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 Sodapop!
-Stay Gold!
Fly Back to Me.
J. H. M. Lancell
A field of green, vibrant energy and a happy giggle rang in Ponyboy's ears. The boy turned to see two significant shadows running towards him. He froze in place. He yearned for these shadows for years. He wanted to be held tight, be told they would never leave his side again.
But, they faded and he was alone. . . . Again.
Ponyboy opened his eyes, rubbing his neck trying to rid of the kink that was hurting him from sleeping wrong. Johnny was next to him still sleeping. The teenager felt his stomach rumble, and he left for the kitchen to find food. That Darry-guy said he could practically help himself but that didn't mean he'd indulge himself. He picked a reasonable two slices of toast with butter. While he sat and ate his food, he thought about his actions.
He didn't know where he was going after he left Darry's. He wanted to find whoever called out for him in his many bizarre nightmares. He wanted to know who's voice rang out the crying, desperate plea to him.
But the thing was, he didn't know who to ask, or who to look for. For all he knew, that person might not even be real and all of this could be a figment of his imagination.
That made him feel lonely.
"Hello?" A call came.
Ponyboy looked up, seeing it was Two-Bit who came inside. Ponyboy offered a kind smile as the Greaser sat next to him.
"So, what's cookin'?" Two-Bit smiled.
Ponyboy rolled his eyes, "I can't cook. If I could, I still wouldn't cook for you." Two-Bit flashed Ponyboy a hurt look, sticking out his bottom lip.
"I'm so torn, Ponyboy," Two-Bit pretended to cry. "And here I thought you liked me."
Ponyboy had to chuckle, Two-Bit's lame jokes had been a light on his past dull and frightening days. Two-Bit stood up and reached into the back of the freezer, pulling out a piece of chocolate cake that made Ponyboy's mouth water. Something as great as chocolate was a rarity where he was from. If you had it you better keep it hidden in your shoe or someone would take it.
"Want some?" Two-Bit asked, noticing Ponyboy's wide eyes. The auburn nodded and thanked the boy with sideburns. Ponyboy almost moaned eating the cake. It was so moist and cold in his mouth. The chocolate flavor was bursting on his taste-buds and he felt like he died and gone to Heaven.
"That good?" Two-bit laughed, "Yeah, Darry makes it because it was his Mom's recipe."
Ponyboy was all ears.
"Darry isn't much of a chocolate nut, but he always has cake in his freezer." Two-bit added. Ponyboy was curious about Darry. He was still slightly fearful of him, with he having huge muscles and all, but Darry seemed like a caring guy and was giving Ponyboy food and board, rent-free, and as fast as he knew, he hadn't called the cops. But he wasn't exactly One-Hundred percent about Darry.
"So, do you know him really well?" Ponyboy had to ask.
Two-bit smirked. "Yeah, Dare' and I go way back. I grew up with him and we were friends before his two brothers were taken away. That's them there." Two-Bit pointed to the photo Ponyboy had noticed the other day. Ponyboy felt something in his stomach churn and he was hoping it wasn't the cake; the cake was delicious.
"So. . . .why were they taken?" Ponyboy asked.
Two-Bit licked his lips before speaking, "His parents died in a car accident. And the State separated the three of them, but that's all I know. I don't know where the other two went, but I know Darry was placed in foster care. Thankfully he never left Tulsa, but that wasn't always a good thing."
Two-bit was friends with Darry for a long time. Being friends with Darry was always beneficial since he was loyal and caring. The Greaser sighed, folding his hands together and resting his chin.
"Is that all?" Ponyboy felt there was more to this 'Darry'. There had to be a reason why he let random people stay in his home. No one was that caring.
Two-bit shook his head. "No. Darry didn't have the best of childhoods. I mean, no one has the "perfect" one, unless you're a Soc, but for Greasers like us, you can bet we're always given the short end of the stick. For Darry, that was abuse."
