I do not own The Outsiders or any of the characters, they belong to S.E. Hinton.

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Life can be unfair sometimes, but that's no reason to give up on it.

- Unknown

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Summer was finally here, which meant school was out, and that meant Darry constantly on my back to keep outta trouble. I'm lying on my bed having the luxury of not having to get up early. I rolled over onto my side to see what the time is, the bedside clock read 10:16, with a soft groan I sat up and slid out of my warm comfy bed. I hunted through the messy pile of clothing that had been tossed carelessly on our bedroom floor for a pair of jeans and t-shirt, finding some that were at least half clean, I threw them on; then made a mental note to self to do laundry before Darry gets home. I wandered into the kitchen to see what leftovers were left from breakfast, on a plate in the middle of the table sat a couple of eggs and a slice of bacon, next to the plate sat a note;

Clean up house BEFORE leaving

Back at 6:00

- Darry

I frowned at the note scrunching it up and tossing it into the trash, then eyed the eggs and bacon sitting on the plate poking them a few times with my finger, they had gone stone cold. I picked up the plate tipping the food into the trash like I had done so with the note, then placed the plate in the sink to wash later on. I looked around the house there was a deck of cards left scattered on the coffee table, Darry's paper left and forgotten on the floor next to the armchair, Two-Bit's empty beer bottles, dishes lay untouched in the sink, and of course that dreaded washing heap that still awaits on mine and Soda's bedroom floor.

I picked up the scattered cards putting them into an at least neat pile, then scooped up Two-Bit's beer bottles to put in the trash, as I picked up the bottles I noticed one still had a bit over half left in it. I placed the empty bottles in the trash, but kept the half full one - swirling the liquid around in the glass bottle, watching it. I'd tried drinking once before with Curly after mom and dad died, Darry had grounded me then warned me that if I ever did it again he'd have my hide. I don't think he was serious though - but I didn't think he'd hit me that one other time, when I came home late either; and so as Darry always says - I don't use my head. I lift the bottle to my lips, taking in a large mouthful and choking on the bitter strong taste, making my eyes water. I brushed my left hand across my watering eyes and place the alcohol on the kitchen bench, deciding I should start a wash load. I headed to mine and Soda's room, and grab the large pile of clothing that was heaped next to the bed, then got down on my hands and knees to hunt out any other missing items that may have ended up under our bed.

Once all the clothing had been located, I sorted them into piles; clean, sort of clean and dirty. I placed the sort of clean and dirty piles into the machine, before heading to Darry's bedroom. Darry always likes to keep his room clean, his clothes are always put neatly away into his drawers and his dirty washing in the hamper. I carried the hamper to the laundry, pulling all the dirty washing from it, and place it in the machine with Soda's and mine. Then poured a measured amount of washing powder in, and switched it on.

After the machine grumbled to life I headed the short distance to my room, and grabbed the carton of smokes I'd left sitting on my bedside table, then make my way down the hall re-entering the kitchen for the beer I'd left waiting for me on the countertop, then headed for the front door; figuring the rest of the house can wait, and with that I started the porch steps with the flyscreen door slamming after me.

I started down the street my feet automatically heading in the almost too familiar direction of the DX, the piercing blue of the almost cloudless sky hovering above with its hot suns rays beaming directly at me. I stopped in my own tracks feeling the sudden - but not unfamiliar - crave for a cigarette. I glanced around my surroundings for a second before deciding to settle on the curve, and seated myself down on the concrete with my feet resting in the side of the gutter. I pulled the slightly crinkled cigarette pack from my pocket along with my lighter, lighting up a stick and inhaling deeply as I did so; my arm was draped loosely over my knee, with my cigarette placed between my index and middle finger, flicking the ashes lightly from the end. I brought my other hand up that still contained my now warm beer, and chugged the remaining from the bottom of the bottle. As I looked out across the road, I ran my index finger around the bottom of the bottle, then absent mindlessly picked at corner of the labelling.

Groan... I knew the sun was gonna cook me if I sat here any longer. I placed the empty beer bottle beside me on the curb and stood up, letting the warm sun soak right through me as I stood on the sidewalk. I pulled my cigarette back to my lips taking another deep, long breath, letting the smoke fill my lungs - feeling satisfied. I continue my walk to the DX Station.

As I was walking and smokin' my cigarette, I glanced up at the bright golden sun. Darry surely would smack me upside the head if he saw me, I thought. I let my mind drift back to when we were kids, on those hot summers days back when our parents had been alive and things were simple - before our lives had become shattered and broken - we'd run wild as kids do, around our backyard shooting one another with water guns till we were drenched to the bone, our mother laughing freely as she watched, and the charcoaled smell coming from the barbecue as our dad flipped the burgers. I wished I could somehow bring those days back - retuned those unforgettable memories, but in reality I knew that wasn't going to happen and never would.

