Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders or the characters in them! They belong to the amazing S.E. Hinton!

When I woke up this morning, I didn't know that it was the day that my life would be completely turned upside down. I heard the sound of Darry making breakfast in the kitchen, like always, and heard the sound of Ponyboy snoring next to me, as always. I smiled softly. Ever since Mom and Dad had died they were the only things that kept me going. I know everyone thinks I am just happy go lucky with everything, I'm Sodapop Curtis, that's how I'm supposed to be, right?

Wrong.

"Hey, it's time for you two to wake up, unless you don't want a ride to work, Soda!" Darry called, knowing I would at least be somewhat awake.

"Yeah, yeah, we're getting up," I said back, reaching over and shaking Pony awake. "Come on, little brother, time to wake up."

"Five more minutes, Soda. It's summer vacation, I thought that meant I could sleep in some," he said back to me, his voice being muffled from the pillow that his face was in.

I chuckled. "Yeah, I know, but when the gang gets here you know Two-Bit is just going to come in and wake you up whether you like it or not," I said with a knowing smirk. I know that Two-Bit and Pony are together and they have been for a few months now. Pony doesn't know that I know, or maybe he does and he's just waiting for the right time to say something, but I want him to be the one to say something about it, not the other way around.

My 16 year old little brother looked at me with wide green-grey eyes and then he sighed. "Fine, I'm getting up, just give me a minute, ok?"

I smiled and nodded. "I knew you'd see it my way. And just think, while we're gone, you have the whole time to just hang out with him. Something to look forward to right?" Without waiting for him to answer, I got up so that i could get ready for a day at the DX.

When I got out I asked Darry where my pants were and he said that they were hanging up in his closet because he had ironed them for me. I called a thank you to him and a shut up to Steve who yelled for me to make sure I put on a shirt too so that the girls would look at him for once. Pulling on my pants and shirt I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a pancake from where my brother was cooking them.

"Thanks, Dar," I said with a little smile.

"Hey, no problem little buddy," my older brother said with a smile. Then he looked at my face and the smile faded. "Are you ok, Soda? You look like you didn't get any sleep at all last night."

"I'm fine," I lied with a smile. But the truth is, I didn't get any sleep at all last night. Pony apparently isn't the only one who gets nightmares. I ended up getting a total of about 3 hours of sleep last night because of a nightmare that left me shaking and panting for breath.

"Good morning, Curtis household!" yelled Two-Bit walking through the front door followed by Dally and Johnny. I still couldn't believe Johnny was with us after him and Ponyboy ran away last year. It seemed like a lifetime ago that we were all holding our breaths and walking on eggshells waiting for Johnny to make some kind of recovery after jumping into that burning building after those kids. It was crazy that they were some kind of heroes for a while.

"Morning, Two-Bit," I greeting. "Mornin' Dal, Johnny," I said, nodding to them in turn. I couldn't look Dally in the eye. It had been a while since I started crushing on none other than our own Dallas Winston. He wouldn't like me like that though, he was as straight as a board, he had been with plenty of women to prove it too. So, there was no reason for me to go professing my undying love to him either.

"Mornin, Soda," Johnny Cade greeted, looking at the ground. Poor kid was never the same after killing that Soc last year. He was lucky that the court let him off because it was self defense.

"Mornin, Soda. Man, you look like shit, kid," Dal said, looking me in the eye. I instantly turned the color of a beet. Why did he have to have such gorgeous blue eyes? He was making me feel like a god damned chick! A CHICK for Pete's sake!

"I'm fine," I lied again. I couldn't have him worrying about me too. It was enough that Darry was worrying about me, I didn't need Dally to stress too.

"Uh huh, and I'm the Queen of England," the blonde Greaser said with a smirk. He could see right through me, but that didn't mean I was going to let on that I was tired in front of everyone. They didn't need to worry about me.

"You sure you can handle going to work today, Pepsi-Cola? I don't want you to overwork yourself if you're not feeling up to it," Darry said, looking at me with concern in his eyes.

I sighed getting a little frustrated with them. "Guys, chill out. I'm going to be fine. There isn't anything wrong with me." That wasn't entirely wrong. Being tired didn't mean there was something wrong with me. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

"Ok, if you say so," my brother said with a roll of his eyes. Dally, however, didn't look as convinced but he didn't say anything further which I was thankful for.

"Come on, Steve, Soda, I need to take you two to work then get myself to work. I don't want all of us to be late. Behave Ponyboy!" Darry called, even though I don't think our little brother heard him. Two-Bit was missing and there was only one place I could think he would be; where ever Pony was.

"Bye, Pony!" I yelled, just to know that I did it and then said good bye to the guys. I got into Darry's truck next to Steve and tried to keep myself awake for the drive to the DX. This was going to be a long day.

Author's Note: Well, there you go guys! Tell me what you think, this is my first Outsiders story so please be nice!