AN: This chapter might be a little confusing or boring because I was trying to make Ponyboy seem scatterbrained, and I'm a bit scatterbrained, so sorry if this is a little whacky. Also, this is not a slash story. Sorry. I do ship Steve and Pony (because they're adorable together, obviously) but that is not the intention for this fic. Thanks to my editor, who spent hours correcting every little mistake and who makes this story readable!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders!
Ponyboy POV
I'm being chased. There's a shadow racing through the streets of this new town, running after me. The shadow repeats one word. Soc. it says. Again and again, that same word. Soc. Soc. Soc. Socs. Soc. I run from the shadow. I can't fight it. You can't fight a shadow, but this shadow fights you. I trip on the sidewalk and land on my face. It aches. It stings. I feel my breath coming faster as the shadow approaches. It stops feet away from me. Soc. It whispers. What does that mean? I want to shout. Why are you saying that? What is that? I can't make my mouth work. It won't open and no sound will come out. The shadow has no face, no mouth, yet I know that it is smiling. You'll know soon enough. It says. Like it somehow read my mind. Then it attacks. It makes sharp jabs at my face and sides. My sides ache now, too. Stop! I try to scream, but nothing happens. Stop! I hear. For a moment I think it worked. I think I said something. Then, leave him alone! Ok, I know I definitely did not say that. I look to my left and see Steve running toward me and the shadow. This frightens me more and I jump.
My eyes spring open with a gasp. I sit up. I'm breathing heavily. That was odd. Usually my nightmares are the same. I've never had that dream before. And my face actually hurts. So do my ribs. It takes a moment before it all comes back. The fight with those guys. Steve. Darry. And that one word Steve said. Soc. It went right over my head at the moment, but now that I think about it, I have no clue what a Soc is. I have never heard of one before. And Steve used it almost as a name. I wonder what that means… Maybe I'll figure it out during my stay in this town.
I check my watch. 6:19. Jeez, I had been sleeping for over 4 hours. My stomach rumbles and I know that it's time to eat. I remember seeing a drive-in earlier called The Dingo.
I had managed to get 8 dollars off of one of those boys from earlier today. Normally, I feel really bad about stealing, but those boys kinda deserve it with how they acted. Not to mention, with the car they were driving and the clothes they were wearing, they're clearly well off and likely don't need the money I stole. I doubt they even know it's gone. Hopefully, this money will last me a while. I've been a lot hungrier lately. Maybe my body is trying to grow. Or maybe it's because I only eat a meal every two days and that isn't enough for a thirteen year old boy. When I left home, I took all of the money I had made that week and the week before. It didn't last me long. I used most of it in the first couple of weeks, and Ms. Claw took the rest of it when she searched my stuff.
As I make my way to The Dingo, I see an open public bathroom. I figure it will be helpful to get the blood off my face before going into a restaurant. Don't want to scare people. Believe me, blood is the fastest way to do that. My face looks terrible in the mirror. I'm a naturally pale person, but the lighting in this bathroom makes it far worse. Not to mention I'm running around on zero food, little sleep, and there is blood crusted on the bottom half of my face. I dismiss my odd complexion and begin to clean and dry my face. Once I look presentable, I slowly lift up my shirt. There are bruises lining my back and sides but honestly, I expected worse. I brush my fingers over them, searching for any broken bones. I feel none, so I wet a paper towel with cold water and press it to my ribs. Instantly, I feel relief from the aches and stings. My face feels better too. If I have any luck, my stomach will also feel better after I eat something. With that thought, I stepped out of the bathroom and made the short trek to The Dingo.
It didn't take me long to find it. That actually surprised me because I'm absolutely horrible with directions and locations. Between you and me, I couldn't tell you what was north or south unless the sun was actively setting or rising. Even then I doubt I could tell you. I'd likely be too absorbed by the breathtaking scene to tell you what you want to know. Then again, why are you thinking about north and south when you could be watching the sun set? Whatever, we've gotten off track. I didn't expect the crowd to be so large at the drive-in. There were people and cars covering every inch. I had half a mind to try and find another place but a deep growl from my stomach made me stay. I walked inside and made my way to the back of the mile long line to order.
