~*~Sodapop

I spent the rest of the night on the couch talking to Darry. I felt like somebody was slowly driving a knife through my chest. Nobody hurts Ponyboy. Nobody hurts my baby. And Johnny got enough (heck) from his parents.

In the morning, Darry made breakfast, but we hardly ate anything. We drove to work slowly, keeping an eye out for Ponyboy and Johnny. Darry said goodbye when he dropped me off, the same time that Steve hollered hey. I loped over with an emotionless hi. Steve looked at me curiously, an eyebrow raised. "Y'alright?"

I shook my head. "Pony and Johnny got kidnapped last night, I'm real worried, ya know?"

Steve stared straight at me. "Kidnapped?"

"Yeah." I answered solemnly.

"Well," Steve started, "why don't you go look for 'em? I'll cover for you."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks, Stevie."

I started off down the street, keeping a sharp eye out. I figured it was a good thing Steve was covering for me, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate anyway. I was asking greasers and Socs alike if they'd seen my kid brother or his best buddy, but no one had seen anything. I was getting real anxious, like I do before a fight or rodeo or something. I didn't get how someone could take kids from people that love them. I just didn't get it. I don't know how long I was out there, but it was pretty hot and I was getting tired and kinda hungry, so I headed home. But I didn't plan on staying home the rest of the day. I opened the front door carefully, using the key Darry had given me since we started locking the door. I grabbed some food and a glass of chocolate milk after taking a quick shower. I didn't want to be alone then, so I headed out in the direction of Buck's to find Two-Bit. I figured he'd probably be out getting drunk since that was how he usually spent his Saturdays. Sundays were his hangover days. I didn't get how he liked doing that, but Ponyboy says it's 'cause I don't like to drink in the first place.

It didn't take too long for me to get there, but it was going in that I wasn't too thrilled about. I pushed my way through a crowd of loud customers and eventually found Two-Bit (luckily not too drunk) talking to some guy at the counter. "Hey, Two-Bit," I just about had to shout to be heard, "come on, I need your help."

He got up, laughing at something someone had said, and followed me out. "Two-Bit, you gotta help me."

He he looked at me, still a little goofily. "With what?"

I bit my lip. "Pony and Johnny got kidnapped, I been lookin' for 'em, but I ain't gettin' much luck. Thought maybe you might know where to look."

That sobered him up quick. He stared at me with eyes the size of the moon. He cursed to himself and looked away. "Yeah, I might know a few places."

We were out around town for the better part of the day, we didn't get back till sundown. Darry was in the kitchen, making dinner. "Hey, where you been all day, Sodapop?"

"Mexico," Two-Bit chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. "Where ya think, Dar?"

"Oh," he replied quietly.

I sighed and poured myself a glass of chocolate milk. "What'chya makin'?"

"Chicken," was his simple answer.

There was a long moment of silence. I could tell there was tension in the room, and we all knew why. I was tired and wanted to sleep, but at the same time, I was full of energy. I really felt like fighting, but I'd probably find some Soc and beat the tar out of him just for the sake of gettin' out some anger. I looked at Two-Bit. I suppose I saved him from another Hangover Sunday.

Me and Two-Bit sat down in silence. I hated sitting around knowing my kid brother and Johnnycakes were out there somewhere. Kidnapped, (goshdangit). Even when there was something I could've done, I let my brother, my baby, down. And the guilt was eating me alive.

~*~Steve

Okay, so, yeah, the kid wasn't my favorite person in the whole world, but kidnapped? I couldn't believe it. For some reason, that only made me work harder. I suppose it ain't a bad thing for me to really dig my job. It was when my shift ended that the real (heck) broke loose. I was thanking my stars that I had my switchblade, 'cause some Socs thought it'd be real funny to jump a lone greaser just minding his own business. They left after I proved I wasn't playing any (shitaki). Then my old man was drunk and clobbered me around a bit, so I went over to the one place I know I'm always welcome.

"Anybody home?" I hollered, unintentionally slamming the door behind me.

"In the kitchen. Want some dinner, Stevie?" I heard Soda yell back.

I sauntered into the kitchen where Soda, Darry, and Two-Bit were seated. "Eh, why not?" I made a plate for myself and sat with my friends. I knew my buddy, and it was clear that though he might be playing it cool, he was real shook up. Sure, the kid was a tagalong, but I really did feel bad for Soda. I think I was actually missing the kid.

~*~THIRD (omniscient)

The sun had set and the sky had darkened. A sliver of moonlight shone through a crack in the ceiling of the barn. Johnny wept softly in the darkness. Ponyboy had stopped crying, but didn't expect to fall asleep that night. Too much had happened.