Chapter 19

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Ponyboy POV

Everything was going well for me; finally. Sure I had the old headaches on and off, but nothing like I was having before. Darry still wouldn't let me have anything with chocolate or cheese and he watched my smoking; said it had to be this way until it was certain I was one hundred percent. I was dying for a good smoke.

At least I was back at school and not sitting around at home, bored out of my mind. I hadn't had any trouble with the Socs since the first time I'd come back; I think it may have come from Two-Bit and Steve having a go at them.

After lunch I caught up with Two-Bit and Steve and had to listen to them having a discussion about some girls that hung out around behind the grounds of the science lab, I was now sitting in Math class trying to get my head around some trigonometry questions; I never understood why it had to be so complicated.

I barely heard the door to the classroom open but I became distracted when the school messenger handed the teacher a note and I saw the teacher give a nod. I put my head back down to re-read the question.

"Ponyboy Curtis,"

I flicked my head up in surprise. "You are wanted in the Principal's office. Pack up your things and go now please."

'Why did the Principal want to see me?' I thought worriedly.

I approached the front desk to the Principal's office. "Um, I'm here to see Mr. Willison; Ponyboy Curtis."

"Take a seat dear," the receptionist told me.

I waited anxiously and saw her pick up the phone, though I couldn't hear what she was saying. I looked at the clock on the wall and I noted I was waiting for twenty minutes. 'What was going on?' I thought.

"It won't be long dear," the receptionist assured me.

Darry's POV

The boss called me into the office from the worksite telling me the school was on the phone. My immediate thought was that Ponyboy was sick or had been hurt again.

"Hello Darrel Curtis?"

"This is Darrel Curtis speaking,"

"I'm calling in regards to your brother, Ponyboy Curtis. We need you to come down to the school please, as the principle has some matters he wishes to discuss with you."

Matters? I didn't know whether to feel worried or angry. Ponyboy had better not have done something to get himself in trouble. I'd already had social services asking me why he hadn't been at school; I definitely didn't need another thing to be reported to them.

"Sure I can be there in about twenty minutes,"

I hung up and explained to the boss I had to go and headed to the school.

X

I walked into the corridor of the school, looking at all the trophy cabinets and notice boards; school hadn't changed since I had been going here. I made my way to the Principal's office and saw Ponyboy sitting on a chair in the receptionist's office.

I gave Pony a questionable look when I walked in and as soon as he saw me he hung his head. Yep that's the guilty look; he's done something he shouldn't, I thought.

"What's going on? Are you alright Ponyboy? You didn't get in trouble did you?" I asked him a little too quickly; I just had too much worries on my mind.

Pony looked up at me and I saw it wasn't a guilty face at all but one full of worry.

"Darry I didn't do nothing and am not sick. I don't know why I was called here," Pony pleaded.

"Mr. Darrel Curtis I presume?" the receptionist asks.

"Yes, I'm here to see Pony's Principal." I gave Pony a stern glare; the school didn't call me in unless it was serious.

"Mr. Willison, Ponyboy Curtis, and his guardian Darrel Curtis are ready to see you," the receptionist said into the phone.

Soon the door to the office opened and Pony and I were called in. Pony sat on the left side of me and I could tell he was a bit worried; well so was I. I was desperate to know what this was about.

"What is this about?" I asked.

"I called you here today to discuss Ponyboy's progress in school."

I shot Ponyboy a look; what had he been up to?

"I know it has been hard on Ponyboy these last few months with being sick, but I'd like you to look at his marks since he's been back,"

I read through the paper the Principal handed me and I frowned. Just because Pony had two and a half months off because he was sick his marks shouldn't have been as bad as they were, what about his marks from earlier in the year; hadn't he done so well?

"Ponyboy is failing all his classes and is so far behind, he is going to have to repeat at this rate."

I took in Ponyboy's look; he was lucky to skip a grade but he didn't want to repeat. I pushed the paper back towards the Principal.

"Is there anything that can be done to change this? Make his marks improve before the final grade comes in? Ever since Pony started feeling better I have made sure he has worked hard to get up to date with his work," I questioned; I was willing to try anything to get Pony to pass.

"Well unless Ponyboy can come up with a major project for his subjects then that is the only way. His Mathematics teacher said she could give Ponyboy some extra assignments that if he gets them done it will give him extra marks."

The Principal's phone rang. "Please excuse me for a moment, I will be right back."

I saw Pony slumped in the chair and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"How am I gonna do a project Darry? I don't even know what to do it on."

"What about a project about your experiences, raise awareness seeing as it's not well known?" I suggested.

Pony smiled at me, "That's great Darry, but what if they don't agree?"

"We'll ask," I smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Right, sorry about that," Principal Willison said, returning to the room.

"What if Pony was to do a project on his time with his Cluster Headache as awareness?" I asked.

Principal Willison nodded. "Yes I can talk to his teachers, but it shouldn't be a problem. In fact if you can provide a background history about it, write a report on it and include what makes it happen, I think that will cover your marks for English, History, and Science, leaving only Mathematic for the major question assignment."

Ponyboy gave a nod. "I'd like to try and Coach told me I could pass sport if I'm up to running in the next meet."

"Well I guess that settles it, you better head on back to class Ponyboy and get started on that project of yours and I'll arrange with your Mathematics teacher to give you that assignment later."

Ponyboy stood up and so did I. "Thank you for coming in Darrel."

"No problem Mr. Willison."

Pony and I left the office. "I'll see you after school kiddo," I grabbed Pony around the shoulders and he protested.

"Darry, not in the middle of school,"

I laughed and ruffled his hair, "Sorry to embarrass you kiddo. Get on back to class."

"Darry you messed up my hair," Pony complained.

I shook my head at my kid brother, pleased he was back to his old self.

X

Soda's POV

I was pleased to get home from work, Steve and I decided we'd go the movies and have some fun for our Friday night. I walked into the house and saw Pony with his head down, madly working on something.

I went up to him and slapped him on the back, "What'cha doing Pony?"

"I'm doing a project for school on Cluster headache and my experiences; it's supposed to bring my marks up so I can pass."

"Good luck Pone, though maybe just don't put in some of the real bad stuff that happened," I said with a smile and Pony smiled back.

X

Steve and Two-Bit came over for dinner before we were gonna go the movies.

I rushed through the dishes, eager to get going while Pony dried.

"Hey Pony, you coming too?" Two-Bit asked.

Pony gave a shrug. "Can I go to the movies with Soda, Darry?"

Darry raised his eyebrow, "Have you done your homework and worked on your assignments?"

"I done most of it," Pony mumbled.

I could tell he wanted to hang out at the movies too; it had been so long.

"Aw come on superman, give the kid a break," Two-Bit said and wrapped his arm around Pony's neck.

"If Pony doesn't get his marks up he'll fail his year and repeat,"

"Darry I've done as much as I can without my brain exploding, please, just one night?" Pony begged.

"Fine but you boys bring him home by 9:30pm," Darry said with a sigh.

"Darry!" Pony argued and Steve let out a laugh.

"Do you wanna make it 9 o'clock? You're still recovering, Ponyboy," Darry said in his usual firm voice.

"Alright," Pony complained.

I smiled and wrapped my arm around his neck.

"We'll be home Dar, I promise," I assured; I certainly wasn't going to jeopardize Pony's recovery or school.

"Let's go have some fun Pone."

Pony smiled at me and for the first time in ages I was really looking forward to seeing my kid brother having some normal fun again.