I didn't know if it was morning or night, but someone was trying to bring me back to the living. They gave my upper arm another rough shake, as I gave an almost audible groan and rolled my body to my stomach, burying my arms beneath my chest and away from the intruder. As I felt myself slipping back into sleep, a large pair of hands wrapped over my back giving another rough shake to my upper body, I gave, somewhere between a tired and grumpy groan at being disturbed and slowly blinked opened my eyes to see Darry's tall frame leaning over the bed, still clad in his work clothes. As my eyes adjusted to the rooms light - I realised it was still daytime, presumably late afternoon. But as I looked to Darry, I couldn't help to notice the slight crease of concern across his features.
"Hey kiddo, how long you been sleepin' for?" he asked, with the concern shown lacing his voice. He leaned further over the bed and placed his large calloused hand back side down across my forehead, feeling my temperature, then moved it to my cheek resting it there for a few moments. What Darry didn't know - and hopefully won't find out, for my sake - was it wasn't my head that was burning, but my backside. Soda definitely left me a spoken message there, and let it sink in real good. The burn hadn't lessened in the slightest.
"I dunno... what time is it?" I asked through a yawn and rubbed at my eyes.
"It's twenty past five, kiddo." He answered, moving his hand from my cheek and straightening back up. With all of his six-feet-two towering over the bed once again.
"Shit," it slipped from my mouth before I could catch myself. I hadn't realised I'd slept that long, the day had slipped by and I'd been dead to the world to have known. I was mostly annoyed at myself, and maybe a little at Soda. But mostly at myself. If I hadn't taken off yesterday, none of this would have happened, and today wouldn't have been a complete waste. But I suppose I needed the rest after Soda's little 'talk' this morning.
Though as I should have known - more than most - my slip up curse didn't go unheard by my oldest brother. I felt a sharp swat to my backside, even through the bed covers, and yelped as the single handed swat ignited the fierce burning in my rather sore rear again.
"You watch your language, Ponyboy," he warned, "or I'll wash your mouth with soap." He threatened. That was something neither of my brothers had ever resorted to, soaping my mouth. Sure there were the occasional threats, like now. But neither had ever gone through with it. How spanking was okay, and soap wasn't, puzzled me.
He folded his arms across his broad chest, as the muscles stretched out the tight black t-shirt. "And don't think I won't go through with it. I know Dally was a good buddy, but I won't have you talking no filth. So just wise up, ya hear?" he finished.
Dally was a good buddy, but he could also come up with a string of curses, that'd make the next man blush. Darry and I both knew where I'd picked up most of my bad language, but it wasn't only Dally, Curly was just as much to blame.
I looked at him, nodding. "Sure, Darry. I'm sorry. Next time I'll try watch what I say."
He studied me a moment, then gave a simple nod. "Well you don't have a fever, so I suggest you get up. Make use of the evening. I'm gonna make a start on dinner." He turned and made his way out the door, with his heavy footsteps growing quieter the further he got down the hall.
I turned my head over on my pillow to find the spot on the bed behind me empty. Soda was no longer sleeping and the sheet where he'd been had gone long cold. Maybe he was in the lounge or kitchen, I thought. But I would have heard him, there's no way Soda can be that quite. Then I remembered he had work, and probably left not long after I had fallen asleep.
I waited a moment more, before reluctantly pulling myself from my nice warm bed and wandered into the lounge making myself comfortable on the couch instead, I spread my long legs out on the three seater with my head occupying a cushion at the other end. The television wasn't playing much other than the news, as that's the channel Darry had left it on, and I wasn't about to get up to change it.
"Ponyboy?" Darry called from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Com'er a minute."
Grumbling, I slid up from the couch, after only having gotten comfy again. And trudged into the kitchen to see what Darry wanted.
"Yeah, Darry?" I asked. Darry had his head in the pantry, but turned when I walked in. I headed straight for the fridge. I hadn't realised how dry my mouth was, until now. But sleeping all day certainly makes you thirsty.
