Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.
A/N: This chapter picks up from where the last chapter left off. Enjoy and thanks for the awesome reviews!
Two-Bit's POV
Why was everyone staring at me like I would mess up? One time that happened. One time. And the kid didn't even get hurt! Hyper but not hurt. Plus he loves it when I watch him.
I patted Pony's head and took him off of Soda. He sighed and shook his head. "I don't want a repeat of last time," he mumbled and walked into the kitchen.
"Like I said Soda," I started when he walked back in. "I won't let anything happen to his pretty little head."
Dally smirked. "I bet you won't."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I tried to ask in a serious tone but kept grinning.
"Nothing. . ." he snickered.
"Oh yeah? Well I bet Steve'll agree with me, right Stevie?"
"Uh, yeah? Why not." He looked doubtful but I'll take it.
"See? At least someone's on my side!" Steve rolled his eyes.
Ponyboy yawned and Dally laughed. "You haven't even started watching him yet and you're already boring him!"
Soda laughed too, looking amused. "Hey Two-Bit maybe you can put him to sleep for us from now on."
"And all you have to do is talk!" Steve piped up.
I pretended to act hurt. "Steve I thought you were on my side!" He, yet again, rolled his eyes.
"Mickey!" I looked down at Pony and saw him pointing at the tv. I grinned wide when I saw Mickey Mouse on the screen.
"Mickey!" I shouted happily as I walked over to the couch and sat down with Pony in my lap. I quickly became immersed with the show.
When the first commercial break came on I noticed Soda waving me to come to the kitchen. I made a noise between a groan and a growl and set Pony on the other side of the couch and reluctantly went into the kitchen.
"This better be important Soda. I'm missing Mickey!"
"First off you're missing commercials! Second, it is important."
I nodded.
He continued. "Okay remember the last time you babysat Pone?"
I nodded again.
"Well we don't want a repeat of that now do we?" I shook my head sheepishly and watched him pick up a piece of paper. "To make a long story short. . ." he handed me the paper. "Here."
I gaped at it. What was this? I glanced back up at Soda. He shot me an apologetic yet stern look. I looked down at the paper and read;
Two-Bit, while watching Pony:
- No beer
- No chocolate cake
- No leaving the house until someone else is there
- No taking Pony out of the house unless told to
- No bringing girls over
- No inappropriate tv shows
- No smoking
- No swearing
The list went on and on and had countless phone numbers on it. Soda looked at me with an innocent expression. "You can thank Darry."
I heard Mickey Mouse come back on and dropped the list, rushing back to my seat as if my life depended on it.
When Darry came home a few hours later I looked at him accusingly and hurried into the kitchen to get the list that was carelessly thrown on the ground.
"What's this Dar?"
He looked at it then rolled his eyes. "A list of things you won't be doing or getting into."
"But no chocolate cake? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"You remember what happened last time."
"Shoot Superman you sound like Soda." I gestured towards Soda, who was walking out of the bathroom holding Pony. Luckily he didn't complain too much about his bath tonight but I had a feeling we'd hear enough of that from Soda when it was his turn.
Soda just rolled his eyes. "Two-Bit he's three. Chocolate makes him way too hyper."
"And that's not something we wanna deal with." Darry added.
"Oh come on guys it wasn't that bad!"
Soda responded by mumbling, "Easy for you to say." as Darry said, "You didn't have to take care of him."
I ignored them. "Don't worry guys, Pone and I will have a grand ole time! Won't we baby?" Unlike Dally and Steve, I wasn't embarrassed to call Pony things like 'baby' or 'honey' in front of people.
Ponyboy just grinned and nodded happily.
"See? Nothing to worry about."
"He's just too tired to understand what you're talking about. Aren't you sweetie?" Soda asked Pony, poking his tummy.
Again Pony nodded, snuggling up to his older brother's chest.
Darry and I kissed Pony's head as Soda walked passed us to put Pony in bed.
"One piece?" I tried to reason with Darry, referring to the chocolate cake.
He sighed and gave in. "Fine. Just don't give Pone any. Got it?
"Yeah yeah," I made a waving motion with my hand and walked back into the kitchen.
Man is tomorrow gonna be fun..
