Where The Sun Doesn't Shine (Outsiders Fanfic)

The DX

The next week was a blur. Everything went by in a flash, and I wasn't prepared one bit.

Soda was rambling about something I found no interest in and Steve was about snoring in my ear. Darry was the only one who stayed silent and just turned up the radio to drown out Steve's gurgling snores. That'll be the Day by Buddy Holly played, and I hummed along and bounced my head to the rhythm.

Dallas came by most days and hung out at the house. It was weird. I found his company quite comforting even if he was drunk half the time. How many times I cut him off of alcohol these past days was surprising. I didn't think he drank as much as he does, and I was now on a mission to cut him back on how much he consumed, so his liver doesn't fail him anytime soon.

Darry dropped us off at the DX, and I was told to restock the shelves. Soda was at the counter, flipping through a magazine and Steve was in the back working on a car that was supposed to be done yesterday.

I was putting chip bags away when Soda came over to help. "We should get ya a job here." He said, slightly nudging my side. I shyly smiled and continued to place chips on the shelf. "Ya actually work too. I think Frank would be happy to hire you. And, I like yer company. It's nice."

My face probably resembled a tomato at his compliment, and I open my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. "You're welcome." He smiled, knowing I wasn't able to find my tongue.

I smiled gratefully.

Neither of us said anything as we restocked the shelves and once we finished, I went to the back to accompany Steve. He was nose deep in a maroon coloured car and grease-stained his white wife beater while his DX uniform was tossed to the side. I faintly snickered as he mumbled profanities under his breath as he struggled to unscrew a bolt.

"Hey," I said, grabbing his attention. His head shot up, and he went to greet me, but he smacked his brown head of hair on the car's hood. I laughed as Steve now swore aloud and rubbed where he had hit himself.

"Are-Are you alright?" I gasped, my head falling back in as I tried to catch my breath.

"Yeah." He grumbled, wiping his hands on a filthy rag. "It's happened before, but I haven't hit my head that hard in a while."

"Probably explains your lack of common sense."

"Hey! That hurt!" He feigned offence but chuckled anyway. I grinned goofily and sat on my stool. Steve rubbed the spot on his head again and went back to his work, knowing if he didn't get done by today the owner—who is a soc— wouldn't be happy and would throw a fit. And I wasn't in the mood to deal with a snob with a shrill voice that made my ears practically bleed.

--

With a little help from me, Steve was finally able to finish the car and return it to its owner. I could barely stand there with a fake smile on my face as the lady looked at us in disgust, but rewarded us with money that was way over what Steve had initially asked for. However, we didn't complain, and we went on our merry way.

During our lunch break, Johnny, Ponyboy, and Two-Bit came to visit. I sat on the counter with Johnny as we munched on our sandwiches and watched as a girl slapped Two-bit in the face as he tried to get in her skirt. We chuckled as he came back inside, pouting like a child and caressing his cheek.

"Maybe if ya actually asked her on a date you might be able to have some fun." Soda said, coming around the counter and wrapping his arms around me to steal my sandwich. I whined as he took a massive bite and stared at it in disgust as he handed it back.

"You do that same thin' Sodapop. Always tryin' to woo girls with your charm." Pony remarked with a scoff.

"Don't even Pone, I've seen you talkin' to those greaser girls like ya know what you're doin'," Steve responded, to which, Pony profusely blushed and tried to hide behind his juice box. "So don't play all innocent."

Johnny and I watched silently as they all began to argue between themselves and Two-bit hit Steve in the back of the head, in which he cried out in pain, and tackled the Mickey mouse-loving boy into the rake of chips I took so long to restock.

"Oh come on!" I whined, leaning my head back in exasperation and kicking my legs like a child. I heard Johnny sigh beside me and hop down from the counter.

Once the two bimbos stopped fighting, I glared at them incredulously. They both saw my emotionless gazed and immediately locked up, that is until Two-bit muttered: "She looks exactly like Dal."

I managed sardonic smile before hopping down from the counter and helping Johnny lift the rake. He sent me a kind smile before gathering his belongings and walking out of the DX with Pony and Two-bit to head back to school. I practically growled at Steve before kicking the chip bags into a pile and beginning to place them back on the rake.

Steve went to help me, but Soda stopped him, to which I was grateful for. I was sure that if he came near me, I would've torn his head off. "Go to the back, Steve. I'll help her." Soda assured and patted his shoulder.

Steve muttered a small 'sorry' before walking to the back to fix something. I just continued my work and mumbled to myself about how my hard work got ruined. Soda came to my side and threw a chip bag at my head.

"What the-" I was cut off by a bag hurled at me hitting me straight face. Soda snickered, but I quickly returned the favour, hitting him in the forehead and messing up his hair.

Soda blinked rapidly, however, threw another bag at me causing all-out war to surface. In seconds, we were hurling chip bags at each other and laughing like children. Only when I threatened to throw a granola bar at him was when he accepted defeat.

"You got a nifty arm there." Soda mentioned as we cleaned up our mess. "Good aim too."

"Dal and I used to play baseball in our free time." I shrugged nonchalantly, "I-I always used to beat him too. We're so competitive. He used to accuse me of cheating."

We both laughed, but it quickly died away and turned into a comfortable silence. Once we finished, we both went to the counter to relax for the remainder of the day.

---

When dusk came, Soda closed up the DX while Steve and I shut the garage. "Y'know, you sure are a lot like Dal. I was sure you were going to kill me in there." Steve nervously chuckled.

"I-I didn't mean to scare you," I said, looking down at my shoes and kicking at the pavement. "I really didn't."

Steve stared at me for a moment, tilting his head to the side and taking a long inhale. "It's alright." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "I pissed you off anyway, my fault."

I went to say something when Soda's voice came echoing in the distance. "You coming? Darry will have my head if we ain't back in time for dinner."

"Coming!" We both responded, finishing locking up the garage and pulling on our jackets.

We all started walking back to the Curtis house with me squished in between the two rowdy boys. They began to argue halfway there, and I laughed as Soda tackled Steve to the ground. They fought like children, whining and spitting out threats of beating one another up. I rolled my eyes and heard a shuffling behind me.

I turned, eyebrows furrowed and eyes squinting. It was only when I saw the red spots on the asphalt is when I screwed shut my eyes and let out a shaky sigh. Its been a week and I still see it. The boy and the man. The limp body, hollowed cheeks, lifeless eyes. The blood and the crooked smile. The shimmering sharp tip of the silver knife and glove shod hands wrapping around the boy's throat as he held him up like a hunter showing off his kill. I shivered and felt a hand on my forearm. I craned my neck and looked at Soda.

"Let's get ya home." He said. Steve right beside him, frowning. "Dal will have my ass, and you're startin' school in a few days."

I groaned. "Thanks for the reminder."

"You're welcome." Soda smiled.

"Screw you."