Soda burst through the door in an unusual fashion, and Ponyboy noticed. His attention left the television screen and went to a sweaty Soda panting as if he ran home. His usually greasy hair wasn't greasy or even organized on that note. His shirt was wrinkled and the button up DX shirt wasn't buttoned. The center of his torso was revealed and Pony could see Soda's navel. "Soda, are you okay?" Ponyboy chuckled. "Looks like you just ran a marathon."

"Yeah, I just uh..." he looked down at what he was wearing. "Just got back from work."

"It's six, Soda." Pony said bluntly. Soda showed no reaction. "You get off from work at four." Still no reaction. "Darry's about to get home."

"And..." Soda's voice trailed on.

"That's two hours." Pony said. "You know that." Soda sighed.

"Aw, quit pestering me, Pony." he said walking into the kitchen. He opened the fridge with force and got out the big gallon jug of chocolate milk. He slammed the refrigerator door closed and chugged the almost full container.

"Soda, I wanted some later..." Pony whined.

"Then have some later." he said in between a mouthful.

"I don't want it now that your spit's all over the top." Pony chuckled.

"Quit being a baby." Soda spat.

"Someone's awfully cranky." Pony spat back. Soda glared. "Just don't drown in that, okay?" When Pony put his eyes back on the T.V Soda belched and slammed the empty carton on the table. Pony glanced and chuckled. Soda looked back at him panting from nearly drowning in chocolate milk.

"What's funny?" Soda asked knowing about what Pony's laughter. Pony chuckled again.

"Nothing." he answered. Soda stopped panting and glared.

"What's funny, Pony?" he asked more serious this time.

"Nothing." he giggled not noticing the seriousness in Soda's voice.

"I'm serious, Pone." Soda said in the kitchen. Pony glanced to see the fury in Soda. Soda stomped over to Pony. "Pony, what is so funny?" Soda said almost yelling in Pony's face.

"Soda..."

"Why were you laughing, Pony? Huh? What was so funny?" he asked on the verge of yelling. Soda put his hands on Pony's shoulders squeezing.

"S-Soda, you're hurting me..."

"Why, Pony? HUH? WHAT WAS SO FUNNY?" he yelled. Pony tried to get up and leave. Soda pushed him back into his feet. "What the fuck is so funny?!" he asked throwing Pony to the ground. Pony hurt his side and when he went to look back at Soda with hurt eyes he was punched. And again. And again. And again. It happened so many times it appeared that Pony was being hit forever, and by his most favorite person. Finally when Soda stopped and got up he kicked Pony in the ribs. Leaving him to cough with a bloody nose.

He marched up the stairs taking off his DX shirt. "I'm going out with Steve, later. Can you tell Darry for me?" Soda asked politely as if nothing unusual had just happened.

"Sure..." Pony sobbed still on the floor.

"What? I can't hear you?" Soda called from upstairs.

"Sure!" Pony cried. He scurried into the bathroom and began to slightly sob.

What was wrong with Soda? He got up and looked into the mirror and with some toilet paper he wiped up his bloody nose and flushed it down the toilet so there wouldn't be any evidence. Pony would have to cover for Soda and not tell of course. Why? Because this was just a one time thing and Pony wouldn't want to get Soda into trouble. So shortly after Darry came home Darry told him that Soda had went somewhere with Steve. Darry noticed that Pony was very quiet and nervous during dinner but decided to leave it alone.