The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

THREE: Just Like Old Times

Madeline woke up the next morning as the sun started shining through Darry's window. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking around.

Darry turned around with a shirt from the closet in his hands, Maddie's eyes flicked over his chest without her trying.

"Sorry Maddie, thought I could get in and out before you woke up," he explained, throwing his shirt on.

"No worries," she tried to hide the smile that crossed her face, "did I sleep in here?"

He smirked and nodded, "Maybe?"

She grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him, "Darry! I told you I'd sleep with the boys!"

"I know honey, but the couch was so comfortable that I decided I should sleep there. That left the bed all empty and so I figured someone could use the space," he tossed the pillow gently back toward her.

She lunged at him, but he caught her and spun her around, "Come on Mad, I'm happy to sleep on the couch," he smiled shyly, "especially if I can come in here and see your pretty face every mornin'," he said, and leaned in so their foreheads touched.

"Well ain't we getting comfy!" Darry dropped Madeline gently and they turned to see Pony grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Get outta here!" Darry shouted, but he couldn't hide the smile in his voice, he leaned back in, but only kissed her cheek, "I'll see you tonight, right? Y'all ain't gonna run out on us today?"

"Just goin' to The Dingo to work, and then I'll be back, this bed is far too comfy to not come back," she said, smiling back.

He shut the door behind him and walked out, leaving her to change into her work uniform. She heard his truck start up and drive off.

She tied her shoes and grabbed her keys to leave, "Jack, where's Graham?"

"Watchin' Mickey with Two-Bit," the little boy said pointing, not wavering from his spot in between Ponyboy and Johnny, where Pony was reading aloud, "get your shoes on, I gotta work," she said, walking to find Two-Bit and Graham.

"Hey Maddie, me and Johnny and Two could watch the boys, you just go on ahead to work," Pony told her from his spot next to Jack, "I'm still off school for a while and Two-Bit's here all day anyways."

"Man, that's a sweet offer, are you sure?" Pony nodded and Jack kicked his feet excitedly, "Alright then, you bring them down to the Dingo if they get to be too much," she told them sternly and then got into her car to head to work.

After wiping down the tables, Madeline and Nancy got ready for the lunch rush, and a table of Madeline's classmates, including Paul Holden, who had incessantly pursued her in high school, sat down in her sections.

She let herself let out a quick eye-roll and sigh, but then plastered a smile on her face and walked over to them, "Hey y'all, what can I get ya?"

"Maddie?" Paul asked.

She smiled, "I didn't like when you called me that in high school, I don't like it now. Hello Paul."

"Aw come on baby, loosen up, it's just like old times!" One of the other boys, who she recognized, but whose name Madeline couldn't remember, whined.

"Alrighty, let's focus on those drinks, what'll it be?"

"What are you doing in town?" Paul asked, "Thought you were at some big fancy college now?"

"I'll give you guys a second to decide on those drinks, holler when you're ready," she said, fighting to keep the smile on until she turned around.

Paul caught her arm and dug his nails into her forearm, "Listen baby, this whole 'hard to get' thing was cute in school. But it's old," he was getting more and more aggressive, "why don't you play nice and just give it up, huh?"

She ripped her arm away, and one of his nails left a decent scratch on her arm, "Let me know on those drinks, alright?"

She walked away quickly, and put a long bandaid on the scrape after rinsing it. All she wanted to do was curl up on the Curtis' couch, far away from Paul.

"Hey Maddie, we're ready baby!" Paul called. She turned and walked over, leaving a larger gap between herself and the table than she normally would. She took their orders and served them when they were ready.

They'd all left the booth, but she could see Paul, who was parked right next to her car, standing in between them, waiting with one of the other boys.

By the time her shift was over, Paul was still standing there with the other guy close by. She debated walking out, but knew from experience what Paul would do.

She dialed the Curtis house and listened to it ring, hoping someone would pick up, "Hello?" She could tell it was Darry, his voice was rough, but kind.

"Hey Dar, you mind coming down to the Dingo. Paul Holden is waiting by my car and he's been here all day like waiting or somethin'," she said.

"I'm on the way, hang tight Mad," he didn't stop to think for a second, he was out the door as soon as he hung up the phone.

She saw his truck pull up and park on the other side of her car and she let out a sigh of relief, heading out the door.

"Don't tell me you're still hangin' around that greaseball," Paul said, pointing to Darry.

"What are you doin' waiting around for her Paul? Don't you got somewhere better to be?" Darry retorted.

"Why don't you leave us alone Darrel, we're goin' out," Paul said snidely.

"Shut the hell up," Darry snapped, Madeline, who walked around the back to avoid Paul grabbing her, finally caught up to him and grabbed his hand.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Whatever Curtis, I can do better than your trashy..."

He went on to call Madeline terrible names, which was apparently, Darry's final straw. He lunged at Paul, landing multiple punches directly to his face. Paul got a few weak hits in, enough to break skin, but was no match for Darry. Darry stood up, and held Madeline's car door open and helped her inside, he followed her closely in his truck until they got home.

"You alright Mad?" Darry said, holding her hand as they walked to the door.

"Thanks to you," Madeline replied sweetly, "now let's go get you cleaned up,"

They walked in and Madeline pulled out a chair before grabbing a couple of things to help him.

"Alright, hold still now," she told him, cleaning up his cuts and blood.

"You've got nice eyes," Darry said softly.

"What?" She laughed lightly.

"I'm serious, they're just, like, you get hooked on them,"

She looked him in the eyes then, and dropped the cloth on the table, leaning in. He tipped her chin down and kissed her gently, both of them smiling into the kiss.