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‘ Soda was glaring at him. “Leave my kid brother alone, you hear? It ain’t his fault he likes to go to the movies, and it ain’t his fault the Socs like to
jump us, and if he had been carrying a blade it would have been a good excuse to cut him to ribbons.”
Soda always takes up for me.
Darry said impatiently, “When I want my kid brother to tell me what to do with my other kid brother, I’ll ask you—kid brother.” But he laid off me. He always does when Sodapop tells him to. Most of the time.
“Next time get one of us to go with you, Ponyboy,” Two-Bit said. “Any of us will.”
“Speakin’ of movies”—Dally yawned, flipping away his cigarette butt —“I’m walkin’ over to the Nightly Double tomorrow night. Anybody want to come and hunt some action?”
Steve shook his head. “Me and Soda are pickin’ up Evie and Sandy for the game.”
He didn’t need to look at me the way he did right then. I wasn’t going to ask if I could come. I’d never tell Soda, because he really likes Steve a lot, but sometimes I can’t stand Steve Randle. I mean it. Sometimes I hate him.
Darry sighed, just like I knew he would. Darry never had time to do anything anymore. “I’m working tomorrow night.”
Dally looked at the rest of us. “How about y’all? Two-Bit? Johnnycake, you and Pony wanta come?”
“Me and Johnny’ll come,” I said. I knew Johnny wouldn’t open his mouth unless he was forced to. “Okay, Darry?”
“Yeah, since it ain’t a school night.” Darry was real good about letting me go places on the weekends. On school nights I could hardly leave the house.
“I was plannin’ on getting boozed up tomorrow night,” Two-Bit said. “If I don’t, I’ll walk over and find y’all.”
Steve was looking at Dally’s hand. His ring, which he had rolled a drunk senior to get, was back on his finger. “You break up with Sylvia again?”
“Yeah, and this time it’s for good. That little broad was two-timin’ me again while I was in jail.” ‘
________Ponyboy POV__________
Dally stated as he walked away into wherever in the neighborhood. Johnny sat next to me on the porch for a second before Darry called me in to get homework done. I went inside and headed to me and Soda’s room as Darry sat in his recliner chair.
Soda was on the bed laying down and reading some magazines as I pulled out some stacks of homework. I had been given more than average by my history teacher, she didn’t like me very much and I guess she wanted to test how smart I was, but this’d take me ‘till tomorrow and I might miss the hangouts we usually have before movies.
I sighed before taking my pencil out of this new case I was given by Two-bit (who stole it)
I started with Biology then worked through English which was pretty easy, then Math. Glory, did I hate math. It was my weakest subject but apparently Mr. Symes says that’s common with people who excel in English.
I had finished my Biology somewhat fast, same with everything but math. Soda turned over to watch me half-way through my English making jokes that I'd just wave off. He grinned and looked at my finished homework saying things like
“You’re so smart”
“Golly, that’s a lot”
And my least favorite
“You’re really gonna make it somewhere”
I knew I was but I didn’t like to think about it too much so I just rolled my eyes and brushed it off.
I finally got to my history, deciding to split it in two. If I didn’t finish the second, I'd finish it up tomorrow because Darry still needed to check my math.
I struggled for a bit but once I got the hang of it the work was somewhat easy. I finished the first half before going out of the room and giving Darry my math for him to correct before dinner.
I only got two questions wrong and he helped me figure them out, only a few snide remarks from both of us. I just couldn’t help it, I didn’t like Darry all too much and he clearly hated me. He also made me put a bandaid where my scar was.
We did my math and Darry headed to the kitchen to make dinner while I headed back to me and Soda’s room. I closed the door and put all my homework in my bag besides the second half of history. I sat back at the desk and Soda furrowed his brow.
“What?”
I asked
“Your history teacher gave you a lot”
He said with an almost concerned voice
“Nothing I can’t handle, she just wants to make sure i’m smart like the…”
“Socs”
Soda finished for me, sighing
“You’re smarter than half of ‘em y’know”
“I know”
He smiled at me and I smiled back as he opened his arms and I crawled in the bed cuddling him.
Soda was everything. He was the most amazing brother anyone could ask for and I'm so happy to be able to have him.
We lost track of time because before I knew it Two-bit was busting through the door with Steve behind and telling us to wake up because dinners ready
Me and Soda threw a pillow at them and they loudly walked away laughing, we untangled ourselves, rubbed our eyes and got up. I fixed my hair while Soda just left for food.
I left the room soon and came over to the dining table
“No Johnny or Dal?”
