Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I decided to scrap my other idea I just didn't see anybody or myself liking that one :( Anyway! If there's anyone with any tips it would be really appreciated by me since this is my first fanfiction ever :) The chapter will be posted soon!! [Edit: I changed the summary a little to match what I've written so far hope nobody minds!]

Chapter Text

(POV: Ponyboy Curtis)

 

As I strolled out of the Nightly Double, I had one thing on my mind

 

‘Darry is going to skin me’

 

Now I had originally planned to come to the drive-in with Johnny but Two-bit had snatched him up last minute for whatever reason.

 

Which left me on my own. Somehow, I had managed to convince Darry to let me go alone since this film was a good one.

 

However, it was due to the unfortunate drawback that Steve had to pick me up right after.

 

While being there I was fortunate enough to find myself with Dally who looked mostly sober and oddly calm.

 

He decided to stick with me, sitting himself right next to me and tossing a coin at me like I was one of those human statues.

 

I had only left for a second, only to buy us some popcorn only to come to the realization right when I was already at the register that I had left my sweater which had all my quarters on my seat.

 

Unfortunately for me that was enough time for Dallas Winston to get bored and go looking for something illegal to do or go flirt with whatever unlucky broad could tolerate him for long enough.

 

Well at least the glorious asshole left a note if you could even call it that.

 

“mabe be bac call Stele to pic u up”

 

My English teacher would have had an aneurysm reading that, good god.

 

I didn't care to call Steve he probably wouldn’t answer, and I'd be fine right?

 

At the time I couldn’t find it in me to care all that much, there was a good film playing tonight and I didn't want to miss is for anyone.

 

I tried to think he’d maybe come back later like he said, even though knowing Dally he likely wouldn't.

 

However much to my ‘amazing’ luck not long after I was greeted by an annoyingly familiar face.

 

Charles Shepard, widely known as ‘Curly’

 

He had a cute greaser girl under his arm, and an annoying grin plastered on his face. Knowing him he was probably drunk or worse high, either or he was there to bother the life out of me.

 

“Hey Baby Curtis, whatcha doing here all on your lonesome? Don't got one a’ ya’ brothers looming over you?” He said in a mocking tone his dark curls threatening to fall out of his slicked back hair.

 

He then took the liberty of sitting himself next to me, his broad not far behind, giggling at every little thing Curly said.

 

I didn't bother hiding my annoyance.

 

“I'm ‘posed to be with Dally but I'm not sure where he is” I muttered rolling my eyes.

 

I was trying to play it off as if it didn't faze me at all and not that I had been half panicking since the second I noticed he hadn't been in his seat.

 

I’d never really been completely alone at the drive-in.

 

Luckily for me Curly was too intoxicated to see my silent pain and just let out a snicker.

 

“Shocker. Let me give you a ride Curtis. I snagged the keys to Tim’s truck, and he won't notice ‘till morning no detours this time, promise.” He sneered giving that not so trust-worthy Shepard grin

 

Shoot, I wouldn't go in a car that Curly Shepard was driving if someone told me I'd get a million bucks!

 

Glory, I wasn't that bad at using my head and I didn't have a death wish either.

 

However..

 

I should have probably thought that before mindlessly shrugging my shoulders and agreeing to ride in a car with a tipsy Curly Shepard and whatever broad he had picked up this week.

 

Worst of all, I wasted a whole dime to tell Steve he didn't need to pick me up anymore.

 

I was really hoping he wasn’t at my house, or I would have wasted the only money I had left for no reason.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Who the hell is this.”

 

I froze. Well, my luck today has just been fantastic, hasn't it?

 

Steve’s father.

 

His voice was like sandpaper to my ears, and I could practically smell the beer breath from here.

 

“I-Its Ponyboy can I talk to Steve” I stumbled over my words.

 

I was half expecting for the guy to hang up on me but instead he simply yelled out to Steve not bothering to cover the transmitter which made me flinch.

 

“STEVEN WHO THE HELL DO YOU HAVE CALLING MY LINE”

 

Glory that man was loud I don't think Darry had ever yelled that loudly at me or at anything for that matter, like ever.

 

The sounds of arguing could be heard for a few seconds before the phone seemingly got yanked from someone's hand. It was quiet for a moment before a familiar voice spoke up.

 

“Soda man I told you already not to call me while he’s home you kn-”

 

“I aint Soda..”

 

The line went quiet for a moment then Steve spoke again

 

“Pony? The hell are you calling my house? I still got ‘bout an half an hour before I have to pick you two up, what happend? Did you get into it with someone?”

