On The Outside (A The Outsiders FF) #Wattys2015

Chapter 16

We left what we soon found out was city hall after the ambulance arrived and the paramedics took Darry away on a gurney on an ambulance truck. It was silent the whole way back to the house - everyone was still absorbing the fact that Darry, the oldest and the father figure of the gang, was dead.

"Now I feel bad for always fighting with him." Ponyboy muttered, breaking the uncomfortable silence. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and gave him a comforting hug. He was shaking from his silent sobs.

"Oh, Pony. Everything's going to be okay. Trust me. Life will carry on and you'll move on." I reassured, although I didn't feel like I was helping. I didn't even believe myself, and I couldn't help but break down into tears.

"We're going to end up in a boys' home!" Soda said, running a hand through his greased-back hair. "Dakota's not old enough to take care of us - she's only seventeen." I guess I haven't thought of that before. What was I going to do? They can't go to a boys' home, we'd miss them!

"I swing by your house everyday and I'm old enough. Don't worry about it. If anyone ever asks, I'll just say I live with y'all." Two-Bit said, putting a hand on Soda's shoulder.

"Thanks, Two-Bit. I hope you're right," Soda replied. "Hey Steve, you didn't happen to call the police while you were calling the ambulance back there, did you?" he said, trying to change the subject.

"Come on, buddy, I'm not stupid. Of course I did. Told 'em that Cherry held us hostage and shot Darry. I think I hear 'em now." Steve said. Sure enough, sirens were wailing in the distance, and behind a group of trees, red and blue lights flashed.

Just as we were about to go through the gate that welcomed us to the house, a news van skid to a halt on the street next to us. A brunette news reporter hopped out from the back of the van and made her way over to us, a cameraman following her. She stopped right in front of us and faced the camera, holding a microphone just below her mouth, smiling.

"Thanks, Andy. I'm here with the group of teenagers new mayor, Sherri Valance, kidnapped and held hostage. May I ask you guys a few questions?" she said. We just nodded. "Great."

She turned to face Luna, who was right next to her, and asked, "So, how did you guys manage to escape Sherri?"

Luna went on to explain how Dally came up with the plan, which we stuck to, until Cherry threatened us with a gun and actually shot Darry, causing us to knock her out and escape. The reporter seemed thoroughly interested in the story.

"Now, how did you get kidnapped by her in the first place?" the news reporter questioned Dally.

"She was being a creep, man. Her and her brother were following us in a black van, injected some sort of sleeping gas into us with a needle, threw a sack over us, and tossed us in the van. Ended up locking us in a freaky dungeon cell under city hall. Don't trust that broad, man." he answered her.

"Well, thank you so much for your time. Back to you, Andy." she finished, talking to the camera with a huge smile.

"And we're off." the cameraman called, and they immediately got back into the news van. We all exchanged awkward glances before heading inside the house.

The house gave me a strange feeling, like something was missing. The thing is, I knew something was. When you have a close enough relationship with someone to think of them as family and you lose them to death, reality strikes you like lightning once something reminds you of that person. That's the exact feeling I got as I stepped through the threshold of the front door.

"Did you want us to stay the night here tonight? Ya know, so you guys could have some company?" Johnny asked thoughtfully. Ponyboy just simply nodded weakly.

I made my way into the kitchen, took out a few beers from the fridge and a chocolate cake from the freezer, and placed them on a round, silver tray, figuring the gang would want some. 

When I entered the living room once more, holding the tray as if I were a waitress, the rotary telephone that sat upon the side table by Darry's recliner rang. Soda picked it up in a hurry and placed it to his ear.

"Hello?" he answered. "Yes, this is Sodapop, Darrel's brother," he said. The person on the other line spoke for a moment, and whatever they were telling him made his eyes widen and his jaw drop open in some form of happiness. His mouth slowly grew into a smile. "No way. No. Way. But how?"