Word Count: 2,029
Dedicated to: @greaserbabes <3 thanks for the title help and motivation

----------

Ponyboy's leg bounces as he sat on the edge of his bed, watching the clock from where he sat. The redhead was waiting for a good time to leave. The whole gang was here and he wasn't sure how long he'd be able to keep this up. He was a little anxious.

Once the clock struck a certain time, he stands up and grabs his bag. He walks out of his room and into the living room, listening to everyone chatter and wrestle around on the floor as they play fought (Soda and Steve were the only two that really played around like that. Two-Bit was the other occasion but it was mostly with the youngest greaser).

"I'm heading to the library," Ponyboy announces. "I'll be back by curfew."

Darry looks up from his newspaper, eyes scanning over his youngest brother. The brunette had noticed this routine over the past month and a half. He went to the library nearly every day of the week, only skipping out on weekends. He figured that he'd finally settled into studying more and was obviously supportive.

"Alright, kid, stay safe," Darry says, eyes moving back to his newspaper.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride?" Soda asks, shoving Steve off him briefly to look at his little brother. "You shouldn't be walking by yourself. It's dangerous."

The blonde didn't mean to nag but he just wanted him safe. He cared for Ponyboy so much and he wanted what was best for him. He wanted him to be happy and safe. The male shifts a little to sit on his knees a bit.

"No, I'm alright," Ponyboy protests, laughing as he held his backpack close. The redhead's heart was pounding in his chest roughly. "I can manage the walk. It ain't that far and I've got my blade in my pocket."

Soda hesitantly nods his head and stares at Ponyboy before Steve tackled him again. They went quickly back to rolling around and wrestling on the floor. The redhead was quick to take his leave after that, already off the front porch and walking down the sidewalk.

Ponyboy takes a deep breath before relaxing, continuing his walk. He kept looking around him as he walked though, both checking for Socs and the members of his gang. He didn't want any of them to see him. They couldn't know what he was doing.

He eventually passes the library, only sparing it a glance. Before long, he was eventually at his destination. The male steps through the front door, listening to the bell.

"Hey, Ponyboy!" Someone calls out.

Ponyboy couldn't help but grin, waving before putting his bag in the closet. The redhead enjoyed being in this place. It put him at ease and he felt more normal here than he did almost anywhere else.

"Hey, Nora!" The redhead responds, walking up to her contently. "Anything you need my help with?"

"Please!" Nora exclaims, laughing. "The rest of the wait staff aren't here yet or else I'd have them do it. Would you mind rolling some silverware for me? We're running low and service is supposed to be a busy one tonight."

Ponyboy nods his head, getting out the napkins, wrappers, and the big bucket of silverware that had been washed the night befote. He sits at the table and starts on his quick work of wrapping silverware. This could be both irritating and relaxing. For now, it was the latter.

He hums gently as he sits the finished product aside, starting on another one. The redhead was happy to do whatever he needed to. This was his job, after all.

The redhead had gotten a job at local diner for some extra cash, mainly slipping some into his brother's wallets so they had more money for bills. He wanted to be able to help them the way that they were helping him. They pushed him to be his best and they worked themselves so hard to be able to help him on his journey.

He made good money for what he did. His boss paid him cash under the table every night as well as the tips he got for tables he did serve. The redhead went where he was needed. He bussed tables, waited on them, and even did dishes in the back if they were starting to get backed up. It was incredibly tiring, especially on busy nights. But he thought about how Darry and Soda worked nearly every day just to havw the bare minimum. He was doing this for them.

The redhead had been hiding this from everyone. He went from school and straight to work when he didn't have track. But if he did, he'd go home and clean up before claiming he was going to the library.

Everyone just thought he was studying more.

He continues to fold up silverware, humming gently. Service would be starting in about an hour and things would need to be ready. Everyone was scrambling around prepping for dinner and making sure that the place was cleaned up. Everyone does an amazing job. Plus if it was slow, he got to put in a order for dinner. He always ate it before heading home.

Before long, service had started. It was slow at first, only a small handful of people coming in. Which meant he took care of dishes or continued to roll silverware for service. The redhead didn't mind when it was slow. It grew boring after a while though, sitting on a milk crate in the dish room while he waited for more tables to come in. His silverware buckets were empty and all of the silverware was rolled.

"Ponyboy, can you lend a hand?" Nora asks. "We just got a rowdy table of six and I think you've got more patience than I do right now."

Ponyboy jumps up from his spot, nodding his head. "You got it, Nora," he responds, following her out and into the dining area.

Nora quickly points at the table before going off to wait on one of her other tables. The redhead takes a deep breath and looks around the corner. He stops dead in his tracks though as he was mere inches away from his table.

