Author's Note: Well, this chapter's real short, but there'll be another chapter! So, just tell me what y'all think! :) Thanks!

CHAPTER II: Fluoride and Bad News

As I turned into the parking lot, Darry, who was sitting shotgun, frowned. The sign above the door had a purple smiley face and the words, 'Dr. Jameson's Children's Dentistry'.
"Soda, this is a kids' dentist. I'm 20 years old."
"Nobody's too old for Dr. Jameson!" I declared, making Pony laugh. If we hadn't have dropped off Steve at the gas station, I think he would've chuckled too. I parked the ancient vehicle and me and Ponyboy stepped out of it. I waited for Darry to get out. He didn't.
"Darry! Let's go, c'mon!" I rapped on the window with my knuckles. Darry shook his head, his hair flipping around.
"Oh, god Pony. He's not comin'." I groaned. This could take awhile.
"Darry, you're actin' like a kid! Just come on inside!" Ponyboy tried. Darry just stared straight ahead. I cursed loudly.
"Pony, we gotta do plan B." I told him sternly.
"An' what's plan B again?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Uh, draggin' Darry out of the car on three?" I expained, making my way over to the passenger side.
"Gotcha!" Ponyboy responded, following my lead.
"Okay. One. Two. THREE!" I yelled, throwing open the car door and grabbing one of Darry's arms while my younger brother gripped the other. Tugging hard, we just barely managed to drag him out. I slammed the door.
"God, Darry. It's just a check-up." I said with disbelief. He slowly stood up from the ground and brushed himself off.
"Y'know what? Y'all are right!" he informed us. "Just a check-up." he muttered to himself as we walked up to the doors and the front desk. Darry inhaled sharply.
"Ugh. Do you smell that? Latex gloves an' strawberry fluoride. Disgustin'..." he whispered to Pony. I tried my hardest not to say anything to sarcastic. He only acted like this at the dentist. I strolled up to the lady at the front desk.
"Hi. Uh, my name's Sodapop and we're here to schedule my brother Darry for an appointment." I explained.
"Oh, of course! Do you guys mind wating for ten minutes?" she asked me.
"Nah, that's cool. We can stick 'round for awhile."
She glanced at my two brothers for a second and then turned to Pony.
"You must be Darry!" Ponyboy laughed.
"Nope, that's me." Darry answered, raising his hand a little. The nurse looked a little surprised.
"Oh, okay then. Well, can you sign right here and... here."
After he signed, we sat down in some chairs in the waiting room.
"Hey look! The have free coffee! Darry, can I get some?" Ponyboy begged, eyeing the little coffee stand like a tiger staring down its prey.
"Sure. Knock yourself out." Darry responded. "But not really." he added, just to make sure.
After the required ten minutes, a nurse in a white dress came out to the room.
"Darrel Curtis?" she asked to nobody in particular. Darry stood up shakily.
"That's me."
"Are you ready for your appointment?" she asked him smiling. He nodded.
"Ready as I'll ever be. Pony, Soda, y'all comin'?" he asked us, giving me a look that practically screamed 'come-with-me-or-I'll-beat-y'all's-heads-in-later'.
"Why, sure!" I exclaimed, with false excitement. Pony just followed us. The nurse took us back to a room and sat Darry down in a chair.
"First, we're just going to clean your teeth with fluoride. Do you want strawberry, grape or cherry?" Darry shuddered.
"Strawberry, I guess." As she was brushing his teeth, we just stood there and stared.
"Have you been having any problems lately? I noticed that you haven't been to the dentist in over four years." she noted, giving him a cup of water to rinse his mouth out.
"Nope, no problems whatsoev-"
"Yeah, he says that his jaw hurts, but I think its his teeth." I cut in for him. Darry shot me an evil glare.
"Oh really? Well that doesn't sound good." the nurse said, looking around in his mouth. "Oh good, here comes Dr. Jameson now!" she said.

A man in a doctor's uniform walked up to Darry.

"Darrel Curtis? I haven't seen you in here since you were about seven years old!" he exclaimed with disbelief. "How've you been?" he inquired.
"Pretty good. My jaw kinda hurts though."
"Well let's take a peak then, huh?"

The dentist poked around in Darry's mouth for a bit. Then he stopped and looked at him.

"Just as I thought." he said, his suspicions confirmed. We all stared at him.
"What?" Darry asked, alarmed.
"It's your wisdom teeth son. They're going to have to be removed."