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“Shut up, Steve, I don't need to shower yet. I only got one more shower until Christmas.”
“Two-Bit.. you realize it's July, right?” Ponyboy asked, a scowl on his face.
“Exactly!” The other beamed.
Steve gagged, “No wonder you stink all the time. Hey, I bet his hair grease is all natural. He don't need any of ours!”
That sent Two-Bit cackling, practically rolling on the floor. “You're learnin’ pretty good from me, huh Steve?”
“Pipe down, would ya? We haven't even started our game yet.”
“Alright Darry, what game is it tonight?” Sodapop inquired, a bright smile on his face.
“The Game of Life!” Darry announced proudly, sliding the board game into view. It was something their parents had bought a few years ago, trying to give them something to do besides wreak havoc around the East side. It didn't work out too well, but the thought was what counted.
“Aw, hell yeah! I love this game!” Sodapop exclaimed, rushing to set the game up.
“That’s a dime.” Darry held his hand out.
“Hm?”
“Swear jar. Remember? Every time you swear, you put a dime in here.” Darry picked up the jar, shaking it a little. They had started it a couple days ago; unsurprisingly, it was Darry’s idea. Oh well, he could use the extra change anyways.
“Damn it,” Sodapop cursed again, fishing a coin out of his pocket.
“That's another.”
Soda looked like he was ready to curse again, but thought better of it, and placed two dimes in Darry’s hand.
“Thank you.” He smiled smugly, putting the coins in the jar.
Johnny had helped Soda set up their game, and soon they were ready to start.
“Alright, Pony, what color do you want your little guy to be, pink or blue?” Johnny asked.
“Uh, pink!”
“Of course you want pink, ya pussy!” Steve jeered.
Ponyboy shot him a glare, thinking about what he could say without swearing. “I’m going to rip your throat out.” He stated bluntly. “And that’s not a threat, it's a promise.”
“I better not hear anyone callin’ my kid brother a pussy.” Darry looked up at Steve.
“If only Dally were here,” Steve grumbled. Dally always had good comebacks. No one knew where he was tonight, he was like a wild card. But even if he was here, he probably wouldn't have joined in anyways. Dally always said that board games were too childish.
Johnny passed out the rest of the pegs and the cars.
“Sorry, Darry. There’s only pink left.”
“That’s alright, Johnny.”
“Hurry up! Let's play!” Sodapop said, growing impatient.
“Okay you go first, Soda. Do you want to buy insurance for your car?” Darry questioned.
“It’s $500.. I only have $2000.. nah. Don't need it.”
“We all have $2000,” Pony pointed out.
“We know that, smartass.”
“Steve Randle, stop insulting my brother!” Darry pointed a finger at him. “And stop swearin’, unless you want to contribute to the swear jar.”
“Gee whiz.” Steve held his hands up in surrender.
“Alright, um.. where were we at? Sodapop, you gotta choose to either go to college or do the business path.” Darry guided their focus back to the game.
“I can survive on a five thousand salary,” Soda grinned, flicking the spinner. He got a seven, moving his car that many spaces. He landed on payday, which was no surprise. Sodapop was just naturally that lucky.
“Darry, I need my five thousand bucks!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Darry sighed, handing the other the proper amount of money.
“Two-Bit, it's your turn now.”
“Awesome!”
Two-Bit wasn't as lucky, however. He got a three, landing on the space that told him he met his spouse and had to buy a diamond ring.
“In what kinda world is anyone payin’ 500 bucks for something as silly as a ring?” He shouted, clearly upset at his loss of money. Two-Bit was always super competitive whenever they played this game— any game for that matter. He always had to win. His huge ego would be hurt otherwise.
“People who actually love their wife,” Johnny shot back.
“Are you saying I don't?!” Two-Bit gasped, exaggerating by all means.
“Mm.. yeah.”
“How harsh! Everyone is so rude around here!”
“It's hard to be nice to assholes,” Ponyboy muttered, picking at his nails.
“Look who’s insulting people now!” Steve interjected.
“Ponyboy Michael, you know better than that.” Darry scolded.
“Darry, do you ever get tired of parenting all of us? Since we act like children?” Pony wondered suddenly.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Absofuckinglutely.”
“Dar? Is it a bad time to say that I’m hungry?” Soda asked.
“You ate not even thirty minutes ago.”
