Alright! Here is the next chapter! It's Darry and Two-Bit, requested by GreaserGirlSodapop! Hope you like it!
Story Three
Darry and Two-Bit
"From Brother to Brother"
The house was quiet, much too quiet. As Darry pushed his dinner around his plate, he glanced at the couch where Sodapop was sitting with his food, also not eating. He opened his mouth to say something then looked back down at his food. There was nothing he could say. Things were strained between him and Soda right now, which was rare. But even if they weren't they were both too depressed and worried to talk as if nothing was happening.
"Well, this is a dull house hold," Two-Bit proclaimed from his place on the floor.
"Yeah, I'm going to bed." Soda got up. He took his plate to the kitchen, tossed the leftovers, rinsed the plate, then jogged to his room
"Might as well head home myself." Steve got to his feet. "Later guys." He walked out of the house. Giving up on food, Darry pushed his plate away. He was too worried to eat. Ponyboy was out there somewhere. Sure he had Johnny with him but it wasn't the same as being looked after by his brothers. He didn't have Darry or Soda now to look after him.
Guiltily, Darry put his face in his hands. Look after him. Is that was Darry had done? He'd been impatient with Pony for months then finally lost his temper and slapped him. He hit his own brother. What was wrong with him? He was there to love his brothers and keep them happy. But he hadn't been doing that.
"He thinks you hate him! And I stuck up for you! "He doesn't mean to sound like that! He just worries a lot!" But you know what Darry? You chased him away! It was you!"
Soda's furious words the night Pony had ran off rang in his head. He didn't hate Ponyboy. He couldn't hate Ponyboy. He was worried about him. He had to keep him safe. He had to look after him. That was the most important thing. But all of that stress to make sure Pony was alright ended up being the thing that tore their family apart.
"You gonna eat that?"
Darry looked up at Two-Bit who was pointing at the food. Darry shook his head and Two-Bit sat across from him, pulling the plate to him. "You okay there Dare?" Two-Bit asked.
"I'm fine."
Two-Bit eyed him then shook his head. "Nah."
"Nah?"
"Nah. I don't buy it." He cocked an eyebrow. "Come on."
"I'm fine, okay?" Darry got up and went into the kitchen for a glass of water.
"Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr."
Darry turned around, raising his eyebrows at his friend. "Did you just middle name me?" Hearing Two-Bit take a commanding tone with him almost made him crack a smile. It was comical, that was for sure. If circumstances were different he probably would have even laughed.
"That's right I did. Now sit your ass down and talk to me Superman."
"I'm not Superman, okay? I'm no hero. I can't even keep my family safe."
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Darry sighed then sat down and set his glass on the table. "I'm worried sick about Ponyboy," he confessed. "But it ain't like I have much of a right. I'm the one who drove him off."
"That ain't true!" Two-Bit said exasperatedly. "What is it with this family? Is Sodapop the only one with his head on right? Golly! Pony thinks you don't like him, you think Pony don't like you! Boy golly, can't you all just see it how it is? You care too much and you worry too much which makes you controlling and overbearing. That then makes Ponyboy think "I can't do nothing right, he must hate me" which just ain't true. Then Ponyboy's actions make you think you can't relate to him and you all can never be the family you used to be which makes things more strained! You're sort of like one of them soap operas!"
Darry stared at him for a moment then leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his jaw with his hand, thinking it over. "I still could've been better. I didn't let him see that I…" He trailed off and turned his gaze to his lap.
"Yeah, man, it ain't going well. But it ain't over. You know those two can handle themselves. They'll be back. And you lot will fix things. You know why?"
Darry didn't say anything.
"Come on, man. Just ask me why."
Snorting the smallest of chuckles, Darry asked, "Why?"
"Because you're the Curtises. You're a great family and you know what? Pony knows what you gave up for him, man. As a fellow big brother I can only hope that I'm half the big brother you are."
Darry shook his head. "Even Sodapop thinks I'm making a mess out of things."
Two-Bit shook his head. "What kind of week is he having? I know Soda's generally the happy one of us all but right now he needs someone to blame. Sorry man but that's you right now. Honestly though I doubt it'll even last all week."
"He's pretty mad. But I'm pretty mad at me too."
"See that there is part of the problem. You gotta get your head on straight and work on forgiving yourself if you want things to get better." Two-Bit was quiet for a minute before saying softly, "you know what the biggest problem here is? Dude you've had to grow up too fast. You've been forced to act like you're 40 and you're only 20. You don't remember what it's like to be 14. I think it scares you."
Darry looked up, furrowing his brow. "It scares me? Where're you going with this?"
"Yeah. Man, what you remember from being a teenager is staying out late and getting in fights and doing teenager stuff. You don't want Pony to do that stuff. If he gets in trouble they could get dragged away from you. That's your biggest fear. Losing them. Everyone has a breaking point. Even Superman. That's yours."
Two-Bit was right. He was completely right. Darry looked at the table again. "I let him run off. Even if he does come back what if they drag him away?"
Two-Bit snorted. "They ain't gonna do that. They ain't blind. You're what's best for them both. Especially when you realize Pony's gonna make mistakes. He's 14 years old man. He's just a kid. You gotta stop treating him like he's your age. I know he's a genius and he skipped a grade and all but he ain't grown up yet. He's gonna overreact and he's gonna see things differently. You gotta stop acting like he's doing wrong all the time."
"Did he ever talk to you about it?"
Two-Bit hesitated for a long time then finally admitted, "Once. He wasn't really talking to me. He was talking to Cherry Valance. It was that night Johnny and Ponyboy got jumped. Anyway, he was talking to Cherry about it and that was the first I ever heard of it."
"I've really messed up."
"Come on, man. Stop torturing yourself. It ain't gonna help. You need to go to bed, get some rest, and then talk things over with Soda tomorrow."
Darry sighed and shook his head. "I know. I just… Two-Bit, I don't know how I can do this."
"You don't know how you can do it?" Two-Bit shook his head. "Darry, you're the most capable guy I know." He got up and sat in the chair beside his friend. "I don't know if I could do what you're doing. If something happened to my mom… I don't know if I could hold it all together. I hope I could but I dunno. Dare you're a really good big brother. You can turn this around. It's gonna be okay."
"You think so?"
"I know so man. You got this. You'd do anything for your family. From brother to brother, you're good." Two-Bit gave him a small smile. "If anyone can fix this it's you."
"Thanks, Two-Bit."
Two-Bit nodded. "No problem, man… Now get some sleep okay? I'm going to crash on your couch."
Darry nodded and got up. "Alright. Thanks again Two-Bit. And you know, from brother to brother, your sister's awful lucky to have you. I think you'd handle a situation like ours just fine." He went down the hall to bed. He knew for certain Two-Bit would be able to handle it. After all, he was a heck of a friend. For the first time since Pony and Johnny ran off, Darry wasn't sitting up in the armchair watching the door. If anyone came in, Two-Bit would be there.
He landed on the bed, knowing he'd still be listening for the sound of the door or the phone but at least he'd be in bed doing it. Then he started to think about what he could do to make things with Ponyboy better.
I hope you guys like it! Please drop me a review :) and remember that you can request a pair or a scenario or anything like that!