"What do you want for dinner? Chicken or meatloaf?"
I turned my search from the open fridge to Darry, giving him an incredulous look. "Couldn't you have asked me that from out there?" I asked, trying hold the attitude, and turned back to pull a Pepsi from the half full carton in the fridge.
Darry shot me a warning look, having caught the attitude; I turned my eyes away, and kept my mouth shut, as I popped the tab on the can. Taking a mouthful from the can instead, and made my way back towards the kitchen door.
"You didn't answer what you want?"
"Chickens fine." It didn't matter what we have. I knew I wouldn't be sitting down to eat it anyway. As I settled myself into the lounge cushions again, in the position I had been before; the front screen door opened from the right of the couch, then slammed closed.
"Hey Curtis', have no fear Two-Bit's here." Two-Bit sang in a cheerful voice, and stopped in front the couch as he tilted his beer bottle, taking a swig.
"Hey, kid. Where is everyone?" he questioned with a raised brow, then without so much as a warning he plonked his ass down on the back of my legs, and shuffled his butt side to side to make a point of getting comfortable.
"Ahh... Two-Bit. Get your smelly butt off me." But rather than answering, he lazed back into the head rest, stretching his left arm up and rested the hand behind his head, and raised his hand that occupied the beer, taking a long drink from the bottle. He didn't look to be moving anytime soon.
"Two-Bit," I whined, "If I answer your question, will you move then?"
He looked like he was trying to think about the answer - it was either a simple, yes or no, question - but he looked like he was hard in thought.
"Ok." He replied simply.
I rolled my eyes, before answering, "Darry's in the kitchen, and Soda and Steve are at work. There you happy? Now move."
He wiggled his butt side to side, but stayed where he was. "There I moved." He exclaimed, with a huge grin; sounding quite proud of himself.
"Two-Bit!" I whined again, giving him an annoyed look. But gave up on trying to get him to move and just stayed there with him sitting on me, as we watched the news lady give a full report of a robbery in Colorado.
"Dinners ready." Darry called from the kitchen.
Crap... There was no way I was gonna be able to hide my sore behind from Darry, let alone sit still in one of those hard kitchen chairs. I racked my brain for an excuse that I hoped would be plausible enough, that Darry would buy - but the best I could come up with was, not being hungry, and tired still - and mentally kicked myself for not being able to come up with something better, but that'd have to do. I knew for a fact, that if Darry ever found out, he'd make Soda's handiwork feel like a walk in the park...
Well at least one good thing came of that; as soon as the word food was mentioned Two-Bit was up and into the kitchen faster than a jack rabbit. I stretched my legs out feeling the blood circulate again from Two-Bit sitting on them. I noticed Darry's tall frame take up the wooden doorway of the kitchen.
"C'mon, Pony. Before Two-Bit eats it all."
"Darry, I'm not really hungry. I'm still tired, can I stay here?" I tried to put my drowsy act on, and faked a tired yawn.
Darry's expression grew concerned, as he crossed the lounge to where I lay.
"I hope your not comin' down with somethin', kiddo." He pressed his hand against my forehead again, leaving it there for a second.
"You don't have a temperature. Just get some rest, alright. I'll bring your plate in, I'd like you to try eat something." With that he made his way back to the kitchen. Not even a moment later, he came in with a plate and placed it on the coffee table directly in front of me.
"Try an' eat what you can, kiddo." He gave me one last hesitant look, before leaving to join Two-Bit at the table.
I leaned over the side of the couch being careful of my sore bottom, and picked up the fork Darry had left on the edge of my plate. I stabbed a piece of chicken with the fork prongs, and placed it in my mouth - feeling the tender poultry melt in my mouth - Darry always cooks the chicken till it's tender and juicy, then removes it from the oven before it gets even a hint dry.
