From Weakness to Strength

Sunset Grease

Darla finally had her name changed. She let it remain the same and made no changes to it. She was also finally off of her crutches and had her cast removed. She had all of her strength back. Darry enrolled her in Ponyboy's school and was placed in all the same classes as him so that he could help her catch up. Ponyboy was a good teacher to Darla, so when she did end up going to school, she had no trouble catching up with the other kids. Two-Bit was a junior at their school Two-Bit didn't go to school for the education, more so because he had an audience for his comedic stunts.
Nobody ever messed with Darla because everyone in the school knew about her and her history. And besides, she had Two-Bit and Ponyboy by her side all the time. 

One day when Darla was switching out books in her locker, she heard a voice. 
"Hey, Cowbell!"
"Shit," Darla whisper-yelled before she turned around. Before her she saw Elaine Chase and her two side bitches that were always with her. 
They approached her with a strut. 
"You know I could drop your ass right here if I wanted to, right?" Darla asked. 
"Calm down, will ya, Cowbell? Leave us, girls," she told her two friends. They left after giving Darla slight glares.
"I came to give my apologies," Elaine said. Darla really wasn't in the mood for this. 
"You're five years too late, princess. You ruined my life. You're the reason my family is gone. If you'd just kept your big mouth shut and not cry to your daddy because three boys stood up to you for bullying a defenseless child, you probably would have half a chance of my forgiveness."
"I was ten, okay? I wasn't as tough as I seemed to be. And I tried to stop him, you know," Elaine replied. 
"Well, you sure failed, didn't you?" Darla asked, cocking her brow and giving stink eye. 
"My dad was never really a good man. Neither was my brother. They're both doing time in jail right now. It's just me and my mom and my mom is filing a divorce on my father for what he has done. All these years I felt bad, but no one knew where you were until the newspaper of the church fire in Windrixville came up along with your trial a few weeks after. I wanted to talk to you, but I couldn't get the courage. I'm sorry I bullied you," she said, outstretching her hand. Darla hesitantly took it. 
"I'm sorry you bullied me too. Hopefully you learn that we're not so different from each other as you thought when we were kids. We can still see things the same from both sides only if we choose to see it. I hope you do," she said. 
"Thanks...Darla," Elaine said. 
"See you around, Chase," Darla said. Elaine walked away from Darla as Ponyboy and Two-Bit came from behind Darla. 
"What was that about?" Two-Bit asked as he cautiously stared at Elaine Chase as she reunited with her friends. 
"She apologized," Darla asked. 
"Really? Did you forgive her?" Ponyboy asked. 
"Not exactly. Let's get to class," Darla replied as she closed her locker and separated from Two-Bit as he headed to his class and her and Ponyboy went to theirs. 

English class was the last class of the day, but it was also boring that day, so on Darla's piece of scratch paper she started writing some random nonsense. Up until the nonsense turned into words and those words turned into poetry and the poetry turned into a song. Once she felt like she had finished it, she was so proud of it by the time the bell rang, Darla sprinted from her seat and ran home. Usually she'd stay and watch Ponyboy practice on the track field, but she felt too excited about this. 
It took five minutes to run home and she took all the shortcuts she knew. 
She got home and she was the only one home. She dropped her backpack and went towards the piano. She took out the sheet she had written the words on and started playing with the chords, then added the words. She worked on this for quite a while. 

Ponyboy and Two-Bit walked in laughing, then as soon as they saw Darla at the piano, they immediately stopped in their tracks. Not long after, Darry, Soda, and Steve came in talking and immediately fell silent. It took a moment before Darla stopped. 
"Well, ain't that pretty?" Steve commented. This startled Darla, causing her to jump and slam her hands against the keys, making a very obnoxious sound. 
"Jesus Christ!" Darla exclaimed before looking behind her. "Don't scare me like that."
"Sorry, missy," Steve said, patting Darla's shoulde.r 
"What was that you were playing?" Ponyboy asked. 
"Oh, nothing. It's just stupid," Darla replied shaking her head. 
"No, no, no. Let's hear it," said Two-Bit. 
"Yeah," all the boys agreed. 
"Alright, alright," Darla gave in. "I'll just sing one verse and that's it," Darla said. She started playing the piano and sang:
"Seize ... upon the moment of long ago
One breath away and there you will be
So young and carefree again you will see
That place in time
So gold"
Darla stopped. 
"That was very pretty, Darla," said Darry. 
"It'd sound even prettier with my harmonica," said Steve. 
"Yeah, and my drums," said Two-Bit. 
"And my bass," said Soda.
"And my acoustic," said Darry. 
"And my electric," said Ponyboy. 
"How dare you. I wrote this song for Johnny and Dallas. Not for you to try and make it something your own," Darla hissed. 
"We're sorry. We just wanted to make something fun out of it," said Steve. 
"Say, we just had an idea!" said Two-Bit. "Why don't we make a band?"
Everyone except Darla exchanged murmurs of agreement. 
"If Darla's okay with it, of course," said Ponyboy. The boys looked to Darla. They even gave her pleading looks and pouting lips. Darla couldn't help, but giggle.
"Okay, fine!" she gave in. 
"Yes!" the boys exclaimed in excitement. 
"We'll be a real rock and roll band," said Steve. 
"Yeah, Steve. Your harmonica is soo rock and roll," Darla said sarcastically. 
"You know I can play a mean tune on that thing," Steve smirked. 
"Yeah, when you're not drunk," Darla remarked. The guys laughed and started to tease Steve. 
"Hey, since we have our band. What should we name our band?" Sodapop asked, crossing his arms in a thinking stance. 
"How about The Jailbirds?"  Steve suggested. 
"Nah, man. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," Two-Bit chimed in. 
"No, Two-Shit. Grease is better," Soda interjected. 
"How about Sunset?" Pony interjected. They boys then all started to talk over themselves. Darla exchanged looks with Darry. 
"Will the lot of you stop?" Darla exclaimed, getting the boys attention. 
"How about we name the band Sunset Grease?" Darla suggested. 
"Yeah, I like that," Darry said in agreement. 
"Yeah," the others agreed. 
"So, there we have it. We got all members, instruments and a name. Now how about our first show?" Steve asked.
"There's a school dance coming up. I'm sure the school wouldn't mind us performing a song...or two," Ponyboy said. 

Darla completely forgot all about that stupid dance. It's a Spring Fling Formal and she thinks the whole idea is stupid. She never liked events that were crowded with people. Back then it was mostly because she was worried people would look through her and say "Aren't you the girl that murdered your parents?" or "Hey, it's that missing kid in the newspaper!" 
But, no. Turns out it's because she just has social anxiety when it comes to large crowds of people.
"Hey, Darla," said Ponyboy as she was gathering her music sheet on the piano. 
"What is it, Ponyboy?" Darla asked. 
"I was just wondering...if maybe you'd like to go with me...to the dance?" he asked. 
Darla was completely speechless. She's never been asked to anything formal by Ponyboy. It was mostly just the movies, the lot, the Dingo or the park. 
"Uh...yeah. Sure, I guess," Darla replied. 
"Cool," Ponyboy said, giving Darla a sweet smile. Darla couldn't help, but smile back. She then considered that if she were to go with Ponyboy, it'd make her time there a lot easier.