Two-Bit

The gang minus one were all sitting at the Curtis' house like any other day. Ponyboy was sitting on Darry's lap in the big chair in the corner, Steve and Sodapop were sprawled all over the floor while Johnny and Dallas were sitting like normal people on the couch.

"Cut it out Steve!" Sodapop yelled as Steve wouldn't stop kicking him.

"I'm not doing anything!" Just then, Steve kicked Soda again.

"That's it!" Soda yelled with a devilish grin on his face. Soda pounced on top of Steve and they began to have an all out wrestling match while everyone else watched in amusement.

"Alright boys, knock it off before you break the TV," Darry said calmly, but the two wrestling greasers refused. "I SAID STOP!" Darrel all but yelled. His voice boomed through the house which caused Soda and Steve to throw themselves apart. They sat awkwardly staring at each other when Ponyboy spoke up.

"Hey, do any of you have a clue where Two-Bit might be?" Everyone looked at each other with confusion clearly written all over their faces.

"Last time I saw him he was at the bar his mom works at." Johnny said as Dally yawned very loudly.

"I don't know why you all are worrying so much. It's Two-Bit's decision about where he goes and where he wants to go." Dally said. Johnny shoved Dally's side and clicked his tongue.

"Come on Dal. We're just wo-" And just at the perfect moment, Two-Bit opened the front door, ignoring the whole gang, and rushed into the kitchen. The rest of the gang watched him in shock, wondering what was wrong with him.

They saw Two-Bit open the fridge door and pull out a beer. He opened it and leaned against the stove.

"What's up with him?" Soda whispered to everyone. Most of the gang shrugged their shoulders while the others still remained to watch Two-Bit. Two-Bit saw everyone watching him.

"What the hell are you looking at?!" Two-Bit snapped. The rest of the gang looked away hurriedly afterwards. Pony noticed something about Two-Bit. He saw that Two-Bit's eyes were bloodshot red and watery along with tears tracks stained to his cheeks. He heard how Two's voice broke at the end of his sentence.

"I'll be right back you guys…" Pony pushed himself out from Darry's comfy and warm lap and made his way towards the kitchen. He slowly approached Two-Bit in caution and fear of being hit.

"Hey Two-Bit…" Pony said while standing in front of the older greaser.

"What do you want Pony?" Two-Bit took another swig of beer and stared at Ponyboy.

"Have you been crying?" He was talking quietly so the others wouldn't hear about anything.

"No! Why would you ask such a stupid question?" Pony backed away somewhat.

"Why ya getting so defensive?" And that was when Two-Bit broke. He threw his still half full beer bottle against the wall causing it to explode and shatter everywhere. He had an angry look to him along with tears running down his face.

"How could she?! That rat bastard! What a fucking whore she is!" Two-Bit stomped over to the dining room and sat in one of the chairs. He put his elbows on the table and shoved his head in his hands and started balling. Ponyboy stood shocked in the kitchen because the beer bottle barely missed his head. Darry got up from his chair and, like Ponboy, cautiously made his way towards Two-Bit.

"Hey Two-Bit, what's wrong?" Darry kneeled to his level as Soda rushed over to Ponyboy to see if he was hurt by the glass or anything.

"She fucking cheated on me!" Two-Bit yelled as he continued to cry into his hands.

"Who? Who cheated on you?" Darry said while rubbing the crying greasers back.

"Fucking Kathy! I saw he at the drive-in sucking this socs face off!" Steve giggled which caused Two-Bit to send him a nasty stare.

"I, I… I gotta go. See you guys later…" Johnny said awkwardly and left without any other word. Dally remained on the couch watching in what seemed like mortal fear until he spoke up.

"See Two-Bit? I told you she was a no good piece of shit broad." That sure made Two-Bit hit the roof.

"AND SYLVIA ISN'T?! HAVE YOU REALIZED HOW MANY TIMES THAT WHORE HAS CHEATED ON YOU AND YOU STILL CONTINUE TO STICK IT IN HER?! YOU'RE JUST USING HER BECAUSE YOU'RE SCARED NOBODY ELSE WILL GO NEAR YOU! YOU'RE JUST USING HER FOR FUCKING SEX YOU TRASHY HOOD!" That shut Dally right up. Everyone was wondering why Dally wasn't pounding Two-Bit's face in. Instead, Dally stood up and practically took the front door off of the hinges and stormed out.

"God Two-Bit, wonder why he didn't bash your head in…" Soda said as him and Pony sat down at the other unoccupied chairs at the dining table. Darry stood up as Steve walked into the dining table and took a seat too followed along by Darry. Now everyone was sitting at the table watching an eighteen and a half year old greaser cry his eyes out.

"Two-Bit…" Pony began but Darry stopped him.

"Hey Two-Bit, it's okay. You were too good for her anyways. You should've known that. I mean, it was fun while it lasted. But you can't always be sure that that one person you're dating is going to be the one. I mean, what you said about Sylvia was completely true and we're all still super confused as to why Dally didn't beat you up. But you have to let it go. I mean, I know this just happened, but it's going to get better. Trust me. When did you find out she was cheating on you?" Two-Bit looked up at everyone and sniffled a sob.

"Last night. We were there for a date and she asked me to get her some Coca-Cola, so I did. When I came back I saw her and some ugly ass socs making out right in front of me! And don't think I didn't bash that guys head in before I left." Two-Bit was fiddling with his fingers and Steve shot Soda a worried look.

"Well, was it true that you were at your mom's bar?" Sodapop asked. Two-Bit nodded his head.

"Yeah… yeah I was. My mom spotted me and came over to comfort me, then she ran me out before I got caught by the security. So… I crashed at Buck's for the night without anyone knowing. I just woke up about an hour ago. I decided to head over here to see if it could cool me off some. But obviously not…" Darry shook his head at Two-Bit.

"Two-Bit…" Two-Bit wasn't paying attention. "Two-Bit!" Keith looked at Darry and watched him take a deep breath. "Two-Bit… when you were at Buck's last night, did you get drunk by any chance?"

Two-Bit seemed very hesitant to answer this question. Then, slowly but surely, he nodded. "Yeah… I did. But what does that have to do with anything? I always get drunk!" Two-Bit playfully smiled but Darry frowned.

"Two-Bit… in situations like these, people tend to drink away their sorrows. Sometimes a little too much… and they, well you may already know this, but some people end up becoming alcoholics.

Two people shuddered at the mentioning of this. Steve; because his dad was an alcoholic and he couldn't even imagine what would happen if Two-Bit turned into his dad. And Two-Bit; because he never wanted to turn into one. Sure, he drinks a lot, and sure sometimes he doesn't moderate how much he drinks, but he knew that he would never end up becoming an alcoholic.

"I know Dar… and trust me I will never end up becoming an alcoholic." Darry smiled and pounded his fist on the table cheerfully.

"Alrighty, now, who wants Dairy Queen?" Darry asked. Everyone jumped up in excitement but Two-Bit stayed put.

"I don't know Darry. I mean, we already know you're a queen and everything, but I don't think I want some of you." Everyone smiled and dragged Two-Bit out the door, because they knew Two-Bit would make it through this in a breeze and he was already back to being his normal self again.