 

“no uh, Im kind of here alone and Dally was here for a bit but he ditched me..”

 

He paused for a second

 

“Yeah duh. So what kid? ‘you want me to pick you up early or something? Cant handle being alone, for what? Thirty minutes?”

 

I hate when he calls me kid it makes me feel like..well a kid

 

“Nah, I'm gonna catch a ride from...”

 

I took a glance at Curly and shook my head, no way I was telling Steve Curly was taking me home, he’d snitch to Soda in a second!

 

“..some track buddies I found here, they offered!”

 

I silently hoped he wouldn't find the pause suspicious.

 

Steve had a knack for knowing when something was off even just a bit. Once he knew Soda’ was going to get into a fight just ‘bout three hours before it happened and simply said there was ‘something in the air’ whatever that means.

 

He paused for a second.

 

“I don’ thi-” he was halfway through his sentence when the crash of a bottle to close for comfort echoed through my ears and suddenly, he sounded panicked.

 

“Y’know what fine! just make sure whoever’s driving is sober alright? Try not to get yourself killed!” He sounded out of breath and the line went dead before I could ask what had happened.

 

Well at least he wouldn't bother me?

 

Unfortunately, enough Curly 'ain't that far from Tim much less Dally and just like them he’s a sucker for a cute broad with a too much skin showing to be unintentional.

 

Much expected, nearing the end of the movie he snuck off with that greaser girl he was with.

 

They were giggling and making out the entire time anyway acting like I wasn't right next to them or had a pair of working ears.

 

The pair ended up running off to the ‘snack booth’ but anybody with a working head attached to them knew what they were doing.

 

‘Gross’ I thought, snagging the bag of popcorn that they’d left behind.

 

It wasn't until the movie was over that I’d realized how big a problem this really was.

 

Now, I could have just knocked on the bathroom door where they most definitely were but upon hearing the rather disturbing noises in there, I figured I probably shouldn't bother them.

 

That was around the time I had begun to feel plain stupid.

 

I didn't care when Dally left me

 

I told Steve not to pick me up anymore, so I had no ride

 

I was past my curfew by now

 

And to top it all off Curly and that broad was doing ‘the deed’ in a dirty bathroom stall at the drive-in which meant my ride was out of commission for God knows how long!

 

However, the worst part of all was that it was all my fault and there was nobody else to blame, not even good ol’ Steve.

 

I was almost sure my night couldn't get any worse.

 

I decided it was best to just walk home, and since i know my way back pretty decently even in the dark I figured would just be a better option than waiting outside the bathroom for two dumb teenagers to finish dogging.

 

Just as I was getting into my own head, I heard the worst sound a greaser could possibly hear while walking alone, on a one-way road, and nonetheless at night.

 

The low rumble of a mustang stalking behind you, slow and calculated. Which not only made it clear they were not drunk and reckless but that they were after you and only you.

 

‘Guess my night could get worse’ I thought grimly as I tried calculating just how far they were from me.

 

I pretended not to notice them for a while, only picking up the pace slightly, silently hoping that they would get bored and drive off but that wasn't the case.

 

I looked around for a bottle, even just a big stick but there was nothing, just a one-way empty dirt road.

 

I looked forward and calculated my chances of making it out of there if I ran for it. I was about four blocks away from my house.

 

At this point in time, I was already in greaser territory,

 

yet they still followed.

 

As I continued to walk as calmly as a person who knows they’re about to get jumped could, I only could tell how far they were by the sound of their car.

 

Finally, I made the fatal mistake of looking behind me and the car seemingly came to life. The front lights came flashing on.

 

I took that as my sign to run.

 

I wouldn’t make it far. I knew that all too well but, if I could just get close enough to my house I could scream for help.

 

There were about four socs riding in that car, an amount any one of the gang could handle just fine with my help, well maybe not Johnny.

 

Though I suppose luck wasn't on my side today.

 

I didn't get all that far before I was tackled by seemingly the biggest one of them. I was down in a second, my head slamming into the concrete with a force that made me see little cartoon birds circling over my head.

 

His whole weight was on me at this time which took the breath straight from my lungs making me gasp for air and grab at nothing.

 

“Hey greasy don't tap out yet we haven't even made ya cry yet”

 

I took a glance up just to see three other socs now circling me like prey, all giving me twisted and sinister grins.

 

I felt a shiver go down my spine as a rush of pure-blooded fear coursed through my veins.