I woke up earlier than I usually did the next morning. So this is what it's like to be an 'early bird' I didn't like it. Too boring. Too quiet. Too early... Groggily, I sat up and found myself on the floor. What the. . .? I narrowed my eyes. Steve. We both stayed at the Curtis' and made an agreement that I'd get to sleep on the couch. I looked at the couch and was surprised to see that it was actually Dally who pushed me off. I just shrugged it off I definitely didn't want to get in a fight with Dallas of all people.
After a while I heard some shuffling around from upstairs and eventually heard Darry and Soda coming downstairs with a half asleep Ponyboy. Both looking exhausted.
Soda noticed me first. "You could of helped."
I shrugged and grinned. "Nobody asked me to."
Soda laughed and Darry fought between laughing and scowling then just settled for putting Pony down on the floor and going in the kitchen to start breakfast. Soda sat next to Pony and played with him.
I turned the tv on, which caught both Pony's and Soda's attention, and mindlessly flipped through the channels knowing that Mickey didn't come on till about nine.
"Bugs!" I looked at the tv and saw none other than Bugs Bunny.
"Pone Bugs Bunny is overrated. Mickey Mouse is where it's at!"
"So?" Soda challenged, taking up for his baby brother.
"So? Mickey's the best!"
Pony at rubbed at his eyes in a pouting manner which I knew was fake. Or thought it was fake. I watched Soda's expression and noticed it stayed the same. But I still didn't like to see Pony upset even if he was faking it.
"Maybe I'll leave it on. . ." I picked the remote back up.
Soda snatched the remote from me as a recurring message not to change the channel of any of Pony's shows. No matter how ridiculous they are.
I sighed in defeat. "Okay Pony I'll leave this on. For now. . ." Soda got up and smacked the back of my head.
"Ow! Da-dang Soda! What was that for?" I asked, rubbing my head. Pony giggled.
"Oh is it funny when friends get hurt?" Pony nodded and I laughed.
"Soda what are you teaching this kid?"
"Everything he needs to know," he answered simply.
I mock glared at him and he grabbed one of Pony's toy cars and acted like he was going to throw it. I put my hands over my face protectively.
"Ow Soda!"
"I didn't even throw it!"
"Oh..." I took my hands off of my face and picked Pony up and held him in front of my face. "Try and hit me now peasant!" I said in a snobbish voice, grinning in victory.
Soda aimed the car so it would hit a part that I did not want to get hit but then I was saved by Darry, who was yelling at Soda for not getting ready fast enough.
"Okay Darry! Hold on for like five minutes!" He aimed it again.
"No Soda. Now!" Darry yelled loud enough to wake Dally and Steve, both grumbling about it.
"Fine!" Before he left, though, he took Pony and ran into the kitchen yelling something that sounded like, "where's your protection now?"
I ran after him and stared him down. He just smiled innocently before running into the bathroom.
"Glory Dar. What'd you feed him?"
He grimaced. "Nothing yet."
"Yeah sometimes I wonder about him," Steve added, sitting down at the table.
"Hey!" we heard from the bathroom. The door opened and Soda poked his head out and stuck his tongue out before ducking back inside. Steve found one of his shoes and threw it at the door.
Pony giggled again, finishing his breakfast. Man, he even has the famous Curtis appetite.
"Bugs!" he yelled again. Dally took him back into the living room for Bugs Bunny.
"Overrated," I mumbled again. Fortunately Dally didn't hear me but unfortunately Darry did but he just let me off with a swat to the head.
"Ow! What is it with you Curtis' and hitting today?"
"It's your fault!" I heard Dally snort from the living room. He came into the kitchen and started eating.
"It's not!" I muttered and crossed my arms.
"Whatever you say man," Steve said, getting up and knocking on the bathroom door yelling at Soda to hurry up.
Darry sat down across from me and handed me a familiar, crinkled up paper.
"Darry! I don't need this!" I whined.
He raised an eyebrow. "Apparently you do."
I just stuck my tongue out at him.
It was silent until Soda, who was still in the bathroom, screeched, "Steve!"
Darry and I exchanged looks of confusion before going to the door, that was now carelessly wide open, to see Steve inside and Soda hiding desperately behind the shower curtain, blindly reaching for a towel.
"Get out!" he screamed again.
"Fine," Steve grumbled, pretending to walk out. He even opened and slammed the door as part of the act.
"Steve?" Soda asked, finally grabbing a towel. "Did you actually leave?"
