A/N: Hey everyone! So after almost a year or so I'm FINALLY back in the Outsiders world! I'm so excited! Just so you guys know the all of the above option won my poll, but since the surprise story (Ponyboy fighting with Steve) was the winner, it gets done first! It takes place pre-book so everyone is alive and well, and without blonde hair, haha. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Sodapop Curtis. But I don't, S.E. Hinton does.

Ponyboy POV: "Hey Soda," I called as I walked through the door. I was dead tired from track and starving. I hope Sodapop made pasta, or something filling, but above all there was a part of me that was hoping it wasn't a strange shade of orange.

"He ain't here kid," drawled an annoying, nasally voice from our living room. Wonderful, I thought rolling my eyes. Steve Randall was exactly the member of the gang I was most hopeful to see sprawled out on our couch after a rough day.

I rounded the corner to see him with his legs draped over the arm of the couch, sure enough, and crunching on a bag of my favorite potato chips. "Well then, where is he?" I demanded coldly. "And what are you doin' here all alone?"

He snorted and sat up straight, glaring at me as if I were the stupidest person alive. "He's at work, smart mouth. He asked me to come here so you didn't have to be home alone; told me Two-Bit was gonna give him a ride home."

"But still, why you here?" I asked, annoyed.

"Are you really that stupid, kid? You know all of us are allowed here whenever we wanna be, and besides, I sure ain't here for you. I'm here because my buddy asked me to be here."

"Well I don't need babysitting!" I blew up. "I ain't a kid!"

"Really?" he sneered. "'Cuz with all that whining, you could never tell you're a thirteen year old kid."

"I'm fourteen!"

"You sure don't act like it, you ungrateful little brat. You hang on to Soda like a five year old, and you never leave anyone be, you ask way too many questions. No wonder Darry hates you so much. I can't wait till you up and leave this place, kid."

I staggered backward. I knew Darry and I didn't get along well in the past six months since mom and dad died, but… did he really hate me?

Steve, being the jerk he is, was laughing at my stricken expression. At the sight of him, I saw red and hatred filled my veins. He wanted to talk about hate? I'd show him what hate really was.

I took a running start at him so he wouldn't have time to react; I was faster than he would ever be by a long shot. Grabbing him by his shirt collar and punching him as hard in the gut as I could, he fell to the ground groaning.

There was a part of me on the inside that knew it was wrong to hit him while he was down, but that part was overpowered by the hate I'd felt for him for the past ten or eleven years. I kicked him in the ribs repeatedly, and got down so I could hit him in his ugly face, hearing him grunt with pain at every blow, but that only pushed me further. I wanted him to feel every ounce of pain he's ever made me feel.

When I'd finally stopped and caught my breath, I saw that his face was bloody and bruised, and he was clutching his ribs and moaning. I got down to his level and whispered venomously, "Am I just a kid now?" and with one more kick to the jaw, I ran out the front door and bolted down the street.

Sodapop POV: "Give me a call," the girl said, slipping me her number over the desk and winking as she walked away. When she was out of sight, I tossed it. I mean, sure it was fun flirting with the girls and all, but I had Sandy, and she was all I'd never need.

"Oh Soda, you're so strong, and muscular, and manly, and so cute when you work on cars! Hold me!" Two-Bit mimicked in a high pitched voice as Johnny and Dallas cackled at the joke.

Idiot. I smacked him in the head and he looked highly offended. "Well excuse me for complimenting your skills with women. That blonde was real hot, though. Since you're taken, mind giving me the number?"

"I already put in the trash, Two-Bit."

"I can dig it out," he said quickly and I rolled my eyes. Always about the blondes.

The door chimed as someone walked in. We all turned to see who it was, and our mouths fell open. It was Steve, and he looked like he'd just been clobbered real badly. His lip was wide open, and his face bloody, he was clutching his ribs and limping over to us.

"Stevie, what happened to you, man?" I asked worriedly. "Was it the socs? Did they get you?"

Dally and Two-Bit were calling the socs every name in the book as they assessed Steve, and Johnny looked panicked at the sight of him. Even Johnny hadn't looked this bad after he'd been jumped.

"I thought you were supposed to be at our house," I said. Did they get you on the way there?"

"No," he grunted angrily. "It ain't the socs that did this, and I was at your house what it happened."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The kid did it," he growled.

You could almost hear our jaws drop at the same time. "What?" I asked, bewildered.

"No way!" Two-Bit said.

"Pony would never do that," Johnny shook his head.

"Didn't know the kid had it in him," Dal grunted. "I'm proud."

I turned to glare at Dally and he shut up immediately. He knew I was dead serious. "Why would he do that to you?" I asked.

"Dunno," Steve shrugged indifferently. "All I do know is as soon as he was done he ran out of the house and left me on the ground. I have no clue where he is."

I put a hand on my friends shoulder and he winced, probably because he'd gotten a blow there too. "I'll call Darry. It looks like he and I need to talk to Pony. He and I will go look for him. You guys all stay at the house."

But as I sat there, calling Darry's work and waiting for him to come to the phone, all I could think was how much I couldn't believe that Pony would hurt someone like that. "What's the matter, Soda?" Darry asked as soon as he picked up the phone. "Boss told me you said it was urgent."

"We need to find Ponyboy, Dar. We have a problem."

A/N: Sorry I know it probably stinks right now but I promise it will get better! Please review and tell me what you think, I'd love to know if you want me to continue! I need at least five reviews! I love you guys!

Thanks for Reading!

-thewolfgurlgleek :)