Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders
"Darry!" A shout from a young boy was heard. As soon as he got his eldest brothers attention he continued, "Can we open presents now?"
Darry rubbed his eyes. It was only six in the morning and Pony already had enough energy to last a lifetime. And he hadn't even eaten his breakfast yet.
"We can't yet little buddy. Everyone else needs to be here too, so they can open their presents."
"Aw!" His disappointment soon vanished when he saw that breakfast was ready. He knew that they didn't have to wait on anyone to eat.
He hurriedly ate his breakfast and ran into the living room to watch the Christmas movie that was playing on the TV.
Though that didn't keep him from gazing longingly at the presents under the tree. It took all of his willpower to remain seated.
Soon Soda finally got up, took a shower and ate his breakfast.
It was just the three of them at the moment. Ponyboy and Sodapop were becoming increasingly bored while Darry reread the paper from the previous night.
"Darry why can't we just open our presents already? I hate just sitting here," Soda stated, tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch.
Darry rolled his eyes. "If I let you each open one gift will you stop complaining?" Instantly his two younger brothers' heads were eagerly nodding.
They both dashed to the tree and grabbed one. The one Soda grabbed was from Pony and the one Pony grabbed was from Darry.
They quickly tore through the wrapping paper rather quickly, revealing shirts for the each of them, respectively.
"Aw Darry! A shirt! I have enough of those," Soda complained.
"First, they're all dirty. Second, that's not from me." Soda quickly put two and two together, giving his little brother a hug. Luckily, Pony hadn't heard him.
"Thanks kiddo!" Pony smiled up at him before showing him his own. Soda smirked when he saw it.
A Mickey Mouse shirt.
"Better not let Two-Bit see that, Pone. He'll steal it and wear it for himself."
Pony vigorously shook his head. "He's too big."
"That wouldn't stop him." Pony looked at him thoughtfully before he shoved the shirt back into the box, affectively concealing it.
Glimpsing up at their eldest brother, Soda saw a smile on his face, causing him to smirk a bit.
"Hey Darry since you're in such a festive mood, can I give Pony my present for him?"
"Fine. But after that no more until everyone else gets here. Got it?"
"Yeah yeah. It's the same thing everyday,"
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
Standing up, Sodapop went towards the door until Darry's voice stopped him.
"Where're you going?"
Soda put his hand on the knob, twisting it slightly. "Getting Pony's present."
"Then why are you going outside?"
"It wouldn't fit under the tree."
"Then what's that?" Darry gestured to a present that was under the tree with a sticker on it that said, 'to Pony, from Soda'
"Oh. That's the second part of his gift. It'll make sense when I bring it in." And with that, Soda went outside. Before too long, his loud footsteps were heard.
Soon he came back inside, carrying a seemingly brand new bike, causing Darry to give him a curious look and Pony to give him a happy one.
Almost right after he set it down, Darry pulled him aside.
"Soda where did you get the money to buy a bike?"
"I didn't. It's my old one." At Darry's doubtful glance, Soda continued. "Don't be so surprised Darry. Something from my childhood actually survived, which reminds me," he trailed off, moving towards the tree, picking up the other present he had for Pony. Soda decided to open it for him since he was completely immersed with his bike. Once he opened it he smirked at Darry.
"You got him training wheels?" Darry questioned, impressed.
"Of course I did. Safety's my middle name." Soda joked.
"Really? Cause I thought it was Patrick." The Curtis brothers, minus Pony who was still staring at his bike, glanced at the door, seeing Two-Bit along with everybody else.
Steve, ignoring Two-Bit, looked at Soda amused. "Well then Mr. Safety where's his helmet?"
"And knee pads?" Darry interjected.
"I'm sure there's a helmet somewhere around here. And who needs knee pads when we have bandaids? And what makes you think Pony's gonna fall? He's a Curtis, so he'll be riding that bike like a pro in no time."
"Does that explain why you never got the hang of it for a month?" Steve asked him mockingly.
Soda grunted, crossing his arms. "I thought we came to an understanding that that'd never be mentioned again."
"My bad." Soda rolled his eyes and went over to Pony.
"You like it?" His only response was silence. "I'll take that as a yes." Soda ruffled his hair before he remembered that Pony still had other presents to open.
"Don't forgot about your other gifts kiddo." That seemed to snap him out of his daze as he waited to be handed another one. Soda took advantage of this distraction, taking the bike back so he could put the training wheels on.
Chuckling, Two-Bit stepped up and handed his gift to Pony.
