I have finally unpdated! YEY! Lol. Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers, you are really making this a joy to write! I won't be updating this week, but you can expect a chapter from me next week. Maybe two in arow... BUT, you have to review! Lol. Enjoy the chapter!
I donot own anyof the characters...except for Tom and Tessa,but who really cares about them?
One week had passed since Darry had heard from his kid brothers. Not knowing what was going on was driving him crazy. Two-Bit and Steve, mostly Two-Bit, came over every now and again to try to ease the loneliness the eldest Curtis felt. Nothing did. Nothing was going to replace his brothers, only his brothers could tease him with out getting beaten black and blue. Only his brothers could bring relief from a stressful day at work. Only his brothers could make him feel whole.
Darry's eyes filled with tears, not for the first time that week. He had had them and they were so close as a family.
The eldest Curtis recalled his first painful night by himself.
Flashback
After he had collected himself in Soda and Pony's room, he trekked a full ten steps to his own and collapsed onto his bed. He glanced at the clock, not actually caring what time it was, but more or less just to waste it.
7:29, it read.
He had been in his brothers' room for more than two hours. He turned over on his back and stared at the ceiling. The silence of the house was so deafening that it prevented Darry any sleep that night.
The next few days were mirrors of the previous. Darry called in sick the day after the "event" to clean up the mess he had made with the broken dishes.
Two-Bit decided to come by that day only to find Darry throwing out shards of glass.
"Gettin' sick of usin' the same dishes?" he inquired good-naturedly.
Darry looked up and glared at the newcomer. He was not in the mood for humor. For a second, though, his eyes flashed with a look of hurt, then the ice shield went up again, but ol' Two-Bit knew better.
"What's up?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. His usual carefree gray eyes were clouded with a bit of worry, not a good feature for him. He looked around, the house seemed quiet and gloomy. The oldest couldn't shake the hurt look in Darry's eyes. It took a lot to make Superman show he was hurt, this made Two-Bit's worry grow. A sudden thought hit him. "Where's Soda and Pony?"
Darry looked down.
That in itself scared Two-Bit. Darry never looked down for anyone. He was about to ask the question again when Darry spoke.
"Th-They took them," he answered lowly, not yet looking up.
Two-Bit was taken aback. "Who?"
"The state," Darry whispered. "Yesterday the state came and took Soda and Pony. I tried to keep us together..." he trailed off into his own thoughts.
Two-Bit's heart almost ripped in half when Darry looked up at him with unshed tears. "Glory..." he said. "When are they comin' back?"
"I don't know if they are," Darry replied. "I'm supposed to have sessions with a social worker and go to anger management."
Ain't nobody should have to worry this badly for their brothers at twenty-years-old, Two-Bit thought sadly. What're we going to do without Sodapop and Ponyboy? What's going to keep the rest of the gang together? Darry, Soda, and Pony don't need this. He shifted his feet uncomfortably. "So what're you goin' to do?"
Darry sighed. He looked so much older than twenty. He looked exhausted. His brothers not bring there was really taking a great deal out of him. "Exactly what they want me to do. I'm getting my brothers back," he vowed. His icy eyes showed a spark of the old Darry, determined, strong, caring Darry.
Two-Bit smirked inwardly. "Anythin' you need help with?"
"Nah, but come on in," Darry invited.
Two-Bit cleared his throat. "Does, uh, Steve know yet?"
The younger of the two shook his head.
"Want me to drop by the DX later and tell him?" Two-Bit offered.
"Wait until he's off work," Darry told his friend, sitting down at the table, Two-Bit followed the same manner. "He won't take it very well."
Two-Bit nodded. "If you don't mind my askin', what were they taken away for?"
The look on Darry's face told Two-Bit that the Curtis' heart had just broken into millions of pieces. His lips were pulled into a tight scowl, trying to convince himself and others that he was fine. But his eyes betrayed him. They pleaded for him to just wake up from this nightmare. He took a deep breath. "I wasn't good enough," he said, placing his head in his hands. "Not good enough to be their guardian or their brother."
This time Two-Bit was getting annoyed. "You are the best damn brother they could've ever had. You were supportive, hard workin', and carin'. The only way you aren't helpin' 'em is sittin' there mopin'! Tomorrow, you're goin' to work, got that?"
Darry looked up in surprise. A small smile graced his face. "Sure," he said. "Thanks, Two-Bit."
The oldest gave Darry a clap on the back. "No problem. Wouldn't be livin' without the three of ya."
End Flashback
"No more remembering,"Darry thought. "Not right now. I've got to go to work."
He finished cooking his egg and placed it between the two usual slices of bread. It was awkward cooking only one egg. The first day he had actually cooked three, then, after realizing what he had done, put the other two in the fridge for Steve or Two-Bit.
