「it ended at sonic」 | d.w. + c.v.

Chapter Fifteen.

THE NEXT THING Ponyboy knew, Dally was teaching him how to shoot a gun. It was a last resort in a dispute, but if he ever had to use one he might as well know how to shoot the darn thing. Glass bottles set four feet away from them, aligned almost perfectly on a thick piece of fire wood. "Alright, kid, it's not as hard as 'ya think. You aim," he angled his hands upwards, making sure they had a tight grip on the weapon. "You cock it, focus on your target, and 'ya pull the trigger." The brunet's hands shook wildly, anxiety filling his small build.

"I don't know about this, Dal... Are you sure I should be handlin' a gun?"

"Yeah, yeah, you'll be fine. Just don't point the thing at me." Marcia and Two-Bit stood a few feet behind them, watching as if it were a new show on television. Ponyboy stared forward, straight at a green bottle. He took a deep breath. Cock it, focus on your target, and pull the trigger. The steps repeated in his head slowly, using all his might to try and steady his grip. He pulled the trigger quick, probably more so than he should have because it had him stumbling backwards. The bullet went for the bottles, hitting one over to the side and knocking the others out of place. "Now, come on, man. It's not even 'sppossed to recoil!" The youngest of the two let out an inaudible groan.

"I don't wanta do this, I ain't ever gonna need a gun anyway!"

"You don't know that." The sound of Marcia and Two-Bit snickering in the background was loud and clear, but Ponyboy tried to push that aside. If he had to, then he had to. "Alright, let me just fix-" Before the blond could finish speaking, the pow of the gun set off again. Ponyboy's eyes widened immediately, not even realizing he'd pulled the trigger. He honestly didn't even know where it had been pointed... until Dallas let out a loud scream. "Goddammit, Ponyboy, I said not to aim it at me!" He shouted, his voice going hoarse as his hand reached up and grabbed his right butt cheek.

"I-I didn't mean to!" He spat out instinctively, putting the gun down with a shaky hand before running over to him. His hand already had blood gushing between his fingers, and it was coming fast. "Two-Bit, find a payphone!" Keith went to go find a phone while Pony wasn't sure what to do. He didn't know if he should get a piece of cloth to have him hold to the wound, or if he should just sit and apologize profusely. Dally's free hand grabbed at the collar of Ponyboy's shirt, yanking him closer as he laid on his left side.

"I'm gonna kill you, kid!" His teeth were clenched, words seething out angrily.

"I didn't mean it, I swear!" His face paled. He was a lot less tough than Dallas, and the guy would flatten just about anyone for making a remark, let along shooting him in the bottom. Ponyboy could be rough, he could stand up for himself if need to be, but that was just something you didn't do to Dally. Ambulance sirens wailed, all the while the blond kept giving Pony a look that shoved fear into his soul. He was dead, deader than dead. He was dead where he stood. He would be killed by Dallas Winston, and it was all because he'd wanted him to learn how to shoot a gun.

"Dal finally got a bite in the ass, I see." Two-Bit remarked quietly to Marcia as they followed the ambulance, causing her to bust into a fit of giggles. Pony wasn't even paying attention, just sitting in the backseat thinking of how furious Dally was. He'd gotten shot in the butt cheek, and now Two-Bit was driving his car. He sure wasn't having a good Friday afternoon, that was for sure.

"How you holdin' up, Ponyboy?" Marcia questioned gently, turning to look back at him. He looked up at her, stomach still twisted in knots.

"I'm good." He replied. He was absolutely not good. He hated hospitals, with a passion. He hadn't been near one since Johnny died, and he'd just shot someone - who wouldn't die from the wound, but was probably still holding a grudge as they spoke.