Just a little last minute idea I randomly thought off. It's a short start, but enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders, or it's characters.

Frigid

1

"Here, have a soda." Two-Bit grinned, handing his pal a bottle of cold Coca-Cola. "Have a soda."

Sodapop Curtis raised an eyebrow. The night was cold and almost freezing, the atmosphere was kicking, and Two-Bit was trying to crack a joke while sober. In other words, he wasn't being really funny. Steve's eyes rolled, snatching the bottle out of Two-Bit's hands immediately cracking its seal.

"I need alcohol, Two-Bit, not this bubbly sugar shit." Steve's lips touched the glass, drowning the bottle in seconds. "Caffeine just doesn't hype you up enough."

"We don't need alcohol to have a great night guys," Soda said, watching Steve drop the glass bottle onto the concrete. The bottle shattered into millions of pieces below the three, blending into the icy sidewalk as if it belonged.

"Stevie!" Evie squealed as she came into the scene, with a blonde in tow. She smiled from ear to ear, and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his cheek, and rested her head on his shoulder. "When's the race starting?"

"'Bout half an hour," Two-Bit said. He looked over at the blonde Evie brought along; moving his eyes up and down her body, he couldn't help but grin. "Who's ya friend? Is she going to start the race?"

Evie lifted her head off of Steve's shoulder. "Nah, this is Sandy. She's just tagging along with me for the night. Sandy, this is Two-Bit and Soda."

"Interesting names." Sandy smiled at the both of them. "It's awfully cold and icy for a drag race, don't you boys think?"

Soda shrugged. "Nah, these roads are treated. We'll be fine."

"You won't be fine when I beat your ass in this race." Steve gently pushed his girlfriend off his body. "I need a beer. Two-Bit, enough of these child drinks. We need the real stuff."

oOo

Soda never drank, but when he did, he knew his limits and kept it light. He let the bottle shatter onto the ground and made his way to the car. He never really knew where these cars came from. They were always just provided per race.

"Soda," Two-Bit opened the driver door for his friend. "My money's on YOU rather than Stevie over here." Two-Bit looked over at his other friend, who had his tongue shoved down his girlfriend's throat. "You're the responsible one. I don't want to see any accidents tonight buddy!"

Sodapop dusted Two-Bit off the driver door. "Please, the chance of anybody getting into an accident tonight are too slim. I'm a pro at this, anyway."

The sixteen year old sat down into the driver's seat, shutting the door and tugging the seat belt in front of his body. Evie made her way between the two cars in the road.

"Alrighty, boyssss," her half drunken voice announced. "Ssstart your engines!"

Engines were turned over, releasing a roar into the night sky. Evie gave her boyfriend a good luck wink, and waved a flag to begin the race. The two cars flew off into the dark night distance and the drunk teens all cheered.

oOo

"I can't believe you beat me!" Steve jumped out of his car. Making his way towards his best friend. "How did you beat me?"

"Who cares? I just won twenty bucks off of Curly Shepherd." Two-Bit waved two tens in front of Steve's face. "Take that loser. You lose, Soda wins… and so do I!"

Soda rolled his eyes, snatching a ten out of Two-Bit's hands and stashing it into this pocket. "Sorry, Steve. You can't win every time. Guess tonight's my lucky night?"

"Hell, it's my lucky night too, I won a bet against Curly Shepard. Boys, we need to celebrate. I'll buy you both a beer, but Stevie, you gotta get over your loss. I can't deal with that ego of yours."

"The day you stop calling me Stevie is the day I'll lower my ego."

Two-Bit gave his famous grin, waving the ten in the air. "Boysssss, we getting drunk tonight. To hell with being sober!"

Steve grabbed the ten out of Two-Bits hands. "Yep. We sure getting drunk off of ten dollars."

oOo

Johnny stared into the static and snow on the TV. It was too late for anything to be airing on television right now. The clock read eleven and Ponyboy was passed out on the couch with a book placed opened on his chest. It was late and he needed to head home before his parents noticed but he promised Soda he wouldn't leave Ponyboy home alone until either he, or their parents returned.

"Pony?"

"Huh?" Ponyboy's eyes stayed shut as his half asleep voice murmured.

"What time did you brother say he was going to be out?"

"Eleven."

"You're parents?"

Pony threw his hands on his face. Rubbing his eyes while he leaned up on the couch, the book falling from his chest to his lap.

"My parents said they'd be out until about one. Johnny, if ya need to leave, you can. I don't need no babysitter. I'm thirteen."

"I know you don't need a babysitter." Johnny crawled over to the TV, turning it off. "It's just too cold. I don't really want to walk home."

"You can stay here. My parents don't mind. You're their favorite out of the entire gang."

Johnny stood up from the floor. It was true. The Curtis' loved every single member of the gang, but they always had a special place for Johnny. The boy saw headlights shine through the window and felt relieved.

"I know that. But it looks like Soda and Steve are back from the race."

"Ugh. I just wish for once they'd let us go with them- and by us I mean me, myself, and I. Of course they'd let you tag along if you asked. It's boring here. Soda's always going out to races with Two-Bit and Steve. Dallas is in jail right now and Darry's in college."

Johnny shrugged. "At least Dar's doing something with his life."

"Yeah, but I just wish I had more of a part of his life. That Soda, Mom and Dad and I existed outside of the holidays."

"Careful what you wish for, Pony. Darry cares, after all he was just here for a week ago for Christmas and New Years."

Ponyboy opened his book. Things were different than they used to be. He felt more distant from his brothers than before. He felt like his family was just him and his parents rather than all five of them. He almost wished Darry wasn't in college and still lived with them. If Darry still lived in the house, he'd get to see him more, and Pony would have to share a room with Soda again. If Darry moved back in, everything would be normal-ish again.

As Pony flipped through the pages trying to find where he left off, a loud knock pounded on the door. The two boys looked at each other.

"Why does Soda always forget his keys?" Johnny asked.

Pony shrugged. "Why does Soda come home late all the time? Why does he always have to be anywhere BUT home? Questions only Soda himself can answer."

Johnny rolled his eyes and made his way towards the front door. He opened it, a little surprised to find the scene in front of him. Two cops stood outside the Curtis' porch and Johnny instantly felt uneasy. Never were cops a good thing. They hated kids like him, Pony, and rest of the gang and it surely wasn't a good sign that they were at the doorstep.

Ponyboy closed his book. What did Soda do? He thought to himself. The thirteen year old threw the book onto the couch and got up to the door, standing behind his best friend feeling slightly annoyed but very worried about his older brother.

Thanks for reading. Should I continue writing the other chapters or just delete?

-Michelle Loves Chocolate 99