Well this chapter took way longer then I wanted it to but class got out of control and finals just snuck up on me. But I'm done now so here we are.
Enjoy!
After the buddies ate their dinner and Soda and Ponyboy did the dishes, the two brothers, Johnny, and Dally sat in the living room to watch T.V while Darry was working on bills.
"…it has been now forty eight hours since Scott Gregory was kidnapped from Charles Street after getting released from school. Gregory is said to take Charles Street home along with other teenagers everyday. Police have recently required an eyewitness to the crime and more information for us." The news anchor said and Soda sat up straight turning up the volume.
"Darry!" Soda shouted and Darry came right in.
"Police have gotten word that the suspect was driving a 1965 black and white, G.T 350 Ford, Mustang with tires that have two red lines on them."
"Mustang? That's a Soc car. Narrows it down a little bit and we know now that the guy's rich," Soda stated.
"Of course he's rich. You know what? I don't think we need to hear any more of this," Dally said snatching the remote and changing the channel. The gang found an old movie that they watched until Darry announced that it was time for bed. Dally as promised decided to stay the night with Johnny resting in the armchair.
"Are you positive that you want to stay Dally," Johnny asked?
"Will you stop saying that? It's fine," Dally said.
"Alright, see you all tomorrow," Soda said and he and Ponyboy went into their room. "Goodnight Pony," he said getting under the covers with him.
"Night," Ponyboy mumbled and Soda turned off the lamp leaving them in complete darkness. "Hey Soda? Do you…do you feel safe here with Darry?"
"Wha…yeah I feel safe with Darry. Are you still not feeling safe?" Soda asked putting his arms around his little brother but nothing was heard in response. "Honey we…we can't let this beat us. If we do, then Lynch is gonna win this fight. All of us have to be tuff in order to get through this."
"Why is it always us Soda? How come bad things always happen to Greasers?" Ponyboy asked.
"I don't know Pone. That's just the way it is I guess," Soda responded back and Ponyboy took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. Soda afterwards started to rub Ponyboy's head.
'Stay calm stay calm. Don't make Soda worry more then he already is.' Ponyboy thought to himself.
"Darry's right down the hall and I won't leave you for nothin'. You remember how he was during the rumble after that Soc started kicking you? I thought for sure he was gonna kill that guy," Soda said.
"You weren't too far away from what Darry told me," Ponyboy said grinning.
"Yeah that Soc made me so mad when I saw him. No one ever messes with my baby brother," Soda said starting to tickle Ponyboy.
"So-da!" Ponyboy whined and Soda giggled at last stopping the tickling.
"Try to get some sleep and I'll be right here if something goes wrong," Soda said.
"Thanks Soda," he said back and Soda laid back down keeping one arm stretched out over Ponyboy who meanwhile was staring out the window. The trees where swaying back and forth violently making eerie noises so much, that it made him shiver.
'Come on Curtis. Lynch is nowhere near here. Darry's right down the hall like Soda said. You're safe.' Ponyboy told himself and closed his eyes.
"Ponyboy!" A frantic voice called out and Ponyboy shot out of bed. He looked around and noticed not only that it was light again, but that Soda was no longer in bed with him.
"S-Soda?" He called back but no answer was heard. He quickly got up out of bed and went into the kitchen where Darry was cooking breakfast and Soda was sitting at the table eating a small piece of chocolate cake.
"Mornin' Pony," Soda said.
"Morning," He said confused. All of a sudden they heard the kitchen back door being kicked open and Mr. Glass stood outside the door.
"Who the hell are you?!" Soda said jumping out of the chair he was sitting in standing in front of Ponyboy. Mr. Glass walked into the kitchen light and his hair changed from brown to blond and a mark suddenly appeared on his cheek.
"It's Lynch," Ponyboy whispered and Lynch flashed a wide smile. Darry ran at Lynch, but he grabbed Darry's wrists and threw him to the ground instantly. Ponyboy's eyes went wide as Darry went down to the ground and his breathing became heavy.
"Darry will stop him. Darry will keep you safe," Ponyboy whispered to himself. Darry got back up but didn't see Lynch pulled out a gun from his pocket.
"DARRY!" Ponyboy shouted but a loud 'boom' was heard afterwards. Darry's eyes went wide as he looked at his brothers and fell to the ground. Blood started coming out of his mouth and he went still. "D-Darry," Ponyboy managed to get out before his eyes began to water and his breathing became even faster. "This isn't real. You're safe," He mumbled while staring at Lynch's smile again as he started walking towards him and Soda.
