Sorry that I didn't post yesterday. I was sick… :/
But here's the new chapter!
Enjoy!
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It was a Tuesday morning, and Darry and Sodapop were out at work. Two-Bit had watched Ponyboy for the day. Ponyboy was on the couch watching Mickey Mouse with Two-Bit. Pony was trying to figure out ways to sit Darry down and talk to him.
There was a knock on the door, and Two-Bit answered it.
Two-Bit found a package that had a letter taped to the top of it. It said 'To Darrel Curtis.' He picked it up and placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch. "Who's that for?" Ponyboy asked. "Darry." Two-Bit sat back next to Pony on the couch. Pony reached over and grabbed the package. He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
He grabbed scissors and cut open the package.
"Hey Pony," Two-Bit shouted from the family room. "You should leave that for Darry." "We open each other's packages all the time, Two-Bit. Calm down." Ponyboy shouted back. When Pony finally opened up the package, he found a football with brand new stitches and its brown color was the color of dirt on the sidewalk. There was also a bunch of pictures of Paul and Darry through high school. The note was still on the top of the box, so that was what Pony was going to open next.
Two-Bit walked into the kitchen. "Wow," he picked up the football. "Nice condition." Ponyboy opened up the letter, and it read:
Darrel,
Here are some things I found and bought. Let's hang out later, and bring the football. And maybe stay for lunch or dinner? Thanks buddy.
Your buddy Paul.
Pony crumbled up the letter and threw it into the box and hurried outside onto the porch. "Hey, Pone!" Two-Bit shouted for him. He followed Pony onto the porch. Ponyboy was sitting on the couch, taking in the spring air. "What's wrong?" Two-Bit sat down next to Ponyboy. Pony sighed. "Darry's meeting up with an old friend and he's been hiding the whole thing from the rest of us." Two-Bit looked at him. "What are you talking about Ponyboy?"
"It's a long story." Pony said, leaning his head on his hand.
Two-Bit sighed and just stared straight forward. "Why don't you just explain it?" "If you want me to." Pony said. Ponyboy explained the entire story to Two-Bit.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
It was noon, and Soda, Darry, and Steve were back from work. Ponyboy was reading Gone With The Wind and Two-Bit was channel surfing. Darry had checked out the package from Paul and left it all in the box in the kitchen. Soda and Steve were arm wrestling at the kitchen table.
"Hey Dar," Ponyboy called. "Can you come here for a sec?" Darry walked into the family room. "What is it?" "We want to know the truth." Soda demanded. Soda wasn't his happy-go-lucky self at that point. He was a serious kid. "The truth about what?" Darry asked back. "Who you're meeting again." Soda said.
"I opened your package," Ponyboy said. "And saw the note and pictures."
"It's not a big deal." Darry said.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ponyboy stood up and threw his book onto the table.
"What was there to tell? Paul and I met up for a while. It wasn't a big deal!" Darry's voice began to grow louder. "Not a big deal? Darry, this was tearing me and Pony apart. You just hung out with Paul and left us in the dust!" Soda shouted, slamming his hand on the table and stood up. "I didn't leave you in the dust damn it!" Darry shouted at Soda. Ponyboy's heart almost stopped; Darry never yelled at Sodapop before.
"Guys calm down." Steve spoke up.
"Not now Steve!" Soda yelled at him.
That's when Ponyboy went white. Soda was out of control. "Why couldn't you just think about it? He's turning you into a soc! You know, the rich kids that jump us? You would've turned into them like that without us knowing because you only thought about yourself!" Soda yelled right into Darry's face. Darry clenched his fists. "I don't just think about myself! Don't go around thinking that I'm thinking about myself because I'm not!"
Ponyboy had enough of his brothers yelling. He kicked the door open and ran out of the house.
All the boys in the house started shouting Pony's name. Ponyboy ignored them and continued to run away from his house and the hell that was coming to life.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Ponyboy was running as fast as he could. The wind was whistling in his ears and a storm was starting to form. The wind picked up and rain began to drop on the dark pavement and on Ponyboy. Thunder softly rumbled in the far north.
When he ran out of breath, he sat on a bench in the park.
Like in his dream, Johnny was walking toward him. But this time, Dally was with Johnny. "Hey Pone, we saw what went down with your brothers. It was like a living hell." Dally said. The both sat next to him on the bench. Ponyboy put his head in his hands. "I just wish that none of this happened."
Ponyboy was able to feel tears forming in his eyes, but he was fighting to not bawl. Johnny patted Pony's back. "Don't worry Pone, things will get better." "Yeah Pony, I might not sound like myself, but just keep your head up man." Dally spoke up.
Ponyboy felt hot tears roll down his face, and he was bawling. "I can't take it anymore."