After a good amount of time passed, and my tears had stopped. I heard someone give a light knock at my bedroom door. "Pony, it's just me... can I come in?" Soda called.
"No, Go away!"
He opened the door and entered anyway... seriously, what was the point on asking if you were going to come in anyway, I thought angrily to myself.
"You ok, kiddo?" He asked.
I didn't answer him. I just turned the other way so I didn't have to look at him, but he sat on the bed anyway, and lightly rubbed my back. I wiggled trying to shake his hand off, but he didn't budge.
"I know your upset kiddo, but you did push Darry to his limit. You know better then to talk back to him like that, and I also know, I would of done the exact same thing if it were me." He sighed lightly, and paused - either waiting to see if I'd respond or wanting me to think about what he just said, as he continued rubbing my back.
"Go away, Soda..." I mumbled into my pillow, and sniffed.
"I'm not going anywhere kiddo, and you see, you have this bit of a problem... it is sort of my room too," I could hear a hint of a smile in his voice, "so legally, I'm aloud to stay," he paused, waiting. I sighed and wiped at my eyes, turning my head the other way to look at him.
"Hey kiddo." Soda gave me a small smile, looking at me with pleading eyes for me to talk. When I didn't say anything, he tried another approach.
"Pony, I just wanna know your ok?" But he was only met by more silence from me.
He sighed, "You gonna say somethin' kiddo, cause it's not very fun talking to myself?"
I knew he was trying, and he's not the one I'm mad at after all. I pouted, with my red rimmed eyes, answering him. "It's not fair Soda, all I wanted to do was go out. I'm bored of being cooped up in this house."
"I know honey, but you know Darry's not going to let you out. Tell you what... when your two days are up, I'll take you somewhere special - the movies or anywhere. Have a think of what you'd like to do, sound like a plan?" He gave me a warm smile.
I nodded.
"Come on, let's go see what the guys are doing. Who knows... we might need to rescue Darry and Steve from one of Two-Bit's crazy stories." He chuckled.
"But... Darry said I'm not aloud to leave my room."
"I think I could persuade him, you've been in here long enough."
I looked at him, unsure.
But his smile told me the opposite.
"C'mon," he said, standing up from the bed, and I followed him out to the lounge.
Soda was almost right. Two-Bit was cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the couch, deep in some fantasy story about a blond named Wendy. Steve was stretched out on the couch, looking rather uninterested. But Darry was nowhere in sight.
He must of heard us come out from the bedroom, cause not long after he entered from the kitchen, with folded arms.
"Pony-" He started, but was cut short.
"Darry, can I talk to you?"
Darry eyed me for a second, before turning back to the kitchen with Soda following.
I could hear every word said, and it was all about me.
"Darry before you go in there and say anything, I let him come out."
"Soda he was in there for a good reason-" Soda cut him off, again.
"I know Darry... I know he was acting out of line, but it's hard on him being cooped up all day."
"Well, he should have thought about that before undermining my authority and drank beer... and that still doesn't excuse his behaviour."
"Yeah, I know... I would of done the exact same thing." Soda's voice lowered, I had to strain to hear him.
I should have just stayed in my room.
Blocking out the rest of their conversation, not wanting to hear how much of a disappointment I'd been. I turned my attention to Two-Bit's one too many tales of his love life.
"So this chick she had the biggest boobs man, you should of seen em'... get this, she comes up to me and says - Haven't I seen you from somewhere? and I say - Yeah baby, every night in your dreams." He laughed, hard. "You should of seen the look on her face man, it was priceless." Two-Bit said, looking very proud of his accomplishment.
"I'm sure it was, Two-Bit." Steve had the look of - he'd rather be anywhere else other than here - he had one arm folded beneath his head as the other rested over his chest, with his eyes focused solely on the ceiling above him - as he listened to Two-Bit ramble on.
I got tied of listening to them and went out to the porch to have a smoke. I leaned against the porch rail lighting a cigarette, taking in a deep breath. It was getting later in the afternoon now, with the low glow of sunlight bouncing from the lower porch steps, as it swept it's ever fading stream of sheen down the cracked pavement, and beamed from the un-rusted metal of the front gate. The late afternoon glow soon to be bringing it's darkened shadows down upon the streets to let the world know that darkness would be here within only a mere short hours.
It's not fair that Darry grounded me anyway. Both my brothers tanned me, then I get grounded too... well Soda's was more due to the fact of me not listening, but even so...
I looked across the street. I needed to get out, even just for a bit. My mind was going crazy being cooped up, and today showed it. I looked in through the screen door, to see if anyone would notice me slip away. Two-Bit hadn't moved, but was now watching Mickey Mouse on TV. Soda and Steve sat either ends of the coffee table, playing a round of poker, but I couldn't see Darry.
I didn't know if this was such a smart idea, still feeling the sting in my butt from before. But I knew I'd go nuts if I stay here any longer.
