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
It was early in the morning. Normally hyperactive Sodapop, would be bouncing off the walls. Today, however, he was unusually sluggish.
He couldn't get Curtis out of his head. The boy was striking his memory somehow. He couldn't figure out if he had met him somewhere, or if he knew him from someplace. But then again, he was sure Curtis might remember him, after all, who could forget a kid named Sodapop?
Sodapop shook his head and went back to the things he was always certain of.
Cars.
X x X
Call off work, I want to call off work. Darry kept badgering himself.
But Darry knew the truth. He needed the money. He was always in need of money. Darry couldn't remember a time when he wasn't either looking for his brothers or trying to earn money. It seems as if Darry's life evolved around earning money, searching for his younger siblings, and trying to escape harsh words.
Ponyboy was currently sleeping cozy on the couch still, ignoring the sunbeams that came through the window and were shining down on him. Darry couldn't help but smile fondly while sipping his coffee. He had a pretty good night's rest last night, which was saying something. He felt more rested knowing one of his brothers was safe. It made Darry feel better about himself, and even gave himself hope that his other brother was out there too.
Ponyboy snorted in his sleep and rolled on his side. The poor kid looked tuckered out.
"Darry." Darry looked up at Two-bit.
"It's six-thirty." Two-bit replied.
Darry narrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "So?"
"So. . . I wanna' watch Mickey."
"No. Ponyboy's sleeping. Leave him be."
Normally Two-bit would have given up and gone home to watch his beloved program, but Ponyboy's presence was taking up curiosity in his brain.
"So, he's really your little brother?" Two-bit clarified.
"Yep." Darry nodded, taking a swig of his coffee.
"When are you planning on telling the kid?"
Darry hadn't thought about that. He knew he had to lay it down gently. He was sure Ponyboy wouldn't believe him unless he had proof, and even if he could prove Ponyboy was his little brother, that didn't mean the young man would want to stay with him. Darry had to earn his trust. He had to make sure Ponyboy knew that Darry would never EVER harm him and that he wanted to protect him.
"When I'm ready. Not a word, Two-bit." Darry firmly replied.
Two-bit nodded. "I dig. So, did you find out anything about him?"
Darry found out so much, yet so little. "Not enough," He replied honestly. "I know he's ran away; from what, I don't know."
Darry hoped it wasn't an abusive home, or even a killer-gang, or from the law. Darry gulped. He didn't want to think of the little boy he used to carry on his shoulders as one of the bad kids like Dallas Winston, or one of the troubled kids like Johnny. Lord knows they needed more kids like those two.
"Teenage Runaway, eh?" Two-bit smirked. "Probably because of something bad-ass. I mean, he's a Curtis, right? He's gotta' have some tint in his blood. Some spark in an energy box. What if he's a thug, Darry? Like a Gangsta' or even in the Mob?!" Two-bit's crazy ramblings were heard by Ponyboy and slowly the teen sat up from the couch.
Slowly the auburn turned to see Darry and Two-bit looking his way. Ponyboy grabbed the TV remote and chucked it at Two-bit, earning a yelp from the older Greaser. Then, ever so gently, the young boy laid his head back down on the pillow and closed his eyes.
". . . or he could just be a punk." Two-bit muttered.
Darry bit his lip.
What had Pony gone through these past ten years?
Darry knew he himself went through a lot. A lot.
X x X
It was noon when Ponyboy woke up fully. He hadn't known comfort like the soft sofa in Darry's living room. The TV was on and he noticed Johnny sitting next to Two-bit.
"Hey, you're awake." Johnny greeted.
"Got a cigarette?" Pony hadn't had one all day yesterday and had been too afraid to ask his new friend Sodapop for one. Johnny nodded and handed him two. Ponyboy thanked him.
"So, anything going on today?" Johnny asked Two-bit.
"Naw, I don't think so. If you want something to do ya' have'ta find Dally, Johnnycake, but right now he's at the rodeo trying not to be bucked off a horse."
From what Ponyboy observed, Dallas Winston, gave off an addicting vibe for violence, anger, and revenge. Dallas Winston reminded him of the older boys that used to pick on him when he was younger. Every single one of those boys either ended up in Juvenal Hall, or even Prison. Ponyboy wouldn't be surprised if that's where Dallas, if he hasn't already, end up at some point in life.
"Anyway. I'm going to see if my folks are home." Johnny replied.
"What for?" Two-bit asked.
"I got homework to do and my bag's back there. If I don't do it, I'll flunk Math and fail tenth grade."
Two-bit cracked a smirk. "What's wrong with that? I'm eighteen and I'm still in tenth grade." Ponyboy's eyes widened at Side-burn's remark.
"The rest of my smokes where there too." Johnny softly replied. Two-bit stood up. "Well then. Off to Johnny's we go. Com'on Pony."
Ponyboy was confused. Since when did I volunteer to go? Oh well, it's nothing bad. It's not like there's something bad with going to Johnny's place.
X x X
He was on his lunch break when Darry cursed loudly in his truck. He saw the gas gauge near empty. He didn't like buying or associating in the slum part of town, preferring to fill up at a gas station closer to his work, but now he had no option.
He pulled up into The DX.
"Filler up?" A cheery voice asked. Darry nodded, looking straight ahead on his radio to listen to the weather. It looked like it was going to rain that afternoon. "And how much?"
"Full." Darry muttered.
"That'll be five-fifty." Darry handed over the money. He wanted to get out of this gas station as he was in a hurry to get back to work before he was late. After his tank was filled, the worker gently tapped on the back of the bed of the truck, signaling he was finished.
Darry drove off, quickly.
X x X
"Aw, Damn!" Sodapop cursed. He looked down at his pants seeing they were now covered in dust from the truck that drove off.
