A/N: Iwrote this while watching a Miami N1 livestream, and the scream I scrumpt when Taylor came out in a new Reputation outfit needs to be studied. Speaking of…the next time I post a chapter will be from New Orleans, where I'll be attending NOLA N1! Manifest that Taylor sings New Romantics for me please!
P.S. automatic transmission wasn't exactly standard at this time but I don't know how to drive a manual, let alone describe it, so we're gonna pretend Michael's car was an automatic and call it good.
"Press your foot on the brake as you turn the key, no need to twist it for too long. Great. Now keep that foot on the brake as you shift into drive. Double-check your mirrors, good. Now ease off the brake and voila, you're driving!"
I couldn't help but smile from behind the wheel. It felt weird to be driving for the first time, if you could call inching forward in an abandoned parking lot "driving." Michael was shocked when I mentioned to him that I hadn't started practicing yet, being that I was almost old enough to get my learner's permit. Dad had taken Darry driving for the first time when he was 14, and Soda was probably even younger. I guess teaching me to drive was one of those things that just slipped through the cracks after Mom and Dad died. I don't think my brothers were eager to get me driving after what happened to our parents, too.
I was surprised when Michael offered to teach me the basics of driving, and even more surprised when he let me practice on his nice Chevy. I suppose he didn't really have another car for me to use anyway. The two of us had been spending more time together, especially when Darry and Soda were at work. I guess Michael had figured out that I didn't like sitting around the house by myself, and his job was fancy enough that he apparently could leave at random points in the middle of the day. That was fine by me, it meant free ice cream and trips to the library.
"Your brothers really haven't started teaching you how to drive yet?" asked Michael, interrupting my thoughts.
I shook my head. "They've been busy," I explained. "Real busy," I added with a smirk. Michael raised an eyebrow at me before I explained. "Soda told me what really happened last week. Didn't take you for a criminal," I teased.
He laughed. "Me either, Pony. Just another example of how getting drunk leads to bad decisions, which is why you shouldn't do it."
I rolled my eyes at his impromptu mini-lecture before re-adjusting my hands on the wheel.
"You don't have to be nervous," Michael reassured me, nodding toward my hands as they noticeably shook. "There's nothing to hit out here."
"I'm fine, just shaky from not smoking," I explained.
"Have you had a cigarette since we talked?"
I nodded sheepishly. "A few. Not nearly as many as I used to, though."
"That's good. It's certainly not easy, Ponyboy, but I'm proud of you."
I nodded and turned my head to face forward, trying to hide my embarrassment and refocusing on pulling into a parking spot. The lot was empty and I was moving at a speed of about 5 miles an hour, but I was proud of myself nonetheless when I managed to pull perfectly within the lines and put the car in park.
I smiled and looked over at Michael, who looked like he was trying not to laugh. "Hop out, we'll switch spots and I'll take you home."
It was only when I got out of the car that I was able to see that I had parked in two whole parking spaces, looking as if I had ignored the lines completely. My face burned with embarrassment as I got in on the passenger side and allowed Michael to take me home.
— — — — — — — — — —
Usually, when Michael took me home he just dropped me off at the curb, so I was surprised when he actually parked the car and got out with me. I knew Darry had been working since 6 am this morning and probably wasn't in the best mood, so I wasn't sure why he was tempting fate, I just hoped I wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.
It was evident that I was the last one home as we stepped into the chaos that was typical of my house. The TV was cranked up as loud as it could go, Two-Bit sat in front of it with a piece of chocolate cake like a little kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. Soda was taking his usual after-work shower, not bothering to shut the bathroom door so he could have a conversation with Steve, who was playing solitaire at the kitchen table. The two had spent the last couple of hours working together, but I guess they never ran out of things to talk about. Darry was at the center of it all, trying to cook an edible dinner that would feed all five of us. All six, I guess, if Michael planned on sticking around. That was looking less likely, though, judging by the look on Michael's face. I guess despite having been to our house a few times he had never actually witnessed the true chaos that usually rules our lives.
"Soda you better cut off the shower before you run up the water bill!"
"Shut your trap, Darry, I can barely hear the TV over your yelling!"
"I can barely hear myself think over the TV, Two-Bit!"
"I don't think that's the TV's fault, Steve!"
I could hear Soda's laugh from the bathroom. I gave Michael a look that said good luck before going to my bedroom to throw my things on the ground where Darry would certainly trip on the mess at some point and get mad at me for it.
