I'm sure Darry wouldn't mind. I mean, its just studying. 's not like we're going to do anything bad. Please Steve?" Pony asked, and Steve rolled his eyes, turning and muttering about how it wasn't going to be his fault when Darry said something, and that Ponyboy had better not blame him. Pony and Randy looked at each other and then grinned, following Steve.
They earned a few stares as they walked to the Curtis' place, although it wasn't hard to understand. A greaser, a Soc, and some guy who didn't fit either stereotype, all walking together. But when they got to the Curtis' house…
"Darry? 'm back," Pony called, slipping out of his sneakers. Randy did the same, following Ponyboy into the living room. Ponyboy shrugged at Randy and sat down on the couch, putting his books on the coffee table. Randy did the same. Steve walked into the kitchen, knowing Soda would be there since it was his turn to cook. Darry emerged from the bathroom, wearing a pair of tight jeans and rubbing his hair dry with a white towel.
"Hey Pon'!" he said cheerfully, his voice a little muffled. "Got any-" he looked up, his eyes widening, "What's a Soc doing in our living room?"
Ponyboy turned bright red, and Randy began to snicker. It was such a…non-Darry reaction, and yet it was so funny because Darry did do that. Darry blinked a couple of times, trying to convince himself it was water in his eyes or something.
"Er…this is Randy…We usually study together the night before a test, so…"
"More like Ponyboy goes over the stuff with me. He's so smart, he don't need to study," Randy said, grinning. Ponyboy blushed more, bowing his head.
"That's not true…" he mumbled. Darry watched this, still shocked by the fact there was a Soc in his house. And that said Soc was his brother's friend.
"Right…" he said slowly, going over to his chair and sitting down, picking up the newspaper. He opened it to the first page, pretending to read but obviously watching the two.
In the kitchen, Soda and Steve watched. Soda's eyes were wide, and Steve's were narrowed hatefully.
"Wonder how Pon' met the Soc…" Sodapop murmured quietly. Steve made a growling noise, still glaring at Ponyboy. He didn't say anything though, choosing instead to shrug. No need to get Soda mad at him.
Notes: Whoo! Oh my God. I finished this at two in the morning and started at twelve. And what do I got to show for it! A little over two pages! I'm so pathetic!
Preview for next chapter: Sodapop's POV! Soda asks Pony why he hangs out with a Soc, and why Pony doesn't seem like a greaser nor a Soc. Find out what happened to Ponyboy in his three-year absence in the next chapter. Coming to fan next week.