Please enjoy, I do not write for any profit, gain or money. I write simply for the pure bliss of enjoyment. Thank you all for the reviews! This is the chapter where Darry meets Ponyboy! Enjoy to the fullest!
-Stay Gold!
Fly Back to Me.
J. H. M. Lancell
"This is really stupid." Dallas Winston muttered, cigarette hanging from his mouth as he leaned against the fence, allowing his arms to droop over.
Johnny stood next to him, over looking the streets. The two were in an ally-way, on top of boxes trying to search for the boy Johnny brought to Darry's last night.
"Johnny, who cares about this guy? I mean, he could be anywhere. We're wasting our time." Dallas could think of better things to do than look for someone who may-or-may-not-be Darry's long-lost Kid-Brother.
"I believe he might be, Dally." Johnny replied, looking at the passing strangers that took no notice to Johnny and Dallas.
Dallas Winston would rather be playing pool. "I could be making money right now."
Johnny didn't answer.
"Or drink something hard."
"It's too early to drink." Johnny stiffed a laugh.
"Says who?" Dallas challenged. "Sides, it's gettin' dark. I'm hungry, you hungry Johnny?" Dallas helped Johnny off the tall boxes and Johnny let out a failed sigh. He really wanted to find Ponyboy tonight. Darry was counting on him. Dallas softly slugged Johnny on the arm, playfully.
"Don't feel bad. We're just taking a break." The older Greaser reassured.
X x X
They were headed to The Dairy Queen for a bite to eat when they turned the corner and Johnny bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry there." A friendly laugh replied.
Johnny had to look twice to see it if were Ponyboy, but it wasn't. This guy had blonde hair and brown eyes. "S'okay. Thought you were someone else."
The blonde nodded, not really liking the idea of Dallas Winston glaring at him. "Have a good one." He waved, heading off. Johnny gasped seeing the familiar sight of Ponyboy walking just down the street. "There he is, Dall."
"Hey, wait up, kid!" Dallas called.
X x X
Ponyboy turned around. It was Johnny and Dallas, he remembered the two from yesterday. Oh Crap, he thought. I owe them money probably for eating Darry's food.
Johnny and Dallas caught up to Ponyboy, but before they could say a word-
"I'll pay you back. I promise." Ponyboy almost plead. "I just don't have any money on me."
"Money?" Johnny asked.
Dallas smiled slyly. "Yeah, you owe us twenty-bucks. Pay up now, kid."
Johnny rolled his eyes, "Ponyboy, actually, I was asked to bring you back."
Bring me back?
"Am. . . I in trouble?" Ponyboy had to ask.
"Yeah, they got the SWAT team and F.B.I looking all over for ya' kid. Naw, you ain't in trouble." Dallas' smart-alack remarks made Ponyboy feel pretty stupid, but nevertheless, he once again, followed someone wherever they wanted to bring him.
X x X
Darry was pacing the living room, waiting for Johnny and Dallas. Darry had wanted to go out and look for Ponyboy himself, but since Dallas and Johnny had a better concept of what Ponyboy looked like than he did, he was better off waiting.
The front door opened and Darry's heart skipped a beat.
"Hell-o-o-o."
Darry frowned. "Get out, Two-bit."
Two-bit Matthews frowned, in one hand he had a six-pack of cool beer. "Oh, why Darryl Shayne Curtis, I'd never thought I'd see the day you kick out a homeless hoodlum like myself." As an act, he placed his hand on his heart, acting like he was heartbroken. He knew Darry would never truly kick him out, Darry can't bring himself to. Darry, a kid who's been kicked out more times than he can count, naturally he'd have trouble kicking someone out of his own home.
"You're not homeless, Two-bit." Darry groaned, sitting in an armchair.
"No. But this place is nice and cleaner than my place." Two-bit snickered, sitting on the floor to turn on his favriote Mickey Mouse show. He cracked open a beer, handing one to Darry. Darry thanked him and took the cold beer.
"Seems like I wasn't who you were expecting." Two-bit replied, truthfully.
