I do not own The Outsiders.
Dedications go to PeaceLoveOutsiders, my sole reviewer (: Common guys, I mean the twist was basically spelled out in the summary; why'd everyone ditch me? And I can see all my hits, and A LOT of you skipped out on me. Be happy for PeaceLoveOutsiders if you're reading this, she's the only reason you are.
Two-Bit
I'm not one to get nervous or whatever, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a wee bit anxious about the current situation. I mean for one thing I am generally not a clumsy person, but now I'm suddenly four inches taller than normal and have tree trunks for legs, tripping over my own feet constantly and hitting my arms off of anything within a three foot radius. Oh, and I'm driving in a baby blue mustang Steve would jerk-off to and don't have to worry one bit about the fuzz because we didn't steal it! Just to push everything over the edge we just pulled up to what may have been the White House and are supposed to pretend we belong here. And of course, I'm also now a 'soc'. I think that being totally calm about this would be weirder than freaking out over it, proving once again Dallas is inhuman due to the fact he looks as calm as ever, like none of this has any effect on him.
Walking up the laneway my heart started to beat faster. Calm down, no one will know. You look just like him; you may as well be…..crap. "Guys, what's my name?" I whispered harshly just before Johnny went to open the door. "It's Paul, now the fuck down." Dallas shot back to me. Maybe he wasn't as calm as he seemed to be.
I walked into the door first, eyes widening at the view. Everything seemed shiny and white. I don't know how anyone could stand to live in here; it'd be so easy to wreck and stain, you'd be constantly walking on a tightrope. I felt like I was breaking in. Instinctively I looked behind my back, only to see Johnny and Dallas looking around curiously. I barely took another step before I ran into a wall. Twisting my head around I came eye-to-eye with a burly man. I froze my mind racing under his hard stare. "How d'yah do?" I said weekly with a smile. His eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face. "Paul my boy, good to see you. How's the college life? Bet it's great, they play good ball there? I got season round tickets to all the home games."
I just smiled and nodded. He kept his gaze on me, waiting for me to say something. Thankfully Johnny cleared his throat and got Randy's dad's attention. "Hey dad." Johnny said with cheeky smile. I nearly burst out laughing, the kid looked constipated. "Can-"
"What did I say about calling me that?" He looked at Johnny sternly. I frowned, hoping Johnny caught on because I sure didn't. "Sorry…sir." Johnny said meekly. After a nod of approval he rushed on, "Can Bob and Paul stay over for the night? Please?"
"Of course, they're always welcomed in this house." While he did it he gave me a million dollar smile. I struggled to keep from bolting, I felt like I was in a television show. Everything seemed to be part of a happy family script. "You cut curfew pretty close this time-" I glanced down at the watch on my wrist to see it was fifteen minutes to. He called that close? "-but I'll let it go thistime."
Johnny smiled, clearly relived. I had to do a double take to make sure he wasn't actually this guy's kid. His eyes flicked to meet mine with a distraught look and I relaxed, he was just a reallygood actor. Should be taking drama, not shop.
I began heading for the stairs, and just when I was about to escape a petite woman flew past me to Johnny. "What happened?"
Johnny
Out of habit I flinched back when Randy's mom popped up in front of me. Her hands swing up from her sides, and not to hit me. She cradled my face in her hands, jerking it around to get a better look at the cuts and bruises along my face and jaw. She looked around for an answer.
Dallas seemed to be struggling not to laugh (probably at my expression) and Two-Bit looked ready to bolt so I thought of an hopefully acceptable answer. "We we're in town and-"
"Mary calm down. Boys will be boys, no need to smother him." My 'dad' chuckled. I could see the authoritative note hidden under it though, especially as he stared at his wife daringly. Her smile tightened into a thin line.
"I just want to make sure my sonis okay." She said. Just like that Two-Bit and Dallas were forgotten and it was all about me. I tensed, my own parents fights seeming more and more familiar.
