Chapter One
Pony POV
It doesn't matter what I do. I can't shake off whatever's wrong with me. I brought my grades back up for Darry's sake, but not mine. I could care less about anything anymore.
It's been over a year since my parents died, five months since I turned fourteen, four months since I lost my buddy and best friend, and now I'm sinking. There's a hole in my chest that just seems to get bigger and bigger.
I'm tired. I have no energy. I don't even try to act like I'm okay anymore.
Soda POV
"We need to talk."
Darry just got home from work and Pony's out. Perfect timing.
"What's on your mind?"
"We gotta do something about Ponyboy."
He raised an eyebrow at me.
"What about him?"
"What about him? He ain't right."
He shrugged.
"He's making straight A's and doing good in track. I don't see the problem."
Right before he said that, we heard the door slam. Steve walked in.
"Don't see a problem, huh?"
I groaned, thinking he would make some smartass remark about Pony.
"No. I don't. He's doing great."
"Honestly, Darry. Are you that freaking blind to what's going on?"
I stared wide eyed at my friend. Darry's face never changed.
"Randle, I swear...,"
"The kid's going nowhere. I'd rather him be flunking and happy!"
"He's happy!"
I spoke up then.
"When's the last time you heard him laugh? Or seen him smile? Glory, Dar, what's wrong with you?!"
"I'm going out. Don't wait up."
He got his wallet and keys and slammed the door. Steve eyed me. I sighed.
"You see it, too?"
"It ain't no fun fighting with the kid when he don't fight back."
He smirked at me. I smiled.
"What am I suppose to do? I'm not his guardian, I can't..."
"We'll figure something out. Darry needs to get out of this stupid denial."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but..."
He put a hand up to stop me.
"We've already lost your parents and two of us. I ain't aiming to lose another."
"Don't say that, Steve..."
He sat down beside me on the couch.
"I'm telling the truth and you know it. Something's gotta change."
"Yeah, I know. I just don't know what."
"Where's the kid?"
"With Two-bit."
He raised an eyebrow.
"He finally get over himself?"
I shook my head.
"No, but I asked him to do this so I could talk to Darry. Lot of good that did me..."
Pony POV
Two-bit came over and asked me to go to a movie. I didn't know why, he hadn't come around much since Johnny and Dally died.
"So kid, what'd you think?"
I shrugged.
"It was okay."
He eyed me as we walked to his car.
"You didn't even watch it, did you."
It was a statement.
"I got the general idea."
When we got to the car, we just sat there.
"Uh, you know you've gotta turn the car on. Right?"
He didn't move. Instead, he punched the steering wheel. I stared at him wide eyed. This wasn't like Two-bit.
"Kid, I'm sorry."
"For what? You didn't..."
"Dammit, Ponyboy! Yes I did!"
I stared at him. He finally turned to me.
"I'll be around a lot more, okay? I promise."
I nodded. I had missed him, but I didn't push. I knew he'd come around.
"I'll do better, kid. I've just... I haven't been taking this situation good, and I've got some problems at home."
"What problems?"
When he didn't answer, he scared me.
"Two-bit, what's going on?"
"Karen's sick. Real sick."
"Is she gonna be okay?"
He looked real sad.
"I don't know, Pony. I don't know... The University of Oklahoma are trying out some new stuff and told my mom they'd try it on her for free."
He looked at me.
"Did you hear me? Try it on her. They don't even know if it works! She's just some experiment."
We drove home in silence. When I got out of the car, he told me he'd come back tomorrow. I walked in the door and saw Soda and Steve on the couch talking. They both stood up when they saw me.
"Hey, kiddo. How was the..."
He didn't have time to get it out because I flew to him and put my arms around his midsection. He put his around me.
"Whoa! What's wrong?"
When I didn't answer, he pushed me back to look at me.
"Pony?"
"Karen's sick! Two-bit didn't say it, but I think she's dying!"
They both stood there. I told them what he'd told me. I was trying not to cry, because greasers don't, but it was getting harder and harder. Steve sat on the couch.
"That explains why he hasn't been around."
Soda nodded. He still had his arms around me. We heard the door open and saw Darry. He paused when he saw me in Soda's arms.
"What's wrong, kiddo?"
He walked over and sat on the coffee table in front of us. I didn't miss Soda's scowl.
