Ain't No Rest for the Wicked (Syl/greasers/FINISH)

[eastsidesunset]

I woke up to bright sunlight hitting my face. Disoriented, I squinted my eyes open just a crack, lifting a hand up to block out the light. What time was it? I'd always hated the weird, groggy feeling of waking up in the middle of the day, and this was no exception. Groaning a little, I sat up from the bedroom floor I didn't remember laying down on and looked around. A book lay half-open on the ground next to me beside a flashlight still weakly glowing. What was going on?

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, standing up. Where was everyone? "Soda?" I called half-heartedly. Saying the name was enough to make me remember the events of last night, though. Dally, Two-Bit, Soda, and just about every other greaser in the neighbourhood had been at a massive party at Buck's last night. I'd wanted to go, but of course Darry hadn't let me. So I'd stayed home, reading Moby Dick to pass the time. I'd only planned to stay up until my brothers got back home, but the book had other plans. Even after Soda had pretty much passed out cold beside me, I couldn't stop reading. I dunno when I got too exhausted to keep going, but the sky had already gotten light by then.

So that explained why I had woken up so late in the afternoon. A quick glance at the calender told me it was a Saturday. Who knew where Soda and Darry were, but they definitely weren't in the house. I sighed, then went ahead and brushed my teeth before dunking my head in a sink full of cold water to make the fuzzy feeling go away. It worked as well as anything would, and I was rummaging around the fridge for something to eat when my ears finally registered someone talking outside on the porch. So I stepped outside without bothering with shoes, thinking it was probably Two-Bit or Johnny or someone.

I was about to open my mouth to greet whoever was there when I realized that my "company" probably wouldn't enjoy being, uh, interrupted. That much was obvious the moment I saw Dally sitting next to the kind of girl who Darry'd probably skin me for even standing next to at a bus station. And she and Dal... well, I guess you could just say that they didn't look like they were just friends. I felt my ears heating up just listening to their conversation. They weren't facing my direction, and didn't notice me at all, though. I silently thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't started talking right off the bat.

"...pretty damn determined. Maybe you’re the one who wants to know what it’s like. Still got a V-Card and sick of using your hand, Dally? Look, if you told me where to come find you because you wanted an easy fuck, you coulda saved yourself the effort,”

It started out bad and got worse as Dally took out a cigarette and took a puff on it, then kept talking. A lot worse. I didn't know what to do-- stand there as still as a statue until I had the chance to leave silently, announce my presence and get it over with, or just get outta there as fast as possible? Right now the third one was sounding mightly tempting, to be honest.

[darry]

The shed door needed fixing- it had for a while now- and some of the steps were wobbly, so Saturday morning (and part of the afternoon) found Darry out back, a tool box beside him and a screwdriver in his hand. Fixing the shed's door hinges had turned into a much bigger project then he had anticipated, and with the sky threatening rain it didn't look like he'd finish it. Not today, at least. He hadn't even started on the steps yet. He sighed and put the screwdriver back into the toolbox and stood up, resolving to finish the project later but knowing it would probably end up being one of those projects that went unfinished for weeks before he remembered it or found time to start on it again.

"Soda?" He heard Ponyboy call from inside the house. Had he seriously just woken up? He'd slept most of his day away already, seeing as it had to be around two or three in the afternoon. He just grinned, knowing that if there had been some freak earthquake or explosion or something, Pony would have most likely slept through it.

He went in through the back door as the first drops of rain began to fall. He liked storms, especially when they came on the weekends so he didn't have to miss any work. He made his way into the living room, looking around for his brothers. He wasn't sure where either of them had gotten off to, although Pony had to be around somewhere. He looked out the screen door and noticed Pony standing there, barefoot and turning redder than a tomato, like he always did when he was embarrassed.

"Pony, what—" he started to say, but was cut off as whoever else was out on the porch said something.

"And when you're done with that, there's a couch in there. Darry ain't gonna mind." It was Dallas, sweet talking whoever his girlfriend was this week. He shook his head and stepped out onto the porch.

