Author's Note:
Hi everyone, here is chapter 1 of the story. I hope you enjoy. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Disclaimer: The Outsiders is owned by S.E. Hinton.
Chapter 1
(Apartment Move In)
Harley's POV:
It was August 8th, and we had just pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building to move in, we had just finished our second day of driving, so we were all tired, but still needed to bring in our boxes. Much to my and Pony's protests to get all of our furniture on our own, my grandmother bought us furniture to go in our apartment. It hurt my pride the most, but Pony was a close second, followed by Darry. We weren't really used to handouts, especially from Socs, even though they were family. We were Greasers, things were rarely if ever given to us. My grandmother had called ahead to have our furniture moved in earlier today and set up ahead of our arrival. "To take something off our plate," my grandmother had said. She stayed behind on this trip because she wasn't feeling well, she was under the radar. I was really worried about her, but she insisted she was fine.
Everyone grabbed boxes from our cars and carried them upstairs to our third-floor apartment. The nice thing about our apartment is there was a fire escape that went up to one of the windows in our living room that had a balcony, so we could some fresh air. We could actually sit outside and enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Something that Pony loved to do. When we brought up the boxes, the furniture that my grandmother got us screamed late '60s style, but it incorporated Pony's and I's taste wonderful, but more on the expensive side than Pony and I had hoped for. I could hear my grandmother's voice in my head saying, "I just want you to have the best, something that your parents couldn't give you." There was a black leather couch in the living room, with bright orange armchairs on either side and a black coffee table in the middle. There was also a wood-paneled TV on a TV table facing the sitting area. There was also a little rectangular table in the kitchen that could seat four people. When I looked closer it had a note that says I fold out. I looked under the table to see a wood piece that could fold out so the table could become longer. When I opened the storage closet I saw three extra chairs in there. I shook my head and chuckled. In the bedroom, two twin beds had matching green and white plaid duvets, matching throw pillows, and white sheets. My grandmother went overboard. There was also a closet and a dresser in the room. "Your grandmother went overboard," Pony scuffed. Pony and I went to work putting our clothes away as well as the other things like pots and pans. The other guys finished bringing up the boxes and parked Pony and mine mopeds where the others were. "You hit the food jackpot!" I heard Two-Bit squeal in delight. Pony and I came running into the kitchen.
Two-Bit was standing in front of the fridge with his jaw hanging open. The rest of the guys started swarming the fridge. When Pony and I saw the fridge our jaws hit the floor as well. "When did your grandmother have time to send someone to come stock our fridge?" Pony asked in confusion. "I don't know," I mumbled. Steve ambled over to the pantry. "It looks like she stocked the pantry as well," Steve said with a smirk. Soda beamed. "Score!" Soda shrieked as he pulled Doritos out of the cupboard as well as DingDongs and Mallo Cups. Darry moaned. "Don't eat that, Little Buddy," Darry said with an eye roll. "You'll get a sugar high." "That's the point, Dar," Soda whined. Darry glared at him and put in back. "You're grandmother did go overboard," Steve said. "I think, she feels guilty about not being here, so this was her compensating," I said with exasperation. "Don't be surprised if she did something to the houses when you guys get back." The guys looked at each other in fear. "God, I hope not," Darry moaned. Two-Bit laughed. "I think it would be a good thing," Two-Bit said jabbing Darry in the ribs. I finished putting stuff in the dressers and the other things. "What's this?" Pony asked pulling out a letter. It had our names on it with my grandmother's handwriting. Underneath it was a letter for Darry and Soda, and another for Tw-Bit and Steve. I walked back out to the living room. I tossed the letters to them.
