I got to writing this and decided it had to be a two parter. It was huge together and I find those ones are harder to read all at once. So here it is, an update and one in the near future, hopefully.
Dedication: To Liz who now has three and is almost catching up with JC. Yeah, it's late and that rhymes. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders. S.E. Hinton owns them, but I own everyone else!
Darry's POV
It was a week later that I did hear anything about this 'Septemberfest'. Harris had been passing out invitations during our marketing class, but he didn't bother even speaking to me about it. I guess he assumed I would show up with Brand which was exactly what I was doing. Needless to say it had been a boring car ride and I was looking for anything to occupy my mind before I fell asleep.
Harris lived on a ranch, which I was beginning to think was how most people in Texas lived. It made me wonder why Houston was so crowded, but I supposed every city was prone to be crowded. Harris had said something about thinking the country was too open and seeing where he lived, I had no doubt why he thought that. It was a pretty far out of the way spot for a party, but with how wild these parties where rumored to be, perhaps it was a good thing.
Things seemed pretty tame when we arrived and I noticed there where only two vehicles in the long drive way. I supposed we where early, just like Brand said we'd be. That was all he had said to me all morning. I was used to his lack of communication skills when it came to talking to me, but it still took me by surprise when he would start up a lively conversation with someone else. I don't know, I guess I was just a little put out that someone I spent so much time with wasn't impressed with the fact I existed. Harbor had been the one to invite me to this party and I was hoping these Septemberfests weren't exaggerated. I was hoping for a large crowd so I could just blend in and enjoy myself.
It had been a long time since I had been to a party. Dallas and Tim Shepard had thrown us a send off party before we left Tulsa. It was the last time when life had seemed half normal. Soda and Steve had partied to their heart's content with Sandy and Evie. Sandy had cried a lot and Soda had promised to write her, but to my knowledge he hadn't yet. Ponyboy had drank that night and I couldn't find it in myself to get mad at him. Curly and Johnny had sat with him and they had had their final send off in a quiet corner of Buck's place. Both of my brothers had had a hard time saying goodbye to their best friends, not to mention Two-Bit and Dallas.
At the time I had been sad we were leaving, but I was detached in the way I always had been. I didn't have a best friend anymore. Paul Hogan had moved on to greener pastures along with most of the people I had grown close to. I didn't hate them for it. They had money and futures and I had work and responsibilities. I couldn't change that. I always thought of my gang as my friends and family even, but there wasn't a single person I could actually call my best friend any more. I guess it made things easier, but a friend like Johnny or Steve…I guess I was just thinking silly thoughts. Maybe this party would take my mind off things and bring back a little of the normalicy I had missed. It wasn't very important to me, but at the same time it was. Ponyboy and Soda had taken to this life a lot easier than I had. I didn't understand that, but the phrase 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' came to mind. Maybe this would help teache me some tricks.
When we got to the door, Brand knocked hard three times. He and I had come before everyone else on Harbor's orders. I got the feeling she was the one to organize everything and if she wanted our help, then I wasn't one to argue. I liked Harbor and was looking forward to spending more time with her. I had the feeling Brand was looking forward to it, too. A moment later a man opened the door and I wondered if you'd call his get up a Penguin suit or not.
"May I help you…Oh, it's you," his tone went from one of formality to one of distaste as his eyes landed on Brand
"Yeah, it's me," Brand answered walking through the door and I followed
"Master Tim is expecting you in the kitchen," the man, obviously the butler, informed us
Brand didn't say anything else and I nodded our thanks to this man. He didn't seem to think much of me, so I turned and followed Brand who walked through the place like he owned it. The house was even larger on the inside then it appeared on the outside. Someone mentioned Harris was an only child, so I imagined there was plenty of room in this house. It was a mansion, a Soc mansion. Harris didn't seem the type, but stranger things had been known to happen. We found Tm and Verne in the kitchen talking and laughing when we walked in. They smiled and I felt like I was welcomed.
"Hey, Darry! Glad you could make it," Harris greeted
"You're just happy that you won ten bucks," Verne offered handing him some money
"Hey, at least I won." Harris shrugged and I wondered what all that was about "Did you pick up the kegs, BJ?"
"Nope. I'm not spending my own money on it," Brand answered
Tim smiled and pulled a wad of bills from his pockets. He handed them over and smiled. Brand nodded towards the back door and I noticed Harbor standing there. He turned on his heel and made his way back towards the front of the house.