“So? Can you go to the sandwich and make me a kitchen, please?” He batted his eyelashes.
“Come again?”
“Go to the sandwich and make me a kitchen!” Soda repeated, somehow confused.
“Slow that down. Say it again, but slowly.” Ponyboy urged.
“Go to the.. oh. Please, may someone make me a sandwich in the kitchen?”
“No.”
“Aw, shoot, whatever. Johnny, it's your turn.”
“I already went.”
“When did ya do that?”
“While you guys were bickering.” Johnny shrugged.
“Ponyboy–”
“What if you tried to have sex with someone and they just killed you instead?”
“Two-Bit, what the fuck?” Darry gaped.
“Darry, you cursed! Again!” Pony pointed out.
Darry closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Okay. Let's just.. forget the swear jar. Clearly, we can't keep ourselves in check.”
“I’m bored, let's do something else.” Two-Bit kicked his feet up onto the coffee table.
“Yeah? What’s your idea, genius?” Ponyboy raised an eyebrow.
“Ooh! I've got a good one! Follow me!” Two-Bit shot up, racing into Darry’s room.
“Oh lord.” Darry shook his head.
Inside of Darry’s closet was a neat stack of beer bottles, arranged in rows to form a pyramid looking sculpture. There were dozens of them, maybe even close to fifty bottles.
“Ta-da!” Two-Bit sang.
“The fuck you tryna do with that many beer bottles?” Steve criticized.
“You guys are in for a real treat!” He grinned. Two-Bit skipped his way out into the backyard, carrying as many bottles as he could, whilst everyone else hesitantly followed behind.
“Johnny, I'm a little nervous for this one.” Pony laughed, scratching the back of his neck.
“Me too, man. Me too.”
There was a whole rink built outside made of wood. Two-Bit was blocking the view, tying.. something up near the top.
“Now, guys, this is my favorite part.”
Two of Soda’s shirts were tied at the top of the makeshift rink, while the bottom of the shirts were tied around the necks of a couple of beer bottles. Two-Bit stood back, holding the bottles back before letting them go. They swung in all sorts of different directions, before crashing into each other. One bottle survived, while the other green one was shattered on impact.
“This is why you wanted me to bring you extra wood from the worksites?” Darry asked, exasperated.
“Of course! What else would I use it for?”
“Something practical, maybe? What runs through your head, Two-Bit?”
“Whatever, I’m just havin’ fun! Oh, you guys wanna head over to the DX? I got another idea we could do with all these extra bottles.” Two-Bit wasn't asking a question, not exactly. He was going to do whatever he wanted, regardless if they came with him or not.
“Look.. I don’t approve of these stunts you're pullin’ off, but I know no one else besides maybe Johnny and Pony are smart enough to make sure you don’t do anythin’ stupid,” Darry began, “I think I’m forced to tag along.”
“I’ll call that a win! Thanks, Superman!” Two-Bit grinned.
When they got over to the DX carrying the empty bottles and getting some questionable glances from others walking by, Two-Bit leaned against the building and pointed to an innocent guy walking by.
“You see him? The Soc? Yeah, he jumped my kid sister a couple weeks ago. I gotta get payback.”
“How’re you gonna do that?” Johnny mused.
“Like this!” Two-Bit grabbed one of the bottles and ran closer, before smashing it on top of his head.
Two-Bit got a punch in the eye in return, but he still came back with that cocky smile of his.
“This is somethin’ I could get by,” Sodapop declared.
“Less stupid than his other antics,” Steve agreed.
“I’m surrounded by fuckin’ idiots..” Ponyboy dragged a hand down his face, fed up with all of their nonsense.
“C’mon, Pony! You just haven't tried it out yet! Look, let's get this next dude!” Two-Bit urged.
“He’s just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let him be.” Pony suggested, though the words unfortunately fell on deaf ears.
Two-Bit repeated his childish tomfoolery, letting the glass smash on top of a blond head. He realized too late who the person was.
“Keith.” Dally grunted, gritting his teeth.
“Oh shit– Dallas, I am so, so sorry, please don't hurt me–” Two-Bit begged, chuckling nervously.
“I’m not gonna hurt you.”
Two-Bit sighed in relief, though it was short lived.
“I’m gonna fucking kill you, god damn it!” Dally reached for the other's throat, attempting to strangle him.