It felt like I had been waiting forever in line when a guy stepped in front of me. I had just grabbed the money out of my pocket and held it loosely in my hand. At this point, I was only two people away from the front and had been waiting for at least half an hour. Who does he think he is? He can't just cut in line! I really wanted to say something. That was completely unfair and I was starving. But, he was a lot bigger than me and I had already gotten in a fight today. Not to mention, I had the aches and bruises to prove it, and I would definitely not be able to win a fight against a bigger guy while injured. Also, from the way everyone seemed to part away from him, I could tell he was trouble. Nevertheless, I was still really ticked, but I managed to keep my scoff to myself. The sigh, on the other hand, huffed out against my will. The guy in front of me stiffened. It seemed he had somehow heard my annoyed sigh over all the noise in The Dingo. He turned slowly.
I carefully took in the way he looked. He had white blonde hair and icy blue eyes. He was average height, but still taller than me. He wore a brown leather jacket and jeans. His face could only be described as elfish. He had a pointy chin and high cheekbones. In fact, all of his features seemed pointed. I had to contain my excitement. I had already seen two things I was aching to draw when I got the chance, and I'd only been in this town for less than a day. One was The Dingo from a distance. (It was actually quite beautiful from afar, with all the lights and people surrounding it. I couldn't wait to see it in the dark. The sun was bound to set in the next 15 minutes or so.) The second was this man. I had a feeling he would look really nice if drawn when angry. Which he looked to be right then. I supposed I should've been paying attention. I don't know how much time had passed since he turned around but it couldn't have been much, seeing as he looked pretty much the same. A low rumble came from his throat and a sneer jumped to his face.
"Am I bothering you, kid?" He snapped.
"No, sir," I responded bitterly.
"Sir? Who you callin' sir?" He barked out a laugh. "Kid, where you been? Don't you know who I am?"
"No, ma'am," I bit back sarcastically. I watched as his face rapidly changed from amused and exasperated to furious. "Better?" I asked as innocently as possible. I knew I should be careful. Just move back and let Mr. Elf do his thing. But I was mad. And what can I say? I already told you, I don't use my head.
"You think you're funny?" He ripped the two dollars from my hands and shoved me back. "D'you still think you're funny? Huh?" There was a short pause then, "Didn't think so."
The man began to walk away when I realized he still had my money. That two dollars could buy me at least four meals, which meant almost a week's worth of food. He wasn't walking away with a week's worth of money. He could fight me if he wanted, but he wasn't going to steal my money.
"Hey!" I shout as furiously as possible. I run after him and grab him by the shoulder, turning him around. I know I'm being stupid. He's way bigger than me and I've already gotten myself into one unnecessary fight today. Normally, I would avoid fights at all costs, but I'm really not using my head today, apparently. He whirls to face me. His features are twisted in anger, but I don't back down. "Give it back," I say, pointing at the money he had taken. I kept my voice calm. Jack always spoke calmly when he got into a tussle like this. Use a small voice now, he used to say. And scare them with your big voice later. I did everything I could to follow his guidance.
I was ripped from my thoughts as a young man came sauntering around the corner.
"Dally, what's taken so long, man? You were only going to get napkins. We're about ready to head back to the Curtis house. You up for some poker-?" The grinning man stopped talking as he took in the sight before him. We stood in the one empty spot in the entire drive-in. The first man had the front of my shirt in a fist and I still had a firm grip on his shoulder. "Whoa. You need any help, Dal?" The second guy said, no longer grinning. He reached into the back of his pocket, pulling out a long black switch. He kept it closed for now.
"No," Dally (I guess?) gritted out. "He ain't a threat. Lemme deal with hi-"
We were interrupted once again by a group of laughing boys coming around the same corner the second man had come from. They all stopped and looked between the three of us. "Shit," I muttered as I recognized two of them. I quickly angled my face the other direction, hoping to avoid either one of them noticing me.
