Chapter 24: Dally and Tim: Failed Kidnappers

It had been days since the gang had left and Two-Bit was content now, being with his friends. He was still depressed, deep down, but having someone like Dermot as a friend helped him, though Two-Bit still felt like cutting now and then.

As the days went by, he did still continue to miss his friends, but that didn't mean he did want to go back.

Now as Two-Bit walked around town, going to meet up with Dermot, he was doing okay. He wasn't feeling too sad or too happy, he was just right.

He didn't have to worry about his friends hurting him anymore and he was glad.

Even if his new friends were…...a little different to say the least.

A hand suddenly flew over Two's mouth, yanking him back, arms wrapping around him tightly.

At first Two-Bit screamed, but then he remembered when Judd and the boys had did the same thing to him so he relaxed a little.

"Come on guys, again, really?" He huffed, looking bored despite the hands grabbing him.

"Come on Tim, gag him already!" Two-Bit heard a gruff voice.

Two-Bit tensed, blinking. "Wait a minute…..Dally? Tim!"

He pushed away from them, whipping around to face a blinking Tim and Dally holding some rope and handkerchiefs.

"D***** Dally, you blew it," Tim hissed at his friend.

"What is this?" Two-Bit frowned at them.

"Uh, we weren't gonna kidnap you….." Dally shifted on his feet, offering a nervous grin, trying to hide the rope behind his back.

Two-Bit eyed them with confusion, frowning. "Excuse me? Kidnap me?"

"Uh no, no no no, we were just going to…..escort you back to Tulsa." Dally grinned sheepishly.

Tim tried to hide the rope behind his back too, grinning. "Yeah. Escort, escort."

Two-Bit eyed them with furrowed eyebrows. "Wait a minute, you were going to take me back? By kidnapping me." He growled a little, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, well yeah." Dally nodded. "Gotta get ya to come home one way or another."

Two-Bit shook his head, feeling his anger rising. "Dally, I told y'all, I ain't comin' home."

"Well, it's not late to still try…." Tim glanced at Dally and then looked at Two-Bit, who took a step back, eyes widening.

"Wait, wait-"

Dally and Tim suddenly tackled him, taking the rope, trying to tie him down.

"Hey, hey! Cut it out guys! Dally!" Two-Bit kicked and tried to crawl away, growling.

"Wait, wait, I know! He's ticklish!" Dally huffed and started tickling Two-Bit, grinning.

Two-Bit started laughing, kicking, holding his side, Tim struggling to try and tie him up.

"No no, stop it! Stop it!" Two-Bit laughed as Dally kept kicking him, barely able to breathe, laughing hysterically.

"Get him, Tim! Now! Now!" Dally urged.

"Uh, what's going on here?" They heard a voice, everyone going still, looking up.

Dermot stood above them, wide-eyed with a frown, looking a little scared.

Tim and Dally glanced between each other, wide-eyed, before they sprang up, growling.

"Get him!"

They snarled and pounced on Dermot, throwing him up against the wall.

"No!" Two-Bit cried, scrambling to his feet, hurrying over. "Don't hurt him!"

Dally growled, punching Dermot in the stomach, who whimpered in pain, looking scared.

"Dallas, stop!" Two-Bit shouted, ripping Dallas away, standing protectively in front of his friend, shoving Tim away as well. "Leave him alone!"

Dally landed on the ground, looking up with confusion. "Hey, Two-Bit…..what-"

"Dermot is my friend," Two-Bit huffed, eyes narrowed. "And I won't let you hurt him." He growled lowly.

"Two-Bit, we're your friends too." Tim huffed, sitting up, eyes narrowed.

"No you're not," Two-Bit snarled at him, protecting Dermot with his arms. "And y'all never will be. Now leave me be. Come on, Dermot, let's go." He huffed, turning away angrily, walking off. Dermot followed him, glancing back at Dally and Tim with soft eyes.

"Ugh! Can you believe them?! Rrrr!" Two-Bit snarled angrily, stomping along, his fists balled.

Dermot swallowed, walking after him, frowning softly. "I'm sorry Two-Bit…..maybe they just-"

"No Dermot, don't even try and defend them," Two-Bit snapped, walking along angrily. "I'm through with them, through with them all. Don't they realise I just want to be left alone?!"

Meanwhile

Back in Tulsa, at the Curtis house, things were not the same. The boys were all different with Two-Bit gone, all lonesome and saddened in their own way.

Soda hardly smiled anymore and could barely have any fun anymore. He still hadn't even opened all his presents from his party. He wore Two-Bit's socks though.

Darry was just quiet, walking around with a frown on his face, sighing often, feeling horrible for what he had done, guilty. Even he thought it was too quiet around the house with Two-Bit gone.

It was too odd not having the TV ever play Mickey Mouse.

As for Ponyboy, he was awful. Ever since he learned what his big brother had done, he had lost all of his trust in him, incredibly dismayed.

At first, he hated Darry for what he had done, screaming at him, hollering, pushing at his chest, furious.

Then, he got more and more upset as the days went by, refusing to talk to Darry, hoping that each day Two-Bit was going to come home, getting more and more disappointed when his friend still didn't come back, missing him.

Steve was just…...well, he was Steve, just a little more angry and cranky than normal.

And Dally and Tim were….well, they thought they were going to get Two-Bit to come home by kidnapping him, ha ha.

To be frank, they were all pretty miserable and they wanted their friend back.

Darry was reading the paper when he heard a noise at the door. "What the?"

He got up and opened the door, Soda glancing over.

"Huh? Go on, get!" Darry huffed, shooing the dog away at the door. "Beat it!"

Soda looked over, frowning, perking up. "Wait a minute, Darry, wait! That's Two-Bit's dog!" He came over, frowning.

Ryker stood on the front step, whining softly, wagging his tail sadly, eyes big.

"Oh." Darry frowned, softening. "Well, sorry bud, but Two-Bit's not here….."

Ryker whined and turned, picking up something in his mouth, showing it to the boys. It was one of Two-Bit's lost dog posters.

Soda frowned deeply. "Aw gee. Poor guy. Two-Bit's not here little fella, i'm sorry. We all wish he was here too, buddy."

Ryker frowned with a whine and laid down, curling up sadly on the front step, whimpering softly.

Soda glanced at Darry sadly with a frown.

"Oh Darry…...when will Two-Bit come home?"