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Life Choices 2: Forming Bonds	By : JessieMundaiFan Category: M through R > The Outsiders Views: 2923 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The Outsiders is owned by S.E. Hinton I own nothing. I make no profit on this fanfic

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Disclaimer: The Outsiders is owned by S.E. Hinton I own nothing.
…
(General POV)
Ponyboy groaned in frustration.
"Why does this book keep falling over," Ponyboy growled.
Once again, the book Johnny gave him had fallen off its stand.
"Cheap piece of crap," Ponyboy mumbled noticing that the stand was slanted slightly.
With a sigh, Ponyboy exited his room in search of a new book stand. Unfortunately, this proved to be a difficult task seeing as there weren't that many books in the living room.
"Darry," Ponyboy called out to his brother.
A minute later Darry popped out of his room with a look of question on his face.
"Do we have anymore book stands?" Ponyboy asked waving the book in his hand in front of his brother for emphasis.
"I don't think so," Darry answered shrugging carelessly, "just put one on the shopping list for next time I go to the store."
Ponyboy nodded in agreement and went go back into his room. As he went to pass his brother a hand came onto his shoulder.
Ponyboy looked up at his older brother in curiosity.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Darry asked looking more hesitant than Ponyboy had ever seen him.
With a shrug, Ponyboy went and sat down on the couch across from his brother who had pulled up a chair so they could talk face to face.
"Uh, I don't know where to start," Darry rubbed his shoulder awkwardly.
"I knew this talk was coming," Ponyboy sighed sadly.
"Huh?" Darry just blinked at his brother.
"It's about Soda," Ponyboy nodded assuredly, "and that half bowl of paper clips he ate the other day isn't it."
"He did what?" Darry eyebrows rose incredulously.
"I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen to me," Ponyboy claimed helplessly, "but I will say in his defense that he was reading a mechanic magazine and wasn't paying attention to what he was eating. He thought they were potato chips."
This left Darry completely speechless.
"Don't worry about him too much Darry," Ponyboy sent his brother a reassuring smile, "you know that he's accidently eaten worse over the years. If he could survive all that glue his classmates dared him to eat in kindergarten then I'm sure he'll get through this."
The kindergarten glue incident?
Darry rubbed his forehead tiredly. That was not something he wanted to be reminded. He spent the last couple of years blocking out that horrendous moment in his life.
"Ponyboy that is not what I wanted to talk to you about," Darry expressed in exasperation.
"Oh," Ponyboy blinked at his brother before chuckling at him in amusement, "so that was the wrong talk huh?"
Darry just gave him a blank look.
"So you must want to talk about Danny then," Ponyboy stated innocently stroking the hardback cover of the book in his hands.
"Yes and…."
It took Darry a minute to realize what Ponyboy just said.
"How the hell do you know about Danny?" Darry demanded more out of shock than anger.
Ponyboy rolled his eyes dramatically.
"I keep telling you and Sodapop that I know y'all secrets," Ponyboy grinned mischievously, "why do you think I'm quiet all the time? I'm listening and watching both of you and observing your mistakes, privileges of a little brother."
"You mean spying," Darry replied dryly.
"Details," Ponyboy waved carelessly, "so what is this talk about?"
Even though Ponyboy currently didn't have any real outward expression on his face, he was practically kicking his feet anxiously. He had been waiting for his talk ever since he figured out who specifically Darry was seeing currently.
"Uh," Darry tried to think of way to word this correctly. He wasn't exactly at his best when he was put on the spot like this.
"Let me guess," Ponyboy began casually, "you need advice on emotions."
"I…guess you could put it that way," Darry sighed lowly, "Danny just wants me to open up more and express myself to him. I just don't know how."
"Not that I'm complaining but I can't help but wonder why you didn't go to Soda for this?" Ponyboy thought aloud tilting his head slightly.
"It didn't really matter to me which one of you I talked to," Darry shrugged, "you just happened to be here right now."
"Gee thanks, way to make me feel special," Ponyboy grumbled sarcastically but still with a playful glint in his eye.
Darry gave his brother a look and ruffled his hair playfully.
"So what do you want to know?" Ponyboy asked as he fixed his hair.
"Just how to handle my emotions better," Darry said struggling slightly with how difficult it was to say these words.
"Well," Ponyboy tapped his head in thought, "you just have to find a healthy outlet for your anger."
