Darling

I Started A Joke

The whole gang, minus Johnny and Dallas, were at the Curtis house preparing for the rumble. Mentally preparing.

Except for Steve.

Steve was pumped.

Of course, it was hard to be sad when Steve and Soda were messing around. Darlene will forever be grateful for their optimism and laughter, even if it wasn't always appropriate.

As much as Darlene loved hanging out with them, she decided to sit in her room for a bit instead. Her chest hurt with anxiety and she needed some quiet. Not too much though, because too much quiet is arguably even scarier. The muffled voices of her friends laughing in the living room was the most comforting thing she could listen to right now.

She had a plan set in her mind. She wasn't going to follow them to the spot. She was going to wait 5 minutes after they leave, and walk there then. She didn't really plan on fighting. She felt she couldn't, but she wanted to be there in case something happened. Just in case.

She closed her eyes and simply listened to the sounds around her.

The leaves rustling in the wind outside her window.

Cars passing by.

Footsteps from all the people in the house.

Crickets beginning to chirp.

Two-Bits cackle.

She laughed to herself. His laugh is hilarious.

"Darling, we're gettin' outta here!" Darry called from the living room.

Then she heard the boys cheering before the door shut, and the noise of the rowdy guys shifted outside. Darlene peeked out her window and watched them run and jump around down the street, Ponyboy on Darry's back.

She sighed and went to her closet, picking out a pair of comfortable jeans and a t-shirt. She slipped into her bland outfit and walked out to the front door where her steel-toed boots sat. By the time she had them tightened and tied to her feet, it was time to go.

She opened the door slowly, as if someone was there to catch her, then stepped out onto the porch before walking down the concrete path to the gate.

"Here we go."

---

When she arrived to the spot, where most rumbles were held, she hid behind an abandoned car where her brothers couldn't see her. It had started to rain and her feet were sinking in the mud. The thunder was so loud she could feel it. Once the socs pulled up and crowded in front of the greasers, the tension was almost unbearable. The two groups stared at each other, some looked angry, some scared, some excited. The main soc, the big guy who she recognized as Paul who went to highschool with Darry, stood in front of him, a permanent sneer on his face. They used to buddy around together, play football. They spoke to each other, but Darlene couldn't make out what they were saying. They didn't look thrilled to see each other, though.

They stopped speaking for a moment, waiting to see who would throw the first punch. Darlene's heart pounded in anticipation.

"A rumble ain't a rumble without me!"
Darlene looked to her left to see Dallas charging towards the crowd, and just like that, the rumble started, and Ponyboy was immediately knocked out cold.

Oh, goddammit!

She sprung up from her place behind the car and ran through the mud and people, trying to get to her brother. She was so close when someone grabbed her by the collar of her jacket and threw her into the mud. That person then grabbed her by the hair and kicked her in the stomach.