FOREVER CHANGED

CHAPTER 17

MATCHMAKER MATCHMAKER, MAKE ME A MATCH

"Johnnycake, you're up early", Darry stated with a smile as he walked into Johnny's room.

"Mornin' Dar….yeah Maggie had to come early.….she starts back at her 10 to 6 hours, today", Johnny explained. "She'll be right out….if you need to talk to her...", he added.

Darry shifted nervously. "Me, no…I don't need to talk…", he stuttered.

Maggie walked out of the bathroom, surprised to see Darry. "Dar…Darry…ahem…Hello Darrel", she greeted professionally. "I haven't seen you in a while…what I mean to say is, you're usually gone when I get here in the morning and off to bed when I come at night".

Darry looked down at the floor. "Yeah, I've been real busy at work", he lied, unconvincingly.

Maggie frowned. "That's what the boys had told me", she replied coolly. An uncomfortable silence filled the air, Maggie turned to Johnny. "Let's get you something to eat", she said cheerfully, preparing to move him to his chair.

"I'll get him", Darry offered, easily lifting Johnny from his bed. A grateful Maggie thanked Darry, with Johnny starting to inch toward a healthy weight, it was getting difficult for Maggie to move him.

It was just Johnny and Maggie at the table, Darry and Soda had left for work and Ponyboy was still asleep. Maggie sat quietly as she held Johnny's hand around the spoon and slowly guided it to his mouth, getting his arm accustomed to the movement.

"Somethin' wrong Maggie?", Johnny asked sincerely. "No, it's nothing Johnny…", she said giving him a small smile.

"You can tell me…if you want", he said shyly. Maggie wasn't sure why, but she always felt so comfortable talking to Johnny, maybe it was because he listened so well; thinking long and hard about his answers. He was always a boy of few words, but what he had to say was so full of meaning and depth. She took a deep breath and poured her heart out to him.

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Two-bit arrived just as Maggie was exiting the kitchen. She picked up her bag and tousled Johnny's hair. "See you 'round seven Johnny….Good morning Keith", she called as she passed him.

"Mornin' Mag….", he started to say, but she was already out the door. Two-bit came behind Johnny and pushed him into the living room. "How 'bout a little Mickey before we get started?", he asked, referring to Johnny's hand exercises. "Sure", Johnny agreed.

"Where's the kid?", Two-bit asked from the kitchen. "Still sleepin' I guess.", Johnny called out when Two-bit got closer….so he could hear him.

Two-bit put the cake plate and milk bottle down on the coffee table and walked over to the stairs. "Ponyboy get your lazy ass outta bed, today's school registration…says here; all students with the last name starting with c or d need to be in the office at 9:30am", he yelled, reading from the green paper that he pulled off the front of the refrigerator.

"No beer for breakfast today, Two-bit?", Johnny asked with a grin. "Naw. Darry yelled at me for drinkin' it all up.…'sides, it doesn't go all that good with chocolate cake", he explained with a chuckle.

Just then Ponyboy bounded down the stairs, running so fast he totally missed the last two steps. "I'm late", he called out as the screen door slammed behind him.

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Ponyboy walked into the house with an armful of papers and books. Two-bit was sleeping on the couch. "Johnny?", Pony called worriedly.

"In here", he called raspingly, from the kitchen. Pony walked in. "How long have you been sittin' there all alone", he questioned, angry that Two-bit was sleeping instead of taking care of Johnny.

"I dunno, an hour or so", Johnny answered softly, he didn't want to get Two-bit into trouble. "I guess you're done with this exercise", Pony said, moving the paperweight Johnny was pushing around the table and putting the books and papers down.

"Those yours?", Johnny asked, eyeing the mountain in front of him. "No, I get mine next week, those are yours", Pony chuckled when Johnny's eyes got wide.

"Principal Morris said the tutor'll come here every Monday and Wednesday morning and all day on Friday. I made sure we had a lot of the same classes so I can help you with the work", Pony explained. "And I can do all the writtin' for you.…until you're able."

"Thanks man", Johnny said appreciatively, looking over his home-school schedule. Pony remembered something, "Oh, he also needs Darry and Maggie to come in together to go over….".

"That might be a problem", Johnny interrupted.

"What'd you mean?", Pony asked. Johnny looked around the room, but couldn't move his head to see Two-bit. "Is he still sleepin'", he whispered. Pony nodded.

"Okay…ever since his birthday.….Darry's been avoiding Maggie", Johnny explained. "Why?", Pony asked.