Darry nodded, "I think I found him." Darry whispered.
"No Shit?! Who is he?" Two-bit asked, not paying attention to Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald anymore. Darry folded his fingers together, resting his chin.
"He was here last night."
"Really? When?"
"I. . . .I didn't know it was him."
Two-bit's face drew a blank. "Ya' lost me, buddy."
Darry sighed, "He was here, but I didn't know it was him. Actually, I thought he was you. I got called into work for over-time, came back because I forgot my work keys and found a written and signed apology from him saying that he was sorry for eating my food, I lost him again, Two-bit."
Darry lowered his head.
Two-bit's gave off a painful look. "Ouch, Brother. But, he's here, right? In Tulsa?"
Darry hoped so.
"Look, you at least know he's alive, and that's gotta' count for something." Two-bit reassured Darry. The older man smiled softly. Two-bit may be foolish, sometimes down-right-stupid, but he always knew what to say at the right time. The Greaser went back to the television.
"Two-bit?"
"Hm?"
". . . .Thanks."
"Mickey's on, be quiet."
Darry had to laugh. Same old Two-bit.
X x X
The little blonde race down the street, trying out outrun social workers splitting them apart. Sodapop couldn't see the car very well because he had tears in his eyes.
"Ponyboy!" Sodapop cried.
Eventually the blonde was caught.
"Fly back to me, Ponyboy! Fly back to me!"
X x X
Sodapop shot up from the couch. Steve's dad wasn't home, so this was the best time to sleep over. It was the same dream. It always was. Sodapop look at his right hand, the same one he reached out years ago. It was his own childish thoughts thinking he could out-run an adult and save his brother at the tender age of six.
Sodapop felt a headache coming on. He got up for a glass of water.
Steve came downstairs in flannel bottoms and a white t-shirt. "You okay? I heard whimpering."
Sodapop smirked, "Wasn't crying."
"I know. . . "
Sodapop couldn't help but think of Curtis. "I wonder if Curtis is alright."
"Why do you care?" Steve rolled his eyes, "He's annoying."
The blonde finished his cold glass of water before nodding. "Yeah . . . he's annoying." I can't get him out of my head.
X x X
"Thank God." Dallas groaned, hopping the chain-linked fence back to the white house Ponyboy recognized as: Darry's place.
"Fuckin' starved." The blonde continued to growl as he swung open the front door. Johnny nervously smirked at Ponyboy, which Ponyboy returned. Johnny entered the house in a more quiet manner, Ponyboy following him. The auburn couldn't help but feel nervous. Darry wanted to speak with him, apparently. Ponyboy thought the person in front of the TV was Darry at first.
"Hello?" Ponyboy called.
Side-burns with the Mickey Mouse shirt on turned around, grinning. "Well, howdy-do."
"Um. . .Are you-"
"Sssh-quiet! Mickey Mouse is on." The man returned to watching cartoons. Ponyboy was dumbstruck. He had his fair share of watching Television. However, where he was from TV was a privilege. This guy looked like a TV-junkie.
He looks dumb. Ponyboy thought. If this was Darry than he had no problem.
"P-Ponyboy?"
Ponyboy turned and nearly screamed. This guy was-HUGE! His biceps were very intimidating. They were as big as his head! This big fellow had on a black t-shirt that showed off not only the muscles on his arms, but also his washboard abs as well. Ponyboy was pretty sure all it took would be one smack from this guy and he'd be dead and flying across three states.
"I'm Darry."
He just got scarier.
"You're Ponyboy, correct?" He sounded nice though. His voice was warm, welcoming and a bit shaking. Ponyboy noticed that his eyes were a hard chlorine blue; and his hair was a deep brown color and brushed back.
"Yeah." Ponyboy answered meekly. Darry seemed to let out a breath Ponyboy didn't know he was holding back. Underneath that, he swore he head Darry mutter to the words: "Thank God."
"Are-are you hungry again, Ponyboy?"