"A fool and his money are soon parted," Harbor observed
"A fool? Harbor, honey, I thought you thought more of me!" Harris grinned and Harbor rolled her eyes
"Oh, I do, believe me, I do, but right now I'm wondering if you really are a fool."
I noticed for the first time she had a bunch of paper lanterns in her hands. I eyed them curiously. She was also looking at them with a curious glance at Harris. He smiled and took one from her.
"Chinese lanterns. They're all the rage somewhere." He shrugged "There where a bunch in boxes in the shed so I thought they'd be cool to hang up and burn later."
"Ain't those the ones your mom bought special for that party of your dad's next month?" Verne asked
"So?" Harris said looking them over "I doubt my mother will even remember she bought them by the time that party comes around and my dad will be happy. He hates most of the new shit my mother buys."
Verne smirked and nodded in agreement. I had heard about people like that, but I couldn't imagine buying something and just forgetting about it like that. I frowned. I would never have bought paper lanterns, though, not even if they where Chinese.
"Harbor, baby, please just hang them up for me, will ya?" Harris asked leaning close to her and giving her a look I had seen Soda use on my parents more times than one
"Fine," she agreed and Harris smiled widely
"You're the best."
"Well, I will hang them, but I'll need help. I'm not as tall as you boys seem to think I am," she explained
"Darry doesn't have anything to do yet," Harris offered
"Would you mind?" Harbor asked smiling at me
"No, I don't mind at all," I answered smiling back at her
"Good! One Curtis at the store, one hanging lanterns and two making sandwiches." Harris tallied "That leaves two without assignments."
I raised an eyebrow at that. Soda was helping River with sandwiches when I left, but they couldn't make enough to feed all the people I knew would be in showing up. I didn't really care about that. I just wondered what he could possibly expect Rain and Ponyboy to do at this party? I had agreed to let Ponyboy come right off the bat as long as he didn't drink and didn't get into any trouble, so hopefully Harris wasn't shoving him in that direction or it was him I was going to have a few words with.
"Well, they won't be here until the party starts," Verne pointed out "So you may just have to write them off as lost causes."
"I'll think of something."
"Darry?" Harbor called from out back and I followed her out the door
I could see where Harbor would have trouble hanging these lanterns. Harris and Verne had hung the lines high from the house to what looked to be a small house. It was almost miniature in comparison to the main house, but it must have been a two or three bedroom one. Harbor informed me that it was a "pool house". That made sense with the pool off to the side of it. The lines where even above my head, but I cold manage with the hooks on the lanterns if I stretched.
"So, do you help set up this party every year?" I asked
"Yeah. Tim just makes the whole thing wilder every year, but after the cops busted him last year for disorderly conduct and the year before for trying to steal a tiger from the zoo, he agreed to tone it down this year," she explained "Chinese lanterns: plain, but unique."
I nodded, thinking they where definitely different. I had never been to a party with them before and figured that it was another fad that was coming through. I glanced over at where Harbor was gathering all the lanterns together so that she could just hand them to me as we went along. She looked over at me and handed me another. We went along like this or two more lanterns before either of us spoke.
"So, Darry. Where are you from?"
"Tulsa," I replied standing on tiptoe to hang one particularly stubborn lantern "Accent that noticeable?"
"No. BJ and I just grew up close and I don't ever recall you being around," she replied
"No. I didn't know I even had family until I and my brothers came to live down here."
"Are you all down here for school?" she asked cautiously
It was an innocent question and I tried not to let it make me stiffen or get upset. Football had taught me that you didn't let your emotions follow you onto the field. I'd learned how to leave them on the sidelines and I did now again.
"My parents where in a crash a little over a month ago. They left my younger brothers to our uncle's care, an uncle we didn't know we had. I decided I had to come along and was enrolled at the university. I didn't want to get too far from them. We where all we had left."
I didn't look at her the whole time I made it all seem light, like I didn't really feel anything about any of it. It made me feel sick, but I still had that control.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"You didn't know," I assured her hearing the sincerity in her voice "You're actually the first person to ask me about it."
"Around these boys, that wouldn't surprise me." I could almost hear the hint of a smile on her voice "They have the manners of pigs some days."
I smiled at her and heard someone laugh from the house. I wondered if they could hear us out here, but I didn't think so. Some comment on other barnyard animals would have followed, I was sure.
