Chapter Text
“You’re WHAT!?”
“Hey, it’s not my fault the principal made everyone come to school knowing we were going to go through one of the biggest snowstorms of the year,” Ponyboy said into the phone. Looking out the window in the front office of his school to watch the falling snow outside, and frowning at how quickly the thick white flakes were piling up on the ground as Darry spoke up again.
“Are you sure you can’t get a ride home with Two-Bit or Steve?” he asked.
“I tried. But the principal’s not letting them leave either, and frankly, I don’t think I’m willing to trust Two-Bit’s death trap on the roads right now,” he said. Hearing Darry let out a sigh on the other end of the phone as he saw Johnny cautiously poke his head out from around the corner to see if he was done yet. “If you want, I can try to see if I can sneak out and hoof it once the snow stops. But I don’t think this is going to let up anytime soon, and the latest the snowplows can get here to dig us out is sometime tomorrow morning.”
“I can’t believe this…” Darry grumbled under his breath. “What the hell do they expect you guys to do overnight?”
“Well, I don’t know about Two-Bit and Steve. But Johnny and I are probably going to hole up in the library for a little while, and keep our ears open in case they let us go early.”
“Alright,” Darry relented. “Just try to stay warm as best you can, and get your homework done if you have any. Soda and I will come and get you guys as soon as the roads are clear.”
“Okay,” Ponyboy said. “You stay warm too. And keep an eye on Sodapop. Last thing we need is him crashing the truck and freezing to death because he came out in this mess trying to come and get me.”
“Don’t remi–Soda, get your ass back here!” Darry shouted. Turning away from the phone to yell at their other brother as Pony hung up and made his way over to Johnny.
“Everything go okay?” he asked.
“For the most part. Kind of waiting to see how long Darry can keep Sodapop contained before he sneaks out of the house, and tries to rescue us,” he said. Placing a hand on his friend’s back to get him to walk with him as they made their way towards the school’s library. “Did you want to try calling Dally or anything before we got too far?”
“Nah, it’s alright. It’d just be a waste of a dime, since he’s back in the cooler until Monday,” Johnny said as they rounded the corner to go down the hallway the library was on. Only to see one of the administrators locking the doors. “This can’t be good.”
“Excuse me,” Ponyboy called. Walking up to the woman as she put her keyring back on her belt. “What’s going on? Why are you locking up the library?”
“Sorry guys. Principal’s orders,” she said. Giving the library doors an experimental tug to make sure they were locked up tight. “Says he doesn’t want you guys going in there and messing around.”
“Then what the hell are we supposed to do?” he asked. Disappointed that he and Johnny couldn’t tuck themselves away in some quiet little corner of the library with a bunch of books like he had wanted to.
“I’m not really sure. But the principal wants everyone to meet in the gym for a second rollcall. So you should probably head there,” the administrator said. Making Pony let out a groan as she walked away.
“Man, this bites,” he complained as Johnny placed a hand on his shoulder and started steering him towards the gym. “What’s the point in locking us in the school overnight if they’re just going to cram us all into one room, and won’t let us do anything?”
“Come on, Pony. I doubt it’ll be that bad,” Johnny said. Trying to cheer his friend up even though he too was disappointed that they couldn’t hole up in the library like they’d originally planned. Because they both knew what was waiting for them the second they walked through the gymnasium doors.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one with three different Socs breathing down his neck for an A+ on their next test,” Ponyboy said. “Honestly, if those guys would spend a little more time with their heads in a book rather than up their asses, they might actually learn a thing or two.”
“Well, let’s just hope the Socs leave us alone for the time being, and don’t start any brawls,” Johnny said as he and Pony made their way up to the gym. Poking their heads through the open doors to see that the Greasers and Socs had, unsurprisingly, split themselves up into their own separate groups as Pony let out a sigh, and immediately started scanning the Greasers’ side of the gym for Two-Bit and Steve.
“Move it, greaser,” somebody said. Shoving Ponyboy out of the way, and right into the doorframe. His head hitting the painted blue metal with a hard thud as Johnny winced at the sound, and immediately took on his role as the elder of the two in making sure Pony didn’t get hurt too badly as one of the teachers scolded the guy that shoved him.
“Are you alright, Ponyboy?” Two-Bit asked. Coming up to the pair, and running his fingers through his friend’s hair to move it off his face, and inspecting his friend’s hairline closely to make sure he wasn’t bleeding or anything as Pony tried to swat his hands away so he could save what was left of his dignity. “Oof, that’s going to leave a pretty good bruise. Come on, let’s go find a place to camp out until Stevie gets here.”
“Any word on when we’re getting out of here?” Johnny asked.
“Nope. Last I checked, they were still trying to get the snowplows to work,” he said. Sitting down on the bleachers as the boys sat down on the floor by his feet. “And the shit’s falling from the sky so fast the janitors can barely keep up with it. So it looks like we’re stuck here until they can dig us out in the morning.”
“Great…” Pony grumbled.
