Miss Marley |The Outsiders|

08. Think About It

The door flew open just as Marley slid a pan of cake batter into the oven. Dishes cluttered together in the sink while loud voices filled the house, but it gave Marley something else to focus on.

It was half past four and nearly the entire gang was home for the evening. Ponyboy was the first to walk past the kitchen, his backpack still slung over his shoulder. He was frantically brushing his hair with his hands and trying to escape before Steve could ruin it any more. Johnny was the next to walk into the kitchen. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his jean jacket, he glanced around the room quietly. "Hi, Marley."

"Hey Johnnycake," she replied as she wiped down the counter. "How's school?"

Before he could respond, the last four greasers made their way into the kitchen. Steve leaned against Sodapop lazily, using the boy's shoulder to wipe car grease off his cheek. Two-Bit had his hands on his hips, his tongue running over his lips as he eyed the spoon covered with cake batter in the sink. Beside him, Dallas threw his hand over Johnny's shoulder. "Same as always," he said bluntly. "Bob and his worshipers are tryna start more fuckin' fights."

Sodapop scoffed and pushed away from his friends. He smiled at his sister as he moved behind her and started to rinse the dishes under warm water. "As if you don't wanna good fight," he laughed. Dally narrowed his cold, blue eyes and leaned against the wall as he reached for a cigarette behind his ear. Before he could speak, Ponyboy came down the hall. "What are we doing for dinner tonight?" He asked tiredly. Marley brushed her hair back from her face as she turned to face her youngest brother. "Darry had chicken and potatoes on the grocery list," she explained. "I can start-"

Sodapop turned on his heel, showering the right side of his sister's body with water. "You ain't gonna start anything," he said seriously. "You did the dishes and mopped the floor, me an' Pony can make dinner."

Marley rolled her eyes playfully, turning her eyes to the water covering the floor. "Now I'm gonna have to mop again," she teased. In front of her, Two-Bit cleared his throat loudly and wrapped his arms around Steve and Dally's shoulders. "Think again, babe, there's a reason Darry keeps us around!"

The two boys mumbled and groaned as Two-Bit dashed to the closet, nearly tripping over his feet as he grabbed the mop. Once he had the mop in his hands, Two-Bit passed it to Dally. Without a second thought, the greaser tossed it to Steve carelessly. "It's not my mess, I ain't fucking cleanin' it."

Ponyboy stood in between his siblings, the ghost of a smile pulling at his lips. "We'll remember this the next time you need one of us to bail you outta the cooler."

"-Or when Tim wants to beat your ass an' you need a place to hide," Steve added. Marley passed the rag she was using to Sodapop as she took a step out of the kitchen and crossed her arms over her chest. Dally refused to look at her. Instead, he focused on the cigarette and lighter in his hand. "It's not our mess, we ain't gonna clean it," she said playfully.

The stench of burning tobacco filled the room as Dally brought the smoke to his lips. Then, his fist shot out and wrapped around the handle of the mop. He rolled his eyes before using the head of the mop to slap Two-Bit in the side. "Fine. I'll mop the fucking floor."

"Thank you, Dally."

"Shut the fuck up, Keith."

At five o'clock, Ponyboy and Sodapop worked hazardously in the kitchen, refusing their sister's help. Ponyboy was peeling more skin off his knuckles than off the potatoes and Sodapop was muttering under his breath every few minutes as he covered the chicken with an assortment of different spices, but the sound of Mickey Mouse on the television distracted the rest of the gang.