Chapter 2:

(EARLIER THAT YEAR)

Ponyboy's POV:

I sat on the couch next to Two-Bit as he took his empty beer can and attempted to balance my converse on top of it. He slowly placed the first shoe on top of the can as if he was an explorer trying to switch a ruby for a rock to outsmart a boobietrap. Even with his actions mimicking an explorer, his eyes glowed like a crazed scientist, his tongue slightly out of his mouth in concentration.

"Do you think I can do it Ponyboy?" He asked, smiling, not taking his eyes off his experiment. I shrugged.

"I guess so." Just before he balanced the last shoe, the whole tower tumbled down and his shoulders slumped slightly, weighed down by unimportant failure.

"Darn," he said, already sounding like he'd moved on, "Wanna do something else?" Due to the fact that I wasn't even doing anything before, I got off the couch.

"Alright, what do you wanna do?" He thought for a second but I could already tell he had a plan from the start, there wasn't much to do there, afterall.

"Wanna go to the DX and see Steve and Soda?"

"Sure." I grabbed my converse, slipping them on, and heading out the door. The DX wasn't that far, and during the summer, I had nothing better to do.

Sodapop was at the counter, talking it up with some greaser chick who I thought had nothing on most of the other girls he talked to, but he was smiling, so it didn't bother me. He turned to look at Two-Bit and me, using the same smile. It was friendly, so I knew he wasn't serious with that girl.

"Hey guys, hold on," he turned back to the girl who was now staring at Two-Bit, who might have been drunk, I don't know how many beers he had before I woke up so, maybe that's what she was seeing. I couldn't tell with Two-Bit. "Okay, so here's your change," he emptied a few coins into the girl's hand, which was shaking slightly, she liked him. I could tell. "Have a nice day." She smiled, replying with a quiet "Thanks" and left.

"So who's the fox?" Two-Bit asked, cocking an eyebrow, watching as she left. Maybe it was because he had a few drinks, but clearly Two-Bit couldn't tell, like I could, that Sodapop had no interest in a relationship with that girl.

"Just some girl, Mandy. She came for gas and started talking to me"

"I coulda given her gas." Two-Bit smiled evilly, turning to me. "Hey Ponyboy… pull my finger" I smirked and slapped his hand away playfully.

"Gross Two-Bit, that's why you ain't got a girlfriend"

"Shoot kid, there's better reasons why I ain't got one of those" He cackled.

Steve came marching into the room on the phone, clearly not in the same mood as the rest of us. "I don't care if the crash wasn't your fault you have to pay for the stupid repairs we had to do on your car! You wasted valuable hours of my life that I might need someday!" We all stifled laughs, when Steve was angry, all his respect for people left him, and it was kinda funny to watch. "Yeah? Well to hell with you too!" He hung up the phone looking at us, "it ain't funny" He jogged outside to go help the next car pulling in.

"Some girl came over here with a beat up car. One of the worst we've ever seen." Soda filled us in, "Turns out she can't afford to pay for all the repairs we did." He shrugged. "Steve's real angry 'bout it, but I told her she could take her time. It ain't her fault she doesn't have the money" Sodapop was cool that way. He understood other people's problems from their shoes.

Two-Bit wandered around, grabbing a coke and started drinking, "Do I have to pay for this?"

Soda laughed, "Would you, even if I said yes?" Two-Bit shook his head taking another drink.

"Nah, probably not." We all laughed.

I turned back to look at Soda, "Hey Sodapop wanna hang out tonight?" I asked eagerly. Without Johnny, I was bored all the time.

"Sure kiddo, whatta you wanna do?" I shrugged.

"I dunno, I'll think of somethin'" Usually I'd just end up watching a movie, but Sodapop couldn't sit still, he'd lose interest in the idea fast.

When Soda's shift was over I was the only one left in the DX. Steve and Sodapop were outside, finishing work and Two-Bit had left, chasing after a blonde a few hours before. I just sat next to the register, waiting.

"You ready to leave Pony?" I looked up and saw Soda. I stood, hearing my knees crack.

"Sure, wanna stop at home first, I forgot a jacket" The night's got cold, and I wasn't gonna risk ruining my night by shivering the whole time. He shrugged, happily content.

"Alright" Soda locked the doors and we started to walk back home when three dark figures stopped walking a few meters in front of us. Two of them turned around and dropped the third one under the streetlamp for us to see. It was Steve. He wasn't beaten bad at all, probably just a few good hits, but he had his arms tied behind his back with thick rope, and he laid there trying to regain consciousness.

I stood frozen, "D-Do we run?" Would Soda risk leaving Steve to save me from these goons? I had no idea.

"No… Ponyboy stay here. Don't fight unless I say I need you okay? But I want you to look like you're my backup" I nodded, that was easy enough, I already knew I'd end up fighting if he was. Sodapop ran to Steve, but the two men moved closer to him, causing Soda to stop short, halfway there. "What do you want?" Soda asked the strangers, trying to sound strong, I knew he was more upset than he was letting on.

"A fight, Greaser!" one yelled.

"Calm down," The other one soothed, "he's a dropout. He's stupid" I was beyond infuriated, but I remained where Sodapop wanted me, and by then both men had stepped under the street light, making themselves visible. They were both clearly socs, but I had never seen them before.

"If it's a fight you want you got it!" Sodapop hollered, running and pouncing onto the left soc. That soc was more muscular than the one on the right, but Soda liked a challenge. The right soc quickly stepped in, pealing Soda off the other, causing him to struggle, kicking and squirming like I've never seen him before. Eventually, the socs got him under control, grabbing his right arm and twisting it behind his back, making him yelp in pain.

"Do you like one hand or two Greaser?" The stronger soc who had Soda in his hold asked. It was at that moment that I realized Sodapop was never gonna tell me to help him. Even if they hurt him, he'd never ask me to step in. He'd never ask anyone to step in.

"Soda!" I screamed, running up to the socs and giving them both a piece off my right hook. The weaker one fell to the ground but the other just pulled Soda's hand harder before he released him and stumbled back. Soda screamed in pain, now on his knees holding his wrist. "Soda, help me get Steve, we have to leave now!" He nodded, quickly getting up, trying to pointlessly mask his pain. We grabbed Steve's arms, with his hands still tied, and ran all the way back home.

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