"Meaning," Darry asked wanting him to elaborate more.
"Take me for example. Whenever I'm angry or upset I tend to just write out my frustrations until I feel better," Ponyboy answered.
"And that helps," Darry questioned looking unsure.
"Absolutely," Ponyboy nodded determinedly, "and because I put my anger in writing I get to see how angry I can get which could get scary sometimes."
Ponyboy chuckled to himself hollowly. There were a ton of times where he wrote something down and then immediately threw it away due to its horrible content. He's written things that he would never want to say aloud because they could extremely hurt those he cares about.
"I want to be with Danny but I just can't get my feelings in check," Darry said, "Danny says that he can help me with all my bottled up emotions but I'm not too sure on that."
From the look on Ponyboy's face he didn't seem too sure of it either. He didn't like the idea of someone having control of his older brother's emotions, which would be putting Darry's emotions and happiness completely on Danny's shoulders. And on the off chance that they break up could cause Darry to completely shut himself off from life.
Ponyboy felt a sense of protectiveness flow through him. Even though he does like Danny from the time he was around the house, he doesn't want to give him than much power of his big brother.
"That's great," Ponyboy replied with false happiness, "but I think you should do something for yourself before starting an actual relationship."
"What," Darry asked in a rare bout of obliviousness.
"Um, do you like the way you are now?" Ponyboy asked hesitantly.
Darry had to stop and think about this for a minute. On the one hand yes, he did like who he was. He was proud himself and all the strides he made in his young life. On the other hand, Darry was sick of not having control of his own mouth when his anger came out. It's almost like a different person surfaces inside. It almost cost him the relationship with his youngest brother and he didn't want it to happen again.
"Darry," Ponyboy sighed looked up at his brother pleadingly, "this kind of change that should be for yourself and not anyone else."
"Yeah?" Darry nodded thinking to himself for a minute.
"So what do you think I should do," Darry questioned.
"Get a hobby," Ponyboy answered simply, "find something that you like doing that can help you channel you're bottled up emotions."
"Like working out," Darry suggested seeing as that was the only thing he could come up for himself.
"No," Ponyboy stressed adamantly, "I've seen you when you work out. It doesn't help you because you're focused on keeping in shape. And fighting isn't a good way to help you with your emotions because that will just entice the anger."
"You sure know your stuff about this," Darry pointed out offhandedly.
"I'm an emotional guy," Ponyboy shrugged, "and I wouldn't be much of one if I didn't understand a thing about feelings and how they work."
Seeing something catch his eye, Ponyboy reached to the counter next to the couch and grabbed the book that was lying there.
Looking at it, Ponyboy saw it was one of his old murder mystery books.
"Here," Ponyboy handed the book to his brother.
"A Neighborhood Made in Hell?" Darry said reading the title of the book.
"You should give reading a try," Ponyboy recommended, "it really helps take you away from life for a while."
"I can't afford to get away from life," Darry narrowed eyes, "I'm too old for that and I have too many responsibilities on my shoulders."
"You're too old to read?" Ponyboy retorted dryly, "I'm not saying shut yourself off from life completely. Just think of books as a sort of mini vacation that you can get away from at any moment."
Darry still looked a little skeptical remembering the dreamy looks Ponyboy used to get after be well into a book. It was okay for his youngest brother to get like that because he's young but not for the one that was paying the bills.
"Just give it a try," Ponyboy urged, "it's not like you won't be able to stop if you really wanted to. It's just something for you to do in your spare time."
Sighing to himself, Darry opted to just follow his brothers advice and see where readings Ponyboy's kind of books gets him.
Furrowing his brow, Darry looked down at the title of the book again.
"I bought you this kind of book," Darry asked his brother just now realizing that it was a murder mystery novel, something he wouldn't dream of getting Ponyboy especially with the nightmares he use to have."
"Two-Bit gave it to me," Ponyboy shrugged.
"Let me guess, he used his five finger discount," Darry replied rolling his eyes.
Ponyboy did nothing but smirk in return.
"Alright Ponyboy," Darry exclaimed getting up from his chair, "I'll give your novels a shot but I can't say how much good they'll do just yet."
"Can't hurt to try right," Ponyboy smiled encouragingly.
