(Pony)

"Dallas!" Darry snaps as the door slams loudly.

Dallas scoffs and waves him off, shaking the water that is clinging to his face and hair off.

I hate the way the noise has made me tense up, sending my heart into overdrive. I don't mean to be so scared, but I can't help it. Most of the places I've been, a slamming door has never been a good sign.

Soda seems to have sensed my unease, he nudges me softly with his elbow, an eyebrow raised in question.

"You okay?" he whispers, so quiet that I'm the only one who can hear him.

"I'm okay" I whisper back.

The boy from the other morning comes into the living room, plopping himself down on the couch. Another boy, younger than Dallas, follows him and sits on the couch next to him, offering up a small smile to Darry and Soda. The boy reminds me of a kicked puppy, with his dark eyes and dark hair, apprehensively taking in the room.

I recognize him as the boy from the library. He meets my eyes and I can tell he recognizes me too.

"Hey man, I'm Johnny" he says.

"Hey" I answer.

"So what's the big emergency, Curtis?" Dallas asks in a bored voice.

"It's about the kid, Dal. He's in some trouble. Big trouble. Figured you might have a clue on what to do" Darry says.

Dallas looks at me. He somehow manages to look bored and angry at the same time. It's unnerving. I shift a little, feeling uncomfortable under his intense gaze.

"That true, kid?" he asks.

I nod and look up at Darry, hoping he'll fill him in so I don't have to. I don't want to hear how my voice shakes and how scared I sound.

Darry seems to take the hint. He tells Dallas what I had told him. Dallas doesn't interrupt, just listens. His face remains cool and neutral, the only sign that he might be surprised is the slightest lift of his eyebrow when Darry mentions how my foster father had tried to get his knife out to get me.

"You are in some deep shit, aint ya kid?" Dallas says after Darry finishes.

"Dally!" Soda says exasperatedly.

"Well he is! What exactly do you think I can do for him? It's not like I've ever been caught up in a murder wrap before!"

"I haven't either, Dallas! I just thought you might know what to do, or know someone who can help him" Darry says.

"If it was me, I would've left town, hopped a freight and moved on to the next state" says Dallas.

"He's a kid, Dal. He can't just go on the run like that" Soda says.

I feel weird, having them all talk over me like this. Darry and Soda really do seem like they want to help me, and not just help me get away. They want to solve this so that I can be safe, it gives me an odd feeling that these two strangers should care so much.

Darry sighs, "You know a lot of cops, Dal. Do you think any of them would take this seriously?"

Dallas looks at me seriously. The guy sure is intimidating, I want to look away but I don't want him to think I'm a chicken so I hold his gaze. Something in it seems to soften just a little bit.

"No cop is gonna care that his foster father was beating on him. They probably won't even care that he tried to kill him" Dallas says, "But they might just care about the drugs and the murder. We just got to make sure we talk to the right cop, make sure he aint crooked".

"You should ask Tim Shepherd. He'd probably know better than anyone" Johnny speaks up.

Dallas gives the kid a smile, "Good idea, kid".

"Where'd you say you were from?" Dallas asks me.

"Up in Barnsdall. About an hour from here" I answer.

"And that's where the brother works as a cop?"

I nod. I'd seen the Barnsdall PD uniform plenty of times.

"Any reason for him to think you'd be in Tulsa? Friends or family that would hide ya?"

I shake my head, "Don't have any" I say softly, "But he knows I come to the library here sometimes".

"Why'd you come all the way down to this library? Seems kind of far" Johnny asks.

"I had a different foster placement here in Tulsa a few years ago, used to go to the library all the time. I dunno, I just really like this one" I say.

I didn't tell them that this library was the first place I'd ever felt safe. How the librarian there had been so nice to me, helping me pick out books and letting me fill out a library card, even without a guardian signature. Every other library I'd been to, they'd never let me bring the books home unless I had a guardian sign the library card. Most of the guardians I've been placed with barely fed me, let alone took me to the library to get a card signed so I could take home books.

Johnny nods and smiles like he understands but Dallas lets out an annoyed huff.

"So you ran away to the one place he might be able to follow you?"

"Well I didn't plan on hiding out in Tulsa" I say, a hint of anger in my voice, "Darry just said he'd let me stay here until I figured out where to go" I look at Darry as I say this, almost like I'm checking with him that I can still stay here with him. He meets my eyes and gives me a little nod.

Dallas rolls his eyes. "Okay here's what we'll do. I got a Tulsa cop in mind, someone who might hear you out. I'm gonna run the name by Tim Shepherd first, make sure he hasn't heard anything about the cop being dirty."

I don't know who Tim Shepherd is, but I nod anyway.