"Yeah, sure, I don't mind," Darry said sarcastically. "'S long as you buy me a new couch afterwards. And, uh, take it somewhere other than my living room."

[sylvia]

Hearing an unexpected voice, Sylvia nearly jumped. She spun around to see not one, but two people standing not too far behind her. One looked like he was about twenty, maybe a bit older, and she assumed he’d been the one to speak. The other appeared to be younger, and it was obvious he’d been there a while; he had the flushed face to prove it. At his expression, she licked her lips to fight back the amused smirk threatening to surface.

Still, she had her suspicions that Dally had known about the guys behind her for who knows how long. He seemed like the type who’d get a kick outta that kind of thing. Maybe he’d said all those things for his friends’ benefit, just to see if he could embarrass her. Unfortunately for him, she just wasn’t one for embarrassment. As far as she was concerned, if that was his plan, he could shove it up his ass.

Sylvia sucked in a deep breath, trying to look impassively at Dallas. She couldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d successfully induced some kind of reaction from her, let alone that she was actually pissed off. “Huh. I didn’t know we had an audience,” she said, a slight edge creeping into her voice.

She hopped up and moved out from the cover of the porch so she wasn't so close to Dally. Almost immediately, she felt a few rain drops just beginning to fall and rolled her eyes. Figures she’d have to walk home and let the rain screw up her hair and make-up. The other option, while just as unappealing, was to stay there with an asshole and two guys who knew her flirting techniques a little better than she liked.

She really didn’t even know who they were, but a tiny feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she thought about it. She glanced back at the bigger guy, then finally trained her eyes on Dallas. She scowled. "Lemme guess. Darry with the couch?"

[yolanda7h]

Yeah, sure, I don't mind," Darry said sarcastically. "'S long as you buy me a new couch afterwards. And, uh, take it somewhere other than my living room."

Dally turned around to see Darry - looking like a rock - the oldest Curtis brother and the biggest fucking buzz kill out of all of them. The youngest Curtis brother was with him. Dal returned his gaze forward, completely indifferent by their presence, and continued smoking the cig.

"Someone's gotta use that damn thing to get some action," he grinned. "It definitely won't be Darry usin' it."

"Huh. I didn’t know we had an audience,”

"Yeah, people can't mind their fuckin' business." Dally said dryly before standing up and leaning on the banister to address Pony and Darry. "What's wrong Pony? Don't tell me you haven't heard that kind of talk before." Not like he cared anyway.

"Lemme guess. Darry with the couch?"

"Yeah." He shrugged. He looked up at the sky for moment, then down at Sylvia. "Looks like a storm's comin'. Wanna get inside, Sylvia?" He gave a look to Darry. "We can mess up Darry's couch." He gave a mischievous look before throwing the cigarette butt over the banister. He went inside on his own, brushing past Pony, not really bothering to see if Sylvia or any of the other Curtis brothers followed.

[eastsidesunset]

"Yeah, sure, I don't mind. 'S long as you buy me a new couch afterwards. And, uh, take it somewhere other than my living room."

I jumped a little, as surprised as anyone was to see Darry standing there behind me. I hadn't even heard him come up. Guess I was more than a bit preoccupied. Dally and his girl both turned around at my oldest brother's voice, neither of them looking anywhere near as embarrassed as I would be if I were ever in this kinda situation. I'm not saying I ever would, though... I'm not kidding when I say I'd rather swim in a lake full of hungry crocodiles than have Darry say to me what he said to Dal.

"...Someone's gotta use that damn thing to get some action," Dally was saying. "It definitely won't be Darry usin' it."

I glanced at the guy in question, wondering how he'd react. If he reacted at all. By now, Darry had gotten pretty used to taking comments about his lack of a love life without even blinking. And even Dal knew it wasn't because he wanted to be all work, no play. He just... didn't have the time or the effort to spare. It wasn't his fault. If anyone could be blamed, it'd be that drunk driver who killed our parents. Pretty much everything could be blamed on him when it came right down to it. But we stopped laying the blame on him like Stanley did with his pig-stealing great-great-grandfather a long time ago. It was useless. Didn't make anything better; only made us all angry at someone we'd never meet again in our lives, since it was a hit-and-run accident and no one could identify the car.

