𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘪 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳? - 𝘗𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴 (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴)

The Gang Gets Back Together

Darry's POV:

I go ahead and call up Two-bit and Steve to see if they want to pull up after I get home from work. They are already together so at least I don't have to do two separate calls.

"Hey" I say to the phone
"Yeah? Whats up?" Two-bit says as I hear in the background "Who's that?!" then Two-bit says "It's Dar!"
"Want to come over after I get off of work?"
"Sure, what time?"
"9."
"Okay, bye"
"Bye" Then I hang up.

That went well, the last time i asked Steve and Two-bit they were drunk out of their mind and yelled through the phone for me to go away. I'm glad the gang is getting back.

It's 8:50 and I just got finished packing up my shit to go home, by the time I get back I'm guessing that they will already be there. I need to drop by the market to get a few things for dinner, I swear to God if Ponyboy doesn't eat I will shove the food down his fucking throat, he looks dead he needs to eat.

Sodapop's POV:

I know Darry said to wait to talk to Pones tomorrow with him but I can't wait, I need to know what's going on with him. Plus Dar makes Pones uncomfortable about that stuff, he thinks Dar won't understand. Which I don't blame him, but he really does understand. He looks scary and stern but under all those muscles and resting bitch face Dar really cares about Pony, but I don't think Pony realizes that.

"Hey Pones?"
"Hm?"
"Can we talk for a moment?" I say knowing it'll probably be more than a moment.
"Mhm, what about?"
"Are you okay?"

Ponyboy's POV:

What? Why is he asking me that?

"Yeah of course... Why?"
"Stop lying."

Oh. He caught on didn't he. I can't let him know I'm not as okay as I claim. I don't want him to worry, but would he? Is he talking to me because he cares or because he feels obligated? Why does he care? He doesn't, that's the thing. Of course he doesn't.

"I'm not lying" I say cautiously.
"Yes you are. You never talk to us anymore, you don't eat, you don't sleep, you always zone out, and last night you had a panic attack. Tell me what's going on, what happened? Me and Dar are worried about you Ponyboy."

He never calls me Ponyboy. Why is he acting so concerned, I know he's thinking the same thing about me that everyone else at school does, i'm a murderer.

"I'm fine Soda, really."
"Okay fine..."

Should I do it tonight? Everyone would be better off without me anyways. Yeah, I'll do it.

As soon as I finished my thought the door opened but it wasn't Dar, it was Two-bit and Steve. What are they doing here?

"Two-bit and Steve?! What are y'all doing here?!" Soda says while jumping up.
"Dar told us to come over, he'll be home in a few he told us."

The door opens again. It's Dar this time.

"Hey, I'm back from work."
"Hi" Soda, me, Steve, and Two-bit all say.

Soda then grabs Dary and pushes him to the side, I wonder what they're talking about.

"Hey Ponyboy" Two-bit says. I don't think Two-bit likes me very much, I think he just tolerates me because he has to, same with Steve.
"Hi..." I somewhat mumble.
"Golly, you look rough." Steve says. Thanks I guess?
"That's the look I'm going for." I jokingly say, even though i'm not really in the mood to be joking around, I don't even want to be here right now but I know if I try and go upstairs Soda and Dar will yell at me to come back down.

I go and sit down on the couch to read my book. Gone With The Wind  I haven't read it since Johnny died, I started again though because I know that he would want me to finish it, sometimes when I'm alone I read it out loud hoping that he's right beside me listening to me read it, I always do it at sunrise because that's our favorite time of the day. I really do wonder what Soda and Dar are talking about, they are taking awhile.

Darry's POV:

"Why'd you pull me over?"
"I had a talk with Pony."
"I told you to wait!" I said getting a little angry.
"Calm down, I needed to know what was going on, no offense he would probably be even more scared if you were with me."
"Yeah... you're right."
Then I say "How'd it go though?"
"Not that good. Don't worry we didn't argue but when I asked if he was okay I could tell he was lying."
"I wish he would just tell the truth." Soda says with disappointment lingering.
"Yeah me too Soda, all we can do is hope for the best and pray that he will talk to us at some point."
"True."

Ponyboy's POV:

Soda and Dar come sit on the couch with me, Two-bit, and Steve.

"Hey kiddo." Dar says to me. Kiddo? He's never called me that. Before I can say that Steve opens his fat ass mouth.
"Kiddo? That is the most stupid nickname Ive ever heard. That doesn't even suit the brat, murderer would be a much more suiting name for him." Oh.
Dar and Soda steps in though, God I give them so much trouble. "Hey! Don't call Pony that." Soda says, I can tell he's mad, but why? Steve isn't wrong after all.
"Yeah what the fuck Steve? Pony is not a murderer, if it was just us I would've already slapped the shit outta you." Dar says.

I feel tears forming in my eyes, I need to get upstairs, I can't let them see Im crying or they'll thing im a big baby.

"Chill! I was kidding, right Ponyboy?" Steve says trying to get some backup from me.
"Yeah. I need to go to the bathroom I'll be back."