But then she just left the room, walking briskly through and arch in the wall out of view, leaving us in silence. I crept along the wall to the stairs, trying to make no noise. If I did I was sure Randy's dad would have snapped at me jolted out of his trance from where he stood unmoving, staring angrily were his wife was seconds before.
Two-Bit and Dallas followed me as I walked quickly along the hall to the last door and pushed it open. My jaw dropped at it, it was probably the size of my living room and kitchen combined. Unlike the rest of the house it wasn't white, Randy had posters pinned up all along the walls covering the blinding white of them. His bed was massive, covered in dark red sheets and blankets. Clothes were strewn on the floor, covering the dull carpet. A navy sheet was hung over the pale curtains, allowing no light in from outside. All the ceiling lights were bright enough though. By definition it may have been messy, but I didn't feel like it was. It was the only place in this house that felt like an actual home.
Dallas
"Hey, uh, mom. Can I um….stay at Randy's?" I bit my lip and waited for the response. I may have laughed my ass off at Two-Bit phoning Paul's house to let his parents know where he was but I was ready to punch Two-Bit in the face if he didn't shut up soon. He did this before; he let his mom know where he was, and even asked for permission to do things within the past few years. I haven't talked to my mom in five years now, and haven't asked permission to do something in even longer. Thank god Bob's mom didn't really seem to care or else I would've lost it.
After I hung up the phone I flopped out on the end of the bed, purposefully landing on Two-Bit's feet. He yelled in response. Johnny tried to shush him between his laughter but that just made Two-Bit started howling again. Thank god the house was so big or else there was no doubt Randy's parent would've heard. Maybe they did hear and just didn't care. I frowned remembering meeting them before. That was weird.
"How d'yah think them socy boys are holding up on our side of Tulsa?" someone said from my right. Sounded too loud to be Johnny.
I laughed out loud as I imagined them having a run in with some drunken tramps, getting their faces hammered in and dumped in the ditch. I shut up real fast though as I envisioned my body turning blue in the cold, my clothes soaked to my skin, dead eyes wide open looking to the sky. Beside me were two bodies, one on each side of me, face down. The shallow stream of water making their hair dark and shimmery in the moonlight. I blinked my eyes a couple and pushed the thought away, instead imagining them warm in the Curtis' living room, talking about the same stuff as us, sipping on Two-Bit's beer marked in the fridge. I smiled when I voiced my idea, causing Two-Bit to shoot up into a sitting position. "If those fuckers touch one bottle I'll rob their daddy's liquor cabinet." I felt my brow pull together in thought, not too bad of an idea.
"That was weird today…" I resisted rolling my eyes, which part? "With Randy's parent's I mean," Johnny continued. I could tell he wanted to say something else so I kept my mouth shut. Surprisingly Two-Bit did the same. "I mean…the way they was acting….." Common kid spit it out. "It was the same way my 'rents do."
I propped myself up on one elbow and gave him a look. "You mean they was slapping you 'round and beatin' you up for no reason or excuse other than being lousy assholes?"
"No, it's just….never mind." I heard him grumble. I frowned, I didn't mean for him to shut up completely. I blinked again, this time not bothering to open my eyes again. I had planned on kicking the other two off the bed once I was going to fall asleep but I was too damn comfortable for that now. I listened to Two-Bit trying to convince the kid into talking again but he was shut up for good. I imagined what the socs were up to again, fighting with Steve over the couch maybe? Naw, they'd just let him have it. Probably complaining about the floor, or waiting for everyone to fall asleep so they could raid the fridge…..My stomach grumbled as I thought of food. I hoped they had some good food here, I was starving.
. . .
Camp was amazing, and you know what, my lack of reviews didn't bring me down. I have faith in y'all (: Next chapter is the socs in the East Side, and Paul will see Darry after a year or so…Looking forwards to writing it, reviews, comments, ideas and feedback strongly appreciated.
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