Chapter 21: Not Going Home
The next morning, Two-Bit was tempted to run away from this place now, staring at his suitcase, wanting to leave before Dermot came into his room, coming over with a frown.
"Two-Bit….you okay?"
Two-Bit sat on his bed, shaking his head with a frown. "What do you think?" He growled softly.
"Listen, I know what you're thinking but you can't just leave, I-"
"What is with you two?" Two-Bit interrupted, standing up. "You and Christian telling me I can never leave this place?"
"Because it's true, man." Dermot insisted, expression calm. "You can't leave." He whispered.
"Why not? What's the worst that could happen?! A few scrapes and bruises?! Big whoop." Two-Bit huffed.
"Two-Bit…..do you know the reason why I don't just get up and leave?"
Two-Bit turned, hearing the seriousness in Dermot's voice. "Why?"
Dermot looked at Two-Bit with hard eyes. "I don't just get up and leave because Riff told me If I do leave, he'll go to my hometown and…...and rape my sister."
Two-Bit tensed, standing on his feet. "Wh-what?" He whispered, eyes wide.
"That's what he told me." Dermot breathed shakily. "He's done it before. He-he did it to the last guy who ran away, he went and raped his sister. I-I've only got one sister, Two-Bit, I can't let that happen to her. Do you have a sister, Two?"
Two-Bit suddenly stiffened. He does have a sister.
"I-I do have a sister….." He whispered with huge eyes. "B-But-But she's younger, he couldn't touch her!"
"Don't think that will stop him…." Dermot frowned at him. "I have three brothers and one sister, Two, if someone threatens one of them, he's threatening all of them. One guy who ran away from the gang, Riff went after him and two days later, the kid was reported missing. They never found him. We-we think Riff killed him."
"Killed?" Two-Bit whispered out, swallowing hard.
"I-I can't let that happen to my brothers, Two." Dermot frowned deeply. "I can't let them get killed. My family lives back in Virginia; I can't let Riff go after them. So I stay, right here. You need to stay too."
Two-Bit was quiet a minute, frowning as he listened, tense with anticipation. "You're sure he killed that boy? And raped that girl?" He whispered.
Dermot nodded, licking his lips with a frown. "Mmmhmm."
"Sh**," Two whispered lowly, in shock. "S-So, I-I really am stuck here then?" He breathed out.
"Yeah. But you got me and Christian and the boys. They really ain't so bad. Please, just trust me, Two-Bit. You'll be much better off here if you stay. 'Sides, where else would you go? More importantly, where else would you go where Riff couldn't find you?"
Two-Bit slowly sat back down on his bed, his mouth an 'o'. "W-Well, well, I-I was gonna run away and-and take you and Christian with me, but-but if I, If I can't leave then….." His voice trailed off. "I'll stay here." He finished.
Dermot was watching him, nodding. "It's for the best, and you know it. No one really gets hurt here and-"
"What about Christian? And you?" Two-Bit interrupted. "Y'all got hurt. And Riff and the boys didn't care. That ain't right."
"Well-well other than that, no one gets hurt." Dermot shrugged. "Trust me. And 'sides, don't worry about me. I've dealt with this a long time and-and honestly, I don't put up a fight because I do it to protect the other boys. Like you did with your friends at the DX. You dig?"
Two-Bit was quiet a minute, coming to the realisation that he was right. He protected his friends too without a care. And if Dermot was doing the same then Two-Bit totally understood. He had to respect that.
"Y-Yeah, I-I guess I understand. But that doesn't mean I really want to stay. Not with a****** Riff."
"Hey, it'll be okay. We really ain't so bad. Trust me. You'll come to like us, I promise. We look out for each other and now, we'll look out for you too." Dermot nodded, putting a soft hand on Two's shoulder.
"As I friend, I promise it."
Meanwhile
The gang was hurrying around, frowning with wide eyes, looking all over.
"There! Let's ask them!" Soda pointed ahead, spotting a group of boys ahead. They hurried to them.
Riff cocked his head as they approached, stopping with the boys, eyes flickering.
"Hey! We-we're looking for our friend, Two-Bit, Two-Bit Mathews, have you seen him?" Darry frowned deeply with wide eyes, breathing heavily. "We've been looking everywhere for him, please tell me you've seen him…..!"
Riff eyed the boys over, gripping the end of Dermot's rope tighter in his hand, taking in the boys' dark circles under their wide eyes and their disheveled appearance.
It looked like they hadn't slept in days, looking tired and worn out.
He recognized all of them, from Two-Bit's photo album, having looked through it himself.
"You, I take it, are Two-Bit's friends?" He started calmly.
"Yes, yes! We are!" Soda frowned.
"Is he here?!" Darry questioned.
"Well, ya know, it's funny 'cause Two-Bit told us that he didn't want to see any of you again, how funny is that?" Riff smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What?" Soda and the boys' hopeful smiles fell.