"What's this about?" Soda asked cocking an eyebrow. "Beats me," I said with a shrug. In Pony's and I's letter, my grandmother talked about how she was so sorry she wasn't there to help us move in. She couldn't wait to visit. All of the food was because she felt bad. That's what I thought it was. My grandmother said she left me some journalism books on the coffee table, classic literature, and some vinyl for the record player. In Soda's and Darry's letter, she talked about having some surprises at the house for them when they got back. She also said that she turned a few people towards the DX to give Soda and Steve some more business from the west side. She also talked about the new DPT program that OU-Tulsa is branching to reach more people in Tulsa and that Darry should apply. She had a few connections that could help. For Steve and Two-Bit, she said she had a few surprises back at home for him, and pretty much said they say the same things as Darry's and Soda's letter. It was pretty much a thank you letter saying that all of the boys were like family. It was a late night, so we all decided to go to sleep. My grandmother had made sure that there were sleeping bags for the guys, blankets, and the couch was big enough for someone to sleep.
The next morning on August 9th, I was the first one to wake up, and the first one up always made breakfast. That was the Curtis family rule, so I did so. I found one of the tubes of Cinnamon Rolls that my grandmother stalked and thought that today was considering it was a long night and the start of a new school year. It was my junior year, and Pony's sophomore year. I also found a pack of bacon and eggs to cook. Soon enough, the gang started to stir as the smells started. I was the only one who had bothered to get dressed and showered before actually showing myself. It was my classic gray tank top with my leather jacket, tattered jeans, and my beat-up black Converse. Pony came up from behind me just wearing his shorts hugged me from behind and kissed my neck. "Good morning, gorgeous," Pony murmured. "Good morning, handsome," I murmured back. I turned away from the bacon and eggs and gave him a kiss which he returned. "Why don't you two do that in your room?" Steve moaned. I chuckled. "Sorry Steve," I chuckled. "Don't apologize," Soda said beaming. "Steve is just being a prickly pickle." Soda waggled his eyebrows at Steve who glared at him. Two-Bit hovered over the bacon and started to try and pick one up with a fork. I hit his hand away. "Not fair," Two moaned. "Why don't you guys get dressed and cleaned up," I said. "Then the food will be ready," Two-Bit mumbled something under his breath but listened to me. When the gang was done getting ready, breakfast was ready.
Darry sat down with his food on the couch and turned on the local news. "Hey guys," Darry called. "You guys got to see this." We all scurried over to the TV to see what was going on. When I looked at the screen my heart started racing. It was a news story about Sharon Tate being murdered and it being tied to the Mason Family. "Turn this up Dar," I said. "Sure, no problem," Darry said looking at me in concern. "Oh no," Pony moaned. "She's getting another idea," Pony said. Steve rolled his eyes. Soda gave me a big smile. Two-Bit chuckled and Darry went pale. "Please tell me it will be safe," Darry pleaded. I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "I promise, it shouldn't be too dangerous," I murmured. "I'm thinking about doing a story about how cultural news, big news stories, and entertainment can influence us, and impact us." Steve looked at me like I was insane. "Sounds deep," Soda said with a moan. "Looks like you aren't the only deep one, squirt," Two-Bit joked to Pony who rolled his eyes. Pony kissed me on the head. "At least it doesn't seem like a dangerous story," Pony said. "Just an exploratory one," I said. "At least the theater course that I'm taking this semester that fits one of my core required classes that I need to take outside of my major might help." Steve gave me an odd look. "You have to take theater?" Steve snorted. "I know," I sighed. "Not my first choice, but it's something creative and it might be something I need to help me find a new voice that I didn't know I had." Darry smiled at me. "That's a good attitude to have," Darry said calmly. "At least your new story isn't dangerous." I picked up my orange juice. "Cheers to that," I said. "Cheers to that," the gang said.
Pony's POV:
It was move-in day for Harley and me into our new apartment. This was a major step for us. Moving in together. "Are you sure you guys are ready for this?" Darry had asked me before we decided to move in. "Yes, Dar," I moaned. "It's the most logical next step. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I think we are ready. Even with the split for that one year, we've been dating for a couple of years now." Darry looked at his feet obviously feeling bad about forcing us to break up that one time my senior year of high school and Harley's first year at USC. "It's not your fault Dar, you were just looking out for us," I said trying to comfort Dar. Darry just gave me a weak smile. "They're more than ready Dar," Soda said elbowing Darry. "You just watch. Plus it saves money, them sharing an apartment." "You've got me there," Darry muttered. I cleared the memory out of my head and followed Harley into our apartment.
