Brother Hug

Ponyboy's POV

I peek through the window and see Darry sitting in his recliner, reading the newspaper and Soda raiding the kitchen. Just my luck. I open the front door and walk inside, keeping my head down to hide my black eye.

"Where have you been? It's eight thirty, track ended two hours ago," Darry says, standing up and throwing his newspaper in the empty chair.

"Hey, Pony," Soda calls.

"Nowhere, just walking around," I mumble, ignoring Sodapop.

"Pony, I'm not in any mood for your lies. Where have you been?"

"I just walked to the library after practice." It's not exactly a lie; I had been on my way to the library. I keep my head bowed, if he saw my face he'd ask questions.

"Really? Then, where are your books?" Shit, he got me there.

"Um…I didn't find anything I liked?" Darry put his finger underneath my chin and lifted it so our eyes met. Or actually, my eye met his two eyes. My left eye was swollen shut. Busted.

"Ponyboy Michael Curtis! What happened? Did you get in a fight?"

"Fight? Ponyboy are you okay? Where'd they get you? Were they Soc?" Sodapop rambles question after question, running into the living room with a half-eaten sandwich in his hand.

"Just some Soc on the track team was bugging me so I told him to shut his trap and then he followed me to the library with his buddies and they punched me. Hit them a few times, though," I explain.

"Soda, go get the first aid kit," Darry instructs. He practically runs to the bathroom. I roll my eyes, or eye. They act like I'm still a kid. Darry tells me to sit down and I do. He inspects my face, looking at the small cuts around my eyebrow and the bruising around my eye, which I'm guessing has turned blue and purple by now. Soda runs back into the room and almost throws the first aid kit at Darry's head.

"I'm going to get those kids," Soda snarles.

"I'm fine. Really, I am. The kid was just saying some things that bugged me so I told him to shut up. He was just an angry Soc. It's fine." I'm really not fine, my blood is boiling and I want to beat that kid's face in. I want to go cry, scream, punch something, or actually someone.

Soda must notice my evil expression because he asks the question I was dreading, "Pony, what'd he say?"

"Nothin'," I lie.

"Ponyboy Michael Curtis. What. Did. They. Say?" Darry asks, going into full on intimating parent mode.

"Just some shi-crap about Mom and Dad," I mumble, deciding not to swear while Darry was in parent mode.

"What?" Sodapop asks. I shrug, but really, I was heartbroken.

"Ponyboy, what did they say?" Darry asks in a gentle tone. Tears begin to gather in my eyes, but they don't fall.

"They-they said they died because of me. That…they didn't want me. They didn't love me anymore." I'm bawling now. Maybe the Soc was right. Maybe they really didn't love me anymore. Soda pulls me into his embrace. I cry onto his shoulder. Darry stands there, frozen.

"Dar?" Soda asks. That snaps him out of his state and he hugs me and Soda. I hear sobbing, and I'm pretty sure it's not just me. I'm shocked to see Darry crying. Actually crying, the only real time I'd seen him cry was that day at the hospital.

"Ponyboy, come here," Darry says, pulling me down on the couch next to him. Soda sits next to me so I'm in between my two brothers. They both sling an arm across my shoulders.

"You know those guys are wrong, right?" Darry asks. I shrug.

"Ponyboy, they loved you," Soda says.

"Yeah, Pony. Mom and Dad loved you. Man, Mom treated you like her little baby even though you were thirteen," Darry said. That made Soda laugh. I glared at him. Mom really did treat me like a baby.

"Remember that one time Mom made you hold her hand in the parking lot at the grocery store. What were you, twelve?" Soda asks, grinning wickedly.

"Eleven," I mutter. That makes both of them laugh. Eventually, I join in.

"Ponyboy, Mom and Dad loved you. It wasn't anyone's fault they died, it just happened. Okay?" Darry asks, serious again. This time, he's in caring big brother mode. I like it when he's in this mode. It makes everything seem okay again.

"Okay." They pull me in for a hug.

"Awe look, it's a brother hug," Soda says, in a weird voice that makes us feel cheesy. Yet, we don't pull away, because we'll always be together, no matter what.

And here is the next one-shot. I'd like to thank Johnny-and-Ponyboy-forever for this idea, so this chapter is dedicated to her. Thanks for the idea and I hope you like it.

If any of you guys have ideas please let me know. I plan on doing a Soda and Darry soon and maybe another Pony and Darry. I need ideas, though. Thank you all for reading.

Up Next: Girl Advice

What happens when Ponyboy asks Darry when he needs girl advice?

- Stay Gold -

Sincerely,

Teenbookworm13