𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 , 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

three.

MADELINE WINSTON

i wake to the smell of eggs and bacon and sunlight shining on my face. for a second, i forget where i am, thinking i'm still back home in new york; but then i remember.

tulsa is my new home, and my brother is still yet to be found.

i sit up and look out the window from the couch. the trees are bare and it looks freezing out. i shiver at the thought of going outside.

"morning, madeline." pony's voice turns my attention to the kitchen.

"morning." i smile, heading over to join them.

"how'd you sleep?" darry asks as he buttons his shirt. his hair is still wet and his chest is sprinkled with dots of water from the shower.

"really good. thanks for giving me the couch by the way."

"sure, that's no problem—guys," he cuts himself off, turning to his brothers. "don't set the table, you know two-bit and steve will eat the food off the ground if they have to."

soda and ponyboy shrug their shoulders before putting the plates and silverware back from where they got them.

"did someone say food?" steve runs into the kitchen with two-bit close behind.

"here." soda whispers, handing me a large spoonful of eggs right out of the pan. "these always go first."

"thanks." i smile, taking first dibs on the cheesy eggs.

"where's johnny at?" darry questions.

"he went home early, said his parents wouldn't like it if he didn't come home for a whole day." pony explains as he chomps down on a piece of bacon.

"soda, you ready for work after this?" steve asks, and soda nods his head.

"where do you guys work?" i ask.

"the DX gas station. well, i work. soda just flirts with girls."

"i work!" soda defends himself. "i can't help if they come to see me, but i do my part just as much as you."

"yeah, okay soda. get your shoes on, let's go."

i take soda's place beside the counter once he goes off with steve.

there's a knock at the back door, and then it swings open.

"you guys got any buds?" a deep voice rings through my ears.

"you've already got one in your hand there, dally." darry laughs, and my head spins immediately.

"come on man, i got—" the figure in the doorframe stops talking, and his eyes land on me. he cocks his head to the side as he studies my face until it really registers in his brain, "holy shit."

"dallas?" my brain struggles to accept the face of my older brother standing 10 feet from me.

he enters the house, the screen door squeaking and slamming behind him, "come here, kid."

i meet him halfway across the room in a tight hug.

"the hell are you doing here? what are you—" dallas pulls away to look at me. "look at you, all grown up now."

"you two know each other?" two-bit asks.

"we're blood." dally says. "this is my little sister."

"your brother is dallas winston?" pony's jaw has dropped.

"you're a winston?" steve asks, and then he turns to sodapop, who's face matches pony's. "she's a winston."

"i—how do you guys know him?" my head turns in all directions, not sure who to look at.

"these are my buddies," dallas smiles. "but the bigger question is how do you know them?"

"i found her on the road last night with bob sheldon and his friend. he was pourin' straight booze into her mouth, hands all over her." darry explains.

dallas looks down at me; pink lips parted and a look in his eyes i can't exactly read.

"i asked her to come back with me since she said she didn't have a place to crash." darry continues. "she said somethin' about having a brother, i didn't know it was you. none of us did."

dallas nods his head as he comprehends darry's words, "hey uh—listen, i gotta go."

"wait, dal. when'd you get outta the cooler?" steve asks.

"couple days ago, man." dallas turns around to look at me once more. "i'll see you, mad." he's about to say something else, but he hesitates, and then it never comes.

i remain still as he walks out of the curtis' home, hitting the wall twice as a goodbye. i haven't seen my brother in two years and the reunion was quite anticlimactic.

i feel the boys' eyes on me, and i know they must notice the disappointment written all over my face.

"hey, madeline," soda steps forward with a smile. "do you maybe wanna come to the DX with me and steve today? we can show you the ropes of the cash register."

"um, sure." i force a smile. "yeah, let me just change real quick. i'll meet you outside."