My jaw hit the floor when I saw the great lengths that Mrs. Adams had gone to decorate our apartment for us, despite Harley, Darry, and my protests. She went overboard. Completely overboard. At least she knew what our tastes were and incorporated them. Your grandmother went overboard," I scuffed to Harley as we started to unpack. "You're telling me," Harley moaned. I chuckled. At least Mrs. Adams was looking out for us though.
The guys finished bringing up the rest of the boxes for us and helped us start to unpack. Then I heard Two-Bit start gawking at something in the kitchen. "You hit the food jackpot!" I heard Two-Bit squeal in delight. That was a sound that I thought I never heard Two-Bit make, but the only thing that would make him sound like that was food. Harley and I came running into the kitchen. When Harley and I saw the fridge our jaws hit the floor as well. It was pure food heaven. I saw food that I had never seen before and had never had. My mouth started to water. "When did your grandmother have time to send someone to come stock our fridge?" I asked Harley in confusion. "I don't know," Harley mumbled clearly mortified. Steve ambled over to the pantry. "It looks like she stocked the pantry as well," Steve said with a smirk. Soda beamed. "Score!" Soda shrieked as he pulled Doritos out of the cupboard as well as DingDongs and Mallo Cups. Darry moaned. "Don't eat that, Little Buddy," Darry said with an eye roll. I chuckled. Only Darry would be concerned about a sugar high. "You'll get a sugar high." "That's the point, Dar," Soda whined. Darry glared at him and put in back. "You're grandmother did go overboard," Steve said. "I think, she feels guilty about not being here, so this was her compensating," Harley said with exasperation. I knew she was right about that. "Don't be surprised if she did something to the houses when you guys get back." The guys looked at each other in fear. "God, I hope not," Darry moaned. Two-Bit laughed. "I think it would be a good thing," Two-Bit said jabbing Darry in the ribs. Harley and I finished putting stuff in the dressers and the other things. Then I saw some letters in one of the dresser drawers. "What's this?" I asked pulling out a letter. It had our names on it with Mrs. Adam's handwriting. Underneath it was a letter for Darry and Soda, and another for Tw-Bit and Steve. Harley walked back out to the living room and tossed the letters to them.
"What's this about?" Soda asked cocking an eyebrow. "Beats me," Harley said with a shrug. We all read each other's letters, and of course, Mrs. Adams was overcompensating for not being there. It had looked like she planned this. It was a late night, so we all decided to go to sleep. Mrs. Adams had made sure that there were sleeping bags for the guys, blankets, and the couch was big enough for someone to sleep. She had really planned for everything.
The next morning I woke up to the smell of Cinnamon Rolls, bacon, and eggs cooking. When I opened my eyes and turned over, to saw Harley's bed already empty and made. Harley must be cooking, but I should've known. Cinnamon Rolls, bacon, and eggs are her signature breakfasts. Especially for special occasions. I guess she considered today a day for celebration. A new school year and a new apartment. I walked out to the kitchen rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I walked up behind Harley, who was dressed in the same outfit that I saw her wear the first night she moved to Tulsa. "Good morning, gorgeous," I murmured in her ear and kissed the back of her neck. "Good morning, handsome," Harley murmured back. She turned away from the bacon and eggs and gave me a kiss which I returned. It felt so good to kiss her. "Why don't you two do that in your room?" Steve moaned. Harley and I chuckled. My heart fluttered. I loved her laugh. "Sorry Steve," Harley chuckled. "Don't apologize," Soda said beaming. "Steve is just being a prickly pickle." Soda waggled his eyebrows at Steve who glared at him. Two-Bit hovered over the bacon and started to try and pick one up with a fork. Harley hit his hand away. "Not fair," Two moaned. "Why don't you guys get dressed and cleaned up," Harley said. "Then the food will be ready," Two-Bit mumbled something under his breath but listened to me. I padded back to the bedroom and put on a white short-sleeved shirt, olive-colored jeans, and my gray Converse. Then I walked back out to breakfast on plates for us.