By the time I had re-emerged, the TV volume had been lowered considerably, Steve's game of solitaire having been abandoned and traded for a game of poker that Michael had somehow been roped into. I could tell he was apprehensive, but he didn't say anything, so I didn't either. Darry clearly wasn't thrilled that he was there either but continued to make dinner without protest.
"Soup's up, put the poker away and set the table," Darry announced once he had finished. Everyone all but ignored him except for me and Michael, both of us moving to grab plates and silverware.
"Am I speaking French? Get a move on, let's go," said Darry. I could tell by his tone of voice that he didn't have the energy to put up with this today, and the guys must've sensed it too because they quickly abandoned the game and cleaned up the cards.
The six of us crammed around the small table and began eating, the atmosphere tense as we all tried to reconcile Darry's mood and Michael's presence.
"Mrs. Henderson came to the DX again today, the one who's always claiming something's wrong with her car," Soda started, working his magic to lighten the mood. "Well, today it was all about the 'rattling noise' she could hear, I popped the hood and looked everywhere, turns out it was some dishes in her backseat leftover from the bake sale she did."
"Sounds like the time she complained her door wouldn't close because she didn't realize she had to move her seatbelt out of the way," added Steve. "Oh wait, that was Two-Bit."
We all laughed at that, even Darry, remembering when Two-Bit managed to buy his car from a junkyard before he could even drive.
"I was fourteen, okay? I think it's time to let that go," protested Two-Bit.
"Sounds like you're just as clueless around cars as I am," said Michael. "I thought diesel and gasoline were the same thing for years."
"Okay, even I know that," I teased. "But remember when Dally took his car out for the first time?"
The table erupted in laughter at that, remembering how Dally had hit the curb multiple times and threatened to skin us all if we dared to tell anyone.
"He was one of your friends that went to Windrixville with you last year, right?" asked Michael.
The laughter died instantly, the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop. A sense of panic began to surge through my chest, my breaths becoming fast and shallow. We talked about Johnny and Dally occasionally these days, but not Windrixville, never Windrixville. I felt Soda's hand on my shoulder and could see that his mouth was moving but I couldn't hear the words.
"How do you know about Windrixville?" I managed to choke out.
"After you told me about your friends I looked in the newspaper archive at the library, I didn't mean to upset you," Michael said warily, looking apologetic.
"It's—it's fine, really. I'm fine," I insisted, my chair scraping behind me as I stood up.
"Pony—" started Soda.
"I'm gonna go do my homework," I said, making a quick exit to my room.
I thought I had been doing better lately, but one mention of Windrixville and I could hardly breathe. I could hear Two-Bit and Steve making an exit, my outburst having ruined the night. I buried my head under my pillow, not wanting to hear their awkward goodbyes. My head was still buried when light from the hallway suddenly flooded my room as the door opened and disappeared just as quickly as it was shut. There was a curt "oh shit" as someone tripped over the stuff that I had dumped on the floor before the weight of the bed shifted as someone sat next to me.
"You okay?" asked Soda, his hand rubbing my back. I shook my head, worried that my voice would betray me and give away the tears that were beginning to leak from my eyes.
Soda scooted closer before laying down next to me and softly rubbing the back of my head. "You're gonna be okay, though. You're a tuff kid."
I shook my head. Falling apart at the mention of a town didn't seem very tuff to me. We sat like that for a few minutes, Soda carding his hand through my hair, me trying to hide the sniffles he could definitely hear.
"You don't get to come into my house and tell me I'm not good enough!"
The sound of Darry shouting, followed by glass breaking, caused me to lift my head and Soda to shoot off the bed.
"Stay here," was all he said before bolting out of our room to investigate. I ignored him, following closely behind.
Darry stood in the kitchen, surrounded by broken glass, his face bright red. The front door was open, the sound of Michael's Chevy starting up and speeding down the road filling the house.
"What—" started Soda.
Darry pointed toward the front door. "Michael never comes here again, you hear me? You don't talk to him, you don't let him in, nothing. We're done."
Sodapop and I continued to stand frozen, both trying to decipher what happened, as Darry stormed off to his room and slammed the door. I let the tears flow down my face freely now, allowing myself to fully feel the weight of the night's events. My family was falling apart.
A/N: Gotta love family drama. Wonder what happened that would set Darry off like that? Gee, I hope it's revealed in the next chapter, which is releasing October 25, that you should definitely check out to find out. In the meantime, leave a review and let me know what you think of this chapter!