Chapter Text
Two-Bit:
Ever since the incident, Keith was never the same. The four final members of the gang were never the same, but seeing Keith like this only made matters so much worse. He was supposed to be the happy one, he believed. If he had only tried harder to keep Pony happy, maybe, just maybe, he would still be here.
Keith never was anyone's number one person. And it hurt him, it really did. Soda and Steve always had each other, and Pony, Dallas, and Johnny were their own little trio. Darry was too worked up with everything going on in his stressful life to care that much. Before it all, he had a best friend, Paul Holden, but they didn't work out for a reason no one but he knew of. Keith felt so alone. He missed happiness, which he used to feel so much of that it radiated onto everyone else around him.
These days, he would just roam the streets with a beer bottle in hand. He never returned to the Curtis home, afraid that anyone in the gang would see him break down. He knew he was in a bad state, and didn't want to return home, either. He reminded himself so much of his father. Never, ever, would he let his dear sister re-live being with a horrible person like that man. But Keith was too far gone now. He was hopeless, just hoping that some force would take him away.
He had tried killing himself before. It never worked. His body was too used to drugs and alcohol, so it would only make him pass out. He was too much of a "pussy" to jump off the bridge leading out of Tulsa. He didn't even have his switchblade for a reason he couldn't handle to talk about.
One dark night as he roamed around the train tracks, he was blinded by a truck's headlights shining onto his pale face. A familiar man walked out. Darry.
"Two..." He was carrying an envelope, Keith noted.
"Hi, Darrel. How ya doing, huh?" He replied, dryly.
"No, let's not talk about me, okay? We've missed you. The whole gang's a mess, and I know you are too. But I thought you should have this," He held out the letter. "For Two-Bit, Never loose your spark man, okay? We love you. -Pony" was written in Ponyboy's neat, cursive handwriting.
The truck drove away, and Keith sat down on the train tracks, gently but desperately opening the envelope. Tears dripping onto the paper, his eyes drifted through the page.
Two-Bit,
I really will miss you, Two. You’re a great guy. Your jokes never failed to cheer me up. But I’m afraid this life is too much for me, even with you in it. Y’all will be better off without me. Never lose your spark, okay? Outside of your jokes, I could see how pure and genuine your soul is. I hope you have the amazing future you deserve. Keep it up, okay?
All my love,
Ponyboy M.C.
I failed you, Pony. I'm so sorry... Keith's spark was gone. It would never come back. Maybe I should go up there with him to apologize... No one needs me anymore...
With that, Keith felt a burning brightness on his face as the sun began to rise. He was startled by a loud noise in the distance, and the train tracks began to shake. I'll see y'all soon, he thought, then his body went limp, and he rested on the uncomfortable collection of metal and rocks below him. Then, he felt an agonizing pain, and the world went dark.
Steve & Soda:
After Ponyboy's suicide, Steve couldn't help but to feel at fault. All his life, ever since he became friends with Soda in kindergarten, he had absolutely resented the kid. He rarely let the boy hang out with him and Sodapop, and never really talked to him. If he had accepted the kid as a member of their gang and made him feel loved, maybe, just maybe, he would still be here.
Days went by in a blur, as they did for everyone else. He and Soda continued to work at the DX, but they both constantly felt so upset. Soda would keep zoning out and forgetting simple things, and Steve would find himself on the verge of tears just thinking about the beloved gang members who they had lost.
One gloomy, early morning at the DX, the pair was working. Ever since their lives went downhill, everything around them seemed to stop, including business at the gas station. They wouldn't talk, they'd just sit around, waiting for a potential customer, and organizing things that were already organized. Soda was in the bathroom, and Steve was drifting off at the cash register, when the door opened. It was Darry stopping by on his way to work.
"Hey, Darrel." He looked especially sad today. Soda came out of the bathroom, and Darry spoke.
"Listen, I was talking to Keith last night. He was near the train tracks, and I gave him a letter... from Pony. I have y'all's, too. But..." Darry's voice was shaky.
"He commited. I found him just now and called the police. He had... He had the letter in hand. I suppose he read it, and the train came and just..." A tear rolled down Soda's face, and the boys were all speechless. The sadness settled in the air, and no one spoke for what felt like an eternity.
"Here's your letters." Darry held out two envelopes. "For Steve. I never hated you. You were a great guy. Please remember that." "For Soda. Keep going, Pepsi. I love you." Darry read Soda's letter out loud (to Pony's request), voice breaking.