I left a quarter of my dinner sitting on the white china; that held a finely drawn pattern around the rim, finished with shades of greens and oranges. I would have eaten it all, but knew that to fool Darry I had to leave my plate unfinished. I pushed the remaining vegetables around on my plate, making it seem more then there really is, then pushed the plate aside. I settled back on the couch, and sprawled out on my stomach again.
My ears pricked up as I heard some noise coming from outside, and recognised Soda and Steve's voices. They were still talking as I heard their heavy footsteps coming up the porch steps.
"Just ask her out man." Steve was saying.
"I said I'll think about it. I'm not sure if I'm ready for another relationship right now Steve, it's only been a couple of months since Sandy left." Soda answered him.
Sandy, I thought. Soda had been a complete mess after she up an' left him and moved away to Florida. Darry had told me that one night; the night Soda received the returned letter, the night he bolted outta the house, the night we chased him clear to the park. I'd never forgive Sandy for what she did to my brother. For how much she hurt him...
"I know man, but you need to move on sometime and you've got to admit she was kinda hot for you." I heard Steve say.
"Like I said, I'll think about it." But as the screen door opened, the conversation stopped. Soda walked in kicking off his shoes, seeing me on the couch.
"Hey, kiddo." Soda grinned, pulling his DX cap off, and ran his hand through his hair; making his hair resemble a porcupine, then unsuccessfully tried to smooth it back down.
"Hey Soda, how was work?" I asked, watching as Steve continued for the kitchen.
"Yeah, it was busy. I think everyone decided they needed gas at the last minute," he took a couple steps, moving closer to me, "Hey, you alright, kiddo?" he asked, keeping his voice low.
I nodded, glancing my eyes up at him.
He grinned, "Your a good kid, Pony," he said affectionately, before making his way into the kitchen to join the other boys.
"Hey, Dar." I heard Soda say.
"Hey, Steve was just saying you guys were run off your feet come closing?"
"Yeah, everyone was getting gas like it was goin' outta fashion."
"Speakin' of work, did Ponyboy seem okay before you left?"
At the mention of my name, my ears perked up. I turned my vision in the direction of the kitchen door, and slowed my breathing to hear the conversation from the kitchen more clearly. My heart was pumping in slow thumps, and I was slightly nervous. I knew Soda wasn't the type to rat, especially on his own kid brother - but I still needed to hear his answer, to be sure.
"Ahh... yeah, he seemed fine. Why?"
"He was asleep when I got home. I woke him a little under an hour ago, but I think he may have been out for awhile. He said he wasn't hungry before and still tired, he doesn't have a fever or anything. Did he touch his dinner?"
"Yeah, I'll go check on him."
Soda's footsteps returned coming into the lounge, with his long legs stopping in my view of the television set; I hesitantly followed my eyes up his legs, past his arms he had folded across his chest and up to meet his eyes, which held a firm glance at me. He crouched down in front of me, resting a hand on the sofa cushion, as he brought his other hand towards me placing it directly across my forehead like Darry had done earlier.
"Soda, I'm not sick." I hissed loud enough for his ears only, and batted his hand away. "I just wasn't hungry."
He glanced over his shoulder at my half attempted effort of making my plate look like less had been eaten, then there really had been - with my display of scattered vegetables across my plate.
"Well, you look like you did a pretty good job for not being hungry there, kiddo." His eyes flashed back to me again, as he leaned closer and kept his voice low so Darry wouldn't hear. "I figured it was more to do with the fact that your too sore to sit and you don't want Darry finding out." He shot me that knowing look, with a raised eyebrow.
I can't fool, Soda... I can never fool, Soda. Sure his the one that tanned me, but even if he hadn't, he still would have know. Soda can read me as easily as an open book, and knows the moment I'm not being truthful.
I slowly chewed on my lower lip, hoping he won't tell Darry. And hoping even more that I wasn't gonna be in more trouble for lying to Darry.
He quickly put my worrying thoughts aside, as he reassured me. "Don't worry, I ain't gonna say nothin'," he whispered, running his fingers through my un-greased hair. I gave him a small smile to say thanks.