The same time my mind was circling back to our childhood, I was nearing the DX. As I stepped off the curb to cross the street, there was a loud screeching of tyres and someone blasting their horn, this woke me right out of my thinking. I looked up to see a red Firebird missing me by a near three feet.

"Get off the road, you stupid kid!" The angry driver yelled.

I noticed Soda making his way toward me in a somewhat fast jog; guess he heard the commotion then.

"Ponyboy Michael," he scolded, as he reached me, then took a firm grasp on my arm, pulling me from the road. "You should know better then to just walk out in front of cars like that, you could have been seriously hurt, or something."

"Sorry, Soda... I didn't see it." I mumbled, pouting. Who knew that car was going to come out of nowhere the same time that I crossed. I could blame it on the beer, knocking my sense of judgement; but with my record, my judgement was normally lack thereof.

"Well... next time look properly before you cross, understand?"

I nodded. He slung his arm around my shoulder, and we walked over towards the garage where Steve was working on a car, he was underneath the hood messing with some parts.

"How's that alternator comin' along?" Soda asked, as we approached Steve.

Steve looked up from under the bonnet. "Yeah, almost done. Just need to attach a couple more electrical wires, and she'll be as good as new," he said, grabbing an old rag, wiping the grease from his hands.

"Hey Kid, how's it -" he stopped mid sentience, and scrunched his brows together, taking a step towards me. "Have you been drinking kid?" Steve asked, in his usual annoyed tone, but now held slight curiosity.

Shit, now I'm in for it. I forgot about how the beer smell lingers on your breath afterwards. Like I said I've only tried it once, mind you I'm only 14, so not even the legal age to be drinking yet. Yep... I'm in a lot of trouble.

"Umm..." was all I managed to say.

Soda turned to glare at me, with raised eyebrows. "Pony?" He questioned firmly, making direct eye contact, as he waited for my response.

I broke the eye contact, with a sudden interest in my worn in sneakers. I suppose that was a good enough answer for Soda, cause he grabbed my upper arm in a rather firm grip, that I'm sure will leave a bruise, then told Steve to watch the pumps. He marched me into the back office, then pulled out a hard plastic chair from the table, for me to sit on. He crouched down in front of me so he was at my eye level.

"Ponyboy," his tone caught my attention, but I didn't meet his eye contact. "you've got some explaining to do. Do you wanna tell me what you were thinkin'?"

He paused for an answer, but I kept my mouth shut. But it didn't matter, cause his voice carried on not even a second later.

"And another thing, who gave it to you...who in their right mind would do something that stupid?"

I dropped my gaze, staring down at the hole in the toe of my sneaker; as he paused, thinking, before he let out a deep sigh, "Ponyboy, please don't tell me it was Two-Bit's?"

My head shot up at that. "Soda, please... Two-Bit did nothing wrong. He doesn't even know." I pleaded.

"Either way, Pony, I'll be having a word with Two-Bit. But right now I'm focusing on you."

I bit down on my lower lip, dropping my eyes again. Soda placed his right hand gently, but yet firmly under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

"You know better then this, Pony, what with the state breathing down our necks and all. You know Darry and I both gave you strict rules not to touch that stuff. I'm very disappointed in you." Keeping eye contact was hard, almost impossible, as Soda scolded me. "You can to stay here until my shifts over, understood?"

"No, Soda!" He can't do that. "Please, you can't make me stay here all day." I whined. Sure... I've been warned not to drink, but it wasn't even a full bottle of beer. I'm not spending the rest of my day waiting around until his finished his shift, that's hours away.

"Ponyboy, your in no position to argue. Stay here!" He said, firmly, and stood up from his crouched position. I followed, standing up from the chair - there was no way I was waiting around here.

"I'm not staying... and there's nothing you can do about it." I sassed, even though I was sure there was probably plenty he could do about it. I could tell he was getting frustrated with me, and I'm sure I was being a brat... but I didn't care - the heat was making me temperamental.

"Ponyboy, that's enough! You either sit down now, or I'll make you." He said, with authority to his voice. I wasn't sure how much further I could push him, but I was willing to try my luck.

I looked him in the eye, and said, "No!"

He grabbed me by my arm and without any hesitation gave me a hard smack to my backside, that made me gasp and wince.

Then he raised his hand again, giving my butt another smack, harder this time. Then he followed with another three, each one making me cry out.

He placed his hand under my chin again, looking at me firmly. "Now, sit down!"

I was shocked, how could he do this to me.

...

Bella Lilac