HI. Thank you my lovely reviewers. LOVE YOU. Thanks for the ideas, also. Greatly appreciated. So uhm, I'm really not sure about this chapter... I don't know if I like it or not. A little drama from the llama.

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone who was mentioned anywhere else.


Steve's point of view.

'Beast' the name sung in my ears. Soda knew a guy named Beast? Why hadn't he told me about him before? Well... when would he? We didn't talk anymore. I stood up, wiping my bloodied mouth. I tried to remember where I had heard that name before... Beast.

And then it hit me. The Loners one of the toughest gangs in Tulsa... and leave it to Soda to get mixed up in it. The words sunk but the idea wouldn't stay.

"You okay?" The boss glanced over at me. "Randle?"

I didn't answer, I was lost in my own mind.

"Randle!?" He walked over shaking me firmly.

"Yea?" He stopped shaking me and handed me a Pepsi.

"You okay son? You know what? Business isn't too bad here, take the day off." He smiled at me and patted me on the shoulder.

"Really? Thanks Mr. Smith." I grinned at him.

"Yea. You've worked hard enough." He shoo'd be off with his hand.

I ran all the way to the Curtis', I had some heavy questioning to do.

When I got to the door, I paused listening. I could hear three voices talking but I couldn't make them out. I opened the door and saw Johnny, and Dally along with Ponyboy watching some old movie. A little more company than I was hoping for but that's okay.

"Hey, what are you doing out of the cooler, Dal?" I shook his hand in greeting.

"It's been six months, thanks for remembering me." He snickered.

"Hey Ponybutt, where's Superman?" I shuffled over to the kitchen and grabbed a chair, flipping it backwards to sit on.

"Where he always is, work." Pony's attention was completely on the movie, barely glancing toward Dally when he flicked him in the back of the head.

"Oh. What time is he coming home?" I felt my face to see if it was deformed from the fight. Luckily, it was fine.

"In a few minutes." That was Pony for you, never asking questions.

"So Steve, what happened to your face?" Dally glanced at me questioningly, probably wondering if he should get involved.

"Got in a fight." I mumbled, absentmindedly watching the TV.

"Socs?" Pony asked, darting his eyes away from the TV, and at me.

"Nah. Some greaser." I shrugged. They let the matter drop.

Two-bit walked through the door, grinning like a mad man when he saw Dallas.

"Hey Jail-bait! How was home?" Two-bit earned a hard punch from Dally and doubled over laughing comically. I chuckled as they rolled around on the floor.

Darry walked in the door with a handful of pizzas. We all enthusiastically took the pizzas and ate all we possibly could, leaving all of us stuffed to a brim. We headed back to the living room to relax. I pulled Darry away to talk to him about Soda.

Truth be told, Darry scared the living shit out of me. But, I knew he needed to know.

"Darry, have you noticed anything odd about Soda lately?"

"Yea, I have. Why? Do you know something?" He looked at me and I shuddered mentally.

"Not much... I just have a few theories. You see he knows this guy named Beast who's... in this gang. It's called The Loners." He seemed to take that in and I was about to continue but Two-bit interrupted me.

"The Loners? I hate that gang... they're good for nothing." Two-bit mumbled something under his breath. "Anyway, they're not a very... good gang. If you get what I mean, Darry."

"The Loners?" Johnny spoke up. "My dad has talked about them, before... I can't remember what though. Bad things, I'm sure." Dally and Pony were silent.

"Tough ass gang... I have to say. Not people I'd want to hang around with." Two-bit said, sighing and sitting down on the floor with a chocolate cake and a beer.

"Okay. Hold it. Soda's in a... gang?" Darry rubbed his forehead, no doubt exceptionally tired. "Anyone else know anything?" He glanced around and when his eyes landed on Pony, Pony looked away. It was obvious he was hiding something, this kid was not a good liar.

"What do you know, Ponyboy?" Darry demanded. All eyes turned to them. Ponyboy glanced down, suddenly becoming very interested in his fingernail.

"...He... He stole a car." I think almost everyone in the room gasped.

"He did what?!" Darry shouted, Pony flinched and the door opened.

I could now understand how bad this was, as Sodapop stood in the doorway with a drunken sort of attitude and I mentally beat myself up for telling Darry in the first place.


I really hope you guys enjoyed it. What would you like to see happen? What would you hate to see happen? Review lovelys!