I quietly left the porch, and climbed over the gate so it didn't make the squeaking sound from opening it, then ran as fast as I could down the street. I didn't stop running until I was a good two blocks away, then slowed down to a walk.
I was taking quick long strides down the sidewalk, with a million thoughts running through my head, when I heard my name being called.
"Hey baby Curtis, slow down would ya!" I stopped and looked behind me, seeing Curly trying to catch up.
"Geez, you walk like you've got fire in your pants." He said, trying to catch his breath.
"Hey, Curly."
"Where ya headed, Curtis?" He asked.
"Nowhere, just needed to get outta the house for a bit." I said, talking my pack of smokes from my back pocket, then hunted around for my lighter. I pulled a stick out lighting it, then offered Curly, he took one lighting up as well.
"Wanna try an' hunt some action?" asked Curly, as he exhaled the smoke.
"Whatever!" Darry was gonna have my hide for taking off anyway, so... what the hell.
I assume it must be nearing six o'clock now, as all the street lamps had started to turn on. As we strolled down the street, Curly kicked the lamps back out - making the darkened street, that much darker.
We stopped in front of a little convenience store, a couple of guys hung out the front. I followed Curly as he walked up to them; my guess was, they where part of the Shepard's gang. The guy on the left had a scar running down his cheek to his chin bone, the other had long sideburns like Two-Bit's, but his eyes were hard just like Dally's were.
"Hey Tony, David," Curly called.
"Hey Curly, whose the kid?" The one with the scar asked, whom I'm assuming is Tony.
"His Darrel Curtis' kid brother." Curly answered.
Tony gave me a node, as David said, "Hey."
I returned a "Hey," back, hitching my thumbs in my back pockets and slouching to look a little tougher.
"Can you guys do us a favour?" Curly asked.
"Whadya' need curly?" replyed David.
"We need some spray paint, and a couple of beers would be good."
"And what's in it for us?" David shot back.
"I'll tell my big brother not to bash your heads in, from getting caught by the fuzz stealing them hubcaps the other week." Curly answered.
One rule is... if your going to do something stupid, the next rule is... you better hope you don't get caught. I take it these nuftys weren't quick enough getting away.
"Fine," Tony agreed.
They exited the store and strolled over to us, with four cans of spray and a six pack of beer. Curly took the spray from them, handing me two tins, then grabbed the beer.
"Let's go." He said.
He handed me a beer, then opened one for himself. I had a flashback of what happened last time I drank, but then the thought was gone as quickly as it came. I opened my beer taking a drink as we walked into an alleyway, stopping at a large brick wall.
"Alright, you ready to spray paint the crap outta this wall?" Curly said, taking a swig of his beer.
I gave a nod shaking up one of my cans, opening the lid, then wrote in large black letters - 'LIFES A BITCH!' I stepped back looking at it, then drew a large cartoon hand with the middle finger extended, writing 'PISS OFF' across the middle of it.
I looked across to Curly's work, he hadn't done much more than me. It felt good doing something Darry wouldn't approve of. His been really pissing me off lately, so now it's my turn to piss him off.
After that we walked around for awhile with Curly telling me some story of how he beat off four Socs with his blade, "They all ran off like the cowards they are." He said, finishing off his third beer. I noticed we were getting too close to Soc's territory.
"Curly, what are we doin' here?" I asked, slightly nervous.
"Just follow me," he said, keeping his cool. "where gonna get payback to those Soc's that tried to jump me the other day - good and proper."
"B-but, I thought you said you won?" I said, finishing off my third beer as well, throwing the bottle into the bushes.
He turned and looked at me. "I did," he replied simply.
"Well then... why do we need to get payback?"
"To teach them that they shouldn't mess with me. C'mon." He answered; reluctantly I followed him.
We came to a stop standing if front of a massive, red brick, two story house - it featured two large white columns, each containing their own vinyl porch railing on either side, with large grey steps leading up to a grand entrance. The front garden was perfectly manicured, with a tuff looking red Mustang sitting out the front.
"That's the one." He said, pointing towards the house. Then pulled his switch blade out of his back pocket, walking around to one of the tyres of the Mustang. He pierced his blade into it, making about a two inch slice, then pulled his blade back out.
"Don't just stand there Curtis, give me a hand!"
I pulled my blade from my back pocket and walked over to one of the tyres, stabbing it like Curly had done, then pulled it out. This is actually quite fun, I thought, then walked over to the next tyre doing the same.
Curly came over handing me a can of spray paint, that we had left over from before. He shook his can opening it, then started spraying the side of the car, I shook mine and started on the windscreen. I had just started on the other side of the car when the front door of the house opened and someone yelled, "What do you kids think your doing!?"
We dropped the cans and took off running as fast as we could, I don't think I even ran this fast in track practice at school, we didn't stop till we were well and truly back in our territory again. Curly was doubled over trying to get his breath back, then he started laughing, "That was the most fun I've had in awhile, did you see the look on his face?"
"Curly, what if he saw our faces, and calls the cops the state will find out." I yelled at him. I was now angry at him and his stupid ideas.
