Chapter 22: Late Night Show (Skywriter's Point of View)

Kate calls everyday, and sometimes I swear she does it just to annoy me. Recently though, I haven't minded as much, since I haven't been able to do anything besides school work and cleaning the school gym. It's Saturday now, and I get to go back to school this Monday. I never thought I would be happy to go back to school, but I've been bored as hell. Dally, Johnny, Two-bit, and Steve, have been over almost everyday. Steve and Johnny even spend the night a lot of times. Nights are god-awful, since Pony still has nightmares. I've noticed that Darry gets onto Pony a lot about schoolwork, and on school nights, it takes a miracle for Pony to be able to even leave the house. Right now Pony, Johnny, and I are in the living room, while the rest of the guys play poker in the kitchen. Darry is even playing, since he just got off work.

"Darry, Johnny and I are going to go see a movie alright?" Pony asks. He must really like movies, because him and Johnny go all the time. I can't tell if Johnny actually likes them or not though. I think he just likes to hang out with Pony.

"Okay. Be back by eleven." Darry answers, studying his cards. Pony looks at me, and then back at Darry.

"Can Lex come with us?" He asks.

"No way." Darry answers instantly.

"C'mon Dar, let the kid go." Dally tells him. I think Dally is one of the few people who aren't afraid of Darry.

"Yeah, I'll be good." I say, though I doubt it'll do much good.

"No, you're grounded." Darry says without budging.

"C'mon, hasn't he been grounded long enough?" Soda chimes.

"I can't believe that all of you are on his side about this. He set of fireworks in the school gym!" Darry argues. I kind of can't believe they're all on my side about this either. I guess people can surprise you.

"I cleaned it up though." I answer. He sighs and tosses in some coins in the center of the table.

"You stay with Pony and Johnny. Ponyboy, if you three aren't home at exactly eleven o clock, I'm sendin' out the troops." Darry warns. Pony rolls his eyes and I can't help but laugh.

"Yeah, okay. We'll be back on time." Pony answers. I'm so excited to be leaving the house, that I could really care less what we see or where we go. It's about six, so the sun is setting, and I'm looking forward to seeing Tulsa in darkness.

Pony's Point of View

Darry actually let Lex go, which is kind of surprising to me, but I'm glad. I think Johnny still feels a little uncomfortable around him, but Lex tries to be friendly. I've noticed how much he's changed since the first day he was here. He's still mouthy and rebellious, but he's trying harder. I wonder why.

"What kind of movies do you like?" I ask him. He lights up a cigarette and shrugs. He smokes almost as much as me.

"It doesn't matter. Thanks for getting me out of the house though." He answers. I smile and shrug back.

"I didn't actually think it was going to be that easy." I answer truthfully.

Once we get there, the three of us grab some popcorn, and look for some seats. We find some near the back of the theater and sit, waiting for the movie to start.

"Hey Lexan!" A girl calls from the entrance, making her way over to us. She looks about Lexan's age. Really pretty, and a soc no doubt. I've never seen her before.

"Hey Nik. What's goin' on?" Lexan asks. Nik sits beside him and glances at Johnny and I distastefully. I already don't like her.

"Who are they?" She asks. "Your friends?" Lex moves in his seat uncomfortably. It seems like he doesn't much like her either.

"Um, that's Ponyboy, my brother. And that's his friend Johnny." Lex tells her. I'm kind of surprised that he told her I was his brother.

"You two kind of look a like. Same eyes." She comments. "How old are you guys?"

"Sixteen." Johnny mumbles.

"Fourteen." I tell her. She gives a quick nod and then her eyes grow wide.

"Wait, you're Sodapop's brother, aren't you? He works at the DX with my best friend's brother." Nik says. I nod and wonder if she knew because of the first names.

"I knew you looked familiar. Lex, I didn't know Soda was your brother. I knew he had a younger brother, but I didn't know he had two." Nik says rather loudly. I hope the movie starts soon. She's starting to get on my nerves.

"Yeah well, I didn't know I was his brother either." Lexan tells her. "It's a long story." He adds when she gives him a questioning look. Finally the movie starts, and Nik finally stops talking. Of course, when we start walking home at about nine, Nik decides she wants to walk with us.

"So, who did you live with before you lived with Darry and Soda and Pony?" Nik asks. I exchange annoyed glances with Johnny, and Lex gives me an apologetic look.

"My sister Kate. Her and I have a brother named Dally." He answers. He eyes grow wide.

"Dallas Winston? That hood that dates that Sylvia girl?" She asks incredulously.

"He's not a hood." Lex says protectively. She rolls her eyes and skips ahead of us, facing us and walking backwards.

"If he's not a hood, then I'm a millionaire. That guy has a record a mile long!" She exclaims. I really wish I could hit her for talking about Dally, but I don't hit girls. Johnny looks especially angry.

"How about you just leave Dally alone!" Johnny says bitterly. Lex looks at him with surprise, and I'm a little shocked myself. Johnny hardly ever speaks, and especially not so angrily. I guess Johnny and Dally are pretty close though. Nik doesn't seem to see the anger.

"You know he was in a gang, when he was like, twelve? I think he got arrested at ten!" Nik informs us, like we don't already know.

"Nik, shut the fuck up!" Lexan yells. Her jaw drops and she stares at Lexan with furious eyes.

"You know Lexan Johnston, you're nothing more than a dirty hood yourself. No better than these other greasers you hang out with." Nik says arrogantly, spitting on him. Lex slaps her so hard, she falls to the ground, stunned.

"If you ever talk about me, my family, or my friends like that again, I swear I'll make your life a living hell." Lex snaps, spitting on her just as she had him. Johnny and I just stand there frozen, as Lexan continues walking towards our house.

"You guys comin'?" He asks over his shoulder, not even bothering to turn around. Johnny and I follow him, looking back at the girl on the sidewalk, sitting motionlessly, with her head in her hands.