Chapter 12: Your Not Darry

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. Sigh. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.

A/N: If you like it, love it, or even if you hate it, you know what to do. Tell me in a review. Iwould love it if you favored, followed, and/or if you gave me (a) suggestion(s). Thank you. :)

Ponyboy's POV

All the thinking I was doing made my head pound in my ears.

"Soda, do you have any aspirin?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, I bought some when we stopped at the convenience store. Are you sure you're feeling all right? You're really pale, Ponyboy," Soda commented; concern lacing his voice. I wished I could just see a real smile out of him, a glimpse that showed me the old Soda was somewhere behind this serious, worried, and aged Soda.

"I'm sure. I caught a cold a week or so ago, I guess I'm not over it," I told him.

"Tell me if you don't feel good, alright?" Soda told me sternly. I nodded, even though I wouldn't. I could get sick and worry him.

I leaned my seat back. "I'm going to lie down a little," I told him. He gave me an apprehensive look, but didn't question about why I was so tired.

Sodapop's POV

Driving used to be something I loved, but it was beginning to get bored. Driving left me alone with my thoughts too much, which was a bad thing for me. Already Ponyboy was sick and I had no idea what to do. How was I going to take care of him, I wasn't responsible, I wasn't Darry.

That's right, you're not Darry, you wouldn't hurt your brother, I told myself. Anything is better than living with someone who is abusive.

I smiled at my sleeping brother. He's grown up so much, I thought.

Don't worry, Ponyboy, we'll figure something out, I promise.

X

"Ponyboy, we're here." I lightly shook him awake. He cracked open one eyelid.

"Where are we?" He asked, sounding groggy. I couldn't help but laugh.

"We're at a hotel. Grab your stuff," I commanded him.

We walked into the hotel and I checked us in while Ponyboy looked around.

"I'm going to look for a phone book," I told him. He nodded and walked down the hallway towards our room.

I grabbed the phone book and began flipping through it. A...J...L... Lawyer!Found it.

I wrote down the number 316-555-***and joined Ponyboy in our hotel room with that number still in my pocket.

Aufenthalt Gold,

~Alee