something something darry slaps pony, pony runs out, there’s a stillness in the house, soda doesn’t even look at darry when he runs after pony, darry goes to his room and packs his bag.
hes got ten bucks in his wallet that he hadn’t gotten the chance to add to the rainy day jar in his closet yet. the jar has about twenty bucks; he’s been adding to that jar since his parents first gave him an allowance. the selfish part of him wants to take it with him but he’s already being selfish keeping the entirety of the ten dollars, the boys would need that more than he would, the least he can do is leave the jar for them.
he’s wiping back tears by the time he gets in the car. he doesn’t remember writing it but he’d left a note apologizing to pony, he probably should’ve said more but he didn’t know what else to write. unconsciously he then the headlights off and slows down ever so slightly when he passes by the lot. squinting he can make out soda crouched next to two other figures sitting on the ground. that gives him peace of mind at least — nothing bad happened to pony before soda could get there. so long as they have each other they’ll be fine, they don’t really need him. even though the thought makes him want to cry more, it makes him feel a little bit more confidant as he presses the gas pedal harder and turns his lights back on.
he’s not real focused on where he’s going but before he knows it he’s standing face to face with paul holden and tears are still streaming down his face. he’s not sure why he came here; he and paul haven’t spoken in a good while. all the same he find himself taking a shuddering breath as he says “do you want to go?”
paul looks exhausted like darry just woke him up but, under the glow of the moon as paul looks him up and down (checking for invisible injuries) he looks caring almost like he’s concerned about darry. “go where?”
“out,” he chokes back a sob and shrugs. “of town?”
there’s a long silence and darry thinks he may pass out any minute now if hes not moving. he knows he must look like a crazy person with the way he can’t seem to catch his breath real well and he keeps looking over his shoulder like he’s scared someone’s gonna come and drag him back home. to that house where he hit his baby brother. he knows it’s not fair to blame the house but darry doesn’t ever want to go back there again.
he looks to the ground and wipes at his face trying to force the tears to stop rolling. “i messed up real bad paul. i can’t- i can’t stay.”
when darry looks back at paul he’s slowly shaking his head before counteracting himself. “yeah, alright, dar. let me go pack my bag first come on in.” with a nod the door closes behind darry as he follows paul up the stairs.
