In hindsight, Two-Bit's beater was probably the worst choice for this stealth mission. The old Chevy could be heard chugging a mile away. Luckily, it was a fairly common occurrence on the East side. Everything and everyone was pretty beat-up and run-down over here. Two-Bit's car wasn't even the worst they'd passed in their travel. When you're trying to be secretive, every little sound feels like it triggers lights and sirens screaming 'Look-At-Me'. Soda knew he was being paranoid, but all this was a lot to process. His eyes were glued to his brother's Oldsmobile, even though they kept a car or two between them. Surprisingly, Two-Bit was pretty good at tailing someone discreetly. Close enough not to lose sight, far enough away not to be spotted. Any other time it may have raised some questions; Steve made a mental note to ask him why he was so good at this later.
Before long Darry pulled into the local supermarket, and the boys were close behind. Two-Bit was sure to stay at the back of the parking lot as the couple parked and headed inside, not wanting to get too close. He parked and cut the engine in an attempt not to draw attention. Once the pair had entered the store, Two-Bit started getting out of the car.
"What are you doing?" Soda asked, half tempted to grab his friend's arm and pull him back in the car.
"Going inside..." Two-Bit said as if that was the dumbest question he'd ever heard.
"We can't go inside," Soda shook his head.
"Then what was the point of following them?" Steve countered. He understood it was an odd situation, but the Curtis brothers couldn't avoid each other forever.
"We ain't gotta talk to 'em," Two-Bit said closing his door, "You can stay here if you want, but I'm goin' in."
"Me too," Steve was out of the car in a second heading to the entrance. Soda hurriedly tried to catch up with his friends.
"Just gonna see what they're up to," Soda said, sounding far less confident than he'd intended.
"I wanna see what they're buying," Two-Bit sounded far too eager to essentially stalk his friend. It was the drama of it all that got him excited. The wheels in his head were already turning about how he'd relay this story in the coming days.
"Groceries probably," Steve rolled his eyes, "What else would they come here for?" As they entered the store Steve and Two-Bit continued to bicker back and forth. At least they didn't look suspicious. Three hoods walking in silently looking the place over typically resulted in a robbery. The only thing unsafe here was whatever piddly shit Two-Bit decided to shove in his pockets. Honestly, it was like he didn't even realize he was doing it anymore. Half the things he stole he had no use for he just liked taking them.
"Would you two knock it off," Soda shush them aggressively, stepping between them as if that would end their squabbling.
"Right sorry," They muttered a half-hearted apology.
Darry and his girl weren't doing much besides grocery shopping. They made their way up and down the aisles, debating what they wanted to get right now. The house had absolutely nothing since it had been unoccupied for the last two years. After traveling halfway across the country, they had to be mindful of their spending. Neither of them had started working yet, so they weren't exactly swimming in extra money.
The trio moved carefully to not get spotted, shuffling about thoughtfully examining things here and there. Chances are the more natural they tried to look, the more suspicions they aroused. In their minds, though, they were doing an excellent job.
"I can't even hear what they're saying," Two-Bit complained, trudging right through the produce section. A few displays separated him and Darry now. Soda's eyes looked like they would bulge out of his head, but he made his way over. They didn't come to watch from the shadows; it still felt too risky. Getting caught was the last thing any of them wanted. Confronting Darry came in a close second, though Soda hoped to avoid both.
"If you want an office, just use the smaller bedroom." The brunette said, picking up a bag of potatoes and placing them in the buggy, "We don't need to have a guest room."
Soda furrowed his brows; that was the room he and Pony shared. They were turning it into an office without a second thought. We don't need a guest room, meaning they don't want guests. That realization stung like a slap in the face. Her statement solidified how much they wanted nothing to do with what little family Darry had left. Soda was ready to leave right then and there, though his friends had other ideas.
The couple turned down the bread aisle. Steve and Two-Bit had at least busied themselves as if they were shopping, not just creeping around. Slowly maneuvering through the store, looking at a few things, straining to hear the rest of the conversation. Nearing the end of the produce section, Two-Bit slipped a tomato into his pocket.
"What are you doing?" Steve, unenthused, scoffed.
"What?" Two-Bit asked innocently.
"You don't even like tomatoes," Steve held his hand out, gesturing to his friend's jacket pocket.
