Begin [Ponyboy Curtis]

Pick a Side

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: Toxic Family Dynamic, Violence

Playlist: All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

The Soc and Greaser warfare has been going on for years, as far as Ponyboy said he knew. But it's worse than ever now.

"When Darry was a kid," Pony told me, "class didn't matter. Nowadays, even in elementary school, there's a divide between the poor kids and the wealthy. It's probably because of their parents growing up that way."

I leaned forward in my seat, "You should write about that."

"Don't you think I'd be too obvious? Like a snitch?"

"Don't mention any names, any classes, nothing like that. Just write the story of two opposing groups."

He looked down at his notebook paper, a spark of creativity flickered behind his eyes and he started scribbling down ideas, "what are you going to write?"

"I'm gonna rewrite Cinderella without the step-sisters," I joked.

He huffed and laughed and looked up at me, "you really don't like that Stacey chick, do you?"

"I don't know," I shrugged uncomfortably, "a lots changed since she became part of the picture."

I ended up sticking to realistic fiction, like Ponyboy and I wrote a story about an AWOL government member being chased down and eventually killed. Their secrets die with them, but their death sparks conspiracy across the United States.

Maybe I do like writing after all.

"Honey we're home!" Sodapop yelled from the front door. Ponyboy leaned back in his chair, smiling at his brothers.

"We're doing homework!"

"You and who?" Another voice asked. Sodapop and another guy walked into the kitchen, the other guy holding a grocery bag.

"Dot," Sodapop smiled, "she's the new DX cashier." He hit the other guy's chest and left for the other room. Through the wall, I could hear the sound of water running.

"Hi," he smiled at me, "I'm Darry. Soda and Pony's brother. So you guys are working on homework?" He looked at the table suspiciously.

Dally came in behind him, patting Darry's shoulders, "I've been listening to them, Dare. They're behaving'," he looked into the grocery bag and pulled out a bag of chips to take with him back to the living room.

Darry shook his head and scoffed playfully at Dally, "alright. Well if you need a ride home let me know, Dot."

I glanced out the window, "I'll be sure I leave before it's dark out."

"You can stay for dinner if you'd like. They had a sale on chicken and no one eats leftovers here. We'll have extras."

It occurred to me that my dad hadn't made dinner since we moved. "Thanks! I'd have to ask my dad first."

Ponyboy stood up excitedly, "We could go ask right now. It would give your stepmom a break if she's still not feeling well."

Darry shrugged at Ponyboy and turned to the stove to start making dinner.

We left our homework on the table, leaving with just our jackets. The sun was setting over our shoulders and the clouds lit up in peaches and golds. Ponyboy lit up a cigarette while watching the sky.

"So you're friends with that guy? Randy?"

"Uh," I smiled awkwardly, "kind of. We hung out the other night but there was a fight because the guys all wanted to drink and the girls just wanted to hang out."