Darry nodded and clasped a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks little brother," Darry said smiling wholeheartedly, "you really helped me out a bit here. You're going to really wise when you get older."
"What can I say? I take after my older brother," Ponyboy responded giving Darry a pointed look.
Darry rolled his eyes and ruffled his brother's hair again before moving back to his room.
Ponyboy chuckled while shaking his head to himself.
"Oh that brother of mine," Ponyboy said to no one in particular.
Just then, the front door slammed open revealing a wide grinning Two-Bit.
"Hello Curtis'," Two-Bit shouted ecstatically.
"Two-Bit," Ponyboy groaned playfully, "long time no see."
Two-Bit sat down next to Ponyboy dramatically stretching himself out.
"It has been a while hasn't it," Two-Bit nodded, "I've just been so busy lately."
"Doing what," Ponyboy raised an eyebrow at him.
"Nothing," Two-Bit snickered, "I haven't been doing anything and it's been really tiring me out. Doing nothing is twice as hard as working at a job."
"You don't say," Ponyboy replied halfheartedly carelessly flipping through the pages of the book Johnny gave him.
"Yep," Two-Bit nodded firmly, "let me tell what did yesterday. First I had to get out of bed, which by the way was the hardest part of the day. Second I had to go the fridge to get some food and then lay on the couch for god knows how long, because I sure as wasn't keeping track of time."
Ponyboy gave his friend a look of disbelief.
"Third I took a nap which confused the hell out of me because when I woke up I didn't know what day it was. So after a whole ten minutes of that I went out with some buddies for some drinks until I finally came home and went to bed."
"So as you can see Ponyboy my life takes me through many conundrums and hardships," Two-Bit told the young greaser.
Despite everything Two-Bit had just said there was only one question on his mind at the moment.
"Where did you learn the word conundrum?" Ponyboy asked.
"Word of the day calendar," Two-Bit answered with a grin, "I used the word in the right sentence didn't I?"
"Not really," Ponyboy shook his head, "but I guess it doesn't matter."
Two-Bit shrugged reaching over to turn on the television.
"So, do you have it?" Ponyboy questioned after a while.
"What? Oh yeah I got it," Two-Bit said reaching into his pocket and pulling out the novel in his pocket "The Dark Forest."
Ponyboy gasped excitedly and reached for the novel only to have it pulled away from him.
"Ah, ah, ah," Two-Bit waved his finger at him teasingly, "what are the magic words."
"I won't tell Darry that you took our case of beer like we agreed," Ponyboy replied smirking at him.
With a pout, Two-Bit tossed the novel over the young greaser.
"I should tell Darry you blackmailing me into stealing for you," Two-Bit grumbled, "I know my rights!"
"You were going to steal from the place I was going to get this book from anyway," Ponyboy rationalized, "might as well getting something useful."
"I steal plenty of useful things," Two-Bit protested.
"Like letters from restaurant signs," Ponyboy brought up bitterly.
"I still have it," Two-Bit shot him a grin, "it's above my bed as we speak."
"I don't doubt it is," Ponyboy skimming through the pages of his new novel.
"Hey, did you even find out I stole your case of beer anyway," Two-Bit asked as some kind of afterthought.
Ponyboy threw him a teasing look.
"Just like it's my business to be in Soda and Darry's business, it's my business to be in yours and Steve's to," Ponyboy told him with a grin, "I'm always watching you."
Two-Bit huffed while wondering if he should feel honored or scared that the kid watching his every move.
Two-Bit opted for the former.
"So you know all our dirty little secrets huh," Two-Bit asked putting his arm around Ponyboy's shoulder.
"Yep," Ponyboy nodded with a smile, "I'm so nosy when it comes to you guys, well except Curly though."
Almost immediately Two-Bit's mood flattened.
"Ah yes, Curly's boy," Two-Bit stated his voice losing the good natured charm in it.
Ponyboy, noticing a change in Two-Bit's disposition furrowed his brow in confusion.
"You don't like him do you," Ponyboy questioned with narrowed eyes.
Two-Bit, being caught by surprise by the question, was without an answer for once.
"Well, it's like I don't like him, it's just that, uh, he's very…"
"Why don't any of you like him," Ponyboy demanded in frustration, "I don't get it. He's never done anything bad to us."
"It's not what he did," Two-Bit corrected with emphasis, "it's more of what he can do and what he wants to do."
