Two-bit and Dally talk and Soda and Steve are back... army dudes, wow!

Two-Bit POV

"Who am I?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, who are you? I mean, I've never seen you before, man." Same ol' Dally. I dropped my chair forward, back to the ground, and stared at him.

"So... you don't remember me?"

"Nah."

"Keith Matthews." I said, pointing to myself. "Two-Bit." A shocked look crossed his face, then it was quickly replaced with a smile.

"No way." he muttered, still smiling, "Two-Bit?" He stood up so fast, his chair toppled over. He reached over and pulled me out of the chair and into a hug. I was shocked. I hugged back, because he began to swing me around. "How long as it been?" he asked, putting me down. I grinned at him.

"About five years."

"Why'd you stop visiting?" he asked.

"I got busy... but the company move down to Tulsa and now I live down here." I said, grinning.

"How's your legs?" he asked, poking my shin with his foot.

"Never healed completely..." I admitted. Then, I grinned at him. "So, when you gettin' out?"

"Hell, I've been on good behavior for nine years, man, I'm gettin' out at the end of the week."

"Seriously?" He was grinning like the Chessy cat.

"Why would I lie about that?"

–x-X-x–

An hour passed too fast. Me and Dally were just talking about some random stuff until the policemen came in and told him he had to go back to his cell. He left, only after giving me one last hug; I never knew him to hug me so much. Anyways, it was nice to talk to him again. I left after saying bye to Mr. Joseph. I got in my car and drove back to the Curtis house. There was a strange Army jeep parked in front of the house. I looked at it and grinned. Soda and Steve are back. I parked the car and got out, then went inside. There was an older gentleman on the couch and one standing. I looked from one to the other. They both looked at me. Both men were in Army uniforms and had really short hair. They didn't look like greasers, or Socs. I tapped my cane nervously.

"Um, hi." I greeted. They continued to stare at me.

"Hello, sir." the one standing said.

"Mind tellin' us who you are?" the other asked. I nodded.

"Matthews. Keith Matthews." I said. Then, the one sitting jumped to his feet, grinning.

"Two-Bit!" he yelled, tackling me.

"Um, hi?"

"Don't you recognize me?"

"Naw, sorry."

"It's me, Sodapop!" he yelled, making me yell too.

"Soda?!" I asked, "What in the world happened to your hair?"

"I had to cut it." he whined. I looked over to the other man and grinned.

"So you're Steve?"

"Yeah." he said. I guessed the Army made him hard.

"Good to see you again, Steve." I said.

"Likewise, Two-Bit."

"Geez, you grew hard." I said, rolling my eyes, "But I best not get on his bad side. He has a huge gun." I muttered, making Soda laugh. Darry, who must of been cooking, came out and grinned.

"Hey guys." he said. Soda and Steve saluted to him.

"Hello, sir!" both said in unison.

"Guys, you're idiots." he said, backing back into the kitchen. "Dinner in twenty!" he yelled. Steve sat down, followed by Soda. I stood there, leaning on my cane. They noticed.

"Hey, I thought the docs said your legs would be better in a year or two?" Soda asked.

"Welp, they never did." I said, sitting in Darry's chair. I was grinning, examining my cane. "But I got a pretty tuff cane." I added.

"Dally outta the cooler yet?" Soda asked.

"End of the week." I answered, grinning bigger.

"I hear you're back for good." said Steve, looking up at me.

"Yeah, the company moved down here. So I did too." I said, smiling, "I missed it down here." I added. "How's the Army life treating you two?" I asked after a few moments of silence.

"Not bad, not bad." Soda said, "But they made us cut our hair."

"Yeah, sorry bout that, guys."

"But you..." said Soda, looking at me, "You cut your hair too and grew a beard..." he said, dumbfounded. I grinned, rubbing my chin.

"Looks funny."

"Gee, thanks." I was grinning though. "Anyone seen Kendra?"

"No. We haven't."

"I need to talk to her." I stood back up. I went into the kitchen and looked up at Darry. He looked over at me and grinned.

"Hey, Two-Bit." I sniffed the air.

"Whatcha baking?" I asked, grinning.

"Chicken."

"World famous Darry chicken, boy I missed that." then I looked around. "Man nothin' changed!"

"Yeah, I tried to keep it the same."

"Anyways, you know where Kendra works or when she gets back?"

"At the school and she should be back anytime now." he said.

"Alright, need any help?"

"Naw, I'm good."

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