Darry's POV
I came home from work that night, feeling almost like my old self again. Ponyboy came home the night before. Everyone went to bed late last night. I had to get up early for work, so I left before Ponyboy woke up. Sodapop didn't work today. I doubted that if he did, he would still go, now that Pony's back.
I walked through the front door, and was greeted by Soda and Steve who were looking through a car magazine. I didn't see Two-Bit or Ponyboy anywhere.
"Hey, Dar. Pony's in the kitchen. Two-Bit's not here. He said he'd come by later." Soda said, reading my mind.
I nod, and head toward the kitchen to see Pony. I walk in the kitchen and what I see is a slap to the face. Ponyboy is drinking beer. I snap out of my shock and take his beer away.
"Hey!" he yells, caught by surprise. "I was drinkin that!"
"Yeah? Well, not anymore kiddo." I reply.
He reached for the bottle, but I threw it in the trash. He turned around, opened the fridge, and took out another one. Before I could snatch that one away, he stormed out of the kitchen into the living room. I followed him.
"Ponyboy, ya know how I feel bout alcohol." I remind him. I was mad.
"But, dar, I'm not you. I can treat myself how I want. I ain't a kid no more." Ponyboy complains.
I look at him. Wow. Ponyboy is... different. He's right, though. He ain't a kid anymore. He really grew up while he was gone. This I have to admit. But I still don't like the idea.
I sigh. I wasn't in the mood for arguing. Especially since he has been gone for so long. "Fine. Ya can treat yourself how you want. But I don't like this." I say.
He grins. "Ya don't have to like it. Ya just have to live with it."
There's a laugh coming from the doorway. "The kids right. Ya put up with me, don't ya?"
Two-Bit prances in.
I sit down on my recliner. I sigh. How am I supposed to handle this kind of Ponyboy? He's wild, and aggressive. How can I do this? What do you do in my situation?
"So, Pone, ya gonna tell us yer story now?" Soda asks.
I almost forgot that he hasn't told us the full story yet. This should be interesting.
Ponyboy's POV
I looked at everyone in the room staring at me. Steve had a smirk on his face. Two-Bit looked like he was going to explode soon if I didn't say anything. Soda and Darry just looked at me impatiently.
Here goes nothing.
I began my story by telling them how I got there. I answered all of Darry's questions (which were a lot) and then told them about how I got this scar and how I met my gang. I described everyone in it, and told them about Mike. I told them how I got made leader. (I didn't miss the astonished face of Steve, by the way.) I told them about a couple of my ex-girlfriends, but not all of them. I told them about jail. I told them about a couple rumbles that I attended. I told them about my birthday and about my motorcycle. Then to finish it off, I lied about coming down here just to visit for a while.
I stopped and waited for everyone's reaction. The story probably took an hour or two, but no one even moved. They stared at me with wide eyes.
Darry was the one to break the silence. "Wait. So, yer not stayin?"
I looked at him apologetic. "I cant. I have my whole gang to watch out for. I cant just leave em." I say.
Soda looks almost panicky, and I wish I didn't say anything. "But ya cant leave! Not again! I wont let ya!" he shouts.
Anger flares in me. No one is gonna stop me. But the anger quickly dies down. I probably made poor Soda miserable when I left. I looked in his eyes. Yup. I was right.
"Well Soda, I guess we'll just have to see what happens…" I drawl.
Steve says, "So, I guess I'll go. See ya later guys."
He stands up to leave, and everyone murmurs their goodbyes. He leaves through the front door.
I sit back on the couch and pull out my jack. For now, the matter is put on hold.
(Next morning)
The next morning I woke up at eight o'clock. Soda was still in bed next to me, sleeping. I got out of bed and slipped my shirt off. I looked around the room for one of Soda's old ones and found an old black T-shirt.
I was about to slip it on, when someone behind me said, "Ponyboy! Don't ya eat back in New York? Look at how skinny ya are!" it was Soda. He must've woken up.
I look in the mirror. Its true. I am fricking skinny, but I look healthy because of my build.
"Yeah. We didn't have too much food in New York. We have to steal it. Sure we get money from muggings and hustling, but we don't get much. People ain't too rich over there on our side of town." I look back at Sodapop.
Soda looked shocked. "But Pone, ya must weigh like, 90 pounds!"
"I'm fine, Soda. Quit worrying." I tell him.
He doesn't look convinced, but he leaves me alone. I put on the shirt, and walked into the kitchen to eat breakfast. I eat a piece of chocolate cake, then go back into the bedroom where soda is now out of bed.
"Hey, Soda. I'm gonna go for a walk, maybe end up at bucks later on."
Soda jumps in my path. "Oh no ya ain't. Yer not goin to bucks. That place is no good."
I push him out of my way. Hard. "Soda, I can do what I want. Bucks ain't so bad. Besides, I've been to worse places." I say.
Soda looks at me, then sighs. "At least let me come with ya."
"Okay, but yer gonna have to play a game of pool with me." I say, and grin.
He grins too. "Ha. Yer on."
Together we walk out of the house, and down the street towards bucks.
Sodapop's POV
Ponyboy and I were playing a game of pool at bucks. Pony was winning, and I was loosing miserably. Ponyboy is probably the best pool player I've ever seen. He is real good.
"Well, Soda, looks like I won." Pony said after making the final shot. He took a gulp of his whiskey, and walked over.
"Shoot, Pone! Ya play like a damn pro!" I say, pretty loudly.
He covers my mouth with his hand. "Shh! Don't say it out loud. If everyone knows that I'm good, than I cant make my money."
What? Oh yeah. He hustles pool. "Sorry." I apologize.
He takes another swig of his whiskey and looks around to make sure no one overheard. "Okay. Lets get outta here. I'm bored."
He leads me to the back door, and we head out.
"Where we going, Pone?" I ask. I have no clue where he's taking me.
"We're gonna find us some dates, Soda. Maybe get some action." he says, then chuckles.
I look at him. Ponyboy came back a totally different person. What happened to the boy who wasn't interested in girls? Maybe he just grew up. I am not used to the new Ponyboy.
Girls? I'm there. I still wasn't quite over Sandy, but a couple months ago, Steve got me dating again. "Fine with me, Pony."
This was actually pretty fun. Ponyboy sure knows how to get the night going good. He may be changed, but he still is my baby brother. If i can accept him as he is now, maybe I can get Darry to do the same. Maybe the new Ponyboy ain't so bad after all… Maybe.
AN: So, any special requests on what you would like to happen while back in Tulsa? Who knows, I might pick one to write about! Please Review!