Chapter Text
Ponyboy POV:
The bright sun shone through the window, filtering throughout the bedroom. It took me a moment before I shook off my remaining drowsiness and sat up, recalling the events of the previous night.
I had let them in.
Dang it.
That was not a part of my plan. My plan was to brush them off until they’d surely get bored of me and finally leave me alone.
However, considering each and every moment of my life so far, I shouldn’t be so surprised that it’s gone completely off track.
And no matter what anyone says, I’ll continue to deny the fact that I felt an ounce of belonging with my whole heart.
For just a moment I could smile, really smile, and pretend I’m just a regular kid that’s part of a family. I have older two brothers who love me and sneak out with me at three in the morning to get burgers and fries. I have a Mom and Dad who love me, both who are waiting at home to hug me and ask how my day was.
But I don’t.
And I can’t forget that.
Don’t let them in.
Soda and Darry are nobody other than my friends. The guys I’d run the streets of New York and stay up all night getting into trouble with. Because that’s all anyones ever been to me.
Other than Dally.
Dally’s my brother and there’s no doubt in that.
Speaking of Dally, I’ve gotta meet him today. I’m sure he said something about hanging out, that he’d meet me at the Curtis house. It doesn’t really matter what we’ll be doing anyway, as long as it gets me as far as possible from Mr & Mrs Curtis.
I can’t get close to them, the closer I get the more it’ll hurt when they finally decide to send me away.
I’m used to leaving friends behind, friends aren’t so bad. Make jokes, have a laugh and then dip.
That’s all fine by me. It’s all familiar.
Though I’m still on a mission to get them mad. One of them’s bound to break, I just need to figure out how to get them angry. How to make them hit me so I expect it, so I can see just how hard they hit before I let my guard down.
My ears take note of the muffled voices from behind my door.
Oh great.
I really was hoping to wake up to an empty house.
Never mind that. I lift myself up off the bed and take a shower, brushing my teeth and then getting dressed in a ragged T-shirt and worn out jeans.
Stepping out through the hallway, I’m met with Mr & Mrs Curtis and every single member of the Curtis gang, the latter sprawled around the living room.
“Sleeping beauty’s awake!!” Two-Bit hollered.
“Morning Pony!” Soda chimed in, with followed with a chorus of greetings.
“Morning!” Mr Curtis chimed in.
"You slept in late, can I get you any breakfast?” Mrs Curtis warmly asked, sitting next to her husband at the dining room table with a mug of warm coffee in her hands.
“Nah I’m fine.” I trudge past her and head to the sink to get a glass of water. Chugging it, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for my bluntness, though if I’d learned anything during my times on the streets of New York, moving from foster home to foster home, it was that you have to do anything to survive.
Anything.
I sense Mr Curtis about to start up a conversation so, naturally I stride past the table and put my shoes on, not bothering with greetings before yelling “C’mon Dallas, I ain’t got all day.” And walk outside, not bothering to wait up for him.
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Dallas POV:
Just like that.
The kid strode in and waltzed out the front door without a greeting to spare.
Well, if I’m completely honest, I’m not so surprised. If anything, he was acting exactly as I would. I guess I taught him a little too well.
Whoops.
Ditching the rest of the gang I let out a huff and aimed a mumbled “Goin’ out with the kid.” At Mr & Mrs Curtis before they think I’m kidnapping him and catch up to Mikey and walk beside him.
“Quite an exit that was kid.” I direct at him, staring ahead.
“Places to go, people to see.” He replied, devoid of emotion.
We then walked towards Bucks, where Tim would likely be hanging. It hasn’t slipped my mind that Mr & Mrs Curtis wouldn’t want Ponyboy within a ten mile radius from there, but they’re just dramatic. I mean they don’t even let Darry or Soda hang there. But wether they’d like to admit it or not, I know Mikey better than them.
As we reach our destination, as expected, the one and only Tim Shepard stands before us. Dabbing up Pony and I before scanning Ponyboy up and down with curious eyes.
“You Ponyboy?” He asked around a cigarette, his southern accent dragging and making Pony’s thick New York accent even more prominent than to begin with.
“Sure am.” Pony replies, matching his gruff tone with a hint of amusement.
“Curly speaks highly of you. So does Dallas. I’ll take their word for it.” He finally assessed, giving him a curt nod.
Speaking of the rascal, Curly Shepard himself emerged from the crowd of people swarming the area with a grin filled with trouble and energy levels much higher than necessary.
“Ponyboy!!” He shouted, throwing an arm around Pony’s shoulder.
“Hey Curly.” Ponyboy grinned back.
“Whatever trouble you guys get yourselves into, don’t get caught. Ya’ hear me?” He sternly directed at Curly, with a huff.
“Sure sure Timmy. We won’t get caught, will we PB?” Curly gestures towards Pony, who looks anything but innocent.
“Oh yeah.” Ponyboy nodded his head in agreement, voice full of playfulness and false reassurance.
“Mikey you better mean in. If your parents get a call from the fuzz I’ll be blamed for it, ya’ hear?” I butt in.
There’s no time for their nonsense, but once Ponyboy gets something in his head it ain’t goin’ out.
The kid’s stubborn and if he sets his mind on making trouble, he will make complete havoc and nobody can stop him.
Which is why I really should stay with him.
And why I really should have expected the Tulsa Police Department to phone the Curtis household at 5pm that afternoon.
With Ponyboy Curtis in their custody.