I do not own THE OUTSIDERS

It was only a week before the 31st of October. The sky was dark and the only lights were the stars and lamps from inside the houses nearby. I took my cigarette and threw it at the ground realizing there was no more to smoke from. Damn it, so cold… Darry was right, I should have brought a sweater with me. I kept on walking through the street and eventually through the park. When I saw the monkey bars, I remembered the night Johnny and I were here fighting the Socs. Johnny…

"I hope I ain't too late," I said chattering my teeth as a cold gust wind slapped against my body. Darry told me to be back by ten, and it really looked like eleven. But the days change as the weather changes. When it's winter, the days go dark fast. In the summer, the sun lasts long. But since it was getting close to Winter, the days go by faster.

When I looked at my house, all the lights were on. Shit… I mumbled. Darry's probably there already. But when my eyes peeked into the window, I saw Soda and Steve playing cards on the couch. Two-bit was laying on the floor watching t.v. But no Darry. I'm safe!

But my luck changed immediately.

"What are you up to little man?" I froze on the spot and looked up the voice who had asked that.

"Hey Darry…"

Darry gave me a look that meant I was in trouble. So close…

As we walked inside, everybody's head jerked up looking at us. Soda smiled at me.

"Hey Pony!" He said, but his smile faded when Darry walked in behind me.

"Your room Pony." I was going to protest, but it wasn't really the moment. All eyes were on me when I entered my room and slammed the door behind me.

"He wasn't late," I heard Soda say.

"Soda, he was late. When I parked the car, he was watching from the window to see who was here," Darry affirmed. A laugh popped up, Two-bit…

"Pony spied the wrong house, if he wanted to see some action, he could have spied on the house next to me. Now there's real action over there."

I chuckled silently while everybody else groaned. Two-bit always goofing off. I heard Darry and Soda argue some more, I knew at that point that Steve and Two-bit were already gone. Every time Darry argued with either me or Soda, everybody else would leave. It's been like ever since. I leaned against the door and sighed imaging what Darry would be saying to me. The lecture he would be giving me.

Minutes passed by, I had my legs up to my chest while my chin rested on my knees. It was only a matter of seconds before Darry knocked on my door and told me to go in the living room. But as I kept waiting for that to happen, my eyes closed and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

X*X*X*X

I gently knocked on Pony's door, but he didn't open. When I called his name, he didn't answer. I looked at Soda, and he sighed.

"Pony, c'mon, open up…" He said also by my side.

But Pony didn't answer. I was begging to get worried, so I opened his door. But something was in front of it. What the heck? My hand turned the knob around tightly and I pushed the door with my shoulder with all my strength. But then the door opened easily and both Soda and I entered quickly.

"I'm here guys, jeez, could have knocked first," Pony was rubbing his head, then a big yawn escaped his mouth. He sat on the corner of his bed looking at us confused. Soda and I exchanged looks.

"We did, but you wouldn't open," Soda said sitting next to him. I folded my arms in front of me waiting for Pony to explain, but he just looked up at me. I sighed and also sat next to him.

"What happened?" I asked.

"It's just that, I fell asleep. I was sitting against the door, and well…I fell asleep. Guess I didn't hear you. Sorry…"

I shook my head, "That's why you have a bed Pony."

Soda gave me a glare and then looked at Pony, "It's all right Pony, just go to bed. Tomorrow we'll talk."

I took a deep breathe, "Yeah Pony, tomorrow, now go to sleep. You have school tomorrow."

Pony nodded, Soda and I walked out of his room shutting his door quietly. Soda stretched and yawned while I finished up the dishes that weren't washed up yet. Soda raised an eyebrow at me.

"C'mon Darry, he was only minutes late…"

"But I told him before ten. He was home around eleven. He knows the rules."

Soda rolled his eyes at me and turned around to leave, "Ok, night Darry.."

"Night Soda."

My mind was working already on the talk I was going to have with Pony tomorrow. Why was he late anyways? He was only going to the movies, well, at least that's what he told me.