Was this guy for real? Ponyboy thought. He nodded, however, feeling his stomach growl. Still, if Darry was offering, then there shouldn't be any harm in taking any food. He still felt bad for taking the guy's breakfast though. Darry seemed to bustle through the fridge and cabinets for ingredients, offering Ponyboy a spot at the table that was filled with letters and a newspaper.
"Um. . . " Ponyboy started. He was nervous. He didn't know the right way to aporch the apology he should give Darry.
Darry stopped searching for ingredients and turned to face Ponyboy.
"Sorry about. . . earlier." Ponyboy mumbled.
"That's alright, sit down. Stay a while." Darry joked. Ponyboy nervously sat at the table. He would feel a lot better if Johnny, or even Dallas were in the same room with him, but they were out in the living room watching TV with side-burns.
"Like chicken soup?" Darry asked.
Ponyboy nodded, he liked any food as long as it wasn't bland. Darry quickly began making soup from scratch, leaving the auburn to his thoughts. Little did he know, Darry was keeping himself restrained as possible. He wanted nothing more than to hold Ponyboy in his arms and protect him, but he also knew that he needed to take things slowly. He needed to know Ponyboy on a "friend" basis first. At least just to understand why he was running away and what his life was like.
"Here you go."Darry smiled, placing a bowl of soup in front of Ponyboy and watched him eat.
There was silence until Darry finally coughed up the courage to speak.
"So, you're name is Ponyboy?" Darry smiled.
Ponyboy nodded, "Yeah. I don't think my parents were on LSD."
Darry snickered. "No. I don't think they were either." The older man felt tense when Ponyboy slowly looked up in annoyance and confusion. "A-anyway, I don't mind that you ate and slept here. I mean, I'd rather you sleep on my floor than the streets, right?"
Darry didn't know how this was going to go down, but he wanted to convince Ponyboy to stay as long as possible under his watch. Just until he can have solid proof to give to earn guardianship of Ponyboy.
". . . Are you a pedophile?" Ponyboy's hands clutched on the sack he refused to part with, and steadied his feet in case he needed to run away.
Darry paled. "N-no. I'm not."
Ponyboy felt bad hearing the truthfulness in Darry's words. Maybe Darry is just one of the rare guys who cares about people, Ponyboy thought. "Sorry." The auburn mumbled.
"It's not your fault," Darry replied. "Ponyboy, Johnny told me you ran away. Why?"
Ponyboy tensed up. Darry was going to call the cops. There's no doubt about it now. "None of your business." Ponyboy replied. He wasn't going to tell Darry why he was running. Darry would snitch on him and he's be brought back to The Boy's Home and what if they make him tell them where Joshua is too?!
"Ponyboy, I'm just worried." Darry softly spoke.
No. I don't trust you.
"In the meantime, you're more than welcomed to stay here. There's an empty room in the hall on the left. I'd feel better if you were someplace safe."
Ponyboy would have to be a fool to take up this opportunity. Darry could call the cops, molest him, beat him up. The list went on. But then again, what if Darry isn't a bad guy? What if he's really just worried? Ponyboy thought about sleeping in the cold barns, in parks, on the streets, in ditches. It wasn't fun, comfortable, nor did you really get any sleep. At least he'd be given food and warmth at Darry's.
"Only if you promise me you won't call the cops." Ponyboy replied.
Darry nodded. "Alright, seems okay with me."
"And I sleep in the living room."
Darry agreed. "More than happy, Ponyboy."
Ponyboy sighed. Well, I have a place to sleep.
X x X
"Stupid, weak bastard! Little punk-ass, brat! You're not needed!" The voice boomed.
It woke Darry up from his sleep. He left his bed, he had to make sure he didn't dream last night. He was thankful seeing the auburn still on the sofa sleeping. He walked over and covered the boy with a soft blanket.
Darry closed his eyes slowly, opening them again to see the light from the moon shine on Ponyboy as he slept on the couch, peacefully.
"You're wrong." Darry muttered to no one. "You were always wrong."
Please leave a review.