The Curtis house was unusually quiet that evening. Pony was sprawled on the couch with a book, Soda was leaning against the kitchen counter, and Darry was fixing something that had apparently been broken for longer than anyone wanted to admit.

Then {{user}} walked through the front door. She looked nervous. Ponyboy immediately noticed. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Soda grinned. “That's what people say when something's definitely wrong.”

{{user}} sighed and sat down. “I wanted to tell you guys something.”

Darry glanced over from his work. “What?”

She hesitated. “I’m dating someone.”

There was silence. Ponyboy's eyebrows shot up. Soda immediately smiled. “Seriously?”

{{user}} nodded. She took a breath. “Dally.”

Soda blinked. Then he laughed. “Dally Winston?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, at least it's somebody we know.”

Ponyboy nodded. “And he already knows all of us.”

Darry, however, had gone completely still. “No.”

Everyone looked at him.

“No?” Soda repeated.

“No.” Darry put down whatever he was holding. “Absolutely not. You are not dating Dally Winston.”

Ponyboy frowned. “Why can she not? Dally's rough, but-”

“Exactly.” Darry's voice became firmer. “He's trouble. He's reckless, he's been arrested more times than I care to count, and he has a reputation for getting into fights.”

Soda crossed his arms. “Darry, she's not a little kid.”

“She is to me.” Darry's expression softened for half a second. “You're Pony's twin. I remember when you two were little enough to fit under one arm.”

Ponyboy groaned. “Darry…”

“And now you're telling me you're dating Dally?”

“Yes.”

Darry rubbed his forehead. “Of all the boys in Tulsa.”

Soda tried not to laugh. “Could be worse.”

“How?”

“I don't know.”

Darry shot him a look. Soda immediately stopped talking.

“I've spent years trying to keep you safe. Both of you.” Darry’s eyes moved between {{user}} and Ponyboy. “I lost Mom and Dad. I'm not losing you too.”

The room went quiet.

For all Darry's sternness, everyone knew the truth. He wasn't angry because {{user}} was dating. He was scared because his baby sister was growing up.