Pairings:

two-bit and soda

Steve and pony

This story will be short around 10-20 chapter.

Be patient with my lack of updates

I want to pair Darry with someone but I have no idea who

Chapter 3: I may just be able to slow down

Pony's pov:

Well I was wrong about that. Not exactly the first time I've been wrong and honestly I wasn't surprised I would run into someone. If I believed in stuff like this I would assume it was the universe trying to tell me something. For instance don't run away and don't fuck up my life more than I already have. Frankly I will always choose to ignore any signs that may improve my own life. Which are never words of my own but something Darry would say to me. Usually I would dismiss those snarky, but usually right, comments; however, that isn't now.

I've ran a good way, before I ran into Steve,knocking us both to the ground in a painful crash that left us both groaning on pain.

"What the hell? Do you have any idea how to watch where you're going?"

He looked up seeing it was me and instantly his expression softened. After the incident everyone started treating me differently. Slowly Soda and Two-bit have started acting normal around me again. But Darry and Steve are still acting differently. Darry tiptoes around me like he is walking on egg shells, and Steve is being nicer to me, here recently. A welcomed change but I wished it had come because of a different reason.

"God kid we have been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?"

"I've just been walking around."

"You have been gone for almost 2 hours. That's a long walk."

"well I needed some time to think."

"Did you get some thinking done?"

In fact I had done a lot of thinking. I figured Darry didn't make this decision on his own. That means that Soda new and usually if soda new Steve did too. Everyone probably knew, there aren't many secretes between most of us, and its better that they new now instead of later. Got to find the messed up kid before he can hurt himself, throw him into therapy, maybe that will fix him.

Yeah right, that's not going to happen. I still look at my hands and see the blood of my friends on them. Talking will not clean the blood off.

"It's not fair"

"I know kid." He wrapped me up in his arms hugging me tight to him, rocking us a little while I cried. I don't know when I started crying but I guess its okay.

"I just want to keep running, and never stop." I sobbed

"I know, but Pony you need to slow down."

"I can't Steve." I cried. Pulling on his shirt in hopes of moving myself closer to him. I clung to him like my lifeline and cried the way I should have months ago.

"It's going to be hard Pony, but you are not alone. Were going to be here with you the whole way."

I nodded a little to show Steve I had heard and acknowledged what he had told me. Steve encouraged me to stand up and as we were dusting ourselves off he spoke up to me, "My car isn't far from here lets get going.

After walking in a comfortable silence with Steve we came up on his car parked over by the lot. "Steve?"

"Yeah..?"

"Can we just sit in your car for a while?"

"Now why do ya want to do that kid?"

"I'm not done thinking."

"Okay we will stay here for a little while."

Steves pov:

The kid got in my car a laid down in my seat. Curled in between his door and my leg, hugging himself tightly as he chewed on his lip. He looked off into space barley paying attention to me. I placed my hand in his hair just resting it there to give the kids an myself some comfort. He's been through a lot and I figure that's why we were all so worked up bout this. Afraid for the kid. Scared he might get himself hurt, and none of us thinks he can take much more.

"Pony don't be mad at all of us, were just worried bout ya."

The drive back to the Curtis house was awfully quite. Pony asleep in the front seat and myself being lost in my own head and to worried to turn the radio on. I guess the kid has had pretty much all he could take. Once before he had been happy now all he seems to do is avoid anything of the sort. He walks around as if he is in a trance. Everyone is worried about him and are treating him so fragile. I on the other hand may not treat him the way I used to but I still act sort of the same around him. But that makes me an ass hole, as everyone says, I apparently don't know how to show sympathy for someone who has been hurt. No, I know how to show it, but when its the sympathy that is upsetting the kid more I chose not to give it to him.

Sue me I guess I just don't know anymore, but I figure no one knows what to do anymore. The kid is becoming reckless. He ain't using his head, not like he used it much before, but he is going to keep on till he gets hurt. He figtn a lot now, and winning most of them. We all know he's angry, but he ain't cooling down. That's why Darry talked to all of us. Told us what day he was gonna talk to Pony and asked us to be scarce that day. The conversation just happened to be a bit early because Pony decided not to go to schools today. But after we all showed up to find out Pony had run away again we all went in different directions to find him. Worry and shock setting in on some of us because of what had happened last time.

Quickly arriving at the house I decided to wake Pony because I doubted I could carry him. "Come on kid you gotta wake up."

Groggily the kid sat up "Steve where are we?"

"Well you fell asleep so I decided to drive ya back home."

"Oh," he sounded upset

"Come on kid lets head inside."

After going inside and no one was there we decided it was because they were all out still looking for Pony, so we sat down on the couch together waiting for everyone's return.

The first ones to get back was Buck, Tim, and Curly. There reaction were pretty calm saying things like, "Told you the kid was okay," and things like "Figured he'd come home."

After the small reunion of giving a few manly hugs and pats on the back they told them they would be heading out and if they saw any of the gang they would tell them to call of the search because the kid found his way home.

Then came two-bit in, who looked mighty happy to see Pony. Jumping around like a dog that just saw his owner after days of being left alone. He asked questions, so concerning, and others just stupid.

Told us that he ran into Tim and them and that they told him to head on home. Two-bit had also said that none of them had ran into Soda and Darry so it may be a while before they return.

And lastly came Darry and Soda

Hoping to update soon, but I'm not really sure when it will happen. Sorry

This chapter isn't really the best, but i'm hoping that my writing improves while I go along.