Begin [Ponyboy Curtis]

Sunrise

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNINGS: Toxic Family Dynamic, Grief/Guilt, Implied Alcoholism, Implied Selfharm/Suicide, Police

Playlist: Warning - Incubus

On my third day at the Curtis' house, I woke up before dawn. Quietly I tip-toed to the kitchen to find Darry already there, his silhouette blocked the light from the fridge. I gasped thinking I was walking into an empty room. He jumped hitting his head on the top shelf of the fridge.

"Sorry," I whispered, "I didn't think anyone else was up." I grabbed a cup from the cabinet and filled it with water.

"It's alright. Can't sleep?" He held a coke in his hands and leaned back on the fridge.

I glanced at his drink questionably, "yeah, I guess. You?"

"Not tonight," he flicked on the small stove-head light, "how are you feeling?"

"Everythings healing pretty well-"

"That's not what I meant."

I never saw Darry as a talk about your feelings kind of guy. The conversation sounded kind of forced, but I appreciated it anyway, "he hasn't called... I don't know if I'm supposed to call him first or..." I trailed off, shaking my head.

"He's your father, he should call first. But... he's going through a lot. If you feel like being the bigger person, which you shouldn't have to, you could call."

"I might soon," I shrugged, "thank you, again, for letting me stay here."

He smiled, "the way Pony talks, you might as well already be my sister-in-law."

I laughed quietly and looked down hiding my blushing cheeks, "still, I know it's a lot to ask."

He rubbed my shoulder softly, "not from us. You know the sun will be rising soon. I'm sure you can drag Ponyboy out of bed to watch it."

"Yeah?" I glanced out the window, the sky no longer an endless black sheet, "I think I might."

"Just don't wake up Soda, he's grumpy before sunrise," Darry warned. He moved from the stove to his coffee machine, "you want a cup?"

"Yes please," I answered softly before heading to Ponyboy and Sodapop's room.

Ponyboy whined and pushed my hands away after my first attempt to wake him up. I squatted next to the bed and asked, "do you want to watch the sunrise?" in a hushed tone.

His eyes opened slowly and he grinned, "yeah."

He scurried out of bed, I cringed watching Sodapop roll over but the boy remained asleep. Pony grabbed two jackets, one for both of us, and led me down the hall to the kitchen. I could tell from the tone of the window that the sun was just about to hit the horizon. Darry left me out a mug for coffee, Ponyboy grabbed himself a coke, and we went out to the back porch.

The sunrise was cooler toned than usual. Of course, the sun itself was golden, but the sky remained a chilly blue and purple tone. It was rare, beautiful, and fitting. I leaned my head on Ponyboy's shoulder and we shared a cigarette.

"Imagine getting to live with your girlfriend," Ponyboy joked.

I huffed a laugh and held my warm coffee between my cold fingers, "sorry it can't last forever... I'm going to call my dad today."

He went quiet for a moment before wrapping his arm around me, "I'll be there if you want me to."

"You've got school today."

"I convinced Darry to let me stay home with you one more day."

I smiled, "now who's gonna take notes for us?"

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," I could tell he was rolling his eyes, without even looking at him.

I waited until noon to call my dad, even if he did sleep late he had to be up by twelve. Anxiously I tapped on the wall waiting for his voice to interrupt the ring tone. Ponyboy sat on the couch watching me. We'd repacked my bags just in case Dad asked me to come home.

Ring... Ring... Ring... "He didn't pick up," I glared at the phone and dialed my home number again.

"Maybe he's at Stacey's?" Ponyboy suggested, but it didn't clear the tension floating around in my chest. Once again the line was ignored.

"Maybe you're right."

"Come on," Ponyboy stood up and grabbed his shoes from in front of the door, "we can just go check. Maybe he's asleep."

"Yeah," I nodded, "okay."

After the argument and watching the way he made Stacey flinch I didn't really want to go back home, but it felt wrong not to check-in. He was grieving too, and sometimes we say things we don't mean when we're hurting.

Pony tried to spark a conversation while we walked but I kept getting distracted on the way there. It's crazy how unanswered questions can keep the mind from settling.

"You remembered your key right?"

"Yeah," I nodded but tested the door handle out of habit, "oh, it's unlocked." We walked in and cringed at the smell, "oh my god. Dad?"

"What is that?" Ponyboy covered his face with his shirt.

"I don't know," we walked further into the house, I noticed some boxes from the attic were sitting in the living room. They were full of family photos and other memorabilia like mom's wedding dress. "He's been in the attic, maybe something was dead up there." I lead Ponyboy up the steps where we found the attic open. I called out again, "dad?"

"I don't think he's here."

"His car is out front," We looked at each other confused, and made our way back downstairs. I went through the kitchen to the garage, assuming he wouldn't have heard us from in there. The kitchen had a vague smell of alcohol, however, everything mostly smelled like rot. Again I opened the door and asked, "dad?" And again I got no response, "I guess he's not here!" I yelled out.

Once I closed the garage I realized the smell was worse. I walked back into the living room and saw Ponyboy staring into the hallway bathroom, his jaw was dropped. He slammed the door before I could peek inside and pulled me away.

"What?" I asked, "what is it?" I finally got a look at his face, his eyes were brimmed with tears and his face was pale. Goosebumps ran down my arms, I already knew before I asked the question, "it's him isn't it?"

Ponyboy gripped my arm and practically dragged me to the kitchen while he made the call. Everything around me blurred. I needed to cry but for some reason, I couldn't. I stepped backward until my back was pressed against the wall and I closed my eyes.

"Dorthy let's wait outside."

"No."

"Yeah," he held onto my other arm, "we're gonna wait on the porch until the police get here."

He had to lead me out of the house and to the porch swing. Neither of us spoke, we just sat and waited for the flashing red and blue lights.