Prolouge

Two-Bit and Dallas walked towards the Curtis house and were passing Steve's house. They were talking about two girls they'd spotted in town. Two-Bit was just about tell Dally how he'd planned to get the blonde when the door to Steve's house burst open and Steve half ran half stumbled outside.

"And get the hell out of here!" Mr. Randle called and threw a glass bottle towards Steve. The boy got it in his back, gasped and fell to the ground.

"Steve", Two-Bit exclaimed and he and Dallas started running towards their fallen friend but Mr. Randle was still throwing bottles at them. Dallas took one of Steve's arm and Two-Bit the other. They half carried half dragged their friend away and rounded the corner of the street before they let go.

"Shit man", Dallas said as Steve sank down. "What happened back there?"

"Ol' man was drunk… had a bad day", Steve said and looked up at them. He had quite a bruise on his face and was bleeding from his nose. "It's nothing…"

"Nothing", Two-Bit yelled and helped Steve get to his feet. "He threw bottles at ya!"

"He didn't mean to…"

"Let's get to the Curtis house", Dallas said and they started walking, Two-Bit supporting Steve.

"Glory what happened to you", Darry asked Steve as Two-Bit helped him to the couch.

"Old man was drunk and threw me out", Steve muttered.

"He also threw bottles at ya", Two-Bit said.

"'s nothing Darry", Steve said as Darry checked on his wounds. "I'm okay."

"Yeah", Darry said friendly. "I'll just get ya some ice for that eye."

"Thanks…" Steve cast a glance at his best friend Sodapop and saw him shook his head.

Later that night when everybody else was asleep Soda sat down beside Steve on the couch.

"Ya look like shit man", he said softly.

"I know…"

"Steve why don't you go to the police", Soda asked. "That man has hitting you since you were six years old."

"Five actually."

"Steve!"

"I know… But I just can't… I just can't do it to him."

"You love him don't ya?"

"No", Steve growled.

"Steve he's your dad, no matter what he'll do to you you'll always love him and hope he will change. You only go back there in hope that your father will ask you to be his son and change to what a father should be like. Like he was before."

Steve glared at him. "Have you been reading one of Pony's blasted books or are ya on something?"

"I just know you."

"No you don't, if you did you would know that I hate that man and would be happy to see him out of my life. I have a reason to stay there."

"And what reason is that?"

Steve opened his mouth to answer but no words came out.

"Just what I thought", Soda said softly. "Okay I won't call the fuzz or social services or your uncle and cousins, but I will tell the gang the truth."

"No Soda please", Steve said and grabbed Soda's arm when this rose. "You promised not to tell anyone."

"Yes I promised that when your mom still needed you."

Steve felt tears come to his eyes and he tightened his grip on Soda's arm.

"Steve you're hurting me", Soda said when it got too hard. "Steve let go."

"I-I'm sorry Soda." Steve let go ashamed. "I don't know what to do or tell you." He hung with his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "I better go…"

"Steve", Soda said when his friend reached the door. Steve stopped.

"What?"

"I won't tell anyone… unless you end up in the hospital."

"Thanks Soda… See ya at work tomorrow."

"Where will you go?"

"Back", Steve said and shut the door and Soda went back to bed.