Two-Bit acted offended at the accusation, "Yeah, I do,"
"No, you don't," Steve shook his head, "I've seen you almost refuse to eat because your food had tomatoes."
"I've turned over a new leaf," Two-Bit shrugged, "Trying new things," Truth be told, Steve was absolutely right. He hated tomatoes with a passion, but he couldn't help himself. Sitting there so perfectly round, the urge to take it was overwhelming. Besides, he figured he could pocket another one and they could throw them at Darry's car. If things went south it might make Soda feel a little better.
Steve let out the most exasperated sigh, "I hope it explodes in your pocket,"
"Shut up!" Soda shot a look enough to quiet them both.
"Man, you been living with Birdie too long." Steve almost shuddered at Soda's glare. It was the same look his aunt gave them all when they were out of line. So similar it was almost scary. That statement earned him another, less aggressive, glare from his best friend.
At this point, they'd lost track of their target. Down the bread aisle they went, then the baking aisle, and nothing. So much for surveillance. The supermarket wasn't that big, they shouldn't be too hard to find.
"Maybe we should just leave," Soda's words were almost helpless. What were they doing here anyway? It wasn't helping anything, Darry didn't want to talk to him. Honestly, the only thing he had accomplished was hurting his own feelings. Not that he'd admit that to the guys; he'd give anything to go back twenty-four hours and be blissfully ignorant again.
"What? No way!" Two-Bit had no reason to object other than this was the biggest fix of drama he'd gotten in a long time.
"We ain't accomplishin' nothin'. What's the point?" The three turned down the next aisle.
"We can go if ya want to," Steve said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He quickly shot Two-Bit a glare before he could object. A look that said, 'This isn't about what you want'.
As they neared the end of the aisle in front of them was the brunette they'd been following all afternoon. Standing on tiptoes, trying to grab a box from the top shelf. Soda stopped dead in his tracks, ready to run.
"C'mon, let's go," He said, turning on his heel. Steve started to follow suit.
"Wait," Two-Bit said, causing his friends to pause, "Let's talk to her."
"No way!" Steve said before Soda could even think to.
"Why not? Darry ain't over here, and I bet we can get some info outta her." Two-Bit was committed. Once he made up his mind it was no easy feat to change it. Before they could object again he was headed to offer a helping hand.
"Two-Bit," Steve and Soda said through gritted teeth; it was no use. He threw a wild grin over his shoulder at them before taking matters into his own hands.
"Here, let me get it," Easily he grabbed the box she was struggling to reach, handing it to her.
"Oh, thank you so much!" He was met with a warm smile and genuinely grateful words. Even though she was dressed down, she was still good-looking. Her jade eyes sparkled, even without words he could see the gratitude in them. The smile that lit up her face revealed two dimples. Overall, she radiated happiness. No one was ever this happy to be in a supermarket on the East side. Maybe it was that pregnancy glow everyone talked about.
"No sweat! Hey, I don't think I've seen you 'round here before." In true Two-Bit fashion, he cocked a brow. He knew how to sweet talk anyone, though it was typically for a different reason.
"I just moved here with my husband," She put the box under her arm and stuck her hand out to him, "I'm Matilda Curtis."
The moment Two-Bit stalked towards her, Soda prayed the Earth would crack open and swallow him whole. This wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind. He didn't have any plan in mind, but a confrontation was definitely the last thing on his list. When the words 'husband' and 'Curtis' came out of her mouth, Soda thought he would faint on the spot.
Despite all the emotions swirling around in his head, he ran straight toward Two-Bit. Steve was on the same wavelength; he too was in a full sprint to stop Two-Bit from introducing himself. They both knew he didn't have sense enough to use his real name and would certainly ruin their cover.
Two-Bit extended his hand to take hers, "I'm Tw-" Before he could finish his sentence Steve skidded to a stop, barreling into Two-Bit, lurching them both forward.
Steve grabbed the back of Two-Bit's jacket steadying them both. "Hey there you are buddy," He said putting an arm over Two-Bit's shoulders and clearing his throat, "Keith, you found a new friend?" Steve prayed his friend got the hint. He wasn't always quick on the uptake.
"Yeah," He said slowly, as the pieces all came together, "This is Matilda Curtis. She just moved here." He was sure to reiterate Curtis, in case they hadn't heard it from her.
"Please, call me Tillie." She interjected.