I knew my mind was starting to wander again and I let it. Sometimes it was just easier to tune everything out and listen to yourself think. 'Cause that was what daydreaming was at its core, wasn't it? Dally was talking about something, but I only registered when he turned in my direction, his tone taunting.

"What's wrong Pony? Don't tell me you haven't heard that kind of talk before."

"Course I have," I mumbled, saying as little as possible. "Just never like this." As Dally began talking to the girl again, I looked up at the rapidly-darkening sky. As soon as I noticed the storm clouds drifting over, a drop of rain fell on my face. That was strange... I coulda swore it was sunny when I first woke up. Dally seemed to notice it, too, and said to the girl, smirking, "Looks like a storm's comin'. Wanna get inside, Sylvia? We can mess up Darry's couch."

He then headed inside without a backwards glance, leaving Darry, the girl (Sylvia?), and me standing there. There was a split second of awkward silence, then I unfroze and went after Dally, muttering a quiet, "Come on. Let's all go inside before the rain really starts comin' down." Going back inside, I shook my head in disbelief at what a crazy... afternoon? today was turning out to be.

[darry]

"...Someone's gotta use that damn thing to get some action," Dally said. "It definitely won't be Darry usin' it."

Darry just shook his head and ignored Dallas; he was used the guys beating up on him about his love life, or more specifically his lack of one. By now he basically just tuned it out. He didn't have the time for a girl, not with working two jobs and making sure the house was mostly cleaned and nothing was falling apart in case Social Services decided to drop by unannounced. Besides, he wouldn't feel right, getting a girl and then not being able to pay too much attention to her seeing as he had to work just about every night.

"Come on. Let's all go inside before the rain really starts comin' down," Pony was saying when he decided to start paying attention to the conversation again. It was as good an idea as any, he figured, unless somebody felt like sitting outside and getting soaked in the rain, which he didn't. He turned towards the door.

"Uh, you can come inside, if you want...," he said to the girl. Dallas had already gone inside, leaving her outside. He wasn't sure if she had any place to go, but he wasn't about to make her leave if she didn't, since it was raining and all. He wasn't as mean as some people thought he was.

[sylvia]

"Someone's gotta use that damn thing to get some action. It definitely won't be Darry usin' it."

Sylvia stole a glance back at the big dude, taking him in. He looked a bit older than any guy she’d normally date, but she had to admit he wasn’t too bad looking. Not bad at all. She was sure Dally was full of it, saying that Darry didn’t have any chicks. But then again, she wasn’t sure Dallas Winston had ever said an honest word in his life.

She secretly hoped she’d get to hang around long enough to find out.

When she caught her name, Sylvia’s gaze shot back to Dallas. So he knew her name after all. Figures, she thought, watching his back as he headed back inside the house like a jackass.

The kid mumbled something that Sylvia didn’t bother catching, leaving her and Darry outside. She squinted at the sky and scowled. Rain pissed her off. Well, at that moment, at least. If she didn’t have her hair and make-up all done up and there was no one she was hoping to impress, she wouldn’t really mind it so much.

Swallowing, Sylvia headed back up the porch steps. She paused just in front of Darry, letting a tiny smile play on her lips. “Sylvia Hayes,” she said with a nod before sliding past him into the house.

Once inside, she looked around briefly before turning back to Dallas. “Do your friends normally make a habit of spying on you while you try to hit on a girl you barely know? You know, while you work in hopes of a quick…” Her eyes flitted towards the kid and she shut her mouth. To cover the pause, she licked her lips quickly and sat down on the couch. Smugly, she said, “Nice try, by the way. You…use this thing a lot?” She shot Dallas a mischievous look before making herself nice and comfortable.

[yolanda7h]

Dally headed straight for the fridge, helping himself to a soda as the rest of them came inside. Yeah, he knew the girl's name. He was playing with her all that time. Usually when he did that, girls would be so offended, they'd never talk to him again. But Sylvia was one stubborn girl, and he kind of liked that about her. She didn't let him push her around...yet. It was just something different. He'd like to see what it took to get this girl in bed with him. Dal was willing to bet she was just as fiery in that department.

