Chapter Text
Pony's late getting home, real late. I can tell Darry is worried, he always is. He already called the cops, asking them to keep a lookout for our kid brother. But, they never take us Greasers real seriously.
I hear the door open and close, and I pray it's Pony. Darry starts yelling about Pony being late. Yep, Pony is back. I head out, just happy that the kid is okay. But, of course, Darry don't see the positive. He's focused on the fact that Pony was a little careless. I don't get why he's always yelling at him, he's just a kid.
Pony keeps tryna explain that it was an accident, he and Johnny fell asleep, he didn't mean to be late. But Darry won't fucking listen. So, as I always do when they're just arguing, I step in. And Darry's response? To turn and yell at me.
"You keep your trap shut! I'm sick and tired of hearing you stick up for him!" Darry yells. Damn. He never yells at me, I think I'm starting to get why Pony never wants to be home.
And Pony, sweet, sweet Pony, stands up for me. He may be younger and more innocent, but he don't let anyone say shit to me. He looks at me like I'm a superhero in those books he likes.
"You don't yell at him!" Pony says to Darry, anger in his voice.
Now, they've argued so many times, but Darry's never laid a hand on Pony. Not even come close. So it's fucking terrifying when he slaps Pony. Pony freezes, looks like a deer in headlights, and runs off to our room, closing the door.
Darry looks like he regrets it, but that don't make me any less pissed at him.
"What the hell Darry? You might be mad but you don't hit the kid!" I yell before storming outta the house.
I know I wasn't in the fight, wasn't the one hit, so I guess I don't got the right to walk out. But I need to get away. They're always fighting. Every day. I wish they'd just get along. Darry doesn't even try to understand how Pony is feeling. He just assumes that Pony is trying to piss him off. But Pony's just learning how to be a person. He ain't ever gonna be perfect, none of us are.
And Pony, God, he don't let anything go. Every comment Darry makes causes Pony to get all bothered, and that leads to another fight. He cant ever just brush it off or ignore Darry's insensitive comments about school or his attitude or sports. He takes it too seriously, which I guess is normal for him.
I'm so lost in thought I don't even notice that there's tears in my eyes. I also don't know how I ended up at the Randle house. But, then again, where else am I supposed to go. Steve's practically my only friend. Been friends since we were little, and we ain't planning on stopping, so why find other people.
I don't wanna wake his parents, so I walk around back. Their house is basically the same format as ours. I've snuck in and out of his window dozens of times, so it's engraved in my mind on how to get to it. I knock on it, praying he's awake. And he always is.
I try to wipe the tears away before he opens the window. I don't cry in front of people. That's not what Sodapop Curtis does. I'm the happy one in the group. But he opens it fast as hell, like he's been waiting by it, and he sees some of em anyway.
Without me even asking, he hops out the window. He lands on his feet in the dirt. He's gotten pretty good at it. The first time we snuck out, he faceplanted and nearly broke his nose. That was real funny, except for the fact that he got blood on his shirt. I never really liked the sight of blood.
"What happened Pepsi? Ya normally let me know if you're coming over." Steve asks, his smirk gone.
He knows this ain't something I ever do. I don't really like going to people's homes unannounced. Feels wrong. Like I'm invading their space and time. Don't wanna be a burden.
"Darry and Pony were fighting again, and Darry slapped Pony. I needed to get outta the house and I guess I had no where else to go." I say with a shrug. "I can head back though, don't wanna bother ya."
Steve shakes his head. He knows I ain't going back for another hour or more. And knowing him, he won't let me go walking around alone. After Johnny got jumped, we practically never go anywhere without each other. We got a better chance if there's two of us at least. Plus, we both decent fighters.
"C'mon, let's walk to the park, clear your mind." He says, climbing back through the window. Comes back out with two denim jackets.
I put on the one he hands me and thank God he grabbed em. It's fucking freezing here at night. I guess I hadn't noticed it before cause of how worried I was.
We start walking. We used to go to the park all the time when we were kids. It was our thing. I mean, what else are we supposed to do in this small town. So we'd walk there, play on the equipment, and once we got older we'd just sit and talk, maybe smoke.
I remember, the first time we went, it was still summer. It was only a few days after we became best friends, but we were as inseperable as we are now. My dad walked with us, he was still alive then.
I mostly remember it cause the scars it left on our hands. Being the idiot children we were (and still kinda are), we decided to play on the metal equipment that had been sitting in the sun all day. It was so hot that it burned our hands enough that we both still got matching scars to this day.
We practically never stop bragging about em. They're like matching tattoos or rumble scars, but we've had them for so long.
We get to the park. Luckily, there ain't no Socs nearby. Steve might have his knife, but that's our only defense other than fist fighting. And if more than 2 or 3 come at us, we're so fucking screwed.
We sit on the swings, laughing as we try to swing higher than the other. I always get higher than Steve, but I think he's been letting me win since we was little. He lets me win a lot. I think he likes seeing me happy. And it makes me real happy when he get excited too. He's always been more interesting to me, even more than Sandy.
I like her well enough, but she's kinda boring. Never up for any fun. Plus, if I'm right, she's been cheating on me. But, I plan on breaking up with her soon anyway.
"Stevie, why do ya always let me win?" I ask, still swinging back and forth.
"Cause you get real happy when ya win." he responds, laughing a little.
But, the laughter slowly stops and I follow his gang. A blue mustang is pulling up the park. With 5 Socs. One of em is that Bob Sheldon kid. I think he's the one that's been fucking Sandy behind my back.
But, shit, they're walking right towards us.