Ponyboy gulped.
"Darry was placed in nearly seven homes, all crappy if you ask me-well, there was one good home, but even then they were stuck up and rude, but anyway, Darry has a motto: Never Forget. Meaning, he won't forget his brothers, or the trauma he went through, and he most certainly won't forget to be there for people when they need him." Two-bit leaned in the back of his chair, resting his head on his hands and smirking.
"I admire him, ya' know?"
Ponyboy was lost for words. He felt bad for thinking so low of Darry. It was then he knew Darry deserved the truth. The real him.
"Um, Two-bit?" Ponyboy asked.
Two-bit glanced at Ponyboy.
"I. . . I ran away," Ponyboy confessed. "I ran away from a boy's home in Oklahoma City."
Two-bit's eyes widened and the chair leaned forward, taking the Greaser with him. "Are you kidding me? That far!?" Ponyboy nodded.
"Yeah, but don't tell Darry. I want to. So, don't blab."
Two-bit pretended to zip his mouth shut and Ponyboy giggled.
All there was left to do, was wait for Darry to come home.
Darry felt nervous sitting outside The DX in his work truck. He knew that his "possible" long-lost brother could be inside. The man was torn between running in there and finding him, and loss for words. He had waited for a moment like this since he was ten.
Slowly, he got out of the truck and headed inside. There was music playing from a radio, it was Jazz, but turned down as to not be disruptive. Stacked along shelves were snacks, drinks and newspapers and magazines. Darry looked around for a moment before going to the counter.
"Hello?" He called gently.
Someone came out from the back and approached him. Darry's eyes widened. He looks just like him.
"Hi, how can I help you today?" Sodapop flashed his grin.
Darry looked over Sodapop; the boy looked healthy but he was on the skinny side. When Darry looked at Sodapop, he got flashbacks of his mother-their mother. Same golden hair, same smile and even the same chin and nose Sodapop shared with Ponyboy.
"Hello?" Sodapop chuckled.
"Oh, sorry." Darry mumbled. He bit his lip in thinking of how he should approach this. "I just want to apologize for yesterday." Sodapop's smile faded. "I didn't mean to get you dirty I was just in a bad mood and wanted to get home quickly, I apologize for that."
Sodapop looked outside on of the store windows, recognizing the man's truck. Still, he had a heart of gold and thought kindly of the man.
"Apology accepted. Bad day, I get it." Sodapop chuckled.
Darry nodded, although he wouldn't call it entirely a bad day on his part. Darry wanted to pour his heart out to Sodapop. Tell him who he was and how he was connected to Sodapop. But he couldn't do it now. He had to wait till Ponyboy met Sodapop. It was only fair.
"Um, I'm sorry to ask, but do you know a boy. . . .he's younger than you." Darry started. Sodapop gave the man a funny look. "His name is Ponyboy. Perhaps you've heard of him?"
". . . Ponyboy?"
Darry hoped it would be a 'yes'. Maybe Ponyboy and Sodapop have met already. He waited anxiously for the blonde to give him an answer.
"Can't say I have, I think I'd remember a name like Ponyboy." Sodapop chuckled. "Especially since my name is Sodapop. Us weird named people gotta' stick together." Sodapop chuckled and Darry smiled.
"I'm Darryl by the way, but people call me Darry."
"Nice to meet you, Darry." Sodapop smiled. "Darry, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Oh no. I just wanted to apologize."
Sodapop nodded and waved, Darry waved back and left the store. He sat in his truck, drove off, and didn't know whether to cry, or smile with relief.
X x X
"Ponyboy. . . " Sodapop whispered to himself. The name was poking him in the brain with a stick. It felt so lost, forgotten and mysterious when he pronounced it on his tongue.
". . . .What a weird name."
X x X
"Hey, Johnny, wanna' hear a joke?" Two-bit smiled.
Johnny ignored him and continued to watch TV.