"No," I said in a high pitched voice before running out.
Soda's loud screaming could still be heard from the living room. Soon Darry and Steve were running out too, still laughing.
"He's all worked up now," Steve said, trying to stop laughing.
"He's gonna be mad at you."
"Well maybe you should've been the responsible person like I am and left!" I said, laughing at Steve and Darry. Of course Soda's mad! I just can't wait to see just how mad he is.
"Wait what?" Dally asked, totally confused.
"Well," I began brightly. "Our good friend Stevie wanted to see our dear friend Soda in a new light."
"Shut up Two-Bit." Three voices said at once.
I turned around then laughed once I saw who was standing there.
"Hey don't be mad at me Soda!"
He just narrowed his eyes. "Hey I can be mad if I want! I have the rig-"
Darry cut him off by saying that they were gonna late then grabbed his keys, followed by Steve.
I backed away from Soda a bit, causing him to grin.
"Jeez Two-Bit! I'm not really mad. Annoyed, sure but not mad." Then he lifted Pony up and settled him on his hip.
"You know Darry and Steve are going to be mad if you make them late."
"Oh well. They'll get over it," he turned around slightly do glance at the clock. "We're still early."
I looked at it too. "Five minutes? New record," I grinned at him playfully.
"Yeah. Turns out there really is a first for everything."
Dally stood up and stretched. "Well as much as I'd like to stay here I gotta go." With that he got up and left, but not before giving Pony a big kiss on the head with a look toward us that said 'if you tell anyone about this I'll kill you.' But of course I had my doubts.
"Yeah I better get going too," Soda said, looking a bit sad to leave his brother.
Seeing this I tried to reassure him, "He'll be here when you get back."
Soda kissed Pony's nose then handed him to me then he walked to the door and muttered, "He better be." He was trying to be serious but his constant grinning was ruining it.
"Well now what do we do?" I said to myself more than to Pony.
As soon as I said that I groaned inwardly. Pony's got toys all over the place! Now the real question here was: blocks or legos?
Blocks.
And Soda's kind of occupying the legos. I looked at the big stack of legos in the corner by the door and shook my head. Everyday after Soda comes home he adds another lego to his tower.
Blocks are better anyways.
"Wanna play wit-" I was interrupted by the sound of Darry's truck hitting something. I opened the door and saw that Soda was driving and took out their mailbox.
"Nice one Soda!"
He grinned and shot me a thumbs up before I went back inside.
"With your blocks?" I finished liked nothing happened. I looked down and saw him already playing with them.
He looked up at me and smiled innocently. What'd he do? I glanced around suspiciously to see if anything was missing or broken. After a while I just shrugged it off and sat down with him and played with him. Soon we had a huge tower build. Ponyboy looked amazed by it and tilted his head. The thing was taller than him! Only by a little though. I can make it bigger, I thought. I did this all the time with my kid sister, although she's not as fun as Pony.
But then again I don't think sisters were meant to be fun. When I snapped out of my stupor I noticed Pony was gone. At first I was a bit scared that I lost him but then remembered how much he loves playing hide-and-seek or just leaving without warning. He was the best hide-and-seek player I knew. He can fit in cabinets, behind the couch, under the table, under beds, under chairs, and behind doors. Hell, he could even hide under a pile of clothes and I won't notice him.
I walked into the kitchen and peeked under the table, which seemed to be his favorite spot, and didn't see him.
"Oh Ponyboy... Come out come out whenever you are!" I tried to fool him. It never worked. "C'mon Pone, I wanna win for once!"
I heard his soft laughter but couldn't follow it so I tried a new tactic. "Ponyboy Michael Curtis get out here right now young man!" I heard him laugh again. I sighed in defeat. I would never find him!
"Okay Pony. You win."
His laughter became louder and he ran out from behind the bathroom door. He looked at me disappointed. "You're not good at this game Keith."
I sighed again. When he was learning how to talk we taught him how to say Keith instead of Two-Bit but I think it's about time for him to learn it.
"C'mere kiddo," I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch, placing him on my lap.
"Pony I think you're old enough to learn about my real name." Well it's not my real name but he doesn't need to know that.
"Really?" He was beaming at the mention of being old enough to learn something new.
"Yeah. You can call me Two-Bit instead of boring old Keith, okay?"