Darry sat down with his food on the couch and turned on the local news. "Hey guys," Darry called. "You guys got to see this." We all scurried over to the TV to see what was going on. When I looked at the screen my heart started racing. It was a news story about Sharon Tate being murdered and it being tied to the Mason Family. "Turn this up Dar," Harley said. I saw Harley's eyes widen and drool practically come out of her mouth. This isn't good, I thought. "Sure, no problem," Darry said looking at Harley in concern. Then it hit me, she was forming a new idea for a story. "Oh no," I moaned. "She's getting another idea," I said. Steve rolled his eyes. Soda gave Harley a big smile. Two-Bit chuckled and Darry went pale. "Please tell me it will be safe," Darry pleaded. Harley rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I promise, it shouldn't be too dangerous," Harley murmured. "I'm thinking about doing a story about how cultural news, big news stories, and entertainment can influence us, and impact us." Steve looked at Harley like she was insane. I let out a chuckle. This was something that I would think of. Maybe I was rubbing off on her. "Sounds deep," Soda said with a moan. "Looks like you aren't the only deep one, squirt," Two-Bit joked to me. I rolled my eyes and kissed her on the head. "At least it doesn't seem like a dangerous story," I said trying to calm myself down. "Just an exploratory one," Harley said giving me reassuring eyes. "At least the theater course that I'm taking this semester that fits one of my core required classes that I need to take outside of my major might help." Steve gave Harley an odd look. "You have to take theater?" Steve snorted. "I know," Harley sighed. "Not my first choice, but it's something creative and it might be something I need to help me find a new voice that I didn't know I had." Darry smiled at her. "That's a good attitude to have," Darry said calmly. "At least your new story isn't dangerous." Harley picked up her orange juice. "Cheers to that," Harley said. "Cheers to that," the gang said. Cheers to a new school year and self-discovery.
Darry's POV:
It was August 10th and it was the day that we would be returning from dropping off Harley and Pony at school. I was really nervous about them living together. Soda must have noticed. "They'll be fine, Dar," Soda said with a sigh. "They're both officially adults and they can take care of themselves. I think last year proved that." I nodded. "Plus they will be saving money, like I stated earlier this year." "You're right," I said with a sigh. "I'm just nervous. That's all." Soda raised an eyebrow at me. "You're just worried because Pony is the first of the Curtis brothers to live with a significant other." I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "Am not," I retorted. "Am too," Soda pushed back. I thought about it, but I think he might be right.
Later that night, we pulled into the driveway, and Two-Bit and Steve pulled into theirs. They followed us into our house. "I wonder what Mrs. Adams has in store for us," I murmured. "Probably something special," Soda said raising his eyebrows and smiling at me. When we entered the house I noticed that we had all new furniture. "Shit," I said. There was a note sitting on the new coffee table. It read You guys deserved an upgrade and to feel comfortable in your own home. "This couch is a good sleeper," Two-Bit mumbled as he sat down on the couch and bounced up and down. "Don't get any ideas," Soda said cocking an eyebrow. I chuckled. We all walked throughout the house. We had new appliances in the kitchen, new beds, and new mattresses, and somehow she upgraded our bathroom for us in the time we were gone. It looked like the cracks in the walls were fixed. There was another note on my bed. "Let me know when I can help finish all the things that your parents wanted to add to the house." I felt tears stream down my face. "You ok, Dar?" Soda asked me with concern. I passed the note to Soda. "This is great!" Soda said. "What's the matter?" I took Soda into a hug. "I just don't understand why she's doing this?" I whimpered. Soda ran his fingers through my hair as he does for Pony when he tries to calm him down. "I think it's because we've always been there for Harley and she wants to support us." "But we aren't charity," I mumbled. Soda laughed. "She knows that," Soda retorted. "That's why she did it when we weren't here." I chuckled. I knew he was right. There was no way that I would have let her do this. But I appreciated the gesture.