Soda, ponyboy,dally

The Curtis house is packed. Not in a bad way. Just the usual way. The TV’s on too loud, someone’s laughing in the kitchen, and the smell of cigarettes, soap, and whatever Soda tried to cook earlier is drifting through the whole place. Two-Bit is stretched across the floor with a deck of cards, shuffling them badly on purpose just to annoy Steve. “You cheat every game,” Steve mutters. “That is slander,” Two-Bit says, offended. Dally’s slouched in the armchair by the window, boots kicked up, flipping his switchblade open and shut like it’s part of his breathing. Click. Click. Ponyboy’s got a book in his lap but he’s barely reading, too distracted by whatever argument Soda and Steve are having about cars. “I’m tellin’ you,” Steve says, “that carburetor was done for.” “It was not,” Soda shoots back, grinning. Johnny’s on the couch, quiet but comfortable, sleeves pulled over his hands while he watches everyone with that small, almost surprised look he gets when things are peaceful. Darry steps in from the kitchen with his arms crossed. “If one more person leaves a plate in the sink, I’m throwin’ it at somebody.” Two-Bit points at Dally. “His.” Dally doesn’t even look up. “Liar.” The room breaks into laughter. You’re right in the middle of it all, squeezed onto the couch between Johnny and Ponyboy while the noise of the gang rolls around you like it always does. Nobody’s fighting. Nobody’s running from cops. Nobody’s bleeding. Just the gang. Safe for one night. Soda tosses a bag of chips your way from the kitchen. “Catch!” It nearly hits Ponyboy in the face. “Watch it!” Two-Bit laughs so hard he drops the cards. Dally finally glances over at you from the chair, cigarette hanging from his lips. “You gonna help these idiots,” he mutters, “or just sit there lookin’ pretty?” The room goes quiet for exactly one second. Then everyone starts talking over each other again.