“What crawled up your ass and died?” Steve asked. Almost making Pony jump out of his skin as the older boy took a seat next to Two-Bit because he hadn’t heard him come up to them.
“He’s just mad because the principal locked us out of the library,” Johnny said. Making Two-Bit let out a dramatic gasp as he jokingly held his hands to his chest in mock offense.
“Oh, no. You have to socialize with the rest of us. How tragic,” Steve said sarcastically.
“Hey, mock all you want. But the library got a new couch not that long ago, and I wanted to use it before it ended up like the last one,” Pony said. Dropping his backpack onto the floor with a thud, and taking off his coat as Two-Bit went to lean back and almost fell backwards into the footwell of the bleachers when he remembered that there wasn’t anything to lean back against. Making Steve and Johnny both laugh as he took out his lighter. “Any of you guys got a cancer stick I can borrow?”
“Mr. Shepard. There is to be no smoking on school grounds!” one of the teachers shouted. Making the boys turn to see the youngest of the Shepard siblings leaning against the wall near the entrance to the gym, holding a cigarette in his hand, and exhaling a plume of smoke through his nose like a cartoon dragon as he flicked away the ash.
“Well, what the hell do you expect me to do? It’s not like I can go out and smoke in the parking lot!” he snapped. Making Ponyboy bite back a sigh as he put his lighter away, and dramatically slumped up against Two-Bit’s legs as Johnny muttered a soft, sarcastic ‘great’ at the fact that they still couldn’t smoke before doing the same.
“Now what are we supposed to do?” Steve asked.
“We could play a game of poker?” Two-Bit suggested.
“With what cards?” Ponyboy asked. “You gave your last pack to Dally the last time you guys had poker night at Buck’s.”
“Well, what about your homework? You guys can get started on that since we aren’t going anywhere.”
“No thanks,” Johnny said.
“I’m good,” Ponyboy added.
“Since when did you suddenly care about any of us doing our homework?” Steve quipped. Folding up his coat and using it as a makeshift pillow as he leaned back against the row of bleachers behind him, and made sure not to repeat Two-Bit’s earlier mistake of falling ass first into the footwell as Two-Bit started to card his fingers through Johnny’s hair when he saw that his friend was starting to fall asleep. Only to immediately take his hand back when the younger boy almost jumped up into the air out of fright.
“Sorry, Johnny. I forgot you only let Pony and Dally do that.”
“Ugh. This is so boring!” Steve complained. Sitting up as Ponyboy decided to let his mind wander for a bit just to give himself something to do. Only to find himself wondering how he was going to be able to sleep later without Sodapop or Darry nearby. Because while he knew his friends would have no problems letting him snuggle up to them, they didn’t really know how to deal with his nightmares. And the last thing he needed was to be waking the entire school up with his screaming if and when they happened.
“Hello! Earth to Ponyboy!” Two-Bit called. Tapping his knuckles against the younger teen’s forehead as Ponyboy snapped out of his thoughts to see his friends all looking at him. “You spaced out on us again.”
“Sorry,” he said. Sitting up with a stretch as he took a look around to make sure they weren’t letting them go or anything before he turned back to his friends. “What were we talking about?”
“Nothing really. We were just trying to get your attention before you got caught staring at someone again,” Johnny said. “What were you thinking ‘bout?”
“Nothing important,” he said. Feeling his cheeks heat up as someone from the Soc side of the gym called out to them.
“Hey, watch out!” they yelled. Grabbing Pony’s attention just in time to see Johnny take a soccer ball straight to his face. His head snapping backwards from the force of the blow as Two-Bit caught him by the shoulders, and knelt down to see if he was okay while the guy who kicked the ball came over to retrieve it.
“Sorry about that,” he said. Taking the ball into his hands as Steve and Ponyboy both glared at him. “Are you guys okay?”
“Does he look ‘okay’ to you?” Steve snapped. Gesturing over towards Johnny, who was now gushing blood out of his nose while Two-Bit scrambled to find something in his pockets he could use to try and stop it as the Soc opened his mouth to try and apologize again, only to get cut off by one of his friends calling out behind him.
“Come on, Randy! What’s the hold up?!”
“I’m coming! Hold on a minute!” he shouted back. Turning around to leave as Two-Bit finally found an old bandana and pressed it to Johnny’s nose. “Sorry again for hitting you in the face. Hope you feel better.”
“Man, those guys are a piece of work,” Steve grumbled once Randy was out of earshot.
“Are you okay, Johnny?” Ponyboy asked. Standing up to try and get a good look at Johnny’s nose from over Two-Bit’s shoulder as Two-Bit rubbed his back.
“I’m fine,” Johnny said. His voice sounding a lot more nasally as he tried to talk over the bloody fabric that he was holding under his nose as Curly walked up to them.
“Hey guys,” he greeted.
“What do you want now, Curly?” Two-Bit asked.
