Note:

I made this for my best friend who is in LOVE with Soda. I personally like Johnny and will write a story from his POV, but for now this is it. I kind of based it off of the book and the movie, I wanted to make it as authentic as possible (I know I said that in my last story but deal with it). I hope I don't have to explain the characters and stuff because I'm not going to; you ought to know everything or you shouldn't be reading this. =P NO COPYRIGHT INFRAGMENT INTENDED ALL RIGHTS GO TO S.E. HINTON AND HER PUBLISHING COMPANY (?)

ENJOY! =D

Chapter 1

I had just gotten off work at the DX station with Steve. We had changed out of our work clothes and heading into town when we spotted a fight down the street. I thought it was just some Socs picking on any ol' greaser, but when I looked closer I noticed who the greaser was.

My kid brother Ponyboy.

I bolted towards them, my mind a furious, confused jumble of things I could do and things I could say, none of them so nice.

As Steve and I started in on them, they ran off in the other direction. They got in their red Corvair and drove off while I ran back to Ponyboy. The rest of the gang had showed up by then.

"You got cut up a little, huh, Ponyboy?" I examined.

He blinked. "I did?"

"You're bleeding like a stuck pig," I noted, pressing a handkerchief to the side of his head. "Look!" I showed him the reddened handkerchief. "Did they pull a blade on you?" I asked a bit uncomfortably.

Ponyboy turned away, starting to cry. "Yeah."

I rested my hand gently on Pony's shoulder. "Easy, Ponyboy. They ain't gonna hurt you no more."

"Ponyboy, shut the light off, willya? I'm tryin to sleep." I said later that night.

Ponyboy did as I said and crawled into bed beside me. He was turned on his side facing the wall. Suddenly he shuddered.

"You cold, Ponyboy?"

"A little." He replied.

I put my arm over him and whispered softly, "Listen, kiddo, when Darry hollers at you…he don't mean nothin'. He's just got more worries than somebody his age ought to. Don't take him serious…you dig, Pony? Don't let him bug you. He's really proud of you 'cause you're so brainy. It's just because you're the baby—I mean, he loves you a lot. Savvy?"

"Sure." Ponyboy said with a twinge of sarcasm. "Soda?"

"Yeah?"

"How come you dropped out?"

I knew he couldn't stand the fact that I was a dropout, but what I said was true. "'Cause I'm dumb. The only things I was passing anyway were auto mechanics and gym."

"You're not dumb," Ponyboy almost whispered.

"Yeah I am." I had contemplated on telling him something, big news I had, and I decided then was as good a time as any. "Shut up and I'll tell you something. Don't tell Darry, though."

"Okay."

I was trying not to get giddy. "I think I'm gonna marry Sandy. After she gets out of school and I get a better job and everything. I might wait till you get out of school, though. So I can help Darry with bills and stuff."

"Tuff enough. Wait till I get out, though, so you can keep Darry off my back."

"Don't be like that, kid. I told you he don't mean half of what he says…"

There was a moment of silence. "You in love with Sandy? What's it like?"

"Hhhmmm. Most of the time it's real nice." And with that I fell asleep.

x*~*x*~*x*~*Yeah, I know it's short, I'll try to make the next one longer...