The Outsiders: Dar-Bit

Snowy Sunday

While the rest of the gang play in the snow outside, Two-Bit tries to make Darrel feel better.

-

The folks of Tulsa had mixed reactions to the arrival of white, pure snow. Many young kids were excited by the mere thought of touching it and throwing it at each other while older folk dreaded the heaps of snow blocking their cars and their front yards.

Despite being a young, strong 20-year-old, Darrel was one of those people who hated the snow. He had to bring out a large shovel and grumpily remove snow from his truck and pathway while his brothers and the rest of the gang had snowball fights.

"Don't get any snow on the front pathway, okay?" Darrel yelled at them.

"Yeah, yeah," Ponyboy said before a snowball struck him right between the eyes.

Darrel sighed, watching as his warm breath condensed in the freezing air. He could feel his nose start to run and his fingers grow numb. He hated the cold.

His truck was finally free from the stubborn grip of the freshly fallen snow and his front yard was as clear as it can get. He quickly made his way up to the front porch, excited to get back inside.

The laughter from the gang out in the front yard grew muffled as soon as Darrel closed the front door behind him. His whole body shivered as he took off his jacket, scarf, hat, boots, and gloves. Running to his room, he slipped on his warmest pair of pajamas, a long sleeve shirt, and a pair of socks. With a thick blanket around his shoulders, the older man tried to get comfortable in his iconic chair with the daily newspaper in his hand. However, he could still feel the lingering feeling of freezing snow on his skin.

"Shit," he said, snuggling into his blanket. How could he still be cold?

-

"Aww fuck, Two!" Sodapop cried out, almost falling over when a powerful snowball hit his cheek. Two-Bit arrived at the Curtis household with the intention of checking on the eldest of the gang, but immediately blended into the ongoing free-for-all snowball fight between them.

"Where's Darry?" Two-Bit asked, laughing as Sodapop got his revenge by landing a snowball on the redhead's neck.

"Being a huge stick in the mud. You know how he is with snow," Ponyboy said, backing out of the fight in order to build a small snowman with Johnny.

"He's mad 'cause he can't show off his muscles. It's too cold," Steve joked, trying to warm up his gloved hands with his warm breath.

"Hmm. I'm gonna go check on him. Y'all stay out of trouble," Two-Bit said, running up the porch steps. Hearing the screen door slam shut, the gang looked among themselves.

"Wonder what he means by that," Dallas said, wiggling his eyebrows as he lightly tossed a snowball at Steve's head.

-

"Dare?" Two-Bit called out, closing the screen door behind him, "Baby?"

The redhead suddenly jumped when he noticed the oldest Curtis brother wrapped up in his blanket, only revealing his stone cold face.

"Jesus Christ, you scared the shit out of me," Two-Bit said with a hint of laughter in his voice, "You okay? Heard you're acting like a big, fat grump."

"Hmph," Darrel grumbled. Despite him feeling cold and annoyed, he felt himself warm up a bit when Two-Bit arrived.

The redhead walked up to the older man and placed his hand on top of his head, gently rubbing it.