He had not had much of an appitite the entire week, but he managed to eat about a meal and a half daily. He had to force himself, of course. There was something about eating alone that Darry did not like.
Darry stood by the door, like he was waiting for Soda to bounce out of the bathroom, yelling because his older brother was rushing him. Pony would be sitting at the table laughing at Soda as he hit his shin on a chair. Instead his ears were met with silence. That horrible silence that surrounded Darry for the past week.
He turned to the door and left.
After Work
The second Darry reached the driveway, he jumped out of the old Ford truck to check the mailbox, as he did everyday.
He put down the flag and reached in. Newspaper, light bill, morgage, and a white envelope with a familliar hen scratch writing that read, Darry.
A smile formed on his lips for first time in days. The raced into the house, unable to wait to read the letter.
He sat at the table, forgetting all about his boots, and ripped open the envelope.
Hey Darry, Soda's writing was as messy as ever.
How are you? Things are alright here, all things considered. Me and Pony miss you something awful!
They won't let us share a room, can you believe that? Pony woke up twice so far with nightmares and the
boys in his room want to kill him. Can't say much more for me though. Guess all I've talked about so far
was you and Pony. You're never going to believe this, but they want me back in school! Steve oughta get
a kick out of that. How are things there? Bet it's quiet. Do me a favor, the next time you see that guy from
the state, punch him for me. Boy howdy, I was coming close to it. I'll write to you later. Tell Steve and
Two-Bit we say hi.
Love,
Sodapop and Ponyboy Curtis
Darry read over the letter again and again. His smile from before he read the note grew wider. His brothers were not angry at him and he was stupid for thinking so.
A slam of the door made Darry lose his thoughts.
"Hey, Two-Bit," Darry greeted happily.
Two-Bit gave him an odd look. "Did I walk into the wrong house again?" He walked over to see what Darry was looking at. He spotted Soda's writing scratched onto a letter. He grinned himself. "Got news from 'em?"
Darry nodded and handed the letter over.
After a few moments Two-Bit could not have stopped smiling if he tried. "When do you get to go see 'em?"
"Three weeks."
"That's not too long," Two-Bit said, going to the ice box for cake. He took out a small pan. "You're runnin' low."
Darry punched his companion on the arm. "I'm busy, I don't have time. If you want some, make it yourself. I'm getting in the shower."
"I'll make some after Mickey."
Darry shook his head laughing, and walked to the bathroom.
He undressed and looked at his figure in the mirror. He had lost a lot of weight, considering it had only been one week. He looked tired and maybe a little pale.
Darry stepped into the shower and allowed the warm water to beat on his dirt filled skin. He felt some loose knots in his back undo. The water had nothing on Sodapop though. Soda knew where the worst knots were and could work them out and have Darry almost asleep in twenty minutes.
Just thinking of his happy-go-lucky brother made Darry's heart skip. Would they be any different when Darry got them back? Would he be any different?
Darry washed himself and got out of the shower. Even if they were different, they were still his brothers, still Sodapop Patrick and Ponyboy Michael.
He wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom.
Two-Bit was still deeply involved in an episode of Mickey Mouse. With a beer in one hand and a piece of chocolate cake in the other, he turned around to face Darry. "Mind if I stay here t'night?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Go ahead," Darry agreed. "The boys' room-"
"Naw, that's okay. I'll sleep here," Two-Bit interrupted, pointing to the couch.
"Any reason why?" Darry pressed.
"Just tryin' to keep you company is all," Two-Bit answered honestly.
"Tuff enough," Darry shrugged. He picked up the phone book and began flipping through it.
Two-Bit turned back to his cartoon.
Management, management, Darry chanted in his head. He scanned the yellow pages for the words "Anger Management". As much as he hated to degrate himself, he needed his brothers back.
Oklahoma City A.M. Class. 1-800-526-7900, the book read.
Darry picked up the phone and dialed said number.
"Hello?" a cheery voice said. Her voice was so loud Darry pulled the phone from his ear and Two-Bit looked up. "Oklahoma City's Local Anger Management Course. This is Tessa, how can I help you today, sir or ma'am?"
What have I gotten myself into? Darry thought. "Yes, my name is Darrel Curtis and I was wondering if I could schedule an," he cleared his throat, this was awful awkward, "-an appointment?"
"Of course," Tessa said. Her voice was really getting annoying. "You may come in on Tuesday, is that alright with you, Mr. Curtis?"
"Yes," Darry answered. "Thank you, good-bye."
Mickey Mouse had ended by now and Two-Bit stood up stretching. He grinned. "Bet she causes more stress than she stops."
There you have it, leave a review please, and I will post ASAP. Hope you enjoyed! By the way, I know that the ending sucked on this one, you don't have to say a thing about it.
Bittersweet