"N-No no, that-that can't be right…"
"Hmmmm, well, Riff never lies." Riff shrugged with a huff. "So if you don't mind, y'all can just beat it because we don't need any of you hurting him anymore than you already have."
"H-huh?" Soda frowned deeply. "But-"
Darry shook his head, interrupting with an outstretched hand. "Where is he? We need to talk to him." He almost ordered.
Riff remained calm, shrugging coolly, ignoring Dermot who shifted uneasily on his feet beside him. "Not my problem, pal. Shoulda talked to him before you drove him away." He huffed, eyes narrowed.
"Two-Bit's our friend now," He continued with a huff, expression going mean. "And he, nor do we want any of you 'round here hurting him anymore." He growled lowly, sticking up for Two-Bit. "So beat it."
Darry and the boys were a little shocked, wide-eyed with a frown but Dally just growled, giving Riff a shove.
"Listen pal, where is Two-Bit?" He snarled loudly. "We're going to see him!"
"Dally, easy." Darry pulled Dallas back with a frown.
Riff just shrugged with a dangerous tinkle in his eye. "Good luck with that, pal. Come on boys." He huffed and turned away, pulling on Dermot's rope to usher him along, him and the boys following.
The gang was left there, bewildered and confused, frowning with wide-eyes, unsure of what they had just heard.
"Two-Bit!"
Dermot burst into his friend's room, startling Two-Bit, who was watching Mickey.
"Huh? What is it?" He sat up.
Dermot hurried over, frowning. "Your friends are here! They're looking for you!"
"What?" Two-Bit's mouth fell open, eyes widening. "No, no, they can't be here! I-I don't want to see them!"
"They're here, they want to see you, you have to talk to them, Two-Bit!" Dermot urged with wide eyes, frowning, wanting Two-Bit to reunite with his friends.
"Why would I talk to them?! I can't! Th-They were the ones who drove me away!" Two-Bit got to his feet, frowning deeply.
"Yes, but you have to talk to them! They're really worried for you! Besides, they came all this way!"
"But they weren't supposed to come after me!" Two-Bit almost growled, frowning deeply. "I left for a reason! I don't wanna see them!"
"But Two-Bit, this is your chance to be their friend again! Show them your cuts, you have to tell them what happened, they-"
"Why in the world would I show them my cuts?!" Two-Bit shouted, suddenly angry and confused all at once. "I'll never show them! I ain't gonna see them!"
"But Two-Bit," Dermot continued, frowning deeply. "Please they-"
"No! I ain't gonna talk to them now just get out! Get out!" Two-Bit pointed to the door, upset.
"B-But but-"
"Out!" Two-Bit shouted, shaking.
Dermot frowned with big eyes but walked out, closing the door behind him, frowning deeply, knowing what he had to do now for the sake of his friend.
Dermot ran, looking around with wide eyes, frowning, not stopping until he found who he was looking for, tensing.
"Hey! Hey!" He called, running up to the group of the boys. "Stop!"
The gang turned, looking confused, frowning as they stopped.
Dermot stopped in front of them, breathing heavily, wide-eyed. "I-I know where Two-Bit is!"
"What?"
"You-You do?" The boys looked hopeful, perking up.
"Y-Yeah, yeah, follow me. I'm his friend." Dermot nodded, ushering for them to follow as he started to sprint off, the gang all following, eager to see their friend again.
Dermot led them all to the hotel where the boys stayed and eagerly led them up to Two-Bit's room, stepping aside to let them all go in.
The boys burst into Two-Bit's room, hurrying over to him, embracing him.
"Two-Bit!" They cried and hugged him tightly, overjoyed and relieved, smiling widely.
Two-Bit was completely startled, going wide-eyed, scared by everyone suddenly hugging him.
"Two-Bit, you're okay!"
"We were so worried!"
"We've been looking everywhere for you!"
Two-Bit's eyes narrowed and he growled, shoving them all off of him. "Get off me! Get away! Get!"
The boys stepped back, smiles falling. It was Darry, Soda, Steve and Dallas, looking confused.
"Two-Bit, why did you run away?" Soda frowned deeply. "What happened?"
"Didn't Darry tell you? Oh no, I guess not." Two growled, glaring at Darry angrily.
Darry swallowed, frowning deeply at him.
"We-we we found your letter. Two-Bit, D-Darry, he told us everything, but Darry's really sorry. He is." Soda frowned.
"I-I am, Two-Bit….." Darry frowned at him, swallowing hard. "I really am sorry."
"Bullsh**!" Two-Bit swore, shaking his head. "Like hell you're sorry! You don't think I know why you did it?! I know now! I know why you did it Darry! I see it now! Surprised you didn't do it to me any sooner!"
"Two-Bit, you're not making any sense….." Steve frowned.
"Yeah, let's just get you home and we can-"
"Home?! Home?! You think i'm going to go home with you?!" Two-Bit shouted, angry.
"What? Why-Why wouldn't you?" Soda frowned at him.
"Two-Bit…"
"I'm not going back you a******!" Two-Bit shouted, tears pricking at his eyes. "What don't you understand about that?!"
