Why We Ended Up Here

Disclaimer: No, silly, I never have nor will I ever own The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton owns The Outsider. *sigh* :( I simply borrow them for my own creative enjoyment.

Candymouse22: I hope you still enjoy it. Thank you so much for the review!

FrankElza: Of course! Thank you for taking the time to leave another review, I appreciate it. :)

Amanda (Guest): That's totally okay! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I've been wondering where you were, I missed you.

HappierThanMost: Right! Thank you so much. :)

Moonlighttrail: I appreciate the criticism. I honestly jumped ahead because I've written story like that and I didn't want to be repetitive. But maybe (I'm thinking about it) I'll add flashbacks about the days before the boys were taken away. Thank you so much for taking the time to review. I hope you continue to enjoy, despite the skip ahead.

Chapter 3: Foster Care

~ Saturday, January 8, 1966 ~

"Hello, Darrel. May I come in?" The social worker's perfect white teeth were spread into a plastered-on, way-too-perky smile that made Darry instantly uncomfortable.

"Uh-, Yeah, sure," Darry stuttered, opening the door wide enough for their social worker, Mrs. Dunham, to enter.

Click, click.

Her heels loudly signaled her arrival, and then she was standing inside of the Curtis home, a distasteful look flashing across her face before she returned her face to a neutral expression.

"The courts reviewed your paperwork. I'm here to take Ponyboy and Sodapop into state custody."

Her words felt like a bucket of ice dumped over Darry, chilling the whole room.

"But... You can't," Darry heard Ponyboy yell, his voice shaking.

"I thought I was getting custody of them. I did everything that you asked me to do."

"And our office took that into consideration, but you're only nineteen years old, Darrel. You have no permanent job, no degree, and don't even live here. It has been decided that the best place for your brothers is in foster care. Now, have them pack their bags. I'll be waiting right here, so don't do anything stupid. We can do this the easy way-" Mrs. Dunham glanced out to her car, where a man stood, looking to be about three hundred pounds of pure muscle, even bigger and more intimidating than Darry. "Or the hard way."

Ponyboy felt his knees grow weak. This was real and terrifying. His brother had lost custody of him and Soda. He felt tears falling down his face, but he was too upset to stop them.

"D-Darry, please, don't let them take us away," Ponyboy begged. He felt about five years old, but he didn't care.

Darry sat down with his two brothers on the edge of Ponyboy's bed he shared with Soda, his heart breaking at how young and scared they both look.

"I need you guys to be strong. I will get you guys back. But until then, you guys need to stick together and look out for each other, okay? But I will get you guys back. Never forget that."

Tears were streaming down his face, but Ponyboy nodded. Sodapop took a hard swallow.

"I'll look out for him, Darry," Sodapop reassured him.

Darry nodded silently. "Pack. Take anything you think you'll need. Clothes, tooth brush, anything, but don't take anything too valuable. It might be stolen. If it's something you can keep in a pocket, away from other boys, take it, but if not, leave it for when you come back."

Sodapop jumped up, realizing if he didn't hurry up the social worker would make him leave without some of his stuff he needed. He helped Ponyboy pack his suitcase, fearing that in Ponyboy's state he would forget some of the things he needed, like a toothbrush. Sodapop packed the essentials, but he also packed the five new books Ponyboy had gotten for Christmas, tucking away a picture in one of them, hiding another picture in his own suitcase. One of the photographs was a picture his mom had snapped of the gang laughing, muddy, and carefree after a game of football. The other one was taken Christmas Day, of the five Curtis family members. It was the last picture Sodapop had of his parents.

"Time to go, boys," Mrs. Dunham called, huffing, her voice high-pitched and bitter. Sodapop turned to his older brother, wrapping him in a strong hug.

"I'll take care of, Ponyboy, Dar. I promise," Sodapop whispered fiercely in Darry's ear.

"I know you will, Pepsi-Cola."

Darry let go of Sodapop, before giving Ponyboy a hug, wrapping his arms around his brother's small frame, the shear difference in their size showing how young Ponyboy was. It wasn't fair, his brothers needed him.

"I love you, little colt. I'm gonna get you back."

"Hurry, Darry, please," Ponyboy whispered softly, his voice cracking when he said his brother's name.

"I'll try, kiddo. I promise."

Darry just hoped he could keep his promise.

OoOoOoO

The world whizzed by outside of the car window in blurry bursts, slipping by all too fast and in slow motion all at the same time. Ponyboy couldn't make it out specifically, just let his mind wander as the scenery passed.

"We'll be okay, Ponyboy. We'll be back with Darry before you know it," Sodapop tried to comfort his little brother, but neither one of them believed it. They were scared kids, just trying to convince themselves.

When the boys home finally appeared in Ponyboy's vision, it looked like a prison. Chain linked fences six feet high ominously surrounded an old brick building, cracks littering the worn sidewalk.

He wanted to run, but a hand pushed him forward, towards a place he knew would make his life utterly miserable.

A/N: Eh, not my best but I hope you guys liked it. My next chapter might have to wait until Wednesday or Thursday, we'll see. Please review!

Stay Gold kiddos,

~ Alee XxX