Starboy - DarLas -The Outsiders

Chapter 17

A/N: I'm switching to present tense, just as an experiment.

I'm sitting on the floor playing solitaire in the same spot me and Darry play bullshit. I'm staring at the little lines of cards, trying to make sense of the numbers. I pulled out the deck of cards to distract myself. It's already nine-thirty, and Pony and Soda are silently observing my empty brain at work. Darry should have been home an hour ago. I tried calling his boss, but the shithead either wouldn't give him the phone or Darry's somehow reached nirvana roofing houses. I don't really like either option. Ponyboy made us dinner, and Darry's plate was sitting on the counter.

I start to get impatient with the game, and flip over more cards up top. Still no luck. In frustration, I kick the cards away from me, scattering them around. Fuck solitaire.

"Pretty sure that's not how you play Solitaire," Soda sniggers. I give him a look.

"Don't be a smartass," I let the annoyance show in my voice. Tonight had been nothing but snide remarks and cussing, probably because we're all worried about Darry. I look awkwardly around the room, bored out of my mind. I hear the front door creak, and I spin my head around to see who it is.

Darry drags his feet into the house and yawns. There are dark circles under his eyes, and he looks like he was sweating buckets at work. His skin is flushed from dehydration, and he was swaying and stumbling erratically from side to side, topping off his supermodel impression.

"Darry! Where the hell have you been?" I shout, unable to hide my stress. Darry winces and rubs his eyes.

"I-I just finished up with work," He mumbles, not trying to act tough for his brothers this time.

"What do you mean you just finished up?" I ask, my voice still raised.

"I-" He trails off and yawns.

I sigh and walk towards him. I wrap my arms around him. Darry squirms away from me, mumbling something like, "ehmneturihd."

I persist, picking him up ever so slightly, holding him up by his legs. Darry relaxes and lets me pick him up all the way. He rests his head on my shoulder, and is already half-asleep. Pony and Soda look around awkwardly. I get that. They don't know this Darry yet. Maybe they do, they just haven't met him since their parents died. I see the recognition on their faces, so maybe they do know this Darry. I carry Darry down the hall into his room and set him on the bed.

He slouches over and sits criss-cross-applesauce, yawning. He mumbles something incoherently and stands up, walking over to his dresser. He takes his shirt off and starts to undress. I quickly look away. I got a shoe thrown at me last time I tried to pull a stunt.

I assume he's done changing, because I feel him wrap his strong arms around me from behind. He resumes with the incoherent mumbling and buries his face into my neck. I feel myself blush a little and I smile. 

"You tired, man?" I ask. He nods and yawns, leaning against me. I turn around and hug him for a bit, and mess up his hair a little. He flops down on his bed, making it shake and creak. I smile at him, and he gives me an exhausted smile in return. I turn to leave, and start heading out the door. 

"D-Dal?" I turn around towards the source of the voice. Darry looks at me with eyes full of fear, and I feel my heart sink.

"What's wrong?" I ask. I sit down next to him and stroke his forehead. He opens his mouth to speak, but closes it and exhales.

"You can tell me anything, man," I reassure him, but as usual, he didn't believe it to be true. He turns over, facing away from me, and settles his head on the pillow.