"Two-Bit?" He tried it out.
"Yep!" I smiled at him.
"Okay! Well Two-Bit, you're not too good at hide-and-seek." He smirked innocently.
I laughed and tickled him. He squealed and squirmed around, screaming to be freed. I did, after about twenty minutes.
He attempted to roll on his stomach but I picked him up and walked into the kitchen, in search of something to have for lunch.
I hummed absently while rummaging through the refrigerator, throwing things around and mixing them up. Eventually I just settled for grilled cheese.
"Alright Pone, get ready to have the lunch of a lifetime!" I said clasping my hands together.
He giggled as I placed him on the chair that had a pillow on it, so he could see over the table. Then I ran back over to the refrigerator and grabbed the cheese and shut it, grabbed four slices of bread and turned the griddle on and set the bread slices on it then put the cheese on the bread and began to cook it.
"Yep. Shouldn't be long now Pone." I sat down beside him and drummed my fingers against the table. He mimicked me but used his palms instead of his fingers.
After a while I got up and flipped the sandwiches over then waited for a few more minutes for them to finish cooking. When they were done I placed two on two plates for me and Pony and got the chocolate milk out for us to drink.
Of course we had to wait another five minutes for them to cool down. I learned that the hard way after I burnt my tongue. I almost chugged all of my milk before my mouth was finally cooled off.
"It's really good buddy. It's just hot." I fanned my mouth causing Pony to laugh at me. I was at least glad he was happy.
I sighed, "Okay let's try this again." I bit my sandwich again and didn't get burned and let out a victory laugh.
I pushed Pony's plate over to him and blew on it so it wasn't too hot. His chocolate milk was beside him so it'd be okay.
He picked one of the sandwiches up and stared at it cautiously before taking a bite.
"Good isn't it Pony?" I grinned at him anxiously.
He eyed me before smiling up at me and taking another bite.
When we finished he ran back into the living room leaving me to clean up.
I walked in the living room after I threw the dishes and glasses in the sink. He tugged on my leg and looked up at me innocently enough.
"Can we play hide-and-seek again Two-Bit?"
Like I was going to even try to say no to him. "Sure baby. You hide and I'll seek." And lose I added silently.
I started counting after I heard the soft pattering of his feet. When I reached twenty I ran into the bathroom, checking behind the door remembering that's where he was last time.
"Hey Pony! I know you're in here!" After checking everywhere in the bathroom twice I went into kitchen.
"Pony?" I looked under the table, the cabinets, behind the refrigerator and I still didn't see him!
"Well he can't be in the living room... I would've heard him," I muttered to myself. Or at least I think I would've heard him. Maybe he's in his room or Darry's room or maybe in the hazardous room (Soda's room.)
Since his room would be too obvious I checked Darry's room first.
"Okay Ponyboy I know you're in here so come out slowly with your hands up and we won't have any trouble." I always said stuff like that so he would laugh and I could find him quicker.
I walked over to Darry's closet and opened it and looked for Ponyboy. I gawked at the appearance of his closet. I knew it would be organized but not this organized! He even has his clothes picked out for tomorrow! Standing up, I closed the closet and peeked under his bed and then under the blankets and pillows. Still no Pony.
And I definitely don't wanna go in Soda's room, but I had to.
I took a big deep breath before opening the door. I quickly darted my eyes around the room trying to find Pony as fast as possible.
"Alright Pony I definitely know you're in here!" I heard his laughter and walked to the closet, tripping on clothes and other unknown things on the way. When I finally opened it I crouched down but didn't see him.
I threw all of the clothes that were lying on the floor behind me and finally found Pony. I lifted him up and smiled. I finally won! Even if it took almost an hour I still won!
"Hey Pony guess what?" I said when we got back to the living room. "I get to hide and you seek!"
He smiled and covered his eyes while I ran all around the house. Where could I hide? I'm too big for all of the good places! Eventually I just ran into the bathroom and hid in the shower. I heard the door open and slam but paid no heed to it.
"Hey what're you doing kiddo?" Dally.
"Looking for Two-Bit!" Pony answered happily.
I could almost hear Dally's smirk. "I'll help you out baby." Did Dallas just call Pony baby? I just shrugged it off I have bigger problems to deal with!
Not too long after did I hear the bathroom door open. The curtains opened and I saw Dally staring down at me.