 

“DAR-” I had begun to call my big brother’s name, but I was rudely interrupted by a handkerchief going down my throat which effectively cut me off.

 

The soc who put the handkerchief in my mouth cackled cruelly.

 

“The last grease tried doing the same thing I think he’s your buddy right? John was it?”

 

Johnny.

 

My heart dropped.

 

These were the guys who jumped Johnny, and they were going to do the same to me.

 

I think they saw me come to that conclusion because the dude sitting on my right arm cackled.

 

“Glory looks at his face! Lord Bob and Randy are gonna regret going out with their girls tonight!”

 

What happened next was almost a blur...

 

I couldn’t see much, and to be honest i didnt want to. It hurt too much even to think of

 

All I felt was blinding, stabbing, pain coursing through my body as the feeling of being slugged and kicked over and over again made me scream into the fabric pathetically.

 

It felt never ending.. continuing on and on like a sickening cycle.

 

The beating wasn't the worst part oh not one bit.

 

It was the things they were saying, the threats that made my skin crawl with fear and the insults that made my chest ache for more reasons than one.

 

Was this how Johnny felt? Scared, alone, hopeless? Lordy, I owe Johnny an apology.

 

Then it was over. Just as quickly as it had begun It ended.

 

Ending with the sound of pounding feet and the yells of a set of familiar greasers, it was over.

 

I felt myself get turned from my back and dropped back down just as quickly with a gasp.

 

“Pone? Holy shit.”

 

“Ponyboy! No no no, not you buddy”

 

“Shit! Come On kiddo open your eyes you're okay”

 

Dally?

 

Johnny?

 

Two-bit?

 

I managed to open my eyes just barely. My vision was fuzzy, and my head hurt at the light from the streetlamp, but it was progress, I guess.

 

“Thats it Pone take it easy”

 

Two-bits voice sounded almost gentle like how Sodapop comforted me back then, with my nightmares.

 

It was odd I didn't cry easily but at the sound of that gentleness I'd began to sob.

 

Broken choked up sobs escaped me. As I felt myself being almost cradled.

 

I wanted to keep crying, I wanted my mom to hug me and tell me everything was going to be okay, I wanted to apologize to Johnny for not understanding him when he got jumped.

 

But most of all I wanted to go home, I was so tired I just wanted to go home.

 

I was just so sleepy it was sickening..

 

A hand lightly slapped at my face which snapped me out of whatever trance I was in.

 

“Don't fall asleep kid you might have a concussion”

 

I could only slightly recognize his voice. I couldn't open my eyes everything was too bright, and my head felt like I was being stabbed by needles.

 

Dally.

 

He sounded angry the kind of angry he got when he saw Johnny after he got jumped, that quiet anger that made shivers go up my spine.

 

“Jeez kid you ain't as heavy as you look, feels like I'm carrying a pile of sticks”

 

Twobit.

 

His voice was quaky and oddly weak in a way that made my chest ache.

 

It was tough staying awake all i wanted to do was sleep and here he was telling me I couldn't?

 

It felt like an eternity until we got home. Johnny hadn't spoken the entire time, or maybe he had? I couldn't think straight.

 

My head felt fuzzy as events sort of just flied by, the only thing I could think of really being the pain in my skull.

 

Sodapop’s immediate tears after he saw me.

 

I'm not dead just yet why is he crying that much?

 

The sound of Darry tearing up the kitchen and Two-bit calming him down right after.

 

Johnny silently crying into what seemed to be a cushion?

Dally standing in the corner looking guilty as he blamed the whole thing on himself.

 

It ‘aint his fault why is he blaming himself that ‘aint fair at all..

 

Steve entering the house and the whole thing plunging into chaos.

 

I think the one thing that popped me back into earth was hearing Soda and Steve argue.

 

Not in a teasing or joking way. A real one like how Dally might argue with a hood on the street or Two-bit with whichever disrespectful soc he comes across.

 

“I trusted you with him he was YOUR responsibility, and YOU abandoned him! over your little issues with your damn daddy!”

 

Stop

 

Stop it not like this not over this

 

“This ‘aint my fucking fault Soda! Come on man how the hell are you going to blame this on me! He told m-”

 

“Guys cool it come on yall are fr-”

 

“Fuck off Two-bit”

 

“This shit aint my fault and you know it.”

 

“Shut the fuck up Steve you know damn well this shit is your fault and all because of your fucking dad"

“Quit it god damn it! Your little damn brother getting jumped wasn't my fault!”

 

Thud

 

Sodapop punched Steve.