"Dally," Darry said with a long sigh. "What are you doing? He's just a kid. Let him go!" Darry didn't sound mad, just exasperated.
"He thinks he can get away with making fun of me and yelling at me! He's got to learn his lesson Darry. Ain't that right kid? You're being an asshole and you know it! What gives you the right to-?"
"What gives me the right to what? You're the one who took my money! Some of us don't get that much very often! What gives you the right to cut in line and take other people's stuff? Huh? What makes you think you're better than me?" I explode. I know I'm being a hypocrite because I stole the money in the first place, but I don't care. I'm about to continue when I hear a gasp to my right. Every one of us turns to look at Steve. He's staring at me with wide eyes. "Shit," I mutter again, before bolting.
I hear Steve shout, "Grab him!" and before I know it, I'm on my back. Dally, Darry, and the second guy I saw had all grabbed me, and their combined strength had taken me to the ground. I lie, dazed, trying to catch my breath as Steve talks. "That's him! I knew I recognized his voice! That's the kid that got jumped earlier! Hey, what's your name, kid?"
"Isn't 'kid' good enough? You seem to like saying it and I know you'll just make fun of my name." I gasp trying to get my wind back.
"Yeah, like any of us'd make fun of your name!" One of the boys laughed goodnaturedly, causing the rest to chuckle and even Dally grinned. "My name's Sodapop, kid. And this is Two-Bit. Still think you got a weird name?" He gestured to the second guy, the one with the black knife.
"Yep," I say, finally gaining my breath. "Yours are weird, but at least they're both something that exists. Mine is just the product of a drunk dad and an uninterested mother. Trust me, you don't want to know." I try to sit up, but I'm quickly pushed down by Steve.
"You're coming with us."
"What?" I ask. "Why, what did I do?"
"You know what you did," he replies with a glance at the others surrounding us. He seems to only be talking to me. "And Dally, give him his goddamn money back. Now. You don't need it." Steve stands, pulling me up with him and handing me my money. I glance warily at the rest of the boys. I know all of their names except one. A dark boy, standing behind the others. He stands tall like he's been through some shit and he's not gonna let that break him, but his eyes never stop moving as if he's waiting for something—or someone—to hit him. Man, I know that feeling.
We begin to walk out of the restaurant and my stomach grumbles embarrassingly loudly. I clutch it with a sigh, glancing longingly at the burgers on the table next to me.
"Don't worry, little man. We'll get you something to eat at home," Darry says with a chuckle.
"Yeah, Darry's the best cook around!" Two-Bit chimes in. "Just wait till you have his cake. Delicious," he mutters only to me.
Somehow, I end up in the center of the group as we walk down the street. I can't help but feel this is intentional. They probably think I'll try to run again. I mean, they're not wrong, but it's still annoying. I don't say a word on the way there and instead try to memorize the route so I can get outta here as soon as possible. It doesn't really work.
I end up just staring at the trees, fascinated by the animals that live there. It takes only a few minutes for the sun to begin its final descent for the day. I'm completely in my head as I stop to watch it. The colors are beautiful. There's a lot of purple and red in this sunset, my favorite color combo to watch. The sun sends streaks of pink away from itself, which really adds to the picture. I squint my eyes until everything is a blur of red, pink, purple, and gold. The trees are now mere silhouettes, the animals invisible in their branches. When the sun finally dips below the horizon, I hear someone clear their throat and I blink away the remaining colors in my eyes. I had forgotten that the others were there with me. Most of them are looking at me with frustration, confusion, or amusement. Only the quiet, dark boy has an understanding look in his eyes. He has a look of awe on his face. Surprisingly, the look seems to be directed at me, rather than the sunset.
"Sorry," I mutter. "Let's just go." It was embarrassing that they had seen me so vulnerable. I don't like being vulnerable. Throughout the rest of the walk, they constantly send me odd glances. Inwardly, I sigh. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night.
AN: Review!