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Okay. Quiet… quiet…
SLAM
.
.
Shit.
Darry had a plan. A very. simple. plan.
- Sneak in silently
- Run to his room and hide the thing he bought.
- MAKE SURE NOBODY FINDS IT.
Judging by his family and friend’s stares at him, he might be zip for three.
“Whatcha got there, bud?” His dad asked.
“Nothing.”
Darry tried really quickly to rush past him to his room, but he blocked him.
“What’s in there?”
“I said it was nothing!” Darry insisted.
He’s being suspicious.
He looked at the rest of his family and at Johnny and Two-bit, who were staying over that night. Two-bit looked… amused. Soda and Pony looked vaguely concerned.
“If it’s something illegal, tell me.” his dad lowered his voice “I know who you’re hanging out with, and let me be frank, I don’t know if I trust that Winston boy.”
“It’s nothing. I swear.”
‘Please believe him. Please believe him.’ he prayed in his mind
Unfortunately, his wishing was for nothing. His dad snatched the bag out of his hands, and reached inside. He picked up a red heart shaped box that read “Happy Valentine's Day!”
.
“....Chocolates?” he asked with an air of disbelief.
Sodapop and Two-bit burst out into laughter.
Shit. He felt his face start to burn up.
“Hey, who’s the unlucky girl, huh?” Soda jeered. Two-bit laughed even harder. Ponyboy, startled as he was, even cracked a smile.
“Shut up,” Darry said, rolling his eyes. “I’m going to my room.”
He flopped on his bed, and groaned quietly.. ‘ It’s all going to be worth it’, he assured himself.
***
When he heard the school bell ring, marking the end of the day, he dashed to underneath the bleachers. He waited there for what felt like an eternity.
A blond man walked in.
“Hey,” he said with a grin.
Darry’s face lit up.
“Hey yourself,” he responded.
Paul sat down.
“I–uh, well- I got you this.” Darry said, handing him the bag. Paul took the box out of the bag, and cracked a little smile.
“No way.” he said, grinning.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to get you! I haven’t really done this before!” Darry spluttered.
“Nah, nah, I love it.”
Darry looked at him skeptically.
“Honest! I do,” Paul assured him.
“....Thanks. I had a hell of a time getting it here.”
He recounted the story to Paul, which was quite hard with Paul laughing his ass off at every word.
“It’s not that funny,” Darry grumbled.
“Unlucky girl ?!” Paul cackled.
“Well, I don’t really think this is the first scenario that comes to mind.”
It’s true. Frequently Darry wonders how any of this happens. Not that he regrets it, far from it. Sometimes this feels like the best thing that’s ever happened to him.