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Warning: Language (Cursing)

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Chapter 18

Curly tossed a few knives into what was supposed to be a poster for darts, but darts were for little bitches in Curly's mind. He sighed, he was still angry for what Steve told him at the DX today. Normally Curly could care less about what people think of him, but because the subject was on Ponyboy, he felt a little sensitive about what people said.

He knew Steve was right, it wasn't any of his business but he was still Pony's friend!

Curly had coughed up the pride to apologize to Ponyboy for his drunken night and was pretty much his hero for saving him from the Soc, but Steve had to screw it all up for him.

He growled, he hated Steve Randle as much as the next Greaser, but that bastard had a point in not being in their gang, but just because he wasn't in their gang didn't mean he couldn't know what was going on with the littlest Curtis, right?

Curly sighed. Just as he was about to throw another knife, he sat up and gasped.

"That's it!" He smirked.

All he had to do was join Ponyboy's gang and then he'd get not only closer to the little Greaser, but he'd be included in situations like what happened at the DX.

It's perfect, how hard would it be able to "join" their gang anyway? Curly thought. "They're a bunch of idiots anyway, it's not like it'll be the hardest thing in the world to do."

Curly chuckled to himself, throwing his last knife, aiming at the bulls' eye mark.

Soda had been watching Ponyboy from a distance while he played a game of cards with Two-bit and Steve, not paying attention to the game much, rather he watched his little brother.

Ponyboy sat with Johnny watching a western movie on TV, smiling.

Soda swallowed a lump in his throat; Ponyboy was too innocent for his own good. Soda didn't understand how Ponyboy was pulling his "I'm-okay" act, but he hated it. Poor Ponyboy was assaulted by a Soc, twice. Once outside his fucking work; Soda already felt guilty as it was for not protecting his little brother, but poor Ponyboy had already thought he was strong enough to recover so quickly.

No. Not on Soda's watch, he'd make sure his brother grew up slowly. . . SLOWLY.

"Soda, your turn." Two-bit smirked, going back to his cards.

"I mean, he's still so small; he breaks easily too. . . ." Soda sighed.

Steve and Two-bit looked at each other funny.

"Soda?" Steve asked.

"What's up?" Two-bit chimed.

Soda rolled his eyes, laying down his cards. "I fold."

Steve lifted Soda's cards. "You were winning, though!"

Sodapop yawned, plopping next to Ponyboy and Johnny on the couch. Ponyboy turned but only for a moment, his eyes flickering back to the screen.

"Hey, Soda?" Ponyboy asked.

"Hm?"

"Where's Darry?"

"I dunno."

". . . .Oh"

The door flung open, harshly and before Ponyboy could turn to see if it was Darry, someone pounded on him, knocking him to the floor.

"Dammit, Shepard, leave my brother alone!" Soda stood abruptly.

Curly Shepard looked up at Sodapop, he had a point, he was laying on Ponyboy on the floor. Curly shrugged.

"I dunno. He does make a nice mattress, he's soft, not muscular." Curly smirked.

Soda's glare was intense. "I said. Get. Off." He growled.

He was in no mood for anyone (besides himself) touching Ponyboy like what Curly was doing. When Curly didn't move, he clutched a mop of curly greased hair (earning himself a kid in the shins) and pulled Curly off of his brother.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked.

"Enrollment, stupid." Curly rolled his eyes. "I'm here to join the crew."

Soda's worst nightmare had come true as flashbacks of the dream he had of Ponyboy and curly getting chummy on the couch replayed in the back of his head. Soda growled about to say 'no' when Two-bit yawned.

"Sorry, Curls. We already have the members in a gang." He stretched.

"Yeah," Steve agreed. "A lazy one," He pointed to Two-bit. "A mean one," He was suggesting Dallas. "A strong one," He was talking about Darry. "A handsome one," Soda went to smile when Steve pointed to himself. "A blonde," That's where he pointed to Soda. "And Johnny. The Kid already makes up for annoying, quiet, pain-in-the-ass and other countless rolls a gang needs. Sorry, too late, come back next time."

Ponyboy narrowed his eyes towards Steve.

Curly growled. "I have just as much a-"

Just before Curly could finish his sentence Darry came into the room, French fries in his hands, letting out a rather large belch.

