Disclaimer: I do not own S.E. Hinton's Characters or the Outsiders. Now enjoy. Set right after Ponyboy gave Mr. Syme his … 'Theme'

X-X

Walking home. Sort of numb after giving my English teacher my theme. He said he'd read it as soon as possible. I pulled out a weed and took a long drag. I was getting better…sort of. I started to come to myself and say that Johnny and Dally were probably happy where they were. At least the didn't have to live like us right now.

Stay golden, Ponyboy

Johnny's words no longer brought tears to my eyes. Just a fond smile. I opened our front door and walked in. Darry wasn't back from work yet, but today was Soda's day off.

"Hey, Ponyboy!" he gave me a big grin. "How was school for ya?"

"Fine, I guess," I put out my cigarette.

"Did your English teacher like your theme?"

"Don't really know," I shifted uncomfortably. "I just gave it to him today,"

"Cool," he took out a cigarette and lit it. I cocked my eyebrows.

"What's wrong, Soda?"

"Eh…? Oh…nothing,"

"…"

"Fine," Soda blew a couple of smoke rings. "You know the letter…that was returned unopened?"

"Yeah," I nodded. Sandy's letter.

"Well, I sent it back…and it got sent back to me again…this time with a note,"

"Really? Did you read it?"

"Of course I did!" he snapped. Then he caught himself. "Sorry, Pony,"

"It's ok. Just tell me what happened," I sat down on the couch next to him.

"…she said not to write back," Soda said hoarsely, finishing his cigarette awfully quickly.

"I'm sorry, Soda, man," I coughed. "Maybe she just wasn't the one,"

"Yeah," Soda closed his eyes. He looked real troubled then.

The gang whistle came through the door. I looked behind my back. Two-bit shut the door behind him, walking up to us. His face looked a tad pain.

"'sup you two?" he ruffled my hair, sitting down by me.

"Nothin' much," I smiled. Two-bit and I have grown a tad closer since the deaths. He's one of my favorite friends in the gang, but he never quiet replaced Dally or Johnny. No one would.

"What's up, Two-bit? Need a place to stay?" Soda asked him.

"Nope…I came to tell you something," Two-bit stood up. "About Johnny and Dally. I don't know if Ponyboy can bear to hear it though,"

"I can bear it," I gritted my teeth.

"They're being buried tomorrow at noon,"

There was silence. Two-bit studied us both, making sure we didn't fall over or something. "You two comin'?"

I thought about it. I don't know one member in the gang that was religious…but I didn't want Johnny's body to go to scientists or somewhat. He didn't deserve that. He didn't deserve to have others unravel his memories of his parents beating the life out of him, or the gang's love for him. He didn't need to be dissected of all his grins and tears. No. I stood up.

"I'm goin," I said. This was Johnny's final send off. I had to be there for him. But not only Johnny…Dally too. I don't know why…but a burial never seemed appropriate for Dally. I guess that I never thought of him dying so soon.

"…you sure?" Soda asked me.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I'm sure. I won't fall over or something, if that's what y'all are worried about,"

"I didn't mean that, Ponyboy," Soda said, tensing up a bit.

"It's fine," I said gruffly.

Two-bit nodded. "I still have to go over to Steve's and tell him. Catch you both later. Tell Darry I dropped by,"

Soda nodded and pulled on a wide grin. Two-bit couldn't resist. He grinned back. I also smiled a little. Soda could make anyone laugh, even if they were bawling like babies. Two-bit saluted us and left.

Sodapop sighed and stood up.

"You hungry, Ponyboy?" he asked me.

"If you're making something, then yeah. I'll eat," I swung my backpack in the left corner of my bedroom and walked out.

"Cool. Baloney?" he joked.

I turned green. He knew darn well that I hated baloney and whoever invented baloney for inventing it!

"Just kidding, just kidding," he laughed. I chuckled a little too.

"Where's Darry? He's out pretty late," I looked at my watch. Darry was usually home about twenty minutes after me so he could rest up for his next job.

"Yeah. He won't have time to even take a shower or rest," Soda grabbed peanut butter and jelly plus four slices of toast.

"Hmmm…should we call him?" I asked.

"Naw," Soda snorted. "By the time we ask the people at his work, he'd be long gone,"

We didn't have cell phones. Too tight for us to fit in a phone bill. The gang was always in touch. Golly, if I told Two-bit to send Steve a letter, he'd get it to him faster then the mail!

A soft rapping came on the door. I cocked my head. We always kept the door opened, and Darry was the one who said to do it. No way was that Darry. Soda's face drained a little color. He was equally as surprised.

"Do you want me to get it?" I asked him.

"No. Stay back," Soda threw down his knife, then with some hesitation, picked it up again. He might need it. But it was smoldered in jelly, so if it were the fuzz, he'd just put on a wide grin and ask the dude to join him in making a sandwich.

Soda made his way to the door and opened it. Automatically, he ducked. A knife was thrown at the wall where Soda had been standing infront of.