"So, what about you?" I asked
"Well, I was born in Seattle," she answered and I noticed she didn't have a Texan drawl "My Mama and I moved down here when I was five, but we bounced between here and there because of my grandparents. My Dad was working on the rigs and Mama didn't mind letting me see him, even though she got full custody after the divorce. But she got sick around when I was 13 and died a year later. So I live with my dad, when he's around. He works for JC and does a lot of traveling. That's how I really got to know BJ, Rain and River. I practically lived with them and was Brand's shadow."
"It must have been nice to have people like that," I replied hanging another lantern
"Well, they're kind people and you probably know that already."
I nodded. I did know that. With as much money as JC seemed to have, he could have kept us well taken care of off in Tulsa, but he'd wanted what the rest of us had wanted: family.
"Are you two just going to stand around all day?" Harris asked from the door
"Yep. Are you going to wear that toga again?" Harbor asked
"Absolutely! Wouldn't be Septemberfest without the annual speech from me in a toga. Then we can get to the fun stuff!"
I wondered what that fun stuff would be, but figured I would have to wait and see just like everyone else. It was shaping up to be an interesting night, though.
River's POV
"Mustard, mayo, pastrami and Oreos?" I asked turning up the end of one of Soda's freshly made sandwiches
"Yep. Want to try one?"
"Nah. I'll stick to the good old cheese, ham and whipped cream with sprinkles, thanks."
Soda grinned at me and shook his head. I shrugged and smiled myself. Rain and I, as full blood brother and sister, grew up close and did everything together, that was until we both got interested in dating. We were still close, but every time Hillary or Scott – damn him- got brought up it was like the end of our time together. Needless to say I was really enjoying Soda's company. We could laugh, talk and make odd sandwiches together around making fun of teachers and working on cars. It was like he was another one of my brothers. I had all the brothers I could ever want, but I didn't mind adding Soda in there.
Darry was still on cousin status. You know, where you're polite and you can talk to them every once in a while, but you can't really talk to them type of cousin. He was an ok guy, but there was that age gap and that fact I hadn't really had a chance to get to know him. He was busy wasting his time on Banjo-Jim the grumpy. I didn't think it was anymore than a convenience thing between them and I would be surprised if they where friends anytime soon. Brand had a car, they where both going to school at the same place. Put two and two together and you had my brother and Darry.
Ponyboy was another story. He was one guy I couldn't figure out and that was saying something when I could figure out Tim Harris. He was shy and quiet and listened well. They weren't bad traits, but how the hell was he getting on so well with Rain when he had nothing to say? My brother was a chatterbox, but he liked someone to talk to and have the occasional argument with. That's where I always came in. I supposed that meant I wasn't replaced, but it left me with one hell of a pickle when it came to posting him on the family totem pole. Pickle?
"Pickle," Soda repeated, "I think it would be the perfect topper to this pepperoni, jelly and lettuce sandwich."
"That sounds yummy," Rain commented hopping up on the counter so he could see what we where doing
"It does!" I smiled "Soda is a natural when it comes to unique food combinations."
"He's a normal Curtis. Of course he is," Rain agreed, "Mayo, Oreo and mustard…Whipped cream is one of Rivers…"
"Will you stop that? People have to eat those!" I informed him still smiling
"They'd have to alright. How about ketchup and mozza with an apple slice?" he suggested
"I think that could work." Soda nodded "With a bit of icing sugar it would be perfect."
"How could I have forgotten the icing sugar?" Rain smacked his head and reached into the cupboard for it
I rolled my eyes at my brother and turned my attention back to the tuna and potato chip one I was making. Tim Harris loved these things. He said he never knew what he was going to taste next and that if we didn't make enough to feed an army we weren't going to be his favorite people anymore. How could we deny him something like that?
"Oh, mi Dios querido!"
"We'll clean up, Lupe, promise," Rain assured her, trying not to laugh at the startled look on her face
The Spanish maid we had only known for a year crossed herself and wandered out of the kitchen muttering some of the few Spanish words I understood. I looked around the kitchen and thought it was cleaner than spaghetti night at least and that she shouldn't have gotten so upset over it. Ok, there was a bit of everything on the floor
"She should see the family room," Rain commented
As if on cue, a shriek emanated from down the hall in the direction of the family room. A moment later JC darted into the kitchen and look around to make sure we were all safe. He glanced down the hall to where we could hear faint Spanish and gave us a curious glance.