The gang had came here to eat. All of them. Part of him felt a little hurt by that. They'd really go out without him? They didn't bother to ask if he wanted to come along? Another part of him was freaking out because they didn't know about his job. They wouldn't have a clue as to why he was here.

Johnny's eyes shoot up at the sound of footsteps, his eyes widening at the sight of Ponyboy standing in front of the table. The ravenette wasn't sure why he was here. He said he'd be at the library.

Dallas glances at Johnny for a moment only to see his eyes elsewhere. He looks to where the ravenette was staring at, his eyes widening as well.

"The hell you doing here, kid?" Dallas asks. "Aren't you supposed to be at the library?"

Darry looks up at hearing Dallas speak, locking eyes with Ponyboy. The brunette furrows his eyebrows, placing his menu on the table.

"What're you doing here?" Darry asks.

Ponyboy shifts on hisnfeet anxiously, his ears red hot in embarrassment from being caught. The redhead hadn't wanted them to find out like this. It wasn't fair.

"Working," the redhead mutters sheepishly. "I work here..."

"Glory, you work here?" Steve asks, laughing. "You're a bus boy, Pony? I didn't think you had it in you to do a job. Darry and Soda usually hand you everything."

That earns the older male a smack upside the head by Two-Bit who was scowling at him. The older redhead didn't want Ponyboy to be discouraged because Steve was an idiot.

"Shut your mouth," Two-Bit says. "You ain't got the right to talk to him like."

Ponyboy gives him a thankful glance before looking back at Darry who was still quiet. His eyes held something conflicted. The redhead was starting to get nervous.

"Darry...?"

"Why'd you get a job?"

The redhead's lips go into a thin line, scuffing his shoe on the carpet. He was nervous. And he certainly didn't want to have this talk while he was actively trying to work.

"Because I wanted to help you guys," Ponyboy responds. "I thought... I know we've been struggling a bit more lately. I wanted to help but I knew you'd never let me..."

His face was red hot and he could feel tears welling behind his eyes. The redhead had always been an emotional kid. It went back to even when he was little. He cried or reacted over everything. This was no different.

"I've been slipping some cash into your wallets when I know you guys won't notice..."

Soda's eyes widen a bit in realization. He hadn't really taken notice of it until now. The blonde just figured that he hadn't been spending as much or maybe it was Steve lending him a few bucks. It had been Ponyboy the whole time.

"Baby, you don't need to help us out," Soda responds. "Your job should be being a kid and going to school. You don't need to be growing up so fast."

Ponyboy sniffles a little and he blinks rapidly for a minute, begging his eyes to swallow his tears back up. The redhead knew that he'd say that. He should just be a kid and not worry about it. They had it handled.

"I wanna help," the redhead responds. "I like this job. I was just thinking that you guys would appreciate it..."

"Pony, we do appreciate it," Darry responds. "We just... you didn't tell us. How long has this been happening?"

"Over a month. I've been going from school to work and coming home when my shift is over..."

Darry takes a small breath.

"Thank you for wanting to help, but we'll make it," the brunette responds, smiling gently at his youngest brother. "You don't have to give us money anymore. You keep that stuff for yourself. It's yours. Save it up for something or spend it how you want. If we need a couple extra bucks, we'll ask. But only when we need it."

"So I can keep my job?" Ponyboy asks gently.

"Course you can... but from now on, no more lying. Soda and I can take you in or pick you up. Especially pick you up. You shouldn't be walking around at night."

Darry's chest was swelling with pride. Ponyboy had gotten a job to help them out with bills. His parents and now him had raised him to have a kind heart. And it was showing clear as day right now. He was so incredibly proud of him.

Ponyboy smiles at Darry's mention of him keeping the job. The redhead was really excited. He liked working here and he was still going to help where it was needed. Even if that meant helping with groceries or something like that.

"Can I ask why you guys came out to eat?" The redhead asks.

Soda rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

"We had the extra money to go out to eat," the blonde answers. "We thought it would be a treat. We were gonna order something for you and drop it off at the library for working so hard. Darry even suggested it."

Ponyboy feels his grin widen. They were really going to do that for him? The redhead felt overjoyed. Even while they came out, they were thinking about him. It made him so happy.

"I'll get dinner when I get out tonight," Ponyboy responds, giggling a bit. "I eat for free... But... I would appreciate a ride home. I get out at nine."

His curfew was at 11.

"I'll be right here," Darry responds.

The redhead takes a small breath, nodding his head. He pulls out his little notepad and pen, looking at the gang with a happy grin.

"What can I get for you guys then?"