“Nope”
Darry shrugged. It was common that the two didn’t always eat dinner with us. Steve and Two-bit it was even more common they came everyday, with Steve's old man always kicking him out and manipulating him and Two-bits sister causing crazy of course they’d stay here
“So, did the kid here learn anything at school?”
Two-bit chuckled
“More than you have in the past, what? 2 years?”
“Wowwww, got a real smartass here”
Steve said, raising his brows. He got good grades. All A’s & B’. He’d graduate in a year unlike Two-bit who’d probably stay a Junior ‘till he’s 20 something and the law comes and scoops him up.
“Very funny, Stevie & Pones”
Two-bit mocked us both. Steve blushed and threw food at him causing Two-bit to throw some back.
“Aw so Evie can call you that but not me!?”
“Correct”
Steve rolled his eyes as Two-bit pouted before laughing. Darry stayed silent besides the occasional sighs and telling them to knock it off.
Eventually we finally got a quiet table and finished up our meals. I thanked Darry and said I was gonna take a shower.
“Oh what? C’mon I need to shower first”
Steve complained. He spelled like car oil, sweat, blood and some other nasty shit that guys like him fight in; i just blew raspberry at him
“Little ass”
I heard him mumble before turning to Soda who gave him a sweet smile. Those two were attached by the hip.
I hopped into the shower and washed my hair and scar. It stung when I ran hot water over it but I quickly changed it to cold so our water bill wouldn’t be so high and so the others could get a hot shower, they needed it more. I would just have to remember to put a bandaid on my scar or else Darry will freak.
Once I got out I swear I almost slipped. Thankfully silently but it still felt embarrassing, I was trying to be tuff but it wasn’t working so far. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, I said to myself before leaving the bathroom and heading into the room to change. I changed into an old shirt and pants, grabbing a book.
_______________
' I remembered how awful Johnny had looked when he got beaten up. I had just as much right to use the streets as the Socs did, and Johnny had never hurt them. Why didthe Socs hate us so much? We left them alone. I nearly went to sleep over my homework trying to figure it out.
Sodapop, who had jumped into bed by this time, yelled sleepily for me to turn off the light and get to bed. When I finished the chapter I was on, I did.
Lying beside Soda, staring at the wall, I kept remembering the faces of the Socs as they surrounded me, that blue madras shirt the blond was wearing, and I could still hear a thick voice: “Need a haircut, greaser?” I shivered.
“You cold, Ponyboy?”
“A little,” I lied. Soda threw one arm across my neck. He mumbled something drowsily. “Listen, kiddo, when Darry hollers at you ... he don’t mean nothin’. He’s just got more worries than somebody his age ought to. Don’t take him serious ... you dig, Pony? Don’t let him bug you. He’s really proud of you ’cause you’re so brainy. It’s just because you’re the baby—I mean, he loves you a lot. Savvy?”
“Sure,” I said, trying for Soda’s sake to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
“Soda?”
“Yeah?”
“How come you dropped out?” I never have gotten over that. I could
hardly stand it when he left school.
“’Cause I’m dumb. The only things I was passing anyway were auto
mechanics and gym.”
“You’re not dumb.”
“Yeah, I am. Shut up and I’ll tell you something. Don’t tell Darry,
though.” “Okay.”
“I think I’m gonna marry Sandy. After she gets out ofschool and I get a better job and everything. I might wait till you get out of school, though. So I can still help Darry with the bills and stuff.”
“Tuff enough. Wait till I get out, though, so you can keep Darry off my back.”
“Don’t be like that, kid. I told you he don’t mean half of what he says ...”
“You in love with Sandy? What’s it like?”
“Hhhmmm.” He sighed happily. “It’s real nice.”
In a moment his breathing was light and regular. I turned my head to
look at him and in the moonlight he looked like some Greek god come to earth. I wondered how he could stand being so handsome. Then I sighed. I didn’t quite get what he meant about Darry. Darry thought I was just another mouth to feed and somebody to holler at. Darry love me? I thought of those hard, pale eyes. Soda was wrong for once, I thought. Darry doesn’t love anyone or anything, except maybe Soda. I didn’t hardly think of him as being human. I don’t care, I lied to myself, I don’t care about him either. Soda’s enough, and I’d have him until I got out of school. I don’t care about Darry. But I was still lying and I knew it. I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me. '
________Ponyboy POV__________
I woke up in the morning a little sweaty, Soda was still clinging to me and I had to pry him off of me. I finally got him off of me and fell off the bed with a groan causing him to stir and wake. He peeked over to my side and gave a tired chuckle
“You good?”
