Looking through Sodapops eyes

Disclaimer- I do not own the characters in this story, they are property of S.E. Hinton.

Chapter 1

I looked around the DX station from the counter. Empty. I kept thinking 'maybe it's just because it's hot today and people don' like bein out when it's like this', but I knew that was a lie. My name is Sodapop Curtis. I'm 17 and I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have golden colored hair that turns real blonde in days like these. Girls say I'm good-lookin, but I never believe them. I guess the only reason I don't believe them is because I never like to think of myself as handsome or cool or anything like that. I'm 5'10" and I have blue-green eyes.

I sat there looking out into space, not realizing the first costumer walked into the station today. I was still day dreaming about what would go on today when I heard someone clear there thought. It was Dean Marcus, a Soc.

"Can I help you?" I asked, trying not to look him in the eye.

"Maybe" he replied with a sneer

"Well….with what?"

"How should I know? You work here"

"Well, what did you come here for; you guys have your own mechanic on your side of town"

"I know, what are you gonna do about it greaser, it's not like you can't do anything"

That was a bad idea. Steve had just walked in and was holding a crowbar. Dean turned around and saw the crowbar, and ran out fast that any soc I've seen in a long time. "What was that about? You scare off another Soc?" he asked smirking. I looked at him and smiled, "actually, you scared him off, carrin' that bar around like it's your baby." We both laughed and I jumped over the counter to put him I a headlock, but somehow he reversed it so that he was on top of me, his knee on my stomach so that I wouldn't be able to breathe.

I walked home alone today, since Steve had to go visit some time with his cousins that were in town for a few days. I never really liked walking alone, for the fact that that was it…..I was alone. You see, ever since my parents died, I've been afraid to be alone for any amount of time….but I never show it. Sometimes I could be by myself, as long as someone was at least a few yards away, but I guess that wouldn't mean I was alone. Walking home alone had its good points to. It gave me a chance to think about what was going to happen today when I get home, which is something I do a lot. I planned it all out: I would get home, have chocolate milk, Ponyboy would read "Gone with the Wind", Darry would come home, he and Pony would have an argument over something dumb, and then finally, I'd go to bed.

I guess I was thinking more than I should have been, because when I looked up, I was a block passed my house, and I had to run back. I opened the gate and walked up to the door, and opened it, "I'M HOME!" I yelled, trying to get anyone's attention that was in the house. "Ok, ok" I heard Pony call from the kitchen. He walked out carrying 2 glasses of chocolate milk. He handed me one and sat on the couch, watching some episode of Mickey Mouse. I sat down next to him and smiled, "How was your day pony? You get into any trouble?" I asked happy to see him again, after this morning. "It was good, I got a new book." He replied, a smile on his face. There went my whole planning of the day, right off the bat.

As soon as Darry got home, I walking into my room and lied down. I usually do this because Darry is usually in a bad mood after work, since he doesn't like his job much. It wasn't long after until I heard Pony and Darry arguing about, 'Why it was important to do your school work when you get home'. I instantly felt like crying. I hated it when they fight; I just wanted to tell them both to shut up. It wasn't that easy. To describe how I feel when they fight, its like……well….like a sinking feeling, like you're sinking and melting into the floor, but you cant keep yourself up without getting outside help. The best outside help I got was when I smoked, so I took out a weed and smoked, then burned it out when I was done. I lied there until I heard the fight calm down, then I finally walked out into the living room to see that Pony was crying, and Darry was redder than ever, "What happened!?!?" I yelled and ran over to Pony, suddenly feeling worry beyond belief, and wrapped my arms around him in a hug, whispering to him, "Its ok….don't cry Ponyboy….I'm here now"

It took me a while to realize that Pony was crying because Darry had told him that he could leave anytime he wanted to and Darry could go to college and do what he wanted for a change. The second I heard that, for the first time, I hit Darry, square in the jaw. He didn't do anything, just walk into his room and slam the door. I couldn't believe what I had done….I stared at my hand in disbelief, "what did I…..how could I…" I began to cry. I sat there, thinking about it, 'I just hit my older brother…….' Pony hugged me the way I did him, "Soda, its ok, it'll be all right. I know you didn't mean to do what you did." I just looked at him, choking up on tears, "I just hit….my older brother" I ran out the door, trying to leave all my feeling behind that door that I hoped to never come back to.