.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

27. Don't speak

No words. Nothing. Three days after the argument, Ponyboy hasn't spoken one word. Not at breakfast, not at dinner not ay anything. Even after Darry's talk he got nothing out of Ponyboy. Forty-eight hours of Ponyboy not speaking. It was nerve wrecking. Twobit and Steve showed up the day after Pony was missing. Steve grew attached to the kid so of course he was worried sick. When he saw him sitting on his bed looking numbly at the wall some frustration grew inside of him. Damn it kid! I got my ass worrying here and all you do is mope around! Steve sighed as he sat down next to him. His hands grew into fists as minutes passed by. That is until he spoke up.

"You gotta stop this Pone, you can't lock your ass in here and pretend like nothings happening." Steve said in a tight voice.

Ponyboy frowned sadly yet didn't respond.

Groaning with frustration the older Greaser rubbed his forehead remebering he had a familiar conversation with Sodapop, "Jesus Christ kid. I'm worried sick here, we're all worried sick! Get out of here! Nothing good will come out of this if you keep this up!"

Still no response, Steve narrowed his eyes at the boy sitting on the bed, walking out of his room he turned around, "As much as I hate your guts right now kid, I'm still here. All of us. Don't forget other people care too." With that said the door closed. Ponyboy's head rotated to his door's direction, Everything just ain't right. It never will.

Dallas hasn't showed up either. Not even at Buck's. He didn't have his usual beer at night or join rumbles with Tim who was also wondering where the guy was. Twobit along with Steve looked for him in their spare time. Darry actually made some phone calls to hospitals and even visited the Police Station. Sodapop kept on working in the DX his body doing the working yet his mind somewhere else. Words replayed in his head, hurtful words that his brother had revealed. Do youhave any idea how it feels to-to feel abandoned? To feel alone?

In those three days Soda always stopped outside of his little brother's door just hesitate in going inside and beg for forgiveness. He tried to feel what Ponyboy felt in his absence, the hurt, the abandonment. Laying down in his bed tears slid down his cheeks feeling like the lowest thing on earth just imagining Pony's loneliness. He knew the sadness he was trying to create wasn't as painful as Pony's. I'm such a piece of shit.

On the fourth day when the sky was dark and everybody was sound asleep Ponyboy sat up in bed. Quietly he sneaked out of his house wearing only a t-shirt, some pants and his shoes. Closing the door silently behind him Pony strolled down the streets of his neighborhood ignoring the dangers of a Soc or someone else doing any harm to him. Numbness was the only feeling he had so he didn't care if anything happened to him. Under a street lamp he observed the area. Nobody in sight, only the cool fresh wind that sometimes made his skin crawl. The sky was very dark with barely any stars shining.

Biting his bottom lip he strolled on some more not feeling the hours pass by. Sleep apparently had gone out of Pony's system, he stopped again when he remembered a very particular house. His eyes adjusted to the darkness since not even the moon's glow helped much, clouds covered it and no street lamp was near. Someone was sitting on the steps looking back at him. Johnny? Pony asked himself excitedly thinking that everything was just a nightmare made up in his mind. But to his dismay it wasn't his dear friend, clearing his throat he awkwardly greeted the person.

"Um, nice night we are having, huh?"

"Ponyboy. What are you doing in walking around here in these ungodly hours?"

"I could ask you the same question, ma'am."

She smiled in the dark, "Come, sit Ponyboy."

Mrs. Cade scooted over as the boy sat next to her, both were silent for a few moments. Just a couple of minutes of pure tranquility. Suddenly she spoke up, "I'm moving soon. Starting fresh somewhere else instead of Tulsa. This place just keeps reminding me of many bad memories I'd like to leave behind."

Ponyboy nodded understanding, he'd do the same thing too. She continued staring up at the sky, "Maybe I wasn't the best mother to my Johnny yet he still was such a good boy. I-I just can't stay here. This house, these walls. Th-they remind me of how many years I wasted. My husband, he left some days ago. Johnny wouldn't like it if I keep living like this."

The Greaser nodded again, "Yeah, he wouldn't." He was sure of it.

"And he wouldn't want you to be like you are now either."

Swallowing a sudden knot in his throat he pursed his lips, he was also sure of that too. Standing up obviously uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading too he said his goodbye hastily, "If-If you need any help with your moving ju-just call me. You know my number. Good night."

Mrs. Cade called out before he left, "Don't let this whole thing swallow you up Pony, you have to be strong!"

The sky was turning into many shades of dark purple into lighter ones as the sun's light covered it all. He began panting in front of his house's door since he ran quickly. Gulping the door swung open with a wide eyed Sodapop and frantic Darry on the phone. Twobit was on the couch chewing on his fingernails while Steve was in the kitchen cursing up a storm in his head.

"Pony!" Soda hugged his brother tightly. Ponyboy wriggled out of his arms still in no attitude to face him or forgive him. Darry seeing him put down the phone striding his way over to Ponyboy.

"Where the hell were you Ponyboy? Where?" His voice was low but everybody could detect the anger.

Ponyboy lowered his head, he didn't want to deal with this now. All he wanted was to be alone again. In his room. Twobit ran his hand through his hair, "Kid, you could of at least told us you were gonna go out for a morning walk."

Steve shook his head, "God damn it Pone."

Darry rubbed his eyes frustrated with Pony's new behavior, he wanted to ground him but with him in his room locked up and doing chores every day there really wasn't a punishment he could give. Taking a deep breath he said, "Just leave a note next time Pony if you're gonna take a walk. Got it?"

His brother nodded slowly then went to his room closing the door. Steve frowned angrily, "We have to do something. He just can't stay in there moping around!"

Darry sat in his recliner sighing, "I know. I know. I tried giving him time but...He's just not coming out. You tried something, Twobit. Soda. Me! I'm thinking of taking him to a doctor. It's not healthy for him, he's gonna get sick."

Sodapop stared at Pony's door wondering what he was doing. Ponyboy was sitting on the ground with Johnny's box in his hands. Ever since he was handed the box he left it under his bed next to the other one with Johnny's letters. They were kept away hidden, just like his pain, his sadness, all his emotions hidden somewhere inside of him. With shaking hands he held up the object scanning it. Only one word was written over it with a handwriting he knew too well.

Ponyboy Curtis.

With one quivering breath he opened it up, and that's where the numbness faded away...

oOoOoOo

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)

About two chapters left. Thank you for keeping up! Sorry for my absence!