He took a good swallow of the drink, leaning against the counter as Sylvia came in and looked around.

“Do your friends normally make a habit of spying on you while you try to hit on a girl you barely know? You know, while you work in hopes of a quick…”

Dally gave teasing glare at her when she paused, knowing exactly what she was saying and why she stopped.

"A quick...what?" He said as if he were clueless, trying to put her on the spot.

“Nice try, by the way. You…use this thing a lot?”

Dally took another swallow of the cola as he approached the couch, giving a mischievous glare right back at her before sitting next to her. One arm rested behind her on the back of the couch. He sighed heavily, as if slightly irritated. "Well the cat's out the bag. I figured what Darry didn't know wouldn't hurt him."

He glanced in Darry's direction to see if he'd flip. "Like I said, no one else is...'using it' a lot." He grinned devilishly. "That reminds me...hey Pony? Don't end up like your brother, the guy never has any fun. Fuck the books, go out and do something crazy, alright? "

He looked over at Sylvia. "Hm. I guess I should have offered you a drink." He took another swallow. "You can get your ass up and get one if you want. I'm sure I'd love the view." Dally loved being a gentleman sometimes.

Yeah right.

[eastsidesunset]

I shivered when I stepped back into the house, because how warm it was compared to outside. I hadn't realized it, but my bare feet were freezing. It had been sunny just a few minutes ago, but that was history by now. Freak storms weren't exactly common in New York City, but they weren't unheard of either. As the girl began talking with Dally, though, I started rethinking staying out in the rain. Getting drenched would be better than being in the same room with Dallas Winston while he was with a girl.

I hung around the door for a while, half-listening to the conversation they were having. Darry had come in a right behind Sylvia, and then the group of awkwardness was complete. I couldn't imagine anywhere I wouldn't rather be. A glance out the window at the rain that had already started pouring down told me going anywhere would be kinda idiotic though. I suppressed a sigh, half-heartedly calculating exactly how long it would take for me to sprint to the library. That is, if they'd even let me in soaking wet like that. Ms. Ross, the head librarian, was pretty protective of her books. Still...

"...That reminds me...hey Pony? Don't end up like your brother, the guy never has any fun. Fuck the books, go out and do something crazy, alright? "

I laughed, not trusting myself enough to answer him. Would running to the library in a storm count as doing something crazy? It definitely wouldn't count as fu-- I mean, forgetting the books for a while though. But hey... at least I had an excuse now. Dally told me to was as good of one as anything would be. Darry wouldn't like it though. So I decided a white lie wouldn't hurt nobody.

"Shoot, speaking of books, I forgot to return that library book that was due today," I said, smacking my forehead and making my voice as convincing as possible, "I'm gonna go do that before it closes, okay Dar?" Without waiting for an answer, I ran to my room and grabbed a random book out of the dozen laying around, then shoved it in a backpack to keep it dry, grabbed an umbrella, and ran outside. By now it really was raining buckets. The sky was as dark as night and just as cold.

I put up the umbrella, then gave up on it pretty quickly. There was plenty of rain with the wind and the umbrella caused a lot more trouble than it was worth. Instead, I just zipped up my hoodie and put the hood on. Then I sprinted for all I was worth. I think I ran faster then than I ever did in any track meet. Because today, my oponents were the elements. And you could never run fast enough to beat them, I knew, but I almost broke my neck trying. The icy rain and wind combined with the speed made my face feel like I was running through a sea of needles.

But I kept running. And finally, I reached the doors of the library and headed inside. A blast of warm air greeted me, and I shivered violently before I started to thaw. I knew people were starting to give me weird looks, but right then I barely saw them.

I'd done it, I thought, oddly amazed at my own stupidity. I'd actually done what I'd planned on doing. 'Course, I'd go back later... but after all that, it wouldn't be for a while.

(Just so you know... No, I'm not leaving the thread. Only giving Darry some decisions to make. xD Either way, though, I WILL be back.)

