The Outsiders: Before My Time Part III

Wanted: Three Juveniles from Tulsa, Oklahoma

Goldie's POV

Nothing in particular woke me up that morning. No birds were chirping outside, there was no delicious smell of a greasy breakfast being made, and no grunts or yells from wrestling coming from the living room. I just knew it was early.

I sat up and my back ached from sleeping on the hard floor. I cracked it, and looked up to see my siblings still sound asleep in the bed. I rubbed my eyes and stood up slowly, now considering that I probably woke up from my sore back.

I groggily stumbled down the hallway and found Darry anxiously pacing the living room, Dad was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, with Two-Bit sitting next to him. They had a stamp of worry on their faces. I could feel in the pit of my stomach that something wasn't right.

I cleared my throat which caused everyone's head to snap towards me, and even Darry stopped pacing. His eyes were red and his dark circles that told me that he didn't sleep at all last night.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to read the room but I was given no context clues. "Who died?"

"The kids are gone," Two answered.

"I'm sorry, gone?" I asked. What does that mean? "Where's M— um, where—where's Bri?"

"After you went to bed last night..." I could see the dried tears that Dad didn't wipe off his red face. His voice was tight, like it was going to break at any moment. "Pony ran off... and um... Bri went with him, and they ain't been back since. We ain't even seen Johnny."

"We've called over at every place they could be," Darry said, chewing his pinky nail. "Ain't no one's seen any of 'em."

"Oh my god," I muttered. "We-we-we gotta call somebody. The cops?"

"Can't." Darry shook his head.

"Why not?" I asked angrily. I felt a hot pit form in my stomach.

"If the fuzz find out Ponyboy's missing, they'd throw me and him in a boys' home," Dad explained with a soft voice. "They can't know."

"That makes it harder," I said as I gnawed on my bottom lip in thought. "They'll turn up. I'm sure of it."

"A Soc was found murdered at that park a few streets away. Deader than a doornail," Two told me.

"Murdered? Don't sell me a dog."

"Can we go five minutes without your weird shit?" Two asked exasperatedly. He rubbed his red eyes. His face was almost grey, he was so pale. He looked extremely hungover.

"I can't help but think they got tangled with the guy that did it," Darry said nervously.

"Glory, I hope they're okay," Dad said and he dipped his head down.

"Have you heard from Dally?" Darry asked us. "Bri said that he walked her home, maybe he bumped into them on the way back."

"I ain't heard from him," Two spoke up.

"I haven't either," I said. Not like I could, I just woke up. I ran my fingers back through my hair, trying to make sense of everything.

"God dammit," Darry spat. He stressfully looked at his watch and rubbed his clammy palms down his jeans. He stammered, "I gotta... I gotta get to work."

"Go, Dar. I'll be home all day, I'll keep watch of the phone and the door," Dad offered. "I'll call you if I hear anything."

"Okay," Darry agreed. "Just... don't nobody move." He hesitated before rushing into his room.

"I don't think I've ever seen Darry look so freaked. He's wound tighter than a clock," I observed.

"Neither have I," Dad said with a small voice. "He's just worried. Hell, we all are. After what happened to Mom and Dad... we can't lose them too."