Carry at Williams & Co. roofing company in part 2 prob somewhere between chaps 13-15 of TJ before I go see the Odyssey by my fav film director Chris Nolan (idc what the critics say it’s CHRIS NOLAN)
You know people probably asked Mrs. Curtis if she was sad she didn’t have a daughter, and she probably said she was fine waiting until her boys got married
Hai guys I wrote another fic, this time it's Parry.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/88821601
Parent-Teacher Conferences are NOT Where I Thought I'd See You
Darrel had many things going through his head before this parent-teacher conference. His job wasn’t as secure as he had thought, and he had been laid off about three days before. Sodapop had been taking more shifts, but he knew they couldn’t live on DX checks alone. Darrel was gonna have to get something, and fast.
With that looming above his head, he walks into the math room. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was here. Pony had fine grades. Sure, they could be better, but the kid was going through a lot. After all, their parents and two of their friends had died. Darrel was just happy the kid was doing well enough to not be flunking, but he was pretty sure that’s because he scared him. He didn’t mean to, but the brunette just had that effect when he was mad. Slapping him didn’t help much either. That actually just led to this mess being worse. Darrel tried to keep his hands off, even for softer touches like hugs. He didn’t want anything to happen again.
Paul was grading some of his geometry class’s homework before that door opened. While it’s not his strong suit, he did at least have an answer sheet to help him. His eyes look over the paper—Ponyboy’s paper, he notes mentally—and the answer key, marking occasionally when there was something that was really wrong. Sure, there was some bias since Pony was Darrel’s little brother, but that didn’t mean anything. Hell, Paul was pretty sure the kid doesn’t even realize it was him. He was “Mr. Holden” to everyone, not that he liked that. Mr. Holden was his father, and Paul never wanted to be his father.
He shakes his head and keeps grading the paper. It was excellent work, as always. The kid was brilliant. Just before he finishes the paper, he hears the door open. Right, conferences are today. He forgot. He gets up to greet the parent and his jaw nearly dropped. Darry—NO. His name is Darrel. Darrel Curtis was here. All of the whole bitter 6’2 that he was nowadays.
Darrel closes the door behind him and turns around to find… Paul? Here? As a teacher? Darrel blinks. “Paul? Why’re you here? Are you filling in or…?”
Paul snaps out of his stupor and sits down. “Darry—I MEAN, Mr. Curtis. Sit down please.” His hands are sweating while he motions to the chair across from him. He hopes Darrel doesn’t notice.
Darrel hesitates, not fully trusting Paul after everything. He wasn’t sure if he ever could again. The Paul he saw at the rumble a year ago wasn’t the one he once loved, and he was sure that Paul probably hasn’t changed since they reunited. He sits down anyways. “Just Darrel is fine. So, Pony’s work…?” He didn’t want to talk about everything between them. He only wanted to talk about Pony and get out of there.
Paul nods. Of course, that’s what they need to focus on. Nothing else. Not the room feeling way too hot or crowded. Not his heart racing. Nothing. “Right, yes… It’s exceptional. Like, my students are all great, but Pony really has the brains for this stuff. You do know this right? I don’t need to just throw this out to you again, right?” Paul knew sometimes the kid was underestimated by Darrel, and that was a shame because the kid needs the challenge. “I mean, I wish he’d get his work in on time more often, but beyond that I’ve got nothing but praise.”
Darrel’s eyebrow raised. “He’s not getting his work in on time?” That was news to Darrel. He thought Pony was getting it in and getting full marks.
Paul shakes his head. “No, but he’s always at most a day late. It’s nothing too big.”
Darrel frowns. He didn’t care if it was “at most a day late”. Late is late and that’s not good. “I’ll try to stay on his ass about it more Paul.”
Paul thinks for a moment before blurting, “WHAT IF I CALLED YOU WHEN HE HAD SOMETHING DUE?!” That was WAY louder than what Paul was hoping it’d be. His face heats up almost as warm as the sun. He was such an idiot, and he knows that Darrel would rather die than talk to him more than he’d have to.
It was Darrel’s turn to be stunned. “I… Huh? What?” He wasn’t sure why, but his face felt hot. He felt awkward, this isn’t how he expected anything to go tonight. “Sure?”
Paul grins, trying to regain his composure and completely failing. “Great! Well for now, he has a paper due on Friday.”
Darrel nods, still not sure why he agreed or what all he was getting into beyond calls with Paul. “Okay then… So I’ll talk to you later?” He really wanted to leave before this got any more awkward. He stands up, but instead of Paul saying bye like he hoped, Paul decided to make this even worse.
“WAIT! Can we… Catch up sometime maybe? Like at that old diner we used to go to or at the park or something,” Paul was rambling. “If you want of course… Just talking.”
Darrel frowns. “I don’t know. I really don’t want to have whatever we had again. It’s just… You’re not who you were and that’s that.” He lost all his stupor or awkwardness. There was nothing in his eyes but cold and bitterness like a fresh lemon. “I’m leaving now.” He storms off, slamming the door a bit too hard for what this should’ve looked like.
True to his word, that Monday, Paul called Darrel to tell him about due dates. The line went to voicemail. He tried again an hour later. Same result. A bit frustrated at Darrel’s childishness, he leaves a voicemail that was harsher than intended. “Darrel, it’s Paul. I know you’re being a whiny asshole because I’m not like who you think I should be, but Pony needs pages 47 to 50 done in his textbook by Wednesday.” He slams the receiver down.
Darrel listens to the message after he got home from another day of hunting for a job. He’d get on Pony’s ass about it later, but something in what Paul said got through to him. Maybe he was being whiny and unfair. He decides to call back, hoping it ain’t too late.
To his relief, Paul answered. Darrel grins when he hears that sweet familiar voice answer. “Hey, Paul, I just… Maybe you’re… No, you’re definitely right. I am being an asshole. So… Lunch?”
Paul was utterly relieved that Darrel seemed to still listen to him. “Sure, when are you free? Anytime this weekend works best for me.”
Darrel nods. “I’m free anytime, so… Saturday at four? That good?”
Paul chuckles. “Sounds like a date Darry.”
And for the first time since everything went wrong between them, it felt right.
THE PARRY ONE IM CRINE (the fact that they both know about the darry novel and will be getting the physical copy is still making me crash out) you can’t hea pictures: it’s opening night so scary. And soda shoes. Darry was calling connie in the first one just fyi.