[darry]

"Well the cat's out the bag. I figured what Darry didn't know wouldn't hurt him."

Darry rolled his eyes at Dallas, not bothering to reply at all because Dally hadn't exactly earned any awards for his honestly lately. Darry was pretty sure Hell would freeze over before Dallas got an award for anything, except maybe for longest rap sheet. Or most attempts at getting in a girl's pants. Yeah, Dally'd probably win that one hands down.

"Shoot, speaking of books, I forgot to return that library book that was due today. I'm gonna go do that before it closes, okay Dar?" Pony said. Darry nodded as he looked out the window; the rain had picked up and it was absolutely pouring. The streets had begun flooding a bit already and the skies had gone eerily dark. It was a safe bet that he wouldn't have to go to work tomorrow, if it kept raining like it was now.

"Okay, Pone. I'll give you a ride if you want," he offered. "Or call me when you're ready to come home." But Pony had already gone to his room, grabbed a book, and was heading out the door by the time he got the words out. He considered going after him, but didn't think it'd be of any use. Pony would probably already be at the library by the time he caught up with him; he was already all the way down the street. His brother was fast, real fast.

[sylvia]

"A quick...what?"

“Game of monopoly,” Sylvia drawled, staring at the wall in front of her to avoid Dally’s eyes. If she didn’t, she knew her cool demeanor might slip. Still, she couldn’t completely force that last hint of amusement off her face. “I’m sure you love your…games.” She quieted her voice, then continued, “Games like those are what innocent, virgin guys like you do best.”

When he sat next to her on the couch, she watched the exchange between the two brothers, got bored, and decided to move a little closer to Dallas. The next Prince Charming of New York said something about her ass and how he’d enjoy the view. She scoffed. And here she was trying so hard to be Ms. Family Friendly.

Sucking in a deep breath, she finally leaned back into his arm behind her on the couch. She felt her heart speed up as she watched the big brother begin to follow the small one out the door, wondering whether coming inside with Dallas had been a real stupid move on her part. Thinking about it, she could’ve been sending the wrong message. With a shrug, she decided she didn’t really give a shit. He’d think she was some kind of tease, but that wasn’t a label Sylvia particularly resented. As long as Dally didn’t just give up on her, why would it matter?

It turned out she’d wasted an awful of her energy thinking that through, because Big Curtis didn’t leave. Whether that was disappointing or relieving as all get out, she didn’t know. Brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes, Sylvia told him, “Y’know, unless you want your brother to go running outside ‘cause you think rain’s good for the complexion, you can go give him a ride. You don’t gotta stay here watchin’ over your couch; we’ll take care of it.” She paused, deciding that could’ve been phrased better (preferably in a way that didn’t sound like Dally was about to get lucky), then snapped her mouth shut. To hell with it.

[yolanda7h]

When Pony made the decision to go out in the rain to return some stupid books, Dally turned fully to Sylvia in order to reply to her. He didn't need to listen to the rest of what Pony and Darry were saying. It was the same old big brother/little brother crap he was used to hearing from the Curtis brothers. And lucky for him, Sylvia was bored too and moved closer to him.

"Games like those are what innocent, virgin guys like you do best.”

He grinned, messing with her dark hair in between his fingers. "And innocent, virgin girls like you would do good to learn a few new games, right? I'm guessing one that's really rough. Or...wait...that game might be too much for someone like you, huh?" He grinned. Skipping the stupid innuendos, he said, "You like it rough, don't you, Sylvia?"

He knew that Pony already left the house so he wouldn't hear it too much from Darry. Besides, it wasn't anything the kid hasn't heard before.

Then Sylvia started talking with Darry.

“Y’know, unless you want your brother to go running outside ‘cause you think rain’s good for the complexion, you can go give him a ride. You don’t gotta stay here watchin’ over your couch; we’ll take care of it.”

Dally took a swallow of his soda. "Mmm." he said, mid swallow. Raising the soda towards Darry in order to point at him with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Sylvia, he said, "Yeah. Make sure that idiot doesn't run into any fuckin Socs while he's out there. I don't want to be interrupted and have to rescue his ass 'cause he got jumped for bein stupid. Got better things to do like...watch over your couch." He didn't crack a smile, acting as if he were dead serious about the last comment. He just glanced knowingly at Sylvia.