“The greatest”
He chuckled again before turning back over to sleep. I got off and wiped myself off before leaving the room and going to make breakfast. Darrel was asleep on the recliner and I started searching for everything I needed. I just decided to make some bacon with chocolate cake. Steve and Two-bit love Dar’s chocolate cake. Speaking of the two, I peeked back into the living room and they were both falling off the couch with beer bottles.
I groaned before going over while making the bacon and picking them up. How girls could stand them I'll never know.
I just wanted to hang with Dal and Johnny already. I sighed a few times while making the bacon, breathing the smell in. Apparently everyone did too because before I knew it Dar was making coffee, Two was drinking water for a hangover and Steve was helping with the bacon. Soda came out too and messed with Steve. They tackled each other into the living room and Darry had to interrupt.
I finished the bacon, sliced the cake and put the plates down. When I did the doors opened, there was Johnny.
“Hey! It’s Johnnycakes!”
Two-bit grinned
“Hi, Two”
Johnny gave a soft smile
“Come sit, Johnny”
Me and Soda said at the same time and he came over and sat down. I gave him a plate of food.
“Is Dally still up for the movie?”
“‘Course he is”
Johnny nodded, I smiled sitting next to him
“Soda, Two and Darry have to do the dishes”
Steve chuckled. Whoever cooked breakfast got exempt from dishwashing
“Oh what!?”
Two-bit practically yelled causing a headache to all
“Quiet it down, glory”
Darry said, flicking a crumb of cake at Two. Steve looked so cocky that he didn’t have to wash dishes. No one wanted to make Johnny do ‘em. We just didn’t, I never knew why because he loved helping me but maybe he just liked helping, not doing.
I finished up my food quickly when I remembered I still had to finish homework. I excused myself, which only me and Darry did.
I went over to Dar and told him I had some more stuff to finish, he nodded ‘cause he had food in his mouth and I headed back to my room.
After a few minutes I could hear the rustling of everyone getting settled and washing dishes. I sighed for a second, got up and played some quiet Elvis. I loved Elvis, I wished I looked like him and Paul Newman but Steve always said I looked more like Priscilla. He only said it to get a rise outta me and glory did it. I wasn’t no girl, I was a tuff greaser no matter what ol’ Steve says.
I was struggling on this one part of the textbook but then I heard somebody mumbling as they approached; banging on my door
“C’MON OUT, PONY!”
I heard Dally yell. You could always tell it was Dallas. Dallas had a distinct voice, the only one slightly similar would be Steves. Both filled with hate & violence. Except Steve’s could go soft. Dallas never went soft.
“Dallas, cut it out!”
I heard Darry yell, coming down the hallway
“Ponyboy's gotta finish his homework!”
I could hear Darry’s annoyance at Dallas waking up like he owns the place, like he’s my brother and gets to decide.
I could basically smell, taste, see and hear Dallas’ annoyed eye roll, the one he does when he doesn’t care because it comes with a scoff.
“I don’t give a FUCK, Darrel”
“Dallas!”
You could hear the smug in Dallas’s “fuck” and you could hear the frustration in Darrys “Dallas!”; even Darry knew not to mess with Dal on a bad day, but Dal was clearly just teasing him right now.
I heard Dally chuckled before knocking on my door
“You and Johnnycakes come meet me under the street light at the corner of Pickett and Sutton”
“Alright!”
I finally said something back and heard Dal’s “10/4!” Before Dar’s exhausted sigh. Barely even 5 minutes into the house and good ol’ Dally is causing a racket. I doubt Two-bit didn’t follow him just to sneak into getting beers from Buck but I ignored it and kept writing.
I didn’t like Dallas but there was a fondness to him, for him. Johnny admired the ground he walked on buf I simply just felt…seen? Maybe. Sure, Dal saw me as younger, ‘cause I was but not the way Steve does. I didn’t feel SAFE around Dal, no one did but I didn’t feel he would hurt me to hurt me like he does other kids and teens.
In some ways he was a brother too. I didn’t like Steve but I've known him for so long he’s my brother too. I hadn’t known Dallas half as long yet he feels so natural to hang around, like he knows everything. He sometimes takes me outta school or out before a test to have fun and have a break. I think I can respect him for that even tho it causes chaos, it's fun, even if Darry doesn't like it
I will admit I admire that about him. Maybe even more than Johnny.
But right now, I need to focus on finishing homework, getting ready and being excited to do stuff with Dal and Johnny. I may never get this moment again, just us three and whatever happens at the Drive-in.