Chapter Text
Ponyboy Curtis rolled out of bed. It was his first day teaching at that highschool, something called “East High” he was teaching literature now.
Him, Darry and Soda all still lived together, obviously. After all that happened, the brothers couldn’t bear to part from each other.
Soda had taken his half hearted advice about becoming a comedian. Folks loved him for his pretty face and funny tales he supposed.
Darry was still a roofer, but didn’t have to work as hard now that the boys were grown up and had better jobs. They kept the house though.
They couldn’t leave it. After their parents….after Johnny….and Dal.
Sometimes Ponyboy would still look to the couch and wonder where Dallas was lounging, or if Johnny was staying in the lot again. Even after all these years.
The youngest Curtis shook off the sentimentality, walking to the bathroom. He styled his hair, brushed his teeth, and put on a dress shirt and slacks. He glanced back at the mirror, straightening a stray hair. It was back to being brown, but he kept a little blonde streak, right next to the crown of his head.
He didn’t use as much grease anymore. Only enough to pull his hair back. He couldn’t the looking like a total hood, but he wouldn’t abandon his whole self for a teaching gig.
Finally, he grabbed his messenger back, the worn leather a familiar feel against his palms. His copy of ‘Gone With The Wind’ was a reassuring weight in it along with his folders and binders. Ponyboy never left without it. He passed Soda in the kitchen to grab his lunch.
His older brother flashed him a grin. “Morning Pone. Excited for your first day?”
The youngest scoffed. “No more excited than you were for your first gig. Oh wait, you don’t get nerves, Pepsi-Cola.”
Soda’s face softened into a proud grin. “You’re gonna do great, little man.” He nudged his shoulder. “It’s just kids.”
Ponyboy rolled his eyes. “Yeah, just kids. Those little vipers can be cruel, Soda.” He replied, placing his lunch in his bag carefully.
The comedian and former mechanic frowned. “Honest, Pony. You have this in the bag.” He squeezed the younger’s shoulder, smiling.
Ponyboy smiled at him. Soda always knew what to say, even since they were kids. “Thanks, Soda. I’ll call ya all at lunch.” He turned out of the kitchen. “Have fun at your gig!” He called over his shoulder.
“Will do, little man!” Soda yelled back, boisterous voice carrying over the chirping birds with ease as Pony got into his car.
He drove through the streets, pulling into the school parking lot. He walked inside shaking the principal’s hand. He got his class schedule (which he had already looked up and memorized, eager to be prepared) and had planned his entire curriculum.
The principal smiled at him. “Hopefully, you have a good first day, Mr. Curtis. You have a few trouble makers in your classes.”
Ponyboy just nodded and smiled back. He’d dealt with worse in his teen years.
He walked to his classroom, and got set up. Ponyboy’s first class funneled in, and he got to know the students.
A few comments were made about his first name, but he shut them down real quick. He wouldn’t have his parents be disrespected by a couple of high schoolers.
Lunch rolled around and he called Soda, as promised. He mentioned how the kids had been good so far, a few teachers pets he noticed. Most were just trying to get on his good side, but one seemed genuinely interested. Some Steve kid, he couldn’t remember.
He hung up when the passing period bell rang, and watched people start to fill in the seats, taking a sip of his coffee.
Then a kid walked through the doors. A loud, familiar boisterous laugh as he talked with someone, hip checking them as he obnoxiously sauntered over to his seat.
He grinned the same, his eyes sparked the same. Less hardened though. Like he was still a kid. The boy grinned at him. “What’s up, teach? Ya new?” He asked loudly.
The coffee mug shattered against the floor.