"He didn't see us... it's too dark and we took off too quick for him to see us."
"I hope your right, Curly." I said, looking at him.
"I always am." He gave me a smug look. I didn't feel like getting slugged, so I held my come back.
We snuck in under the wire fence to the Dingo, it looked like it was getting onto about ten o'clock now. We strolled over to the area with parked cars, that had been lined up side by side, with about four foot between them. Lots of people hung in or around the cars, catching the latest gossip, or maybe getting stone dumb drunk, or - like Two-Bit, and most other guys - trying to get a date for the night.
This was one of the popular places to hang out at night.
I reached for my almost empty pack of Kool's, sliding one from the crumpled packet, then held the unlit stick loosely between my lips. I fished my lighter from my back pocket and held the small flicking flame to the end of my smoke, producing a reddened glow of burning ambers, then drew deeply. I slowly exhaled the smoke into the warm nights air, turning to Curly beside me, who was now lost in conversation with another hood. I glanced around, taking in any action that was near by, as I turned further, I spotted someone - but unfortunately not just anyone, standing out from the crowd. He was drinking a Budweiser, leaning against the hood of an ol' Buick.
"Shit." I cursed to nobody in particular.
I turned back to Curly, who had the other guy listening rather intently - I wondered briefly if he was saying what we'd done to the Soc's earlier, though I'd rather he didn't - he tells one person, it'll soon get around, till the Soc's themselves find out who'd done it. I roughly grabbed ahold of his upper arm, in a desperate need to leave.
"Hey, hey Curly, we gotta get outta here!" I panicked, trying to pull him away.
"Yeah, ok kid." He answered, absentmindedly.
I noticed Steve turn in my direction, as he tilted his beer to take another swig, but his hand stopped mid-air - his angry glare fixed right on me. Shit... now his seen me. He set his beer down, before making his way towards me, looking not at all too happy.
I looked around me, seeing if I could make an escape. But knew it was pointless now. Steve reached me, taking a firm grasp on my arm.
"Where the hell have you been, kid? Darry's mighty pissed at you right now for taking off like that. I'd hate to be in your shoes once he gets a hold of ya. C'mon kid, I'm taking you home."
I struggled against him, trying to free myself. "Steve, let go!" my voice coated with panic, as rushed thoughts of what Darry might do flooded my mind.
Curly now turned towards me. "What were you saying, Curtis?" He asked, having finished his conversation. I rolled my eyes, thinking bit slow off the mark there Curly.
"Oh, hey Steve." Curly greeted, only just noticing him standing there. I'm sure you've already figured - his certainly not the smartest person I've ever met.
"Hey Curly, I'm taking the kid home. You comin' or stayin'?" Steve asked. Please stay - please stay - please stay, I pleaded silently.
"Comin'." Curly answered. Crap... he'd better keep his big mouth shut, or his gonna get me into a shit load more trouble.
Well my wishful thinking of wanting him to keep shut miserably failed. We had a long walk back to the house, and Curly decided to fill Steve in on every tiny little detail of 'the most fun his had in a while' as he put it.
"What the hell where you thinkin' kid." Steve yelled angrily, slapping me across the head. I kept quiet, and rubbed the back of my head where he'd hit. "Just wait till Darry hears about this. Geez kid... as if you weren't already in enough trouble."
"Don't tell Soda, please Steve." I begged, scared of what Soda might think, or do.
Steve stopped suddenly, his grip on my arm tightening, as he turned to face me. "Oh, I'm gonna tell Soda alright, and I'm gonna bet he'll be just as pissed as Darry," replied Steve, before dragging me down the sidewalk again.
We stopped at the gate in front of my house, "You ready, kid?" Steve actually did look a bit concerned for me, and I bet I looked just as scared on the outside as I did on the inside. I glanced at him worriedly, then bit my lip, turning my eyes towards the ground.
"C'mon, kid. Curly just wait here, I'll be out in a minute."
Steve walked me up the porch steps, and opened the screen door with a slight hesitation. We didn't get far in the door, when Soda rushed out from the kitchen, seeing who'd come in. When he noticed me his eyes changed from concerned to angry in a split second.
"Ponyboy, where were you!?"
"Soda, come here for a minute." Steve said, walking towards the kitchen. Soda firmly grasped my arm, then pushed me down onto the couch, by my shoulders.
"You stay right there, don't even think about moving." His tone and expression one I'd never seen before on my happy-go-lucky brother. He then joined Steve in the kitchen, I could just faintly hear Steve filling Soda in on what Curly had only just told him.
Steve gave me a grave look, as he walked past me. "Good luck, kid," he said, before heading back out the door. Soda remained in the kitchen, probably to mad to come out.
When he did come out, I'd wished he didn't.
He walked out unbuckling his black belt, then pulled it from the belt loops of his dark denim jeans. I felt my heart skip a beat - he couldn't
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Bella Lilac
A/N - Just a quick thanks for all the lovely reviews from my readers, they are much appreciated. Bella.