"Wanna' hear a joke about cats, Johnny?" Two-bit tried again.
"Leave him alone, Two-shit." Dallas growled.
"Aw, com'on? No one wants to hear a joke about cats? You've gotta' be kitten meow." Two-bit chuckled at his own joke but his laughs soon turned to pleas for Dallas to stop hitting him.
"That's the lamest joke you've ever told anyone, DON'T REPEAT IT!" Dallas threatened.
"Yes, Dally, please don't kick the Two-bit, he's abused enough already when he's deprived of alcohol." Two-bit blubbered in third-person. Dallas grumbled something and Two-bit stood up to get himself a beer. Ponyboy didn't know where he fit in with these people, but he assumed the safest place was next to Johnny.
When Mickey Mouse was over, Darry was back.
"Hey guys." He gave Ponyboy a smile. "You okay?"
Ponyboy nodded.
Darry made his way to the kitchen when he fished pieces of mail out of the mailbox and Ponyboy figured that now was a better time than ever to talk to Darry. Slowly, the auburn made his way to the kitchen, making his presence known, he gently knocked on the wall to get the older man's attention.
"Hey, Ponyboy. Need something?" Darry seemed quick to help Ponyboy. The teenager shook his head.
"Um, actually. I was wondering if we could talk." asked in a meek voice.
"Sure." Darry was delighted, hopefully Ponyboy was opening up to him. Ponyboy sat in a chair next to Darry and Darry waited, letting Ponyboy take his time.
"Well. . . . I haven't been all honest with you." Ponyboy started. Darry nodded, listening. "I. . . I ran away from Oklahoma City a while back. I felt I had to leave to find something I lost, or I think I lost." The boy felt nervous once again, but after taking a few breaths, he continued.
"And I want to apologize to you, for not being as grateful as I should have been. But. . . "
"What is it?" Darry asked.
Ponyboy liked Darry a lot. He only hoped Darry wouldn't call the police on him. "Please. . . please don't call the cops. Please!" The auburn didn't want to cry, he didn't want to show he was weak. Darry gently placed two of his strong hands on the boy's small shoulders.
"It'll be okay, Ponyboy. I won't call the cops." Yet. "But I need to know if you did something illegal." God, I don't want to think he did. "If it's something serious Ponyboy then I need to know."
"I'Jus' ran away." That was it. He promised.
"Okay." Darry nodded. "Is that all you have to tell me?"
Pretty much. "Yes."
Darry smiled. "Thank you for your honesty Ponyboy. Now, how about you help me cook dinner and then take a shower? You're starting to smell." The older man couldn't help but chuckle seeing Ponyboy sniff himself. Ponyboy helped Darry make sandwiches and soup for their dinner and after Ponyboy took a shower, he felt comfortable enough for Darry to give him a room.
"Here you go, Ponyboy." Darry smiled. Ponyboy looked around the room. It was empty except for a mattress and two pillows.
"I'll buy you some sheets later on this week, but I have some blankets here in the closet." Darry gave him two.
"Thank you." Ponyboy smiled. "Really, thank you for everything."
"I never forget people in need, Ponyboy." Darry smiled, stuffing his hands into his pocket.
Darry has a motto: Never Forget. Meaning, he won't forget his brothers, or the trauma he went through, and he most certainly won't forget to be there for people when they need him.
Two-bit's words of truth rang in Ponyboy's ears and the auburn gave a sweet smile as Darry wished him goodnight. There was something missing in Ponyboy's heart that night as he fell asleep to the silence in the room and the stars in the sky.
He was missing something. . . Where was that lonely feeling?
Either way, he was glad it was gone.
X x X
"Soda! S'od-pop!" A giggle rang through out the skies. Sodapop opened his eyes to the warm weather and the small boy above him, grinning.
"Soda!"
". . . Pony. . ."
X x X
Sodapop bolted up, waking up in the dead of the night.
"Ponyboy." Sodapop gasped.
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