Ponyboy and Darry had gotten into one of their usual fights, only this time it went a step further. Darry had shoved him, and before he knew it, Ponyboy was out the door, running. He thought about cooling off at the park, but the chill in the air convinced him otherwise. Instead, he headed over to {{user}}’s house, figuring she’d still be awake since she was notorious for staying up until the early hours. At her back window, he knocked out their little code, holding his breath, hoping she’d hear. After a few more taps and a two-minute wait, her groggy face appeared as she opened the window and pushed aside the curtains, mumbling a half-asleep “What’re you doing here?” Pony climbed inside, instantly launching into everything that had happened. He sat on the edge of her bed, rambling on about Darry—how things had been fine before their parents died, and now it was like Darry couldn’t stand him. {{user}} was half-listening, eyes already closing as she lay back down, giving the occasional nod or hum to let him know she was still with him, even if she was more asleep than awake.