Miss Marley |The Outsiders|

06. Hood Rats

By seven in the morning, the house was exactly as Marley remembered it. Despite his cold and vicious exterior, Dallas Winston, the infamous hood, was quick to throw his arm around her shoulder. "When'd you show up?" He asked lazily, already reaching for a pack of smokes in the pocket of his leather jacket. She shrugged tiredly, rubbing at her eyes and barely holding back a yawn. "Last night, 'round eight."

He scoffed carelessly, lighting the white cigarette between his lips as Darry walked back to the kitchen. "An' to think you didn't even stop by to say hello. That's a real bitch move, Marlene."

The next of the gang to show up was Johnny Cade. He was much too quiet and much too scrawny for a kid his age, nearly seventeen, but the gang loved him nonetheless. Greasy, black bangs still covered his forehead, occasionally flopping down in front of his dark brown eyes. There was rarely a time Johnny was seen without his jean jacket, even if it was getting too small for the growing boy.

He recognized Marley immediately as she stood beside her brother, soaking pieces of bread in a mixture of egg, milk, and cinnamon. It was a recipe she'd learned in school, one she was excited to share with her family. For the first time since he was twelve, Johnny forgot to wipe his filthy converse on the mat before stomping into the kitchen. "Marley?" He gasped, already moving into the kitchen. Marley had no choice but to smile as she dropped the bread into the sizzling frying pan and wrapped her arms around the boy.

"You're so tall," she laughed over his shoulder, ignoring the blush that crept to his cheeks. "Darry better watch out," she added with a wink. Darry scoffed behind her, hitting his sister's arm with a dishtowel. "Keep dreamin'," he warned with a fake scowl. By quarter after, Ponyboy wandered down the hall groggily. He had switched his pyjamas for a red sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. For a moment, he leaned against the doorframe in sleepy bliss. Marley and Johnny were back to back, a wooden spoon acting as a level on their heads. "Sorry kiddo, Marley's got you by a few inches or so."

"I missed her, too," Sodapop whispered into his youngest brother's ear. With his DX vest over his white t-shirt, he took a deep breath in through his nose. "What's burning?"

"Goddammit, Dallas! One job-"

"What was I supposed to flip it with, my fucking hands?"

With a smile all too similar to his brother's, Pony moved into the kitchen, pulling plates into his arms for breakfast while Sodapop searched for his shoes. Ponyboy stole one last glance back at his eldest brother and sister before setting the plates on the table.

He missed his sister of course, but he missed the light in Darry's eyes just as much.

By eight o'clock, Marley faced the rest of the gang. First to arrive was Two-Bit Mathews, still wearing his long, rust-coloured sideburns and a Mickey Mouse shirt, the sleeves cut off. He was the first friend she made on her first day of school when she was six. The day was a blur and all Marley wanted to do was go home, but the rambunctious boy made the year more bearable. Even years after the event, he never let her forget it.

Steve Randal was the last to arrive. Unlike Two-Bit, Steve didn't have a car. He did, however, have the most money in his pocket. Ever since he was old enough to talk back to his father, Mr. Randle had kicked Steve out of the house. It had been that way ever since his wife took off years ago. After a day or two, Mr. Randle would welcome his son back home with a gruff apology and a handful of crumpled one-dollar bills. He stood with Sodapop beside Darry's truck. "C'mon Super Man, we're gonna be late for work!'

Darry rolled his eyes in response, tiredly pulling a worn brown jacket over his t-shirt. Marley stood in the doorway, arms wrapped around her while Two-Bit took a drag off his cigarette. "You sure you'll be alright?" He asked casually, "I can bum around if ya want, who needs school anyhow?" She smiled, Darry slapped the red head's shoulder.