"Alright, kiddo," he flashed me a Sodapop grin, as he stood up. "Well, I'm gonna go grab some dinner, I'm starving."
After he rounded the wooden doorframe, my eyes fell back on the flickering TV in front of me; but the moving picture went unseen as I stared blankly at the screen.
Not even ten minutes later the rowdiness of the guys came as they re-entered the lounge. Steve and Two-Bit pulled playful punches at one another as Soda crossed over to the couch, he carefully lifted my legs and slid onto the cushion, replacing my legs in his lap. Two-Bit on the other hand blatantly pulled me off the couch; he grabbed my bicep on one arm and above my wrist on the other and pulled me onto the floor. I felt Soda's hand on the back of my shirt, to stop my fall, but his attempt at saving me wasn't quick enough.
"Two-Bit!" I scowled, as he grinned.
"Oh, look... the couches free, the kids not hogging it anymore." Two-Bit pointed his forefinger to my now empty spot, feigning mock surprise.
I rolled my eyes.
"Well, it's my house. I'm aloud to hog it if I want." I said, from my position on the floor.
Soda leaned down and grabbed a hold under my arm, hurling me up onto the couch. Rather than lying down, I curled my legs under me and leaned into the safety of Soda's chest - knowing Two-Bit won't touch me here - as Soda wrapped his arms around me. Steve ended up taking the other end of the couch, whereas Two-Bit plastered his butt to the rug on the floor, using the couch as a backrest - not even bothering with sitting on the couch.
Over an hour passed with us unmoving from our spots, as we watched nothing in particular - it wasn't anymore than the weekly sitcom that aired after the news - and come to think of it, it's not a show we'd bother switching on, than sitting together to watch. But as I tilted my head to look up at Soda; his warm brown eyes dropped to mine with a smile that reached his eyes, as his bitten-down nails continued to caress the bare skin of my hand to my elbow, leaving small goosebumps in it's wake.
I glanced at the other two guys, that I considered as family; Two-Bit was sprawled out with his legs in a V shape, one hand resting behind his head as he laughed along with the real-life American sitcom. Steve rested an elbow on the arm of the couch, with his cheek resting a top his balled up fist, laughing along with Two-Bit at all the right spots.
And for the first time I realised, that whichever show had been playing at this very moment, wouldn't have mattered; I think... no, I'm certain it was more to the fact we were just content with one another's company.
I felt my eyelids grow heavy and leaned further into Soda, as I stared at the screen - with them closing every few moments - I tried my hardest to stay awake, but it was a fighting battle, and soon my eyelids won. I drifted into a half sleep, hearing the television as if far away, along with the solid pounding of Soda's heart beat in his chest.
Hours felt like it had passed when I felt someone gently shake me.
"C'mon, kiddo. Wake up." I moaned sleepily, as I felt Soda shifting from underneath me, "Bedtime for you." I let him pull me up from the couch, and felt strong arms secure around me; as he lead me to our shared room, I couldn't help but think everything would turn out alright... it always did in the end, right?
No matter how many times I end up on the receiving end of the belt, or grounded to the house - I knew that's not what mattered - what mattered most was having my brothers through thick and thin, and that the three of us stuck together - cause in the end we're all we've got.
Soda's hold on me never faltered as he pulled back the covers on our unmade double bed, and I slid in under the warm quilts. As Soda carefully worked his way under the covers on his side, and pulling me into his protective embrace - with my back against his chest, and his chin resting above my hair - I knew my thoughts were in the right place this time... that nothing else did matter - sure, sometimes life may seem unfair, but in all reality it's only as unfair as you make it.
THE END
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A/N - Well that's it everyone, the end has finally come. Thank you so much to all my readers, and everyone that supported me throughout this story. It certainly had its fair share of ups and downs, and rewrites, but we got through in the end. A special thanks to anyone who left a review, they mean the world to me and kept this story going. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did in writing it.
Bella Lilac Xx