It has been almost a year since Johnny and Dally died. It is quiet without them, even with the Steve and Two-Bit coming in and out of the house making as much commotion as they could.

I'm sitting on the couch with Two-Bit watching Mikey Mouse (what else would we be watching?), waiting for Darry and Sodapop to come home to try and convince Darry to let me go to a movie, or go to the lot or even to just in the yard and toss a football around. It felt like I had been waiting for 12 hours, but it had only been 2.

He told me not to leave the house today; I am grounded to the house for the weekend for getting an 'F' on one of my exams or something. He gave me this long lecture on how I have been letting my grades slip and that I better get a better grade next time or else he'll skin me. Like I've never heard that one before! I know he'd never actually do it.

"Common Pony! Darry will never even know if you leave the house! He won't be home for another 3 hours. You should be happy he picked up an extra shift, now you can sneak out and he won't even know!" Two-Bit smirked at me. He knows as well as I do that I would get caught some way or another.

"Two-Bit I'm not sneakin' out! I don't wanna risk Darry or Soda or Steve catching me. You don't gotta stay here all day, especially if you are just going to hassle me 'bout leaving."

"Well, I ain't got nothing better to do. But if I'm gonna be stuck here all day, I'm gonna go get me some beer. See ya in a bit Pone." And with that Two-Bit left. About an hour later he showed up with two six pack's and some chicks phone number.

He cracked open a beer, took a swig and offered me a sip. I sat there looking at the beer in his hand, contemplating having some. I know Darry will kill me if he found out I drank some beer, but like Two-Bit said...he won't be back for 2 hours now. Two-Bit sat there waving the beer infront of my face. I take it out of his hand, I'm not sure who is more surprised. Him, or me. I hesitate before I put the bottle to my lips and take a sip. I almost spit it out because it tastes awful, but I can't tell Two-Bit that. He would never stop crackin' jokes in my expense.

Much to my surprise, I keep drinking it. In fact, I finish it off along with 4 more. I can't believe that Two-Bit just let me drink them like they were Pepsi's, but he did. All of a sudden I really have to go to the bathroom. I stand up and before I take a step, I sit back down.

"Two-Bit, I feel a little weird, dizzy or something."

"Hey Ponyboy, sounds to me like you're drunk!" I laugh at how excited he is. Actually, I'm not sure why I'm laughing. But I keep laughing, it's like I can't stop. Right in the middle of my laughing fit, Soda ran into the house, Steve not far behind him screaming something about getting even. That makes me laugh even more.

"Awe shit! Pony, we gotta get this place cleaned up before Darry gets home. If Soda is here already that means Darry will be home any..." I don't hear what else Two-Bit had to say. My stomach starts feeling queasy and I feet like I'm going to get sick. I stand up, tripping over a couple of the empty bottles on the floor and ran to the bathroom. I fall to my knees and rest my arms on the toilet seat while the bitter taste of second hand beer and other liquids fill my mouth. Soda must have seen me rush to the bathroom because he follows me in and sits on the edge of the bathtub rubbing circles on my back.

"What's the matter Pone? Are you sick?" Soda sounds so concerned. I don't have the heart to tell him I'm drunk so I keep silent. Yes! I think I might get away with playing the "flu card"...nope, Two-Bit had to open his big mouth and tell Soda I'm drunk.

"PONYBOY MICHEAL CURTIS! What in the hell were you thinking?" Two-Bit chuckles at Soda's response. "And you Keith Matthews! What in the hell were you thinking giving Pony beer?" Soda never uses Two-Bit's real name, man he is pissed!

"S-sorry Sodapop, I dooon't know wha-" I slur, stopping to throw up some more.

"Shhh, don't say anything Pony. I know you're sorry. I'll go get you some water and some aspirin for the headache you will have later. Two-Bit, you and Steve better get outta here before Darry gets home, there's gonna be fireworks."

About 15 minutes later, when Darry walks in, my heart starts racing. I'm laying on the couch with a cold cloth of my forehead. Soda is in the kitchen making dinner; probably purple potatoes and green chicken or something like that. I don't really care though, I won't be eating. Darry takes one look at me and rushes to my side. He takes the cloth off of me and feels my forehead. He looks at me, clearly confused. I sit up...slowly. Guess I'll have to confess at some point or another so it may as well be now.

"Darry, I had few beers with Two-Bit today"

"How many is a few Ponyboy?" Darry said with his teeth clenched. His hands ball up into fists so tight his knuckles turn white.

"I dunno Darry, 5 or 6? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get drunk. I didn't even want to have a sip."

"Ponyboy, go to your room until I decide what I'm going to do with you." He sits down his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as I slowly get up and make my way to the room I share with my middle brother Soda. Darry is fuming and I haven't been this scared since Johnny killed that soc. I close the door behind me and flop onto the bed. I look at the clock, 5:07pm.

This was going to be a long night.

So, what do you think? Should I keep writing? This is my first fan-fic so go easy on me, but all reviews are welcome!