"And until then you got two options. If Darry'll let you stay here, you stay here, lay low and don't step a foot out that door until we tell you to. Or, I got a hide out in the country I can send you to. You can hop a train, and we'll send for you when it's all clear."

I don't even have time to think over my choices before Darry speaks up.

"He's staying here. It ain't safe for a kid to be on his own out there"

"Besides, it's freezing out. He'd turn into a popsicle before the cops caught him" Soda adds with a smile.

I look at Darry, "You sure you want me to stay? Even with you trying to get your brothers back?" I ask him.

Darry looks sure and steady as he says "Of course I'm sure".

"Yeah don't worry, kid. We'll keep an eye on you until this is figured out" Soda says, reaching over to squeeze my shoulder.

"Thanks" I say sheepishly to all of them. I don't think I can really convey how thankful I am that they are all willing to help me. That they are putting themselves at risk for a stranger.

"No problem kiddo" says Darry. He stands up and asks "Y'all hungry? I can heat up some leftovers if you want some dinner"

Everyone agrees and heads into the kitchen, but I stay where I'm at on the floor. When was the last time someone looked out for me like this? The last time someone gave a damn if I was cold or cared for? And now, here are these people I've just met, willing to risk putting themselves in danger for me. I can't really wrap my head around why anyone would be willing to do that for me.

Johnny pops back into the living room, "You coming?" he asks.

I nod and get up and join them all in the kitchen.

XXX

After dinner, Dally and Johnny headed out. Darry had offered Johnny one of the extra bedrooms but Johnny had said he was crashing with Dallas. Darry had pulled Dally aside before they left, the two of them having a whispered conversation that I couldn't make out. After the dishes were washed and the kitchen cleaned up, the three of us made our way back out to the living room.

"Listen kid, Dallas said you could wait with him over at his place tomorrow while the social worker is here. He'll bring you back after, I just don't think it'd look good if she saw you hiding out in the house, savvy?" Darry says to me.

I nod in agreement. I don't mind hiding away from the social worker, especially if it would be putting Darry and Soda's placement together in jeopardy. Heck, I'd hide out in an alley in the rain all day if I thought it would help them.

Darry checks his watch and sighs. "I probably better get you back Sodapop".

Soda sighs but nods. He comes over to me and ruffles my hair, I dodge away good naturedly while Soda laughs. It takes me a second to realize I hadn't been scared that he was going to hurt me, and the thought makes me smile.

"See ya around kid" he says.

"I'll be back in a few. You can lock the door while I'm gone if you want" Darry says as he puts on his jacket by the door.

I feel nervous being here by myself, especially at night time. But I don't want to ask them to take me with them. They probably want to spend some time together just the two of them, without some tag a long kid. The nervous feeling grows as I hear the truck drive away, leaving me alone. I get up and lock the door. I sit with my knees drawn up to my chest and wait anxiously for Darry to get back.

He comes back pretty quick, unlocking the door and shutting it quietly behind him. He sees me huddled on the couch and I think he can probably tell that I'm a little spooked.

"You okay?" He asks.

I already feel better now that he's back. I nod and give him a smile that he returns. He reaches out to ruffle my hair and I can't help but lean into the touch a bit.

"Alright kid, I'm heading to bed, I gotta be up early for work in the morning. Need anything?"

"Nah I'm good" I answer as I settle onto to the couch.

"You sure you don't want one of the extra bedrooms? Might be comfier than the couch" Darry offers.

A bed does sound nice, but I know those rooms are for his brothers. I don't want to take one from one of them, even if they aren't living here yet.

"I'm okay here. Thanks though"

"No problem kiddo. G'night"

"Night. And thank you"

I hope he knows I mean thank you for everything. I think he does because he just smiles as he smoothes the blanket over me and turns off the light as he heads off to bed.

XXXXX

Dallas comes over early the next morning, before Darry has even left for work. The loud slam of the screen door that marks his usual enterance wakes me from my sleep. I hadn't woken up screaming again, but I had woken up a few times, sweaty and shaky from the dreams that I couldn't quite remember. I really hadn't slept good after those so I was feeling pretty tired. I laid there with my eyes closed, just listening to the two of them.

I heard Darry and Dally exchange a few words before Darry came over to the couch where I was still huddled under the blankets. He crouched down, a hand going to my shoulder to gently shake it.

"I gotta head to work, kid. Dally's here, he's gonna keep an eye on you while I'm gone."

"Okay. See ya tonight, Darry" I say, sitting up from the couch.

He gives my shoulder a quick pat and then heads out the door. The sky is still dark, as it usually is on a cold December morning.

"Nice hair, kid" Dallas scoffs.

My hand reflexively goes to my hair. I really hate the blonde color. It makes me look younger and like a pansy. I try and flatten it down but I know the bed head won't be tamed until I can grease it back.

