*PoV Sodapop*

I was lying in my bed, feeling the warm blankets wrapped tightly around me. I usually loved that feeling, almost as much as I loved the feeling of hugging Ponyboy, his thin arms wrapped tightly around my waist and his head resting sweetly just below my collar bone, but earlier that day we had gone to our parents' funeral. So, anyway, I was trying to fall asleep, but I felt like there was something tugging on my mind. With a sigh, I turned over and looked at my wall. I could hear Darry crying in his room, trying to be silent.

I got up and walked over to his room, knocked on the door and waited patiently. Darry sniffed and opened the door.

"Hey," I said.

"What?" he asked shortly, rubbing at his puffy, red eyes.

"Can I Come in?" I asked, putting a hand on the door frame.

"Fine," he mumbled, "just don't tell Pony that I's cryin'."

I nodded and walked in, then sat at the foot of his bed. Darry's room is a room I don't go in much because he's so uppity and self-conscious. He sat down on his bed again, his eyes still brimming with tears. I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You wanna talk?" I asked.

He shook his head, then nodded, as if he wasn't sure what he should do. "How could they leave us?" he asked quietly. "We don't have no more family. Not any that would take us in, at least. And the people down at the state want me to provide for this family, but I ain't old enough! I'm only nineteen!"

"You gonna be twenty in a month," I said, looking at my brother seriously. "You can do it, Darry. I believe in you."

"Even if I was different? Even if I was so different that if I told you, you'd hate me?"

"Darry, I couldn't ever hate you! What's so bad about you?"

"I… I'm-"

But I never got to hear what was so bad about him. A sudden scream cut him off. A loud, piercing scream rang out through the silent house.

"What the hell…?" Darry mumbled.

"Probably someone outside," I said, my heart pounding at the sudden sound.

There was a knock on the door. I got up and opened it, revealing a very startled looking Johnny. I had forgotten he was asleep in the living room.

"Hey, Johnny, How y-?"

He cut me off. "Ponyboy's screaming in his sleep and I don't know how to help and he won't wake up and-"

Darry and I ran out of Darry's room straight into Pony's. He was thrashing, his blankets tangled around his legs. He screamed again, and I felt my blood run cold. I had only ever heard Pony boy scream like that once before, and it was an experience I didn't want to repeat. But my mind went back to it anyway.

I walked into the grocery store and walked to the back where they kept the cigarettes. I picked up a bottle of pop and hid it beneath my shirt, smiling at the nice looking lady who had just come around the corner. She had a pretty yellow dress on and looked a few years older than I was. Probably around sixteen. She looked at me, the pack of Kools in my hand and the obviously hidden Pepsi in my shirt.

"What's a cute little thing like you doin' stealing a pack and a pop?" she asked. I could tell by her voice that she wasn't a greasy girl, but she wasn't a socy girl either.

"I don't got enough money for both," I said, my nine year old voice sweet and soft.

"I'd take the pop," She said, resting her elbows on the cart handle.

"Pop ain't for me, it for my brother. He's too young to be out on his own. And the Kools are for my friend and me, but he don't have enough money for a pack."

"…Tell you what," she said, rummaging through her purse. "Have this." She held out two dollars.

"Oh, no, miss, I couldn't!"

"Take it, I got enough to buy what I need."

I took the money and said my thanks, then moved on. I took the pop out from under my shirt. I looked back at her, thinking that she probably thought I was just a soft greasy kind. So, I did something that I probably shouldn't have. I put my hands on the shelf in front of me, and pushed it over.

I heard a blood curtailing scream from the row over. I rushed over, fearing that I knew that person.

And I did.

An arm was stuck up in the air, and a small voice was calling for help. I ran over and screamed, taking in the dark red hair, pale skin and gray green eyes. My brother.

"Pony!" I said, kneeling down and trying to lift up the shelf. I was a lot heavier than I thought.

"Help!" I screamed. "Help!"

Several people rushed over to us and heaved the shelf off my brother. I sobbed into his hair and clung to him tightly. He cried out in pain and I dragged him away from the shelf, for it was beginning to fall again. He sobbed as he clutched me, his thin arms wrapping around my waist.

"S-soda…" he sobbed.

"Soda…"

Soda…

Soda…

"Soda!"

I snapped out of my revere and looked over at Darry, kneeling next to a still struggling Pony.

I looked down at the familiar shock of brown red hair and pale skin. He needed to go outside more. I put my hands out of his shoulders and shook him. He woke up with a gasp and his eyes moved frantically around the room. His eyes fell on Johnny, who stood pale faced and shaking at the foot of the bed.

"Are you alright?" Darry asked.

"N-no…" Pony said, shaking from head to foot.

"You were having a nightmare," I said softly.

"What was it about?" Darry asked.

"I don't remember."