"DARRY! YOU SHOT MY BROTHER YOU BAST***!" Soda shouted and ran towards Lynch who just pushed him and he hit his head on the stove and fell to the ground knocked out.
"Soda!" Ponyboy yelled watching Soda fall to the floor and then stared back at Lynch.
"Y-you're safe. You're safe it's okay," He continued mumbling to himself while walking backwards as Lynch continued walking forward towards him.
"NO! Stop it! This is a dream! Wake up!" Ponyboy continued saying and was finally against the entranceway of the kitchen. At this point, Lynch had caught up to him and pushed him against the neighboring wall.
"We're going to have so much fun together," Lynch said in Mr. Glass's voice as he patted Ponyboy's head.
"Y-you're fine. It's safe!" Ponyboy mumbled again and Lynch grabbed him and carried him like a sack of potatoes out the door.
"NO! DARRY! SODA! HELP ME! YOU PROMISED! DARRY!" Ponyboy screamed kicking and punching his attacker but to no avail.
"Pony…Pony," Soda moaned on the floor reaching out for him.
"SODA! HELP ME! PLEASE!"
"Ponyboy wake up!" Soda shouted.
Ponyboy shot up out of bed looking around the room frantically. "Pony! Baby it's okay, it's alright!" Soda said cupping his brother's cheeks.
"No! It's not safe!" Ponyboy said and that's when the door shot open making him flinch. The light turned on the reveal Darry with a baseball bat and Dally behind him. "Darry!" Ponyboy shouted jumping out of bed and went to hug him. Darry, taken off guard dropped the bat and held onto his baby brother as he sobbed.
"Shhhhhhh, I've got you," Darry said looking back at Dally who went back to the armchair.
"I…I t-thought…"
"You thought what honey?" Soda asked and Darry walked Ponyboy over to their bed so they could sit down. "What happened?"
"Lynch was here. He…he shot you Darry. You couldn't save me," Ponyboy explained.
"Oh Pony," Darry said and Ponyboy leaped into his arms again with Soda joining in rubbing his back.
"Shhhhhh, it's over now. We're here. No one can hurt ya now," Soda whispered.
"Y-yeah. We're safe here with Darry. He'll keep us safe." He said looking out the window.
"That's right baby. I'll protect you; I promise." Darry told him tightening his grip and Ponyboy took a few deep breaths.
"I'm sorry I woke you," Ponyboy said.
"Shut it," Darry answered back.
"Darry?" Ponyboy asked after a minute.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think you could…?" Ponyboy asked but Darry interrupted him.
"Yeah. I'll stay tonight." He said and the three brothers got comfortable in bed with Ponyboy sandwiched in between the two older brothers. Ponyboy lifted his head off his pillow and looked out the window one last time.
"Come on Ponyboy, go to sleep. You got that big track meet tomorrow and your team's counting on you," Darry said and Ponyboy laid back down on his pillow. He kept his gazed focus right on Darry who started stroking his hair, while Soda continued to rub his back again just as their mother use to do when they were young. At last, Ponyboy's eyes closed and he was fast asleep within minutes with Darry soon following after.
Once Soda heard that Ponyboy and Darry were asleep, he let all the tears that he had been hiding roll down his cheek and put his face in the pillow to try and hide his sobs as best he could. After letting his frustration out, he laid on his side holding on tighter to Ponyboy while letting out soft whimpers.
"He does it just for the hell of it." Soda whimpered to himself shaking over his own words. "Darry will keep you safe. Darry will keep you safe," he continued telling himself and gave Ponyboy a soft kiss before eventually crying himself to sleep.
Break*Break*Break
"Uh, Mr. Glass?" Ponyboy said the next day in class as he was just about to leave the science room.
"Yes Ponyboy?"
"I don't know if you're interested, but here's a poem I wrote for English a few weeks ago if you want to read it."
"Wonderful! You know what? Why don't you stop by at lunchtime and we can talk about it; it just so happens that I've written a few poems and stories myself over the years."
"You have?" Ponyboy asked surprised.
"Oh yes. Sometimes when I've got nothing to do, I just sit outside and write whatever comes to me. It's my way of relaxing and not having to worry about grading the never ending lab reports and exams you all make me grade," He said making Ponyboy chuckle a little. "You know when I was a boy; I'd always use to sit with my mother in her garden while she planted flowers," Mr. Glass explained.
