Authors Note: Sooo long time, no speak huh? I sincerely apologize to y'all who are invested in this story (if you're still into it). I took a way too long break and realized that I missed fanfiction. I recently wrote two one-shots to try and get back into the swing of things, so if you're interested in reading- be sure to check it out! They're mostly centered around Darry. Now back to this story: I sort of have an idea of where I want to take this fanfic, so I'll try to finish it. BUT I've also thought about doing a fanfiction story based off of a series of one-shots regarding Nicky with the gang. Basically, just little stories involving him. If you guys would like that, let me know! I tried my best with this chapter and please review and let me know if you want me to continue or not. Thanks for reading this long author's note!
"Ponyboy! Get in here!" Darry's voice thundered from the living room. I sighed as I closed my math book and tossed it on my desk. It was only a matter of time before he found out.
I haven't talked to Nicky since yesterday. I was supposed to pick him up from school since that's what I usually did, but I decided not to. I went to the track field instead, wasting about two hours, letting my anger take control of my feet until I couldn't run anymore.
And just as my luck would have it, when Nicky realized I wasn't going to pick him up, he walked home by himself until he got jumped by Socs who gave him a black eye, busted lip and a cut up arm. He had somehow managed to ditch them and he ran home, bawling.
Twenty minutes ago, I came home to his crying to Soda that it hurt, and Soda trying desperately to clean off his injuries. Soda, Steve and Two-Bit were hovered around him so I quickly slipped into my room to do homework until Darry came home from work.
I knew that he'd be pissed, so I hid out in my bedroom for as long as I could.
Apprehensively, I made my way out of my room and into the living room. Two-Bit and Steve were still here, as they sat on the floor, watching the scene. Sodapop was quiet as he was busy bandaging Nicky's arm up who had thankfully stopped crying, but his face was still as tearstained as ever.
And Darry? Darry's icy glare towards me made my blood want to run cold. It was intense, and I hated it.
"Where the hell did you go after school?" he asked dangerously. His glare was so hard and full of hatred that I shifted uncomfortably.
"The track field," I answered evenly. As much as I didn't want to admit it, Darry scared me. Especially when he was angry. Behind Darry, I saw Steve push Two-Bit to go out the front door.
They knew Darry was about to explode.
I only wished I could leave too.
"The track field?" he repeated, his tone sharp. I met his angry eyes and nodded. I wanted to make a smart-ass comment about him being deaf, but thankfully I thought against it and bit my tongue. Instead, I braced myself for his hollerin'.
"The track field? You went to the goddamn track field for two hours and it didn't cross your mind once to pick up Nicky from school?!" he boomed. I cringed as I tried my hardest to not look intimidated.
I nodded once more, lying. It did cross my mind to pick up my brother from school, but since yesterday's incident, I was done with him. I wanted nothing to do with him.
"Jesus Christ Ponyboy, your six-year-old brother got jumped because you forgot to pick him up!" Darry yelled, his face turning red. Sodapop realized that this argument was only going to get worse, so he hopped off the couch quietly as he shuffled Nicky out of the living room, who tried protesting, but Soda shot him a quick stern look before they headed down the hallway.
That left only me and a furious Darry in the living room.
"You don't understand," I muttered as I tried to move past him, but he suddenly took ahold of my shoulders with such force that it momentarily threw me off guard.
"I don't understand?" he hissed, his face close to mine. "You know what I do understand? If the cops would've showed up to see a bunch of Socs poundin' on a little kid that was walking on his lonesome, they'd put him, you and Sodapop in a boy's home so fast it'd make your head spin. Now kindly tell me how I don't understand?" he asked me, more like daring me to challenge him.
Aw hell, now I was scared. I didn't want to let it show so I tried to break away from his grasp, but his hold grew stronger. His anger didn't subside once.
"I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but you better get over it, or you'll be wishin' you did." he threatened me.
Once those words left his mouth, something inside of me just snapped. For the fucking millionth time, I was getting in trouble for something that my brat of a brother did.
Fuck this.
Fuck all of this.
In anger, I somehow managed to push Darry's hands away from me as I stormed out of the kitchen, almost running into Sodapop who was coming out from the bedroom. I pushed past him and bolted out the door and outside, my pace picking up.
I heard Darry and Soda yell for me, but I didn't care.
I didn't care about anything at this point.
I just ran.
Author's Note II: Thanks so much for reading! And please let me know if I should continue or not or just make a whole new fic that contains one-shots instead. And I apologize for the delay.