Johnny leaned toward Pony. "She kissed him.", he whispered. Pony chuckled, "She kissed him?".

"Yeah, and now Maggie thinks Darry's mad at her", Johnny replied.

"Well we're just gonna have to take care of that, aren't we?", Ponyboy stated, a sly grin spreading across his face.

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"Pony you just don't understand, it's not that easy", Darry grumbled. "Dinner's on the table", he called out, placing the skillet in the middle of the table.

Soda pushed Johnny up to the table. "What are you two fightin' 'bout?.", he asked platting the food. "Nuthin'", Darry answered gruffly, shooting Pony an icy glare.

Ignoring Darry's look, Pony explained, "Darry likes Maggie but he's too stubborn to admit it".

"You like Maggie, huh?", Soda commented, smiling as he said it. "She sure is beautiful".

Darry sighed. "Yes, beautiful, successful.…and very rich", Darry emphasized, in a annoyed tone.

"So? Why does that matter? I mean she likes you too Dar….she told Johnny so", Pony revealed.

Darry, Soda and Pony looked over at Johnny; becoming nervous, he lowered his eyes to the now empty plate in front of him.

"Give it a shot Dar, you haven't had a girlfriend since high school.….and you haven't been on a date since Kathy tried to set you up with her crazy cousin". Soda encouraged then looked over at Pony. "You remember what she was like?", he chuckled.

Darry got up, jarring the table as he rose. "You guys just don't get it do you? It would never work.…what does a poor Greaser who works construction and is in charge of three teenaged boys have to offer a rich, independent, beautiful Soc?", Darry yelled.

"Dar, I didn't mean to", Pony tried to apologize.

"Forget it", Darry interrupted. "I'm goin' for a walk".

Pony followed Darry out of the kitchen, but before Darry could leave, the front door swung open.

"Maggie ", Darry gasped.

Soda brought Johnny into the room. "What are you doin' here? Pony said you weren't comin' 'til eight.", he asked.

Maggie looked a little confused. "I told Johnny by seven, but I got out of work on time and decided to come right here", she explained.

Darry was about to speak, when Maggie cut in. "I just had to come early and thank you", she said. That caught Darry off guard. "Thank me?", he asked.

"Yes, for the flowers…and invitation.", she replied happily.

"Flowers?", he questioned. Maggie was becoming annoyed. "Yes silly, the flowers you had sent to my work…and the invitation for dinner Friday….", she reminded him.

Darry nodded like he understood what she was talking about. "Bennett's at seven, sounds wonderful", she shrieked, throwing her arms around his neck.

Darry felt like the wind had been knocked out of him as he wondered what the hell had just happened and how he was going to pay for dinner at Bennett's steakhouse on Friday.

His eyes met the those of the three in the next room, he smiled appreciatively.

Soda leaned down and put his hand on Johnny's arm, and pulled Ponyboy closer. "Nice job guys", he praised the two for such a wonderful idea. "Couldn't've done it without you, Soda", Johnny explained. "Somehow, I don't think that's at all true", Soda laughed. "C'mon Pony, it's your turn to do the dishes", he added, taking hold of Johnny's chair and pulling his little brother back into the kitchen.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: There it is, the story of how Darry and Maggie got together...with a little help, of course. I hope you liked it! Warning: the next chapter will contain a lot more angst than this fluffy one...I just wanted to let you know ahead of time.

CLARIFICATION: For story purposes I'll give you the boys ages and status.

Darry-21-high school graduate, completed one year of college then dropped out, works construction.

Two-bit-19-high school drop out-passed high school equivalence test, works maintenence.

Randy-18-freshman in college.

Steve-17-senior in high school, works part-time/DX.

Soda-17- supposed to be a senior, dropped out, starting night school to take equivalence test, works full-time/DX.

Johnny-16 going on 17- supposed to be a junior, is being held back a year- missed too much school due to his injuries.

Ponyboy-14(and a half)-sophmore in high school.

The girls:

Maggie-21-completed high school and nursing school, works as a nurse.

Cherry-just turned 17-senior in high school

Marcia-17going on 18-senior in high school.

REVIEWERS: To: ivy45663(welcome to my story), Blondie 24-7, Kawaii-Chibi-Kai (welcome as well), WhoaaReally53, and Maddiecake, thanks so much for the great reviews. It's so nice to hear from new reviewers as well as my loyal bunch, thank you all, and please, keep reading.