Ponyboy sat at the desk in his bedroom trying to do his math homework but he couldn't focus. He kept staring out the window, zoning out. He couldn't stop thinking about something that isn't math. "hey Pony, you ain't gonna pass by lookin' out that window" Soda chuckled placing his hands on Pony's shoulders. Pony blushed trying to hide it by staring down at his homework. "you're awfully quiet today Pony. I think Johnny is rubbin' off on you" Soda said nudging him. "would you quit talking so I can do my homework" Pony snapped "ok, I gotta go help Darry with dinner anyways" Soda smiled and walked out of the room.
Pony buried his face in his hands and groaned. He couldn't believe he acted like that around Soda. He was usually really good about playing it cool around him. It's probably because before he entered a room Soda was in he had a two minute mental breakdown before playing it cool and acting normal around him. "Pony come eat" Darry told him so Pony got up and sat down at the table.
Pony tried to avoid talking, or even looking up. "hey Pony, why you so quiet?" Darry asked "I don't feel like talkin'. I've just got a lot on my mind right now" Pony told them "what could you have on your mind?" Soda chuckled pushing Pony playfully "It's just school" Pony lied "have them socs been botherin' you?" Darry asked "no, it's just my homework" Pony lied "well go finish it then go to bed. you don't need to be tired all day" Darry said so Pony nodded and went back to his bedroom.
Pony took his shirt off, changed into sweatpants then got in bed. Soda laid in bed next to Pony and put his arm around him. "Pony, you gotta promise that you'll keep doin' good in school. I don't want you ending up like me" Soda told him "why did you drop out?" Pony asked "'cause I'm dumb" Soda replied. "no you're not" Pony argued "yeah, I'm dumb" "Soda you ain't dumb" Pony told him "well. life has gotten a lot harder since mom and dad died so I dropped out to help Darry pay the bills" Soda explained so Pony looked at him. "Soda, I think I'm in love" Pony said quietly "oh yeah, with who?" Soda smiled "you" Pony whispered.
Soda didn't know how to reply. Nobody knew this but he secretly likes Pony. "Soda?" Pony asked nervously. Soda leaned forward and connected their lips. "I love you Ponyboy, I love you more than just my kid brother" Soda whispered "I love you too Soda" Pony returned. Soda smiled and held Pony close to him. "Soda?" Pony whispered "hmm?" "can we go on a date together?" Pony asked "yeah" Soda smiled and they both drifted to sleep.
"hey pony get up" Soda said shaking him slightly. "Pony, if you don't wake up I won't kiss you" Soda whispered so Pony looked up and kissed Soda. Pony sat up and smiled.
Pony and Soda sat at the table eating breakfast silently smiling and ever so often glancing up at each other. "hey Soda, we out to get goin' before we are late for work" Steve said walking into the house. "alright, bye you two. behave at school Ponyboy" Soda smiled and left with Steve. "Let's get going. I don't want you being late for school" Darry told him so Pony grabbed his binder and they left.
Pony walked out of school and saw Dally in his car. "yo Pony get in" Dally said so Pony got in the car. "why'd you show up at my school?" Pony asked "'cause we need to help Johnny, he got pretty messed up by some socs" Dally explained and parked in front of Pony's house.
Pony saw Johnny laying on the couch all beat up. "damn Johnny, you got messed up pretty bad" Pony said looking at Johnny. "he's gonna have to stay here tonight, he can barely sit up. he can't even walk on his own" Darry said handing Johnny a bag of ice. Pony sat on the floor and looked at Johnny. "you got it bad Johnny cake" Pony sighed "uh huh" Johnny mumbled then drifted to sleep. Pony walked over and sat on the porch while smoking a cigarette.
"Pony you shouldn't be smoking that much" Soda told him walking up the steps. "oh well" Pony smiled "so when can we go on that date you were talking about last night?" Soda whispered "wanna go now?" Pony asked "where?" Soda asked "the movies?" The two nodded and walked inside. "Darry, Pony and I are gonna go see a movie. we'll be back later" Soda said "alright, you two behave" Darry told them before they left.
By the time the movie was over it was dark outside. The two boys walked by the empty lot holding hands. Soda looked at Pony and smiled "you look really good Pony" Soda smiled "nah, you look a lot better than me" Pony blushed, Soda stopped and looked at Pony. "I love you Pony. you now that right?" Soda told him. "I know and I love you too Soda" Pony said then they heard the low rumble of an engine. "socs" Soda grumbled then a blue mustang parked ahead of them. "Pony you gotta run" Soda said seeing five socs get out of the car, "no, I ain't gonna leave you here alone" Pony said "Ponyboy, the house in two blocks away, go get Darry, he can help so we don't look like cowards" Soda said "no, Soda I can't let you get beat up" Pony argued "Dammit Ponyboy just go!" Soda shouted so Pony started running towards the house.
"Darry! Guys! Soda's in trouble! he got five socs after him! he told me to get you guys!" Pony said so everyone ran out the door.
They got to the lot and saw a body on the pavement. "Soda!" Ponyboy screamed and ran over to the body on the pavement. "Soda! Soda wake up! Soda please!" Pony said kneeling next to Soda's limp body. He tried not to cry but failed.