Disclaimer: These characters belong to S.E. Hinton, not me even though I really wish they did. The first chapter repeats much of the same dialog from the movie, however this is only to set up the scene/mood.

Chapter 1: Weird Feelings

It had been one day since Ponyboy had come home from his long trip in Windrixville. He was thankful to be in his own bed. He was so happy to be home. Even the familiar cracks in the ceiling were a welcomed sight. So much had happened. Life was pretty different now. Funny, everything looked the same, the house, his brothers, his room. But Johnny...Johnny was hurt real bad. Dally was gonna be okay, but Johnny... Pony shook his head tryin' to block out the twisty feelin' in his stomach when he thought of the mess he and his family were in since the Socs hurled them all in this horrific dilemma; one Soc dead and one Greaser in bad shape in the hospital with severe burns. The twisty feelin' returned. Pony decided to get up and put something in his belly. He got dressed and slowly trotted into the kitchen. The water in the bathroom was on. Pony knew Soda was in there taking a shower.

Ponyboy cracked a couple of eggs in a frying pan and watched them bubble and hiss. He pushed around the food with a spoon and broke the yolks. He was just about done making breakfast when he heard the door open and someone say, "Is anybody home?"

"Yeah, in here. Try not to slam the door." Pony replied from the kitchen. As usual the door slammed anyway and Pony rolled his eyes.

Two-Bit Mathews suddenly came up from behind Pony and grabbed the boy spinning him around in a friendly bear hug, "Hey there, Ponyboy!"

Pony was not amused as the contents of his breakfast spilled upon the floor and walls, "Ah Two-Bit, look what you've done! You made me drop my eggs and my spoon."

Steve Randle entered from the other side of the kitchen with a grin while Two-Bit let Pony go and pointed at the boy's newly, dyed hair, "Look at the blond headed monkey!" Two-Bit chuckled. Pony's hair was bleached blonde with peroxide. Johnny thought it was a good idea. He figured it would disguise them enough so the cops wouldn't find them. Ponyboy hated it and Two-Bit's reaction made it worse.

Steve piped up, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it in the paper here, Two-Bit! Tell me Ponyboy, what's it like bein' a hero, huh?" Steve said. He handed Pony the newspaper happily.

"A what?" Pony replied tearing the paper from Steve's hand aggravated. He eyed the front page that screamed the latest news. Staring back at him were three pictures. One of him, Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston.

Steve continued the teasing, "A hero, man! You know, like a, like a, big shot, even!"

Pony read a few words and gulped, "They're charging Johnny with manslaughter?"

Steve took a few remaining pieces of egg from the pan and gobbled them down, "Also says how you saved 'dem kids, Ponyboy. Had they burned to death if it weren't for you?"

"It's all about us," Pony said in a daze. "Darry, me and Soda. Now they're thinkin' of puttin' me and Soda in a boys home?" Pony threw down the paper and opened the bathroom door. He held onto the sink for a moment and stared in the mirror. Maybe splashing some water on his face would help the tears from coming. Last thing he wanted to do was cry in front of Steve Randle. That guy was so critical of him.

Steve looked around for Sodapop but didn't see him anywhere. He could hear the worry in Pony's voice. He tried to be nice to the kid and offered his own reassurance, "Aw hell, Ponyboy they don't do that to heroes! Hey, where is Soda and Super-Dope anyhow?"

Just then shower curtain opened and revealed a very naked Sodapop. The young sixteen year old quickly reprimanded Pony for not closing the door. He pulled a towel around his lower body and stepped out of the tub.

"Whoa!" Steve laughed and turned around. "Mornin,' Mr. Universe!"

Just then the oldest of the Curtis brothers came in and picked up Steve and quickly dropped him again, "Super what?"

Steve turned around blushing, "All brawn, no brain."

Darry mumbled some obscenities under his breath at the rude comment and walked away.

Steve wasn't blushing because Darry caught him talking bull. He was blushing at the feeling he was getting. He'd just seen Sodapop in the buff. He'd been friends with Soda since they were kids. He wasn't sure where the feeling came from or when it started, but he did know he kind of liked it. It was something of a curiosity. Steve knew it wasn't normal and that Soda would probably kill him if he knew the thoughts Steve was having. The feeling wouldn't go away. On the kitchen table was a newly baked chocolate cake. Soda's specialty. Without permission Steve dug his fingers into the soft, gooey substance and shoved it into his mouth. Maybe he could smother it out? Just keep eating.

"Darry," Soda said from behind Steve, "Have you seen my DX shirt somewhere?"

"No."

"How 'bout my jeans?" asked Soda with his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, I ironed 'em. They're in my closet."

Steve playfully tried to shove chocolate cake into Soda's mouth. In reality he just wanted to stare at Soda a while longer while the boy was still in a towel.

"Get that out of my face," Soda told Steve quietly and pushed Steve's hand away. Steve smiled warmly noticing that the color of the towel complimented Soda's beautiful eyes. He quickly looked away with a frown and shoved more cake in his mouth.

Darry warned Sodapop, "Hurry up, you're gonna be late!"

Soda then darted out of the hall and into his room, "I'm hurryin!"

Steve looked at the others for a moment then followed Soda into his room. He continued to eat more cake and watched Soda get dressed. While he was standing there the feeling came back. A feeling he had not had since he met Evie. It was the feeling that made is stomach turn into butterflies. For the moment all Steve could do was to just shake the feeling away. In light of his recent feelings for his best friend, Steve wasn't sure of what laid ahead for the two of them.