Stronger with You

Slowly but Surely

Two-Bit*

I hated cleaning. I hated it with every fiber in my body. I hated it even more when cleaning out the bathroom that held all the medications we had to give my baby sister.

Gracie and I had been so close.

I was the only male figure in her life and I did everything in my power to protect her. I tried so hard and I did everything I could, but I could never save her from the cancer.

My heart ached as I throw away all the pills, before being diagnosed, Gracie, Peyton and I were all so close. From summers in the tree house in our backyard to winters cuddled in the living room drinking hot chocolate.

Peyton and I never talked about Gracie, it was just too hard. Thinking about her was hard. Remembering her blonde hair and bright blue eyes full of life until the cancer took that away.

Peyton and I had changed a lot in these few months of losing Gracie. We had the Curtis family, but they lost their parents a month after Gracie, and that was horrible.

As I cleaned I let my mind wander off more so to a specific memory.

*Flashback*
July 23, 1962

"Let's go to the Curtis's while mommy is at work!"Its Ponyboy's birthday today!" A seven-year-old Gracie yelled jumping on Two-Bit's lap.

"Bubba!" Gracie whined when Two-Bit didn't pay immediate attention and then put her hands on Two-Bits cheeks and pulled his lips together.

Two-Bit laughed moving Gracie's hands and stood up picking her up with him.

"Okay, okay. Go get your shoes on and we'll go."

The fifteen-year-old set down the little girl and then they both made their way to Gracie and Peyton's shared bedroom. 

Thirteen-year-old Peyton sat in her bed cross applesauce the guitar she had gotten for her thirteenth birthday just a few days ago sat in her lap and a notebook in front of her.

"Hey, we're going to the Curtis's. It's Pony's birthday," Two-Bit told his sister.

Peyton looked up, "Okay!" She shoved the pen in her notebook before getting up and leaving both items on her bed. She slid on her black converse and brushed her hair, "Ready."

Gracie was struggling a small bit to tie her shoes so Two-Bit bent down and tied them for her.

"Bubba, I wanted to do it!" Gracie pouted, her bottom lip jutted out. Two-Bit smiled, "Sorry sis, won't do it again."

Gracie sighed and the three siblings were on their way.

As they walked, they joked and raced for half a block before they were all out of breath, the Matthews siblings were not athletic.

When they got to the Curtis residence everyone was already outside playing games.

A seventeen-year-old Darry played catch with a football with Mr. Curtis while Steve, fourteen, and Soda, thirteen, were trying to get the ball away from Darry.

Pony was sitting with thirteen-year-old Johnny on the front porch with Mrs. Curtis.

Dally and Maya were both fourteen and sat away from the rest while they talked quietly.

"Well it's about time! We've been waiting for hours!" Pony yelled seeing the three walk up.

Mrs. Curtis laughed, "More like thirty minutes, Pony. Two-Bit, Peyton, Gracie, I'm glad you guys made it."

The three siblings all smiled in return and Gracie ran up to the walk way and into Mrs. Curtis arms, "I've missed you Mrs. Curtis."

The blonde adult smiled and hugged Gracie, "I've missed you too dear, and pleas just call me Momma Curtis or Ma or anything other than Mrs. Curtis."

Momma Curtis had this conversation with everyone in the gang, Dallas was the one that took it the most to heart.

Dally has never really known his mom and Momma Curtis had really taken him under her wing and was working on softening him up.

"Okay, let's go inside for cake and ice cream," Mr. Curtis, or as everyone called him Pa, said.

"And presents!" Pony yelled and everyone started making their way outside.

As everyone filed in there were two that had snuck off to the side of the house.

"Steve are you sure we should be doing this?" Peyton whispered pulling away from a kiss.

"No one knows and no one will find out, it's fine," Steve said placing his hand on the girls waist.

Peyton blushed and nodded, "Okay... but we should probably go inside. I'll go first and then you come in after."

The girl, blind in what she thought was love, listened to Steve and believed that their secret "relationship" was best.

As Peyton turned to go back inside but before she could Steve caught hold of her wrist and pulled her back in for a kiss.

Peyton let it happen, and maybe she even enjoyed it, but she couldn't stop the gnawing feeling that they were doing wrong.

So, she did what any thirteen year old girl would do when a cute fourteen year old boy kissed them, she kissed back.

The two split apart and Peyton smiled, turned, and then ran inside the house. Steve came in a few minutes after her, no noticed.

So, the day went on.

Pony opened his presents and Gracie played with Ma and everyone else.

Overall it was a good day, besides the little secret between Steve and Peyton, everyone was happy.

That was of the gangs best days and no one would forget it.

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okay so this is not my best chapter and i apologize for it being published so late! i might've procrastinated a bit with this one. i hope you guys are enjoying this story so far! thanks for reading!

-avery