"Huh," Ponyboy blinked up at the older boy innocently.
Two-Bit sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Most people, including Ponyboy apparently, tend to forget how protective gang members tend to be with each other. Being the only people they can really rely on, a gang is for all intents purposes your family. This applies double for younger members of the gang who haven't been through as much as everyone else. It's second nature for greasers not to trust any other greaser that's outside of their gang, especially when dating is involved.
In this sense, greasers could be related to wolf packs in that are being protective of their young cubs. The difference is that greasers tend to be more vicious than wolves when one of their young is hurt, contrary to popular belief.
"Why are you acting so cautious around Curly?" Ponyboy wondered, "I mean I can see Soda and Darry doing it, because that's the kind of brothers they are, but not you. You're always so relaxed about these kinds of things."
"Okay one, you're not around guys like Curly much so it's hard to say how relaxed I'd be at a moment like this," Two-Bit pointed out, "and two, Steve doesn't like Curly boy either."
"Steve?" Ponyboy's eyebrows rose in alarm, "he doesn't care who I hang out with. He never says anything about Curly."
"Trust me kid he cares," Two-Bit smirked, "whether he wants to or not. I won't tell you what he said but believe me cares."
"I want to know what he said," Ponyboy protested whining a little.
"No," Two-Bit's smirked suddenly got bigger, "and what about all that you were saying about knowing all our little secrets huh? Guess you dropped the ball for Steve."
"…Shut up," was all Ponyboy said in response before he folded his arms childishly.
Two-Bit just laughed to himself.
"And what do you think Curly wants to do," Ponyboy asked remember what was said to him a minute ago, "hurt me? He'll never do that, he's always saying how he'll do me right."
"He said just like that huh," Two-Bit grumbled lowly his good mood decreasing again.
"Ponyboy, do you like him," Two-Bit asked carefully not trying to start any problems.
"Do I like him?" Ponyboy repeated to himself while thinking about the question at the same time.
"Oh, I know what you're saying," Ponyboy's lit up brilliantly.
"Really," Two-Bit raised an eyebrow at him.
Ponyboy nodded assuredly.
"Your saying that Curly, given how close Curly and I are becoming, shouldn't just be my friend," Ponyboy started to say slowly.
Two-Bit nodded encouraging him to continue.
"You're saying we should be best friends," Ponyboy squealed excitedly.
"…What?"
"That's a great idea Two-Bit," Ponyboy said, impulsively giving said greaser a brief hug before running off to his room.
"Can't wait to tell Curly," was what Two-Bit briefly heard the young greaser say before the doom slammed to his room.
Now all alone, Two-Bit was left but nothing but his thoughts and himself.
"That Curly is going to wreck him," Two-Bit sighed to himself, "in more ways than one."
…...
That night Ponyboy snuggled up comfortably in his covers.
He and Sodapop were having a trail run tonight to see how Sodapop reacts to sleeping alone so Ponyboy was able to go back to his old bed again.
Just as he was about to doze off, he heard a tapping at his window. Curiously, Ponyboy went over to find a familiar face.
"Curly?" Ponyboy said seeing his smirking face.
Sighing in amusement, Ponyboy opened the window for him to come in.
"Good thing you slept here tonight," Curly stated, "I did feel like picking the lock of your front door."
"What are you doing here," Ponyboy asked.
Curly shrugged and tossed him the bag he was holding.
Confused, Ponyboy opened the bag to find two books in it.
"It's volume two and three of 'The Dark Forest'," Ponyboy gasped in awe, "how did you know I had the first one?"
"I saw your friend One-Bit steal it from the store today," Curly smirked, "knowing that he sure as hell wasn't going to read it I assumed it was for you."
Ponyboy looked at him in disbelief.
"You're not the only one that can listen and watch babe," Curly told him his smirk growing slightly, "I have a brain to you know."
Ponyboy smiled and went over to hug Curly. Slight shock by the touch Curly decided just to put a hand around the young greaser's waist.
"You're my best friend Curly," Ponyboy said into his shoulder, "you know that right?"
Curly looked down at him trying to contain himself for grabbing Ponyboy in glee. Sure a best friend is still a friend, but at least he's making progress
"Sure I am babe," Curly rubbed his waist slowly.
…for now anyway."
…
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Life Choices 2: Forming Bonds