"My mother did the same thing with us too. We have so many pictures of me and my brothers sitting in the garden trying to pull her flowers up that she just planted," Ponyboy said.
"Ah yes, I did that plenty of times and got my mother so mad at me. You know what? I think I have a poem I wrote about her just the other day," He said and started going through his bag. He pulled out a yellow folder and went through some papers inside. "Ah here it is. Now it's not all technical like your English teacher expects it to be, but it still serves its purpose."
"Wow, that's nice," Ponyboy said taking the paper from Mr. Glass.
"You can take it with you if you want. I can always write another."
"Thanks," Ponyboy said.
"So what do you say? Here at lunchtime?" He asked Ponyboy.
"Okay," Ponyboy responded.
"Great! See you then," Mr. Glass said and Ponyboy walked out of the classroom feeling good.
"Hey Ponyboy. Writing some more?" Johnny said walking over.
"Hey. No, Mr. Glass gave it to me. He says he's a writer just like I am. He and I are going to meet during lunch and talk about a poem I gave to him. Then he gave me this one."
"What's it say?" He asked and the two buddies pulled over to the side of the hallway and Ponyboy read the poem out loud.
"To my mother who made me who I am.
You were there when I first opened my eyes,
and gave me all the love you could muster.
If I cried, you made me smile again.
When I needed you, you were always there.
To my mother who made the monsters leave,
and gave me courage with my schooling years.
The one who got us kids to stop fighting,
helping us find peace with one another.
To my mother who is no longer here.
Who left without letting me say goodbye.
And ask why you left me here all alone.
But I know you never meant to do it.
You love me too much just as I…love you."
Ponyboy and Johnny were silent after reading the poemand just looked at each other.
"Wow. That was awful pretty," Johnny said breaking the silence.
"Yeah; makes me think of mom," Ponyboy said sadly.
"I guess that's what it's supposed to do. I wish my folks were like that; would make this a whole lot easier," Johnny said.
"What?" Ponyboy asked.
"You know; with…h-him and everything."
"Oh. Yeah. Momma and dad would keep us safe." Ponyboy said thinking about his parents. "I hate this! Nobody knows where Lynch is and we…..…we're victims he's looking for," Ponyboy said slamming his fist against the lockers.
"Will you stop talking about him like that?!" Johnny shouted making Ponyboy take a small step backwards and ignoring everyone suddenly staring at him. "I'm sorry Pone. It's just…"
"Well, would you look at this boys. Looks like the janitor forgot to clean up this part of the hallway. He missed a spot right there," a Soc said who was a senior and pointed at Ponyboy and Johnny.
"The only trash here is you Soc; nothing but white trash with mustangs." Ponyboy said.
"Oooo we got the feisty kind of trash. You know Grease; I'd be less focused on us and more worried about that killer that's been spotted around here. At least I'm eighteen and don't have to worry about him. But you…you greasers look like the perfect candidates for his next killing. Did you hear that there's a rumor that Lynch likes to play with his victims? He does it nice and slow," The leader Soc said who had brown hair and brown eyes. Johnny was now white as a sheet.
"C-come on Johnny." Ponyboy said trying to move away from the conversation with Johnny but neither of them had the strength to move.
"Yes I did Mitch. And I heard that he stalks his victims and gets to know them before he even captures them. He watches and follows them every step of the way without even being seen by the victim until he knows you better then you know yourself. Then, he doesn't even leave a ransom note once he kidnaps you. Your families never hear from you again; that is if you even have anyone who cares about you," another Soc with red hair said looking into Johnny's green eyes.
"You s-shut your trap!" Ponyboy shouted.
"S-shut your trap!" Mitch mocked. "Are you scared Grease? Maybe you should go back home to your mama. Oh wait…" Mitch said and he and his friends started laughing. Ponyboy started to run for them but Johnny held him back.
"Let's go." Johnny said and the two started walking away from the chuckling Socs.
"Darry was one of the best football stars we've ever had and even got a scholarship for it. But then he had to throw it all away thanks to you! Bet if Lynch captures you Grease, Darry won't even bother looking for you. It'll give him a chance to go back to his normal life," Mitch yelled.
"His normal life," Ponyboy mumbled as he and Johnny continued walking away.
That's all for right now. Hang in there guys, the part that everyone wants to see will be coming up in the next two or three chapters; I promise. Happy Holidays to all!
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LaurenHardy13