"What have you two done?" he asked
"Well, Soda and I started taking apart an engine in the family room," I answered topping off an onion, crab apple jelly and pizza sauce sandwich with a bit of turkey
"Then I let Summer paint because River had a sheet down to cover the carpet," Rain added
"Then Brand may or may not have knocked over that seashell lamp while he was on the phone," I ended with a shrug
"Well, as long as you put a sheet down," JC answered not really caring
He winked at us from the doorway and shook his head, just like he always did when we did something he found amusing. We all knew he hated that lamp, but he hated getting rid of anything. Holly had given that one to him and that was the only reason we hadn't purposely destroyed it. I didn't think even Brand had meant to, but you could never prove anything with my big brother.
"Do you kids need a ride to your party this afternoon? I have to go into the office, so I can drop you on my way."
JC made a face at the word 'office'. He hated that place most days, even if he always ended up there when he was bored enough. I think he was the only adult I had ever met that could stay home all the time and still make a fortune a year. I didn't want his job, I was happy as a mechanic, but the money would be nice.
"Nah. We'll manage," Rain assured him
JC shrugged in a 'suit yourself' way and made his way down the hall to where we could hear Lupe almost sobbing. I knew we would have to give her a hand with the clean up, but we could put it off for a while yet. Soda and I where only half way through checking that engine and if anything happened to it, I was going to be in a very bad mood.
"Well, we should get these packed and ready to go," Rain suggested
"Do you think anyone will like them?" Soda asked
"Harris will," I assured him "And it's his party, so that's all that matters."
Soda grinned widely at me and I knew as well as he did that it mattered a hell of a lot more than the fact it was Tim's party, but I shrugged it off and started packaging the sandwiches. It was going to be one hell of a party, just like it always was. I glanced at Soda wondering why he never talked about parties he'd been to. He didn't say much about home. Not even if he had a buddy there or a girlfriend. I guess it must have been hard to leave home like that. I mentally slapped myself. Of course it had been hard! He was an orphan in a strange place with strange people. He'd relaxed a bit into this life, but he seemed like he could be happier. From the little flashes of mischief from behind his brown eyes, I knew he was a very happy person once upon a time. I hoped he would feel at home here someday and his eyes would light up like that more often. I think it was one of the few selfless wishes I had ever made. Hopefully, he was worth it.
Ok, well that's it for now. It occurred to me that that was River's first POV ever. I find her a little hard to write, so hopefully she came out the way you all thought she would.
Next chapter is the much anticipated and rumored Septemberfest! I just found out there was an Octoberfest for music. I was going to phone the radio station and accuse them of stealing ideas, but I didn't feel like it. Reviews!
Keira: Has it been that long since I updated this? Holy shit. Well, I feel sheepish now. Yes, I am torturing you! It amuses me and you'll find out when I am good and ready. I'm glad you liked the scene with Corrine. I think I would die, too, but JC isn't my dad. Hope you enjoyed!
Taurus: Yes, you have, but hey. Seems I am torturing everyone with the secret of BJ's name! I like this game! Yeah, showgirl wives. You'd think they lived in Vegas instead of Texas... I think I got around to telling you all that, at least I hope I did. If I didn't let me know. Haha! You and chocolate! Well, I hope you enjoyed!
Nittany Lizard: Oh boy. Well, thanks even now! It was the 19th, you came to the party and brought wolly socks for everyone! I like wolly socks! ;) Well, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I usually avoid Soda, so yeah. Kids not cooperating? Well, now, can't have that. Hope you enjoyed!
Rock: I know you do, but I still end with that. It's lame, but it's the only thing I can think of. Well, thanks! I'm glad you laughed at those parts because I did, too. Hope you...yeah, I got nothing to replace that with. Hope you enjoyed!
Berserker Nightwitch: S'all good. I know all about those senior portfolios. I have to do one up this year and am soooo looking forward to that one... Yeah, he's aguy. His friends tease him with the girly names. Thanks and thanks again. I do believe we talked about that, bu if we didn't, let me know. Hope you enjoyed!
Two-Bit Gortez: Thanks! Hope you enjoyed!
Ale Curtis-Carter: You and everyone else! I'll tell ya before too long! hope you enjoyed!
Forever Fallen Angel: I hope you got aroundto reading all of this and forming your own opinion towards whether this was good or not. I hope you have found it so!
Anyways, any comments at all are welcome and flames are accepted
See ya in the funny papers! Tens