Chapter 8: Insider (Pony's Point of View)
After track practice, I walk home from school with Two-bit, and Johnny meets up with us at the lot. Besides me, Two-bit is the only one in the gang that likes school. It's funny too, considering he isn't all that good at it. I don't bug him though, since I know what that's like. Darry seems to think that grades are most important thing in the world. And trust me, it gets annoying.
"So, what's on the schedule for today?" Two-bit asks. His hair is slicked back and greased as always, and he's wearing his favorite Mickey Mouse shirt. I don't know what it is he's sees in that cartoon, but I must be missin' it, 'cause I never found it all that interesting. He loves it though.
"I don't think there's really anything good playing at the movies." I comment. I don't actually know if there's anything good playing or not, but if there is, Darry probably won't let me see it. Most of the movies don't end until eleven, and since Mom and Dad died, he's been real strange about not letting me stay out late on school nights. It's weird how quick he went from being my brother to being my guardian.
"Jeez man, is that all you think about?" Two-bit asks. I smile and shrug.
"You wanna go see Soda and that lazy-bum friend of his?" Two-bit asks. Johnny just walks beside us not saying much. He's like that. I guess I am too sometimes, but it's hard to be quiet around Two-bit. He never stops talking.
"Yeah, sure, why not?" I say. Soda and Steve go straight to the DX after school to work on cars. It's something they're real good at too. I kinda wish I knew something about cars, but I'm completely clueless. Whenever we get bored though, we'll go hang out with them. I can tell it pisses Steve off to no end, but Soda doesn't mind.
"Johnny, that okay with you?" I ask. He nods.
"Yeah, sure, fine." He answers, but I can tell he really doesn't want to. He doesn't like going places with big crowds, and there's always lots of girls at the DX. Some are really cute too.
It doesn't take long to get there, and sure enough, Soda is talking to two girls and givin' them a lesson on changing their oil. I highly doubt either one of them are listening to word he's saying, but he doesn't mind. Two-bit sneaks up behind him, and puts his hands over Soda's eyes.
"Guess who?" Two-bit calls.
"Two-bit, get your filthy hand off of my face!" Soda says playfully, slapping Two-bits hands off of him.
"Damn, you always know." Two-bit says laughing.
"Well, Keith, there's only one person who would try to get me to guess who they were, so it's kind of duh!" Soda answers, dodging Two-bits swing.
"Joy, the kids are here." Steve says, coming out to where we're standing.
"Oh, girls, this is Two-bit, Johnny, and my brother Pony. Guys, this is Rachael and Jamie." Soda says introducing us. I barely give them glance.
"Aw, your brother looks like you!" The one named Jamie coos. I don't understand how Soda stands her. Her voice is really annoying.
"Yeah, he kinda does." Soda says smiling.
"Yeah, and we kinda got work to do." Steve says with annoyance. I'm sure most of it is catered to me, but I ignore him.
"Yeah, you guys go do something with your lives. I get off in about two hours anyways." Soda tells us. It's almost three.
"Alright, we'll see ya." Two-bit says, starting off down the road.
"Alright, hey Pony!" Soda calls, I turn around. "Make sure you're inside before dark so Darry doesn't hit the roof." I smile and nod.
"He roofs houses for a livin'!" Two-bit calls over his shoulder. "It's his job!"
Darry's Point of View
When I get home at six, Dally is the only one there. Soda and Steve went out with their girlfriends, and Pony and Johnny were down by the lot. Lord only knew where Two-bit was. Probably getting drunk like always. Actually, I'm kind of surprised to see Dally at our house. It's not like him to be here alone, but when I pull up, he's sittin' in our living room, smoking a cigarette.
"Can't you smoke those outside?" I ask, walking past him to start dinner.
"There's no TV outside." He answers, taking a puff. I roll my eyes and turn the stove on.
"So, you just use my house to smoke and watch TV in?" I kid. He takes the hint and puts the cigarette out.
"Actually, I needed to talk to you." He answers.
"Dallas Winston needs to talk? Jeez man this must be serious!" I say, only partly kidding this time. Dally hardly ever talks about anything serious with anyone. Johnny maybe, but certainly not me.
"Well, I uh…I was wonderin' if you were planning on seein' that kid?" He asks, but he comes out more as a statement. I can feel his eyes see through me, and I leave the kitchen to join him in the living room.
"I…uh, I don't know. You think I should?" I ask. He rubs his hands through his hair and lets out a sigh.
"I don't know. Maybe there's a reason your Mom didn't want you to know about em'." He answers. It's obvious that he didn't need the word 'maybe'.
"Dally…what do ya' mean?" I ask hesitantly. He pulls out a folded white envelope from his jacket pocket and hands it to me.
"Got places to be." he mutters, and walks out the front door.