"Really Two-Bit? You couldn't find a better spot?"
"I thought it was a pretty good spot," I retorted getting out.
"It was. Until you started using it every game."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Where would you hide then?"
"I'm not telling you." Then he picked Pony up and walked out.
I followed. "C'mon Dal. You know you have to tell me!"
"Hey Pone do you know where Dally hides?"
He shrugged and shook his head. Dally just smirked at me and sat on the couch. After five minutes I just shrugged it off and sat down beside him.
"Dally I'm bored!" I poked his face knowing he wouldn't hurt me if Pony was here.
He just scowled. "I'd stop that if I were you."
"Actually this is kind of fun," I grinned at him. "Pony you should try this."
Dally just ignored me and said, "You know I'm just shocked that you didn't break anything."
"And why would you think that?"
"Because you break everything!"
"Do not!"
Dally just ignored me and turned the tv on, leaving it on the news channel.
"Oh come on Dal! That's boring!"
Dally just shook his head and I saw a glimmer of a smile.
About half an hour later Johnny came by and played with Pony.
"Dal I'm still bored!"
"I don't care."
I mock scoffed at him and walked over to the phone and called the DX.
After a few rings I finally heard Steve's "What?"
I smiled then hung up and called again.
Steve picked up again, "What?" he asked more annoyed.
"Umm..." I thought of what to say then just decided to try and prank him. "Is this Steve Randle?" I asked in a high pitched girl voice.
I heard him groan. "Two-Bit I know it's you."
"Two-Bit? What's a Two-Bit?" Dally and Johnny were staring at me trying to hold their laughter in.
"Did you hit your head or something?"
"What? Stevie you're crazy!" I said in my normal voice by accident.
"Okay what do you want?"
"What? I just wanted to talk to you!"
"Well hurry up."
"Umm.." Before I could say anything else he hung up on me. I looked at Dally and Johnny. "Well I gotta go Steve I'm doing some big things." I put the phone back down.
"So Johnny anything exciting happen in school today?"
"Naw man. Just boring."
I smiled and picked Pony up. "I bet you can't wait till you go to school."
He titled his head. "What's that?"
"It sucks kid. Trust me." Dally said.
"No it doesn't! Pony just think of all the cool things you'll get to learn and all the friends you'll make!" Johnny said with an encouraging smile. Of course Pony still had another year before he had to go to school but I thought we should tell him about it so he's not completely confused.
"Yeah Pone and you get to get out of the house for a few hours! Doesn't that sound fun?"
He shrugged.
"You know who goes to school? Socs." Pony looked at Dally with fear. Pony didn't know everything about the Greaser-Soc feud but he knew enough to tell that greasers are friends and Socs are scary.
"But kindergarten's easy Pone! All you do is play and meet other kids!" But this didn't calm him down. Tears started to stream down his face just as the door opened and Soda and Steve came running in excitedly.
Steve was the first to notice Pony. "What happened?" He looked at me questioningly.
Pony ran over to Soda and hugged his leg. "Don't make me go to school Soda! Please." Soda crouched down and hugged him.
"Yeah Dal. What did happen?" I asked smugly, crossing my arms.
"Well Two-Bit was telling Pony good things about school and Dally kept scaring him," Johnny told Soda and Steve, knowing Dally would have lied.
"Oh. Hey Pone schools not that bad. I go." Steve said also crouching down beside Pony. "Keith and Johnny go."
Ponyboy wiped at his eyes. "Two-Bit," he corrected.
"And you don't even have to go for another year." Soda tried, smiling gently.
"One more year without Socs."
"Dally!"
I looked at Dally and realized something. I think he just wants Pony to stay with him. I smiled at the thought. He's such a softie.
"Remember what I told you about the Socs Pony?" Steve asked with a smirk. "They're not scary. The clothes they wear on the other hand... That's the only thing that's scary about them."
Pony laughed and let go of Soda. Steve ruffled his hair as he ran back over to Johnny.
I walked over to Steve and grinned as he scowled. "Did my phone call make your day any better?"
He narrowed his eyes. "What do you think?"
"I'll take that as a yes!" I ran out of the room before he could do anything. I went into Darry's room and used the phone in there so no one would hear and called Tim Shepard and smiled smugly.
Steve will have fun tomorrow.
As always, thank you for reading and reviews are appreciated!