The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

TEN: A Love Like Ours

Pony and Two-Bit left after a couple hours, they took the boys with them, Two-Bit promising to watch them closely, Ponyboy promising to watch Two-Bit closely.

But before they had left, Two-Bit had struck up a conversation with Nancy. She was giggling at every crack he made, and he grinned from ear to ear whenever she did.

"What was that about?" Madeline asked, poking her friend's side, "Is that a blush on your cheeks I'm seeing?"

"Shut up Maddie," Nancy swatted her hands away, but a crimson blush crept onto her cheeks, "You think he might like me?"

"Please, did you see how excited he got whenever you even cracked a smile at one of his jokes, he likes ya Nanc, no question."

The bell dinged and Madeline's smile faded quickly into an angry expression, Paul Holden had just walked in.

Some of the socs that hung around Bob, and that crowd, really took notice to the consequences of all the violence and havoc they were causing after Johnny and Dallas died. Randy, for example, was a real respectable guy now, he worked hard and was really lookin' to get way out of Tulsa.

And then, there was the ones like Paul. The ones who relished in Johnny and Dally's deaths. Thought it made them seem bigger, more winning, it didn't, though, it just made them look stupid.

Madeline, who usually could keep a pretty convincing smile, even to the most dislikable customers, didn't even try with Paul, "Drink?"

"Why so cold Madeline?" He asked, pushing a hand to her hip, which led her to step promptly away from.

"Drink?" She asked again, trying not to fly off the handle.

"Listen Maddie, I'm a changed man," he reached for her again, she took another big step backward, "None of that high school stuff anymore, let me show you the man I am now, please?"

"How many times do I have to say no before you get it through that thick head of yours? The only thing that's changed about you is the beer gut you've got that you're in denial of, now get out and stay out, I mean it, or I'll call the police, tell 'em your stalkin' me."

"Like they'd believe it." He snorted.

"Oh yeah? Why wouldn't they? The Holden's haven't been praised in the news for their honesty recently."

He huffed and got up and left. It was a low blow, and she knew that. Paul's father was being investigated for fraud, and Paul worked for him, so was going down with him. But it got him off her back.

The bell dinged about an hour later, and Darrel Curtis walked in. Madeline smiled sadly at him, and Nancy told her to go, and she could cover the rest.

Madeline sat across from Darry in a booth, it was awkward and a little tense, Darry was the one to break the silence, "I'm really sorry, Maddie. I was angry and irritable and I took it out on the one person who was there to help me. Those things I said to you were awful, and untrue, and I'm really sorry."

"So why'd you say them, you know, if you didn't mean it?" Madeline asked, her voice was small, and Darry winced at the tone.

"I just, I think— well, I know, that sometimes my anger gets the best of me and I say or do things I don't mean. It's happened with Pony and Soda, I never meant it to happen with you," he took a long deep breath, "And to be honest I think it was maybe some pent up jealousy or something," he looked at his hands, "when you left, I was proud of you, of course, but also I was a little jealous, I should've been going with you gettin' out of here, but that ain't your fault. And I shouldn't have brought it up like it was, so I'm sorry, and I don't wanna lose you like this."

"Oh slow down, Darrel. Thank you for that sweet apology, but you don't have to worry about losing me. Fightin' isn't the end all be all, alright? Not of a family, and not of a love like ours."

She leaned over and kissed him, he gave her a relieved kiss back. Madeline finished up her last hour of work, Darry waited for her in the booth.

•••

A couple weeks later, Madeline started taking night classes at the college, she'd be home from the Dingo for dinner, and leaving right after she put the twins to bed. She was exhausted, but she had nearly finished her course work for freshman year, and that made it worth it.

Christmas had come and gone. The calendars flipped for the new year, and the gang was together more than ever.

That fact had its highs and lows. Steve and Soda were always rowdy, but it seemed to have amped up a lot in the months since they'd lost Johnny and Dallas. Two-Bit was the same, though the mischievous glint was a little lighter than any of them had ever noticed.

Ponyboy was back in school, and the socs were pretty awful still, but Randy seemed to look out for him as much as he could. He was finally getting back to normal, but the always packed house was getting to him.

"Damnit guys, watch where y'all are throwing each other!" Darry shouted over the noise to Steve and Soda, who were wrestling over their poker game. Soda had just knocked Steve into the mantle, sending a book to land on Soda.

Madeline sat at the table, she had never been so stressed. The social worker called, they were coming to visit, after the whole Johnny and Dallas situation, the state had a close eye on Madeline and Darrel.

She looked for a lawyer better than the court appointed one in the paper, she couldn't afford it, not on her salary. But she also couldn't afford to lose her brothers.

Her head fell hard into her hands, and she sighed. Darry walked over and put a hand on her back, sitting next to her at the table, "Hey Maddie, you ok?"

She looked up, tears running down her face, "No, Darry I'm scared. I'm scared and I don't want the boys to know it," she sobbed.

"Ok, ok honey, let's go somewhere else alright?" He put a hand on the small of her back and guided her to his room and let her sit down on the bed.

"What if they take them Dar?"

"They won't Maddie," Darry said convincingly, "you are those boys' best chance. The city people will see that alright?"

She gasped for air, "Darry,"

He knelt down in front of her, "Breathe Maddie, breathe, breathe with me alright," he took a deep breath and she followed suit, "Just like that honey, ya gotta keep breathin'"

"Darry it's been so loud in this house, I can't take it anymore," she laid her head on his shoulder, "everyone's always shouting and pushing and breaking stuff. I can't do it Darrel," he squeezed her hand tightly.

"I know honey. It's gonna get all better ok? We'll talk to everyone, we could all use a talk. And you're gonna call out of work for this next week, and that's not a question missy," he said sternly.

"Darry the money," she started.

"I just got promoted Maddie, just today, I was gonna tell ya at dinner, it comes with a mighty nice bonus and a good raise. I can handle you and the boys on my dime. And then we'll get you back at it, but you need a break," he held her shoulders tightly until she nodded, and then he wrapped her in a long hug, "I love you Madeline," he whispered, and rubbed her back and held her while she cried.