"What a jackass." He grumbled, walking back inside The DX.
X x X
Two-bit was first to hop the large fence in the backyard that had seen better days. There was almost little to no grass, so you could tell whoever lived here didn't care about their lawn. There were bits of trash in the garden that was full of weeds and dandelions. There were black bags of whatever along the side of the house and a ugly, stained couch next to it.
"See anyone?" Johnny asked nervously.
"No." Two-bit replied, serious. "Let me go in first though." With saying that, Two-bit gently opened the back door, looked around the inside and waved on Ponyboy and Johnny.
Ponyboy was confused. If Johnny lived here, shouldn't he just use his front door? And why were they sneaking around? Many questions plagued Ponyboy's mind, but they were halted when he felt like gagging after getting a whiff of hard rum into his nostrils. He used his shirt to cover his nose. The whole house smelled of damp walls, cigar smoke and alcohol.
It was intoxicating.
"Okay, here's your bag Johnnycakes." Two-bit handed Johnny a large black bag. They were just about to leave but Ponyboy saw Johnny and Two-bit pale when a loud screech was heard.
"What are you doing here!?"
Standing before them was a tall, messy black-haired woman with a broom clutched tightly in her hands.
"Run." Two-bit morbidly replied and darted for the back door. Ponyboy followed the two boys, trying to avoid being hit by the broom and curses the woman gave off at the trio. Two-bit was the first to reach the fence and hauled Johnny to his feet, throwing him over, then Ponyboy and finally himself; although he was whacked on the back of the head with the stick of the broom.
"And stay away you little bastards! I'll call the cops next time!"
The trio were a block away from Darry's house before they stopped to take a breath.
"Who. . . .was that?" Ponyboy asked. Had they just intruded into someone's home? But he thought it was Johnny's place! Surly it was.
"My mom." Johnny softly replied.
It was in that moment that Ponyboy looked at Johnny in a different way. He remembered what Johnny told him the first day they met:
"Running away? I do that too, but I never leave the neighborhood."
"There's always a reason for me to come back."
Two-bit patted Ponyboy's back. "You okay?" He asked. "You look pretty shook up."
Ponyboy nodded. "I'm fine."
The three walked back to Darry's house. Ponyboy had helped Johnny with his homework but somehow, he felt it wasn't enough he could do for the boy.
X x X
Darry gave Ponyboy one of his biggest smile when he arrived home. "Hello, Ponyboy. It's nice to see you. Are you hungry?"
Before Ponyboy could answer, Two-bit butted in. "Yes, Darry. Nice to see you too. Make me a sandwich." He laughed, earning a playful kick to the back.
"I could eat." Ponyboy replied, honestly. Darry nodded, "I got baked chicken."
Ponyboy's stomach growled. He felt he should help Darry cook, or set the table, anything to show he was appreciative of Darry's help. At first, he was very skeptical of staying with Darry, but Darry hadn't violated him in any sort of way, but he wasn't going to tare down the walls just yet.
After all, he wasn't staying that long.
"Ponyboy. Where are you from?" Darry had to ask. He wanted to know where his brother had been for the last ten years.
Ponyboy didn't know if he should be honest or not. But Darry hadn't called the cops on him yet. So he felt he could share some truthful information with the man.
"I've mostly been in Oklahoma City all my life," Ponyboy replied honestly. Darry stopped cutting up carrots and onions they were going to have with their meal, but Ponyboy didn't notice, nor did he even look to see the painful look on Darry's face.
He was a little over an hour and a half a way all this time?! Darry didn't know if he should be angry or relieved.
"Any family you've ran away from?" Darry dared to ask.
Ponyboy was quiet. Then spoke up. "No. . ."
Darry wanted to ask more. So much more; he wanted to know everything about Ponyboy. What was his favriote color, his most desirable dreams, aspirations. He wanted to ask, if he remembered him, or his other brother.
No, stick to the basics. We'll cross that bridge when it comes. Darry told himself.
"So. Any girlfriends?" Darry smiled.
Ponyboy blushed. He did act tough around the guys, but when it came to girls, some of them made him drop to his knees. But he preferred nice girls that knew how to act in public, didn't curse, drink, cry and giggle and swear too much.
"No." The auburn spoke, placing the large chicken in the white ceramic bowl while Darry added vegetables.
"It's okay. I wasn't much of a ladies man either when I was your age."
Ponyboy had to admit, Darry was attractive. He looked like he could be dating someone. He was sure girls admired his strength or his steel blue eyes.
"I was focused on other things." Darry replied.
"Like what?" Ponyboy was curious to know.
Darry knew if he answered then he'd have to tell Ponyboy he thought he was his older brother and that would cause confusion and chaos. Oh, but he wanted to leak the information so badly! Darry gave off a gentle grin. "Just homework and school stuff. Are you in school, Ponyboy?"
Ponyboy had completely forgotten about school. The dim walls, the dimwitted students, being ridiculed and picked on for being smart. If he were to show up, he was sure he had already failed three classes by now.
"Er. . . no."
Darry frowned. "Why not?" Although he could probably guess the answer.
Ponyboy shuffled his feet. Not answering. Darry cursed himself. He had pushed too far, he was sure of it. Darry let the subject go and knew he'd get an answer some day and was content with waiting a little longer. When the meal was done, they peeled potatos and added them to the Chicken and Carrots. Darry called Two-bit and Johnny to the table and after a while, Dallas came by.
Dallas looked at Ponyboy for a moment.
"You look like someone. . . " Dallas replied. "Someone I saw today."
Ponyboy narrowed his eyes in confusion and Darry's ears perked up.
"I do?" Ponyboy asked.
Dallas nodded. "Yeah, it's weird."
The subject was dropped. Darry's heart filled with hope. He'd question Dallas later, after Ponyboy went to bed.
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