[eastsidesunset]

Turned out, the head librarian wasn't in today, and the other one was taking the shift. Mrs. Grud. I've always thought her name really suited her. Because she'd hated me with a burning passion ever since I'd spilled water on a book I was reading when I was about 8 and managed to get out of having to pay for it by getting the head librarian, Ms. Johnson, on my side. She liked me, Ms. Johnson I mean, which was kinda nice for a change. You got tired of everyone glaring at you pretty quick.

Mrs. Grud seemed to be in a bad mood today. Just my luck. Minutes after I entered the library dripping wet, she stomped over and yelled something almost incoherent at me about the sins of getting a public place wet until I backed outta there, rain or not. Great. Now what was I gonna do? I stood at the door of the building under the narrow ledge of concrete that blocked most of the rain and stared glumly at the sky that promised thunder and lightning or even hail with the rain before you could blink. Where could I go? Not home.

So I started walking again, away from the library and towards nothing in particular. I mean, I was soaking wet anyway so what was the point of running? Maybe I'd head to the grocery store or something and just hide out there for a while until the rain let up. It was kinda far though, especially if you were walking in the rain. At least a half-hour walk. I sighed, looking up at the sky and just letting the rain fall on my face just as I saw a dim flash of lightning followed by a loud crack of thunder.

"Perfect," I muttered to myself sarcastically.

[darry]

(My apologies for taking forever. I've been busy with research papers and trying not to fail math and stuff. Kind of. Yeah. I'm also very lazy. And Taylor didn't bug me enough, so there's that. It's all Taylor's fault. )

"Yeah. Make sure that idiot doesn't run into any fuckin Socs while he's out there. I don't want to be interrupted and have to rescue his ass 'cause he got jumped for bein stupid. Got better things to do like...watch over your couch."

It was against Darry's better judgement to leave Dally and Sylvia in his house, alone. He'd just met the girl not even twenty minutes ago, he didn't know her at all. And anyone who had known Dallas for as long as Darry had would never dream of leaving him alone in their house. But for the most part, Dallas was a good guy. And Dally was right... sort of. He did need to go find Ponyboy. The rain was just getting worse, and it didn't take that long to return a book. If Ponyboy hadn't gotten lost in a book at the library like he sometimes tended to do, he'd probably be walking home right about now.

He turned around and went into the kitchen, grabbing his keys off of the table. They were always on the table; he always lost them if he didn't put them there. He made his way back into the living room and to the front door.

"Don't do anything stupid," he said offhandedly to the two of them, letting the door shut behind him. He was betting they probably wouldn't listen.

[sylvia]

(OOC: Yes. I stole a line from Wax On, Fuck Off with Ralph Macchio. If you haven’t seen it, go watch. )

Sylvia turned to look at Dallas as he spoke, puckering her lips teasingly. She’d answer his question later. But then again, he probably didn’t even care too much about her answer; it wasn’t really a question at all. He had to be testing the waters more than anything. Or trying to talk his way into her pants. Or there was some chance he was just doing it for his own amusement, to hell with everybody else. She could usually tell with the guys who talked to dirty because they generally lacked the brain cells to show some kind of unpredictability.

‘Unpredictable’ had to be Dally’s middle name, along with ‘asshole’. As she took him in, she decided ‘sexy’ could be thrown in there too. Not that she’d tell him that. He had a more-than-healthy amount of self esteem already.

Without looking away, she listened to Darry Curtis grab his keys. As he told them not to do anything stupid, she watched him leave out of the corner of her eye. As he closed the door behind him, Sylvia leaned back against the couch.

“I’m thinkin’ that ‘stupid’ would be anything involvin’ fucking up his couch. But maybe you don’t hafta worry too much about that since you probably like the clean stuff best anyway. The cuddling’s your favorite part, right?” She grinned. “I don’t have a problem with the rough stuff.”