Two-bit laughed loudly while Soda stole a french fry.

"Wow, didn't know Superman could be sloppy too." Steve scrunched his nose.

"Hey. . . .I had a hard day at work, when you work nearly fourteen hours then you can be sloppy, Randle." Darry rolled his eyes.

"Oh! Darry you're here just in time!" Ponyboy leaped happily to his big brother.

Darry smiled sweetly to Ponyboy; nothing made him happier than seeing Ponyboy smiling.

"Oh, what is it, Ponyboy?"

"Curly wants to join our gang!"

Everyone turned when they heard a record scratch. Darry looked at the curly haired greaser and looked in disgust.

"When was the last time you took a shower, Shepard?" Soda muttered.

"Hold on Soda, I'm trying to think of a number you can count to." Curly growled.

"You little!"

"So, is he in or not?" Ponyboy asked. "I mean, it's almost dinner time and I'm hungry."

Two-bit gasped. "I know!"

"I'm supposed to swear loyalty not cook you all dinner!" Curly growled as he wore an apron (Which Soda insisted he wore for "safety" around the kitchen) holding a ham plate.

"You wanna' be in the gang? Well, we all take turns making dinner, get used to it." Soda lied. It was only the Curtis brothers who did that rule, sometimes members would help set the table, but that was about it.

Curly grit his teeth, clenching his fist; just as he was about to knock Soda into space he saw Ponyboy lick his lips at the food he made. Curly was no chef, but he could at least cook simple dinners. Curly then took pride in seeing Ponyboy happy about his cooking; as he was about to serve the youngest greaser-

"Nope! Gotta' have a big-brother's safety test first!" Soda's arm reached out, yanking the plate towards him.

"Soda." Ponyboy muttered, embarrassed.

Soda took no shame as he nearly swallowed mouthfuls of honey-ham into his mouth.

"Not bad," He chewed. "Do it again."

"WHAT?!" Curly asked, appalled. "Why should I have to do it again?"

"It's too sweet, Ponyboy might get a tooth ache." Soda crossed his arms.

"I don't see how, the kid drinks Pepsi like it's going out of style," Darry muttered under his breath.

"Well you get what you get, Sodapop!" Curly shouted. "Now eat it!"

"Is that any way to talk to your superior officer?" Soda cocked an eyebrow.

"Superior officer?!"

Soda and two-bit nodded towards each other, yanking out Army hats Two-bit swiped from a recruiter at the high school. They had lousy 'Sodapop' and 'Two-bit' Stitches embroidered.

"Yes. Curly Shepard, I am a lutienet in this house, Darry's a general, Steve, Johnny, Dallas and Two-bit are commanders-" He paused. "While this little boy is our widdle soldier!" He pressed both of his hands against Ponyboy's cheeks, pinching them.

Curly had enough. He was done with Soda's games and slammed the plate on the floor.

Everyone was silent.

"Someone has a temper." Two-bit giggled.

"I'm done! Screw you assholes, I don't know why I even wanted to join this clown circus!" For Ponyboy, duh. With that, Curly ripped off the arpron and stormed out of the house. Before he made it down the driveway, someone clutched his arm.

"Curly?"

Curly turned seeing Ponyboy, the fourteen-year-old was blushing, upset.

"Curly, I'm so sorry for what happened there-"

Curly shook his head. "Don't be." He muttered.

Ponyboy bit his lip, he knew Soda and Darry could be protective, sometimes they took it trough the roof, but Ponyboy was going to make it up to Curly.

"How about a movie?" He smiled. "I hear there's a new Paul Newman movie out."

Curly looked into the greaser's beautiful, innocently-teared eyes. He couldn't say no.

"Alright," Curly muttered. "Let's go before Sodacan catches us."

Ponyboy giggled, before he could respond he gasped, turning around to look down the street. The sky was a dark blue and orange as the sun was setting, street lights were coming on and cars were heading home.

"What's wrong?" Curly asked.

"Nothing." Ponyboy lied.

From the darkness of the street corner, a sinister smile and wide blue eyes watched possessively as Ponyboy walked away.

"I love movies, sweet Ponyboy. No one will see us in the dark."

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-Kylelover101