Dear Soda,
I know you don’t like reading much, but I’m sure Darry can help with that. I’m so sorry for leaving you. I’m sure you’ll manage without me, though. You’ve got Steve and Two and Darry. Thank you for sticking with me my entire life. You were there when no one else was. But I’m done with life now. Nothing could help me except for ending it. Take care of everyone for me. I love you, Soda. And I think I love Johnny, too. The same way you like girls, though. I’m in love with him, and I just wanna be with him for eternity. I guess I can do that when I’m gone. I gotta stop now before I start sobbing. Thank you for everything, Pepsi. Have a great life, and I'll see you when your time comes.
All my love,
Ponyboy M.C.
Steve read his in his mind, and all three boys broke down into tears.
Steve,
I used to hate your guts, you know? Not anymore, obviously. You’re an amazing person, Stevie. Really. You’ve always been there for Soda, and looking back, you were there for me too. I really appreciate that.
I’ve paid more attention recently, and (sorry if I’m wrong) I think you and Soda have got something going on. Wanna know a secret? I have something with Johnny. I used to think it was bad to be queer. But you proved me wrong. Now, I’ll be happier. I’ll be up there with my one and only love. Take care of everyone for me, okay? Thank you for everything.
All my love,
Ponyboy M.C.
Darry left for work, his eyes still wet. Soda and Steve stayed at the gas station, a tension in the air. The older boy spoke after some silence.
"You know, I love you so much, Soda. I wish we could have shown Pony... He was gay for Johnny, you know."
It didn't come as a shock to the boy. They just met in a tight embrace, letting the tears roll down their damp cheeks.
"Stevie?" They broke their hug, and stared into one another's eyes, sad blue meeting cold brown. "What if we just... leave? Together. I can't handle this no more... I miss Pony and Two and Johnny and Dallas..."
Steve nodded curtly after some consideration. What did they have to lose? Being peacefully together forever sounded more enjoyable than suffering through this shitty life.
With that, they turned the "open" sign to "closed," watching the rain begin to pour outside. Interlinking fingers, they walked to the bathroom. On the way, Steve took two pocket knives from a shelf. They unboxed it and faced one another.
"I love you so much, Stevie."
"I love you too, Soda."
"Together forever?"
"Always." With that, they took their knives, and pushed the blades deep into their bodies, stabbing their stomach, hearts, and everywhere to ensure their deaths.
Crumpling down to the ground, their eyes exchanged a certain look. A look of pure and sole love. Happiness. No fear, no sadness. They'll be happier now.
Darrel:
What's the use of living anymore??? Darry spent his days rereading the letter written by his sweet, baby brother. That baby brother who lived no longer. That sweet, baby brother who was taken from him way too early.
He was on his way to work one cloudy morning, and something felt off. He was passing the train tracks where his parents had passed, and where he saw Keith just that previous night. Something caught his eye, though. Blood. Darrel headed towards the track, and stopped as he saw something he recognized.
A pale arm, sleeved by a leather jacket. The hand held an opened envelope, labeled "For Two-Bit, Never loose your spark man, okay? We love you. -Pony".
No... please no...
He dashed to his house, and called the police. There was nothing he could do now. A suicide, they figured. With nothing left to do, Darrel left for the DX with the letters for the remaining gang members in hand.
He entered, gave the boys their letters, and left with tears flowing out of his eyes.
The day went by slowly. In the middle of his shift, he got an unexpected call. The police.
"Hello, is this Darrel Curtis?"
"Yes, is something wrong?"
"You are the guardian of Sodapop Curtis, yes?"
"Correct, is something wrong with him? Tell me already!" He almost screamed into the phone.
"We have footage from him and his coworker, Steve Randle. They were found dead in the DX bathroom. I'm sorry for your loss, but there is nothing we can do." At a loss for words, Darry hung up. He didn't know what to do. He didn't even cry. He just continued to live his life, completely numb. Everyone was gone. I can't ever have anything good, can I? was the only thought going through his blank mind. The world moved around him, and he was just stuck. He just rotted in the house all day, yearning, missing his gang. He lost Paul, his best friend and only love. Then he lost his parents. Then Pony and Johnny went missing, and Darrel couldn't handle it. Then Johnny and Dallas died in the same day, and he lost Pony. Then Ponyboy attempted twice, and it worked. Then he lost Keith. And now his last loved ones were gone.
Darrel was done with life. It's my turn, now. I'll see y'all soon, he thought. He walked out to the train tracks. The same one where he lost his parents. The same one where he lost Keith. Staring up at the setting sun, the tracks began to shake. Then, he felt an agonizing pain, and the world went dark.