The Curtis house had seen its fair share of chaos, but New Year’s Eve always had a different kind of energy. The gang was packed inside, Soda and Steve hollering about some bet, Two-Bit already a few drinks deep, and Dallas stirring up trouble just for the hell of it. Somewhere in the corner, Johnny and Pony were lost in conversation, oblivious to the madness around them. And then there was Darry—standing near the kitchen with his arms crossed, shaking his head at it all.

“You look like you’re about two seconds from throwing everyone out,” you teased, stepping up beside him.

Darry let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Tempting. You know how much I hate cleaning up after all this.” He gestured toward the mess already piling up—discarded cups, streamers knocked to the floor, and a very questionable stain on the couch that neither of you wanted to investigate.

“You could just let loose for once,” you pointed out, nudging him with your elbow. “It’s New Year’s Eve, Dar. Even you deserve a break.”

Darry sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Maybe. But someone’s gotta be the responsible one.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Someone’s gotta make sure the world doesn’t fall apart.”

He smirked. “Exactly.” But then, for a second, his expression softened, his gaze lingering on you. “Still—guess I don’t mind having you around to keep me sane.”

That was about as close to sentimentality as Darry ever got, and you couldn’t help but grin. “Don’t worry, Curtis. I’ll stick around to remind you how to have fun.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”