"What? Two-Bit," Dallas frowned.
"As if you don't know, so quit pretending!" Two-Bit accused, eyes narrowed. "I'm not stupid, I should've seen it sooner! You don't have to keep acting like it's okay, I get it, you all hate me!"
"Wh-what?" Steve frowned, eyebrows furrowing.
"We don't hate you….." Soda whispered softly. "Why would you-"
"Stop it!" Two-Bit practically exploded at them. "I know you hate me! I know now, thanks to Darry! You guys didn't have to pretend for all those years you know!"
"T-Two-Bit," Darry frowned at him, eyebrows furrowing.
"You're not the only ones ya know! I see that now! But guess what?! I'm with a new gang now! I ain't leaving them neither! So y'all can just go back home and be happy!"
"New gang?"
"You mean that Riff character?" Steve frowned.
"You can't be with them, they-they don't seem too friendly Two." Darry frowned.
"Yeah? Well I can be with them! They're my new friends now! And guess what?! They actually wanna have me around, I can hang out with them!" Two-Bit shouted, trying not to cry from anger. "I can be with them without having to worry about being let down or forgotten!"
The gang was frowning at Two-Bit with big eyes, looking confused and hurt, not understanding.
"Two-Bit, we-we're your friends…." Soda whispered, a little teary eyed.
Hot tears started falling down Two's cheeks. "N-No you're not!" He shouted with accusation. "You're not my friends! N-None of you are! You prolly never have been either! You didn't have to keep lying to me, you coulda just told me! I get it, i'm stupid and worthless and dumb! I-I-I know that! Even-even if you hate me, you-you've always been my-my best friends…..!"
Two-Bit was beginning to sob now, breaking down, tears pouring down his face.
"We-we-we've been friends since we was kids and-and I-I love you guys! You're all I've ever cared about! But-but I can't go back with you, I-I-I ran away for a reason…..!"
The boys stared, open-mouthed, eyebrows furrowed, Darry and Soda getting a little teary-eyed.
Outside the door, Dermot was listening with wide eyes, frowning deeply.
"T-T-Two-Bit, you-you have to come home….." Soda whispered, voice shaky.
"I can't go back!" Two-Bit choked out, crying. "I-It-It's over. You-you guys broke my-my heart….." He choked on a sob, watching the floor as he cried. "You-You really hurt my feelings…." He whimpered.
"I-I-I thought we were best friends, all-all of us. B-But-but now, now, we're-we're not. You guys didn't even ask if I was okay or wonder where I was all those days I didn't stop by, you-you didn't care. I-I missed you guys so much and you guys didn't even show it. You-you guys left me behind at the rumble like you didn't even care I was hurt and-and-and I saw you all at Soda's party." Two-Bit whimpered.
"You-You were all so happy and smiling when I wasn't there and-and I realised you-you don't need me to be happy." Two-Bit choked on a sob, wiping at his eyes sadly with a fist. "You don't need me at all."
A few tears fell from Soda's eyes, glancing worriedly at his friends in shock. "T-Two-Bit, we-we do care about you. We love you." He whispered lowly.
Two-Bit continued to sob, heart-broken. "Q-Quit-quit lying! I know you guys hate me! I-I could tell all those days when you didn't care about me that you all, all hate me. Ponyboy, Soda, Dally, all of you. And-and-and I-I don't blame y-you…..!" Two-Bit sobbed, bringing his hands to his face, crying hard, shakingly falling to the floor on his knees, crying into his hands.
Soda gaped and was crying softly, looking at his brother and then his best friend, seeing them wide-eyed and teary-eyed too.
"T-T-Two-Bit, you-you got it all-all wrong….." He whimpered softly. "We don't-"
"Go! Just go!" Two-Bit sobbed out, not looking up. "Just get out of here! I don't wanna see you ever again!"
"T-Two-Bit, you don't mean that….." Darry frowned deeply, voice low. "We all know you don't mean that."
"Get out of here!" Two-Bit shouted, looking up through his tears, shaking, pointing towards the door. "Get out just get out! Now!" He sobbed.
The boys stood there with shock, wide-eyed, not sure if they should stay or leave.
"Go on, get out of here! Go! Get out, get out!" Two-Bit cried hard, wanting them gone, tears running down his face.
Slowly, the boys backed up, frowning deeply, reluctantly exiting, closing the door behind them, leaving their friend.
Dermot turned to them as they came out, frowning deeply with teary eyes himself.
The four boys looked at him, Soda slowly wiping at his eyes, sniffling softly.
"You-You really did break him," Dermot whispered. "What good friends you are." He huffed lowly and shook his head, opening Two-Bit's door, going inside to comfort his friend, closing the door loudly in the gang's faces.
The gang gaped as they stared at the closed door, guilt slowly rising through their chests.
They didn't know what had just happened but they did know that something was wrong with their friend and somehow they had failed to realize it and that they, they were the ones at fault for it.