Been a while!
I was afforded just a moment of hesitation before Johnny grasped me by the upper arm and guided me through the doorway. Palms sweaty, I forced down the natural urge to turn and flee.
It wasn't the unfamiliarity of this house that had me on edge, but the undivided attention of the 4 boys inside, all splayed about the living room and dining area.
"Johnny, who is this?" a heavyset boy, or was he a man, firmly asked. He sat in a tattered arm chair, newspaper in hand, appearing at the cusp of teenage years, yet acting as though he was years older.
"This is M – "
"Mickey!?" an all too familiar voice interrupted. Then, the only person who called me that, who had ever given me a nickname, sauntered across the room. He stopped a few feet from me, a grin plastered on his face. However, after a second, he gently pushed my head back and ran his fingers along the developing bruises I knew would be there.
"Decided to pick another fight with some more Socs did you? Should have invited me!" he said suddenly, letting go of my face. Even as he joked about this, there was a slight frown on his face, something that seemed so wrong and unnatural on him.
"Uh yeah, I'll make sure to bring you along next time" I offered, curling a hand around my aching ribs.
"Sit down, Darry'll check you out" Two- bit ordered, nudging me to sit down on the sofa.
I opened my mouth to tell him I'd be fine, that he didn't need to do that but snapped it shut again as the guy from the arm chair was there in flash, kneeling beside me and pulling my shirt up to look at the bruising around my ribs.
As I was examined by the quiet but intimidating guy, I looked anywhere but at him, taking in the house. It was not unlike my own house or any of the others in the street, in that the basic and worn furniture hinted at the low income of the people who owned it. Yet, there was warmth to it, provided by happy photos of a family, two boys and their parents. One of the boys I easily recognised as Darry, but the other I had not met yet. I was brought out of my observations with a wince, when Darry place his hand on the cut behind my head.
"It seems to have stopped bleeding, but I'll need to clean it so it doesn't get infected" he muttered to himself.
"They've done a number on you haven't they" a new voice said. The other boy from the photos, who I could only describe as movie star handsome, knelt beside Darry to my right.
"Name's Sodapop. Sodapop Curtis." he said, holding his hand out. I swallowed and slipped my hand into his, letting go quickly. Being here, surrounded by these strangers, was only slightly overwhelming.
"Would he be able to stay here tonight Darry?" Johnny asked hesitantly, looking down at his scuffed converse.
I expected Darry to ask about my home; why couldn't I just go home and wouldn't my parents be worried. I already knew the answer I'd give. I'd tell him that my parents went out for the night, wanting to unwind a bit after a long day of moving and in my excitement to explore I forgot to grab my house key when I left before them. They'd be back late and leave early for work, so they wouldn't notice my absence. That sounded believable.
"Yes Johnny, you know anyone is welcome to crash here" Darry said instead, giving Johnny a meaningful look. I diverted my eyes when Johnny blushed, it seemed we both had more in common then he though.
"Thank you" I mumbled, grateful for not having to sleep outside tonight.
"No worries, it's what mom would want. Another kid off the street for the night, one day it might just be-"
"Ponyboy" Sodapop sighed, standing and slumping in one of the chairs at the table. His friend, hair styled in complicated swirls, was quick to capture his attention with a game of poker. But, I couldn't help but wonder, where was their mom now? Who was this Ponyboy?
Darry
After work and dinner, there's one whole hour of peace where I can sit back and read the day's paper. While I have a high tolerance for the noise levels that fluctuate depending on whether Two Bit is around, I was proud that I could silence any one of them with just a look.
However, as Johnny walked through the door, not alone, I knew my moment of peace was over.
The boy accompanying him fell to just below Johnny's chin and was considerably slim. Mickey, Two Bit had said his name was, had light- brown … he'd say almost red hair and looked more timid than Johnny if that were possible. What caught my attention however, was the hand wrapped around his ribs and the shadow of bruises on his neck. My eyes narrowed.
I didn't hesitate to look the boy over, having done so countless times to the gang after rumbles and run ins with Socs.
A few broken ribs were nothing new, yet the deep cut on the back of his head and the finger shaped bruising on his throat had me suspicious. It seemed less and less like the Socs were responsible this time. As Johnny asked me to let the kid stay, I couldn't say no. There was my mom again, in my head, reminding me to open our home even though someone so precious to my parents had been ripped from it.
That's how we found ourselves an hour later, Mickey forced to lay on the couch as an eager Two Bit educated him about his beloved TV show. I was helping Johnny with his homework as Soda and Steve switched between playing cards and adding to Two Bit's explanations.
As I looked up from checking over Johnny's work, I caught Two's eyes. He suddenly paused in his ramblings to nod at me, quickly glancing back to the kid. He was fond of Michael already.