"Get dressed. We'll head out when you're ready" Dallas says over his shoulder as he goes into the kitchen. Feeling a little uncomfortable being left with just this tough looking hood, I hurried to do what he said to avoid angering him.

When I come out of the bathroom, dressed and with my hair greased, Dallas is standing by the door ready to go. He hands me a slice of toast and gestures with his head for me to follow him out to his car.

It's kind of a weird day. Dallas takes me over to Bucks, a cowboy bar where he has a room. He told me I really shouldn't be out until this thing with my foster father is solved but he didn't want me hanging around the Curtis house when the social worker was going to be sniffing around. So instead I hung out in Dallas's room most of the day. Johnny came over in the early afternoon, sheepishly holding up a book. The two of us took turns reading it out loud while Dallas left for a bit, saying he had 'stuff he had to take care of'. It was kind of nice, just hanging with Johnny and reading. We talked a little but he also didn't pressure me to talk, he was okay with just sitting there in the quiet too.

Dallas comes back eventually too. He laughed and told us we were boring for just reading all day, but I don't think he was actually being mean. He has a real tough exterior but I can tell he cares a lot about Johnny. Almost like he's his brother. The three of us play a few hands of cards and then Darry calls, telling Dallas it's all clear for me to head back over. While today had been a lot better than I was expecting, I'm excited to go back to Darry's. I feel safe there, secure.

Dallas drops me off and I pull the jacket tight around me as I make my way up to the door. I give him a wave as I open the front door. He doesn't wave back but he rolls his eyes in what I think might be some form of display of affection from him. I hear him drive off as I shut the door behind me.

Darry and Soda appear out of one the rooms down the hall. Soda has the brightest smile I've ever seen splitting his face and Darry looks happier than I've ever seen him.

"Hey kid" greets Darry.

"Guess who gets to move in here with you two tonight?" Soda asks excitedly.

"You got custody?" I ask, a smile of my own splitting my face now too.

"Sure did" says Darry, slinging an arm around Soda's shoulders and giving him a shake.

I really am happy for them. The two brothers are some of the nicest people I've met, and I can't help but think they deserve something to go right for them after all they've done for me.

"That's great" I say earnestly.

Soda nods and bounces on the soles of his feet, like a little kid.

"I'm unpacking my stuff right now, but Darry said we can pick up some shakes tonight to celebrate."

I don't want to intrude on their happy reunion. Seems like it should just be a family thing, they don't need me hanging around too, an outsider to their little family. But I don't want to dampen his spirit yet though, not when he's got that big grin still plastered on his face. So I just give a noncommittal shrug for now and go back into the living room so they can finish setting up his room together.

"How about me and the kid get started on dinner while you finish" Darry suggests as he makes his way down the hall towards me. Soda gives a hum of agreement and then disappears back into the room.

We head into the kitchen together and I notice an old leather bound book sitting on the kitchen table.

"How was it over at Dally's?" Darry asks.

"Fine. Just hung out with him and Johnny all day."

"Listen I know I was the one who sent you over there today, but you really shouldn't hang around at Bucks. There's nothing but trouble there."

"I won't. I don't really like bars or the people who hang around them" I say softly, thinking of my foster father who would stumble in drunk from the bars and beat on me.

Darry looks at me knowingly, with almost a look of pity in his eyes.

"Plus I don't dig country music" I say quickly, trying to change the subject.

Darry goes along, chuckling softly.

"I ain't too big a fan of it myself."

Looking around the kitchen, my gaze settles on the old book on the table.

"What's that?" I ask Darry.

"That our old family photo album" Darry says, gesturing to the book, "Soda kept it with him all this time".

I feel a spike of jealousy that they have a whole album and all I have is one picture. I can't even see my dad's face in it and they have a whole book with who knows how many pictures of their parents. It's unfair how they have so many more memories of their parents than I have of mine, but I learned that life isn't fair a long time ago.

Something in me is overcoming the jealousy and urging me to look through the book. A curiosity burns to see what's inside the book, to a get a glimpse of the family they were before their lives got torn apart.

"Can I look at it?" I ask, looking up at Darry.

"Sure, I don't mind. Soda already went through it earlier, trying to find some pictures for his new room."

I settle at the kitchen table, pulling the book towards me. A nervous feeling settles on the back of my neck, making the hairs there stand up. I put a hand in my pocket that holds my picture, the one of me and my parents, and I run the corner between two of my fingers nervously.

I jump when I hear the phone ring in the other room. Darry goes to the living room to answer it.

I can hear him talking in the other room but I can't make out the words he's saying, because for some reason all of my focus is on the photo album in front of me.

I take a deep breath and shake my head, trying to clear away the nerves that I'm not sure why I have. I settle back in the chair and open the front page.