Miss Marley |The Outsiders|

19. Unwelcome Visitors

Saturday was silent.

It was like the first morning without their parents. The silence hung in the air, coating every surface like a wave or jacket, trapping the words in your throat and waiting until tears stung your eyes. For a moment, the only sound belonged to the thin panes of glass shaking in their frames against the chilly morning air.

Marley was the first of her family to saunter down the slender hall, she hadn't been sleeping much, anyways. However, she had made sure to wrap the covers around her baby brother's shoulders and push the hair from his face before she closed her door softly. Even after all these years, Ponyboy had always managed to provide his sister with a sort of comfort she could never find anywhere else. Maybe it was the way he spoke. How his tongue spit tales and stories, jokes and memories he wanted to share. He paused every so often, just waiting long enough for her nod of encouragement before he started again. Or maybe it was-

"Jesus, I never thought I'd see the day you were up before me."

Darry kept his cold, watchful gaze on his sister's hands as her knuckles turned white. She forced a laugh, though it sounded more like a weak gasp if anything. Around her, a carton of eggs, bread, milk, and a few plates littered the crowded countertops. Almost silently, Darry made his way to his sister and stood next to her at the sink. "I was gonna make breakfast," Marley explained quietly. "Since none of you were up already, but t-then... I don't know why-"

He nodded with understanding and dropped his hand over hers. They watched loose pieces of gravel and weeds being flung across the road with the bitter morning breeze. Thin rays of golden light were forcing their way through the heavy clouds that painted the sky grey, but they both knew it would be a while until the sun would shine unobstructed.

Absentmindedly, Darry began to his thumb over his sister's knuckles, the way they watched their father do it so many times before. Marley let out a slow, shaking laugh as she wrapped her fingers around the edge of the sink again. "I didn't sleep much last night," she admitted truthfully. "I don't know how I was supposed to sleep. Hell, it was like the night before, y'know. At least I knew we were gonna bury them in the morning."

His hand left hers for a fraction of a second before it rested across her shoulders. Solemnly, Darry kept his eyes fixed on the street as Marley carefully wrapped her arms around his waist. His fingers combed through her hair slowly and methodically while she tried to steady her heartbeat. When she spoke again, her small voice was muffled nearly beyond comprehension.

"I dunno what's gonna happen, Darry. I-I really don't wanna go with him."

For a moment, he was speechless.

For a brief second in time, Darry was nineteen again standing in front of the courthouse. Marley, Soda, and Pony were standing beside him, all in their Sunday best, but he couldn't shake himself of the cold dread running down his limbs. Inside the two massive oakwood doors, laid their entire future. He could still feel the cold February air biting at their skin, the pitiful looks burning like bullet holes in their backs. He could still feel Marley's face press against his shoulder as she tried to muffle her tears for her younger brothers. "I dunno what's gonna happen, Darry."

For a brief second in time, Darry could feel her tears against his palm as he wiped them away. He could see Sodapop comforting Ponyboy the best he could just behind them. He could feel the lump in his throat only growing, but he forced the words out anyway. "We're a family, no matter what."

"I took the day off work," Darry said suddenly. "Why don't you head down to the DX with Steve and Soda? It would get your mind off things, he's really been workin' hard over there. An' I can stay here, keep an eye on things."