proof for @cherrycolacowboy and @aforeffective that i’m still working on the a helping hand fic
He’s headed to Darry house. Because Darry asked to talk and he hasn't heard from Darry since 11pm the night before.
Paul’s chest constricts at the memory and he presses a little too hard on the gas when the light turns. He had never heard Darry sound so… heartbroken and he never wants to again. When he answered the phone at the crack ass of dawn, Darry sounded like he was about to fall off a cliff.
Despite taking several deep breaths that Paul could hear clear as day over the receiver, Darry’s breathing still sounded shallow, almost as if there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room no matter how many windows he had open. It took a long while for Paul to calm him down enough to find out what was wrong.
"Darrel, what's the matter? Do I need to come over?"
"Yes. No! No, don't. The kids only just went to sleep, I don't wanna wake them up."
Paul scoffed out a laugh. "They'll be strong. Look, Darry, you're scaring me alright? I'm grabbing my keys and I'll be there in ten–"
That seemed to give Darry enough oxygen to finally breathe. "Paul Holden I mean it don't you dare."
"Dar-"
"I mean it, alright?" Paul didn't reply and for a moment that felt far too long did they just stay on the phone listening to each others heavy breaths. Then Paul threw his keys at the wall, loud enough for Darry to hear the clatter and sigh in relief.
"If I can't come to you then will you at least tell me what's wrong with you?"
Paul waited for the answer with a baited breath. He remembers reaching for his keys after a while and that's when he heard it. Darry sniffling once, twice, three times before he had burst into great big heaving sobs. Paul had been stunned but before he could offer any kindness he heard shuffling over the phone and a door nearly slam shut. "Babe? Are you still there"
Silence. Paul was beyond worried at this point and grabbed his keys. He was walking down the stairs when Darry finally choked out a word.
"They aren't coming back are they?"
Oh. Right, somehow Paul had forgotten the Curtis' funeral was tomorrow. They'd been gone for a few days at this point and he thought Darry was doing a really good job all things considered, but of course nothing is ever as it seemed.
He sighed and sat on the bottom stair. "No, darling. They aren't coming back."
"I just– I don't know, I think I had convinced myself they were just out of town, but we're supposed to bury them tomorrow and I'm not ready for that!"
Paul's didn't say anything. What the fuck could he have said? He was sorry, obviously, but sorry wouldn't bring back his future in-laws.
"I just thought–"
"Darry?" Soda. Paul instantly recognized the voice having woken up to it many time over the years when he fell asleep with Darry on the phone. "Darry, the baby's crying and he won't go back to sleep."
Paul swore to God he could hear Darry's teeth grind in that moment. "I'll be right there, Soda!" Darry took a deep breath then said, "I gotta go now, but you're coming right? To– To the–"
"Of course, darling. I wouldn't make you face them alone. I'll even be there early just in case. Hang in there, alright Dar? I love you."
"Right, okay, yeah I love you more."
