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“You started a what now?”
Ponyboy didn’t know how long he thought he was going to get away with keeping the band a secret from Darry, but it was much shorter than he would have expected. He thought that maybe he had a few more weeks before his brother found out - he, Dally, and Johnny were careful about the times that they practiced - but he had found out. All because of Two-Bit’s big mouth.
Ponyboy really wanted to do him in after that one. He had come bounding in after dinner, a homemade flier in his hand, something about advertising the band or what not, and Darry had been sitting right there in his chair - witnessing it all. Pony was completely mortified. It was one thing for his brother to just find out, it was another to be interrogated about the damn thing.
Pony groaned, wishing that he could just leave, “A band. Johnny, Dally, and I started a band.”
Darry gave him a stern look, “Where’d you get the bright idea to do that?”
This was why he didn’t want Darry to find out. He was always worried about what Pony was doing with his time, if he was studying enough, if he was with someone or alone, if he was off reading or writing again - playing in some band wouldn’t be on the list of things Darry would deem productive. “I don’t know. I just thought it’d be fun.”
He really didn’t want an argument, it had been a good while since their last one - after everything that had happened towards the end of the last school year Darry had been a lot more understanding with everything - but not about this it seemed. No sir, Darry didn’t want his kid brother going off and running a band when there were plenty of other things, better things, he could be doing with his time.
“You thought it’d be fun?”
Pony huffed. Two-Bit was still standing at the door, that damned poster in his hand, “Give the kid a break, Dar, be happy he has a hobby that doesn’t lock him in his room all day. Besides-” the moron went along and handed Darry the flier, making Pony want to crawl back into his bed and rot there for the rest of time, “The three of them are pretty damn good.”
Darry took a moment to read over the flier; there wasn’t much on it. Dally had thought it’d be fun to put on some sort of concert - though it was going to be a small concert since they were doing it out of Two-Bit’s garage. The boy had been more than happy to lend them the space as long as they promised to play a song or two that his sister recommended. Pony agreed in an instant, though he was really regretting that since said boy had barged in (without knocking) and foiled his entire plan to keep Darry in the dark.
Speaking of his brother, Darry finally looked up, meeting Ponyboy’s eye again, “You three are putting on a show this weekend?”
“Saturday at seven.” He didn’t know why he said it, Darry could read after all.
His brother read over the flier again. “It’s a risky thing to do.”
Pony shrugged, “It’ll be fun.” It was fun whenever he played with Johnny and Dally - though he wasn’t as excited for this since it would be his first time singing in front of a crowd. “Are you gonna come?” He didn’t know why he asked, it wasn’t like he really wanted Darry to come - that would be embarrassing. But he spoke without thinking. Again.
Darry had a smug look about him, “I just might.”
*****
“I think I’m gonna throw up from nerves, Johnnycake.” Ponyboy was fiddling with his bass strings, though they didn’t need to be messed with at all. He had made sure everything was in order hours ago. One more tune-up couldn’t hurt though.
Johnny smacked away his fingers, moving the boy’s hand to rest on his jean covered knee. They were sitting side by side. “It’s first show jitters, I’m sure every singer ever has gotten them.”
“Then how come you aren’t nervous?” Pony retorted.
Johnny smirked at him, “I’m not really the singer, now am I.”
“You do backing vocals,” he argued back.
“Still not the lead singer; I’m just here to sit pretty and play guitar.”
Ponyboy rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah, sitting there looking pretty.” He loved when they could joke around like this. They could never do it at school, if they did they would be the next target, and it always felt a bit awkward acting like this around the rest of the gang. When it was just the two of them it was perfect.
“Pony get your ass up and make sure the garage door’ll stay open.” Well, almost just the two of them. Ponyboy got up, “I’ve got it Dal.” He looked down at Johnny, “You gonna help?” It was a teasing question, they both know Johnny couldn’t stand well enough to keep the garage door up.
The boy grinned at him, “Nope, sitting looking pretty, remember?” The time passed quickly as they got everything ready, talking out what songs they were gonna play - with input from Two-Bit’s sister of course - and finally a trickle of people began to filter in from the road.
Ponyboy’s jaw nearly fell open when he realized how many people there really were. He hadn’t thought that that many people would want to see them play. Then again, it was a Saturday night on the East side, there weren’t many other things to do aside from maybe catching a movie. His hands began to sweat, hopefully that wouldn’t interfere with his playing.
He tried his best to remember what Johnny had told him to say when a crowd started to form, thanking them for coming, introducing the band, all of that sort of stuff. Pony was actually getting through it without a problem until he saw Darry in the distance. Sodapop was with him, though Pony wasn’t too nervous about him, and when he looked even closer he could see Steve and Two-Bit as well. That made the whole gang.
He sucked in a breath: what had he gotten himself into?
Ponyboy shut his eyes and took a deep breath. All he had to do was focus on the music, to pretend that nobody else was even there. In an instant he was at practice again, in his own garage, and the only people that could hear him were Johnny and Dally. The latter counted them in.
They think we’re rotten,
Well we don’t care.
They think we’ll rot in,
Our ash filled air.
Johnny’s rhythm flooded through his ears, immediately filling him with absolute warmth. There was nothing else like it.
I think we’re stuck in,
Some sort of cage.
I think we’re akin,
To eastern rage.
His eyes fluttered open for a moment and he was met with a sea of shocked faces. It wasn’t often that a band was formed on the east side, and it wasn’t like they performed for crowds either. Pony refused to look past the crowd though and into the eyes of Darry - that would sike him out far too much. He wouldn’t be able to complete the rest of the set.
Greaser, JD, Hoodlum
Johnny joined in with the backing vocals - he had a better voice than he would admit. Whenever Ponyboy complimented him on it he always waved it off like it was nothing.
Call me any name in your book,
Say we live in the slum,
Don’t give a damn ‘bout your look!
Ponyboy’s mouth closed as they moved onto a musical break, letting the familiar baseline comfort him.
Sure we gamble,
And yes we smoke,
Sure we vandal,
Don’t care we’re broke!
I think we’re more than,
What meets your eye,
I think we’re front man,
We won’t comply!
They went through the chorus again. The crowd was really getting into it, none of them knew the words since this was the first time any of them were hearing it, but that didn't stop a few from trying to scream along with them. Pony finally stopped himself from closing his eyes again, instead taking in the view, the sea of people before him. A few more lines and the song was closing itself out.
Ponyboy stepped back, letting Johnny’s finally chord ring out. Sifting through the crowd of people he could see Darry looking at him with wide eyes, completely shocked. There was a smile on his face though - a genuine one - which made butterflies flutter in his stomach.
Maybe Darry finding out wasn’t that bad after all.