"Here kid. I proudly present to you, you're new favorite present," he said in a dramatic tone.
Pony quickly tore through it, this time revealing a pack of marbles with a stuffed animal, which was a dog much like their own, that was currently upstairs asleep or at least trying too.
"Thanks Two-Bit!" Pony gave him a hug.
Smiling, the older greaser hugged him back. "You're welcome Pone. Just act like its the greatest thing ever when your brother's around," he joked, eliciting a giggle out of the five year old who nodded.
Their gift exchange went by quickly after that with Pony getting more toys, Darry getting his book that Pony picked out, and the rest of the gang getting what Pony drew for them which they, of course, loved, each promising to hang it up once they got home.
A little after their gift exchange, Darry checked on their dinner.
While he thought no one was paying attention, Pony tried to get on his bike but the bike was just a little too big for him to get on by himself, causing Dally to pick him up, much to the young greasers surprise but delight, and place him on the seat. When he was settled he happily noted that his feet touched the petals, even though they just barely touched.
"Dally isn't Pony supposed to stay off the bike when he's inside?" Johnny questioned, not wanting Pony or Dallas to get in trouble.
"He's fine man. Darry won't care."
"If you're sure.."
"I'm always sure," Dally replied smugly.
"Ponyboy what are you doing? Trying to have some fun without me?" Two-Bit walked back into the room after getting kicked out of the kitchen for pestering Darry. "Cause that ain't gonna happen."
Two-Bit smirked, helping Pony steady the bike so it wouldn't tip and cause him to fall.
"I don't get why Darry doesn't want him riding yet. He's gonna be professional in no time."
"Yeah. Only if you aren't around him," Dally remarked with a smirk.
A short moment later and Darry came back in the living room, a look of disapproval on his face when he saw Pony seated on the bike.
"Not in here. Go outside."
The rest of the gang rolled their eyes but complied nonetheless. Dally picked Pony back up while Steve lifted the bike and took it outside. Dally followed, after he got Pony's coat and shoes on him.
"I found it!" They all looked up at Sodapop who had a wide grin on his face. At their curious glances he held up a helmet. "Told you I'd find one." He smirked and placed it on Pony's head.
Before Dally helped him back on Steve showed Pony how to petal, showing him what to do by using his hands. He also told him how to stop safely. Once Ponyboy nodded, showing he understood, he got back on, placing his small hands on the handlebars.
"Oh, don't put your feet on the ground either until after you stop Pone," Two-Bit suddenly told him, remembering that was something his Mom told him. He didn't remember why she told him that but he decided to play it on the safe side.
"Hey Soda, did you happen to find any elbow pads or knee pads?" Steve quipped.
"No. But I did bring these. Just in case." He showed Steve a box of bandaids. So he wasn't kidding about that, Steve thought to himself while shaking his head slightly.
For a few more minutes they just stood there, making sure they covered everything, until Soda stepped up.
"Ready kiddo?" As soon as Pony nodded, Soda placed his hands on the bike to comfort his brother. He wouldn't fall with the training wheels on but he wanted to stay with him until he was comfortable by himself, anyways.
Slowly, Pony put his feet onto the petals and began petaling with Soda holding the bike upright and pushing slightly to help increase the speed. He was glad for the snow at that moment. If Pony did happen to fall then at least it'd be on something soft.
"You're doing great kiddo! I'm gonna let go, okay?"
Pony nodded and Soda let go but he stayed close, so Pony knew he was still there, offering his support and encouragement to keep going.
After twenty more minutes Darry told them that dinner was ready and to go back inside before they all get sick.
"Remember how to stop kid?" Steve questioned nervously.
Pony nodded and slowly removed one hand off the handlebar and onto the brake, allowing Soda and Steve to catch up with him as the bike slowed down. When the bike finally came to a complete stop it tilted a bit causing the two older greasers to get in position to catch him. Soda caught him quickly while Steve grabbed hold of the bike.
"Gotcha," Pony smiled at his brother, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Steve adjusted the training wheels, quickly finding the problem.
Sodapop examined the training wheels himself, sighing. "Oh don't tell me they're coming loose already."
"Just the left one. You actually managed to get the right one on there pretty good."
"Well I hope you have fun fixing that one cause putting them on is a pain."
"You're a pain," Steve kidded, pulling the training wheel off with great ease. He set it down beside the bike, deciding to mess with it later so they could eat.
The rest of the night went by quickly and comfortably until,
"Hey is that a Mickey shirt I see?"
So much for trying to hide it.