“What? Can’t a guy hang out with his best friend and his buddies once in a while?” Curly said. Sitting down next to Ponyboy on the floor as Pony rolled his eyes. Because the only time Curly ever approached them, and didn’t immediately try to pull him away so they could get into trouble was if he couldn’t find his sister.
“Did Angela ditch you for her boyfriend of the week again?” Steve asked.
“Yes. And I have no idea where she went,” he said. His eyes scanning the bleachers for what had to be the thousandth time in search of his sister as Pony started checking the doors to see if Angela was out in the hallway.
“Maybe she left before the snow started?” Johnny suggested.
“I hope not. I’m the one with the key, and her boyfriend doesn’t really have anywhere to go,” Curly said. Looking through the gaps in the bleachers to see if Angela had gone underneath them to hook up with her boyfriend. “If she freezes to death in this storm, Tim is gonna have my head.”
“I’m sure she’ll turn up eventually,” Two-Bit said as he stood up. “I’m going to take a leak. I’ll be right back.”
“So, Pony…You read any good books lately?”
“Yes. But knowing you, you’re not going to stay awake long enough for me to tell you what they’re about,” Pony said. Hearing Curly let out a dramatic sigh as Mark Jennings decided to join the group as well, and came up to them.
“What’s wrong with him?” he asked. Pointing a finger at Curly.
“A lot of things. But right now, he’s just bored,” Ponyboy said as Johnny moved his backpack out of the way, so Mark had a place to sit.
“Where’s Bryon? I thought you guys were normally a package deal,” Curly said.
“Last I saw of him, Mrs. Robertson was hauling him off to the principal's office with your sister,” Mark said. Pulling a deck of cards and half a pack of Kools from his pocket as he sat down by Johnny’s feet while Johnny finally got his nose to stop bleeding. “You guys want to play a game of cards?”
“Please,” Steve said. Moving over to take Two-Bit’s seat as Mark started shuffling the cards.
“So, Curtis. What’s this I hear about you potentially being a psychopath?” he asked. Dealing out the cards as Pony’s eyes went wide.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked. Trying to shrink away from the three sets of eyeballs that were now on him as Mark dumped his cigarettes out onto the floor.
“I bumped into Tim at Dairy Queen the other day. Overheard Tim telling Winston all about you having to tell Curly a bedtime story like he was a little baby the last time you crashed at his place. Said he wasn’t sure whether to commend you for a job well done, or make your brother put you in therapy.”
“Wait, he heard all of that?” Pony asked. Feeling his face grow hot as Curly decided to speak up again.
“Who the hell are you callin’ a baby, Kitten?” he snapped. Adding a little bit of a teasing note to his tone as he said the word ‘kitten’ and giving Mark a smug grin as the other teen’s lips curled into a scowl. His golden eyes threatening to pierce daggers into Curly’s blue ones as Steve quickly got up, and planted himself between the two.
“Watch it, Shepard. I’d hate for word to get out that the little brother of one of the toughest Greasers in town is a–”
“Mark!” Pony barked. Giving Mark a look that told him he would gladly join Curly in beating the tar out of him if he dared to finish that last part of his sentence as Mark rolled his eyes with a sigh.
“So, what kind of story did you tell him?” Johnny asked as he picked up his cards.
“I’m not really sure. I ended up telling an entirely different one to Angela after Curly conked out,” Ponyboy said.
“I think it had something to do with a detective chasing a cannibalistic serial killer,” Mark said.
“Oh, right. That one,” he said. Finally remembering which one it was as Johnny and Steve looked at him with wide eyes. “Yeah. I can see why Tim would get a little freaked out by that.”
“Why the fuck would you turn something like that into a bedtime story!?” Steve asked. Trying to keep his voice down so he wouldn’t alert the whole gym to their conversation.
“I wanted to see how dark I could get him to go before Angela freaked out,” Curly said with a shrug.
“And you two were invested in almost every word of it,” Ponyboy said as he swiped a cancer stick from the pile on the floor.
“Do you think you can tell one to us? Help pass the time while we play?” Johnny asked.
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, kid. With all the time you spend inside that head of yours, surely you have something good in store for us,” Steve said to him. “Especially if the last story you told left someone like Tim Shepard questioning your sanity.”
“Yeah, come on Pony. Tell us,” Mark pressed.
“Oh, alright,” Pony relented. “Just do me a favor, and don’t tell Darry and Sodapop about this. Okay? They already worry about me enough.”
“Yeah, yeah. Our lips are sealed. Now tell us,” Curly demanded. Hearing Pony let out a nervous sigh as the younger teen gave himself a minute to think.
“What’s going on?” Two-Bit asked. Returning from his trip to the bathroom.
“Pony’s telling stories,” Johnny said simply.
“Ooh! This oughta be good,” he said excitedly. Carefully stepping around his friend to take his spot on the bleachers again as Pony finally spoke up again.
“Okay, here’s what I got,” he said. “It was a hot summer night. And Sylvia’s cousin Tammy just hired Johnny and I to watch her kid…”