"Steven," He replied, "And this is our friend-" He drew a blank, glancing over a Soda. If she was going to know anyone's name, it would be his. Shit.
"Patrick, nice to meet ya." Soda flashed that movie star smile. The smile that would stop anyone in their tracks. You'd never guess how much he was dreading this interaction right now. Yet here they were, might as well get some info out of her. He was going to kick Two-Bit's ass later, that was for sure, "So you just moved here?"
"We did. Well, my husband actually grew up here." She said thoughtfully, "Maybe you know him? Darry Curtis?" She hoped Darry would reconnect with some old friends once they arrived in Tulsa. Maybe it would get him out of this funk.
"Darry Curtis," Again Two-Bit cocked a brow, looking to his friends, "I dunno, does that sound familiar?" Steve and Soda looked as if they were pondering the name, drawing a blank.
"He used to play football," She offered, hoping it might jog their memory.
"Football?" They murmured amongst themselves as if they were trying to recall an old schoolmate.
"Was he the benchwarmer?" Steve asked looking from Tillie over to the guys. They might as well have some fun with it.
"Oh yeah, he was a glorified water boy," Two-Bit added.
"I don't think so," Tillie said softly. Not wanting to be rude, but certain that they weren't recalling the right person. Darry got a football scholarship; he was set to go pro before his injury. Curtis wasn't a super uncommon name she figured there were others around town.
"Huh, coulda swore that was him," Steve said, stumped.
"Was he the one that always fumbled the ball? 'Bout got kicked off the team?" Two-Bit offered.
"That's him!" Steve snapped as if they'd cracked the code. They continued to banter back and forth, throwing out absurd suggestions. It was a wonder they were able to keep a straight face. Poor Tillie kept offering up any info she could, growing concerned with how awful their football team had been with so many notably bad players.
"I can go grab him," She said, gesturing to the next aisle. Even if they didn't recognize him, they seemed nice enough it would be good to have some friends. Their bantering stopped, quickly turning into stammered replies.
Before any of them could choke out a coherent thought, Darry rounded the corner, "Did you find your Froot Loops?" He called out before he even had a chance to take in the scene in front of him. Tillie had been hooked on the cereal the last few weeks. Junior demanded them, as she liked to say.
Soda's heart was racing. It was too late to run, not that he had a clear shot out. He was boxed in by everyone. Trapped like an animal; he would have gnawed his arm off if it meant freedom. Darry placed his hand on the small of Tillie's back, ready to ask who she was talking to when he was met with three all too familiar faces. The color drained from his face as if he'd seen a ghost. His stomach sank as he locked eyes with his little brother. The tension was palpable. Steve dropped his arm from Two-Bit's shoulders, the two ready to retreat slowly. Take cover, a bomb was about to go off. Tillie looked from her three new acquaintances to her husband. Confused as to what she was missing.
"I know who he was," Soda said, finally breaking the awkward silence. Darry's silence was worth a thousand words. That dread of confrontation he had slowly bubbled up into a rage. Two years and not so much as a hello. Darry couldn't even act like he was happy to see his brother. Didn't try to make an effort to introduce his wife. He held Darry's gaze, not daring to break the eye contact. There were a million things he could say, most of them nasty, but he didn't dare waste his breath, "He's the coward that left without a word." His words sliced through the air, filled with vitriol. All that pent-up animosity he hadn't realized was festering packed itself into eight words. Steve nearly winced, feeling the aggression that simple sentence held. Two-Bit's jaw nearly dropped. Neither dared say a word.
Tillie again looked to her husband, who stood there stone-faced. Before she could let out so much as a peep, Soda stormed past them towards the door. He had half a mind to shoulder-check his brother on the way out. Though the probability of that turning into a fistfight was high. The others stood there, momentarily taking in the scene before scrambling after him.
"Yikes," Steve said, shooting a look to Darry before high tailing it after Soda.
"Sorry man," Two-Bit said with a slight shrug, following suit, jogging to catch up. He wouldn't put it passed Soda to take off, leaving him behind. No way was he hoofing it all the way to Birdie's house again.
As the bell chimed and the door closed, Tillie stepped back to look Darry in the eye. She had a whole lot of questions about the entire silent interaction that took place. None too happy to be the butt of some inside joke, "What was that about?"
Darry's face contorted into a grimace, "That was my brother."