-Sodapop's POV-
I kept on running for a couple more blocks. Eventually, I slowed down to a walk. Once I had caught my breath, I looked around me. This looked like the right street, but where was Kyle? I heard rapid footsteps coming from behind me, and turned around to see that Kyle was running towards me. He slowed down once he caught up to me.
"Hey Soda, you ready?" he said. Kyle had sandy-colored hair which spikes up in the front. He had a black leather jacket that constantly has the pockets full of beer bottles. He looked like your average Greaser, but he's part of a gang that has more guts then Dallas did. And that's saying a lot; Dally was a well known juvenile delinquent in our town. Their gang name is the Suiciders, a gang that Darry told me to stay well away from.
"Yeah, let's go," I said. Kyle smirked and lead the way.
-Darry's POV-
I was exhausted with a capital "E". Walking back toward my truck, my mind was full of all the things that needed to be done at home. Dinner, laundry, bills, trying to keep Two-Bit from wrecking the house, more bills, etc. ect. I was glad that my job was done for the day. Maybe Ponyboy might help me with the house chores today.
I drove the familiar path home, the whole way thinking about my life's issues. Ponyboy's been getting over the deaths of Johnny and Dally, but it seems Soda hasn't. I was planning on confronting Soda and try to help him later on this day, when the bills were finally paid. And speaking of Soda...
Soda was walking toward our house on the other side of the street. He was walking with someone, but he didn't look familiar. But that didn't matter right now. I was too busy examining Soda. He was wearing a jacket, surprisingly; it was nearly 90 degrees seemed to be cradling his arm, but I didn't see any other signs of pain. I honked the horn, and Soda looked up in my direction. I saw him drop his arm hastily, then he reluctantly came over to the truck. Once he was close enough, I spoke.
"Hey Soda, you wanna ride?" I asked him, still eyeing the kid he was walking with. He shook his head. "Nah, I was just walking with Kyle." So that was his name. "I'll be home soon."
"Alright Soda. You be careful, ya hear?" I said to him. He didn't answer, but walked back to Kyle. I began driving again, and soon I reached our house. I was still thinking about Soda while walking up our steps. I looked in the window.
There was Pony reading and Steve and Two-Bit watching Mickey Mouse, but no sign of Soda.
"Hey ya'll," I said when I went inside. Steve and Pony looked up.
"Umm, hey Darry," Steve said, somewhat nervously. I was confused. What was he nervous about?
"Hey, do any of you guys know where Soda was? I saw him walking home with some other Greaser. Said his name was Kyle," I said. They all looked around at each other, except Two-Bit, who was entraced with the mouse dancing across the television screen. After about a minute, Pony looked up at me, looking hesitant.
"All I know is that Soda went out after work," he said, looking as though maybe this was too much information. "Around 5:30 maybe."
I was about to answer him, but I was interrupted by the screen door slamming shut. We all looked up, this time including Two-Bit, and saw Soda in the doorway, looking right back at us. Again, he was still wearing his jacket, and he was cradling his arm. He looked at us for another moment, then began to make his way to the bathroom. Steve stood up and followed Soda. I sat down in the vacant chair, hoping Steve had more luck of talking to Soda then I did.
-Steve's POV-
"Soda," I said while following him to the bathroom. "Come on, man, talk ta me." Soda didn't spare a glance at me. "Soda, ya know how much this hurts your brothers, do ya?" He stopped dead in front of the bathroom door. He didn't look back, but I saw his shoulders tensed up. "Please Soda. We're only trying to help you." This time he looked at me over his shoulder. His face was unreadable. He looked back at the door, but didn't enter. "At least tell me why you're cradling your arm like that." His head shot up like a bullet to face me. His eyes were angry, but wait...there was something else...maybe...fear? He quickly went into the bathroom. "Soda-" I tried to say, but he had slammed the door in my face. Shaking my head, I went back to the living room with the rest of them. Darry quickly looked up at me, his eyes expectant.
"What happened? I heard a door slamming," he said. I nodded.
"Yeah, I tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, but he didn't look angry or nothin'. But when I mentioned why he was holdin' his arm, he looked really scared about somethin', then ran into the bathroom before I could ask 'im more."
Darry and Pony looked at each other, confusion in their expressions. I was confused too. Why did Soda look so scared at the mention of his arm? Also, why was he wearing a jacket? It's freakin' hot outside, and it's not any better inside. Darry is definetely gonna ask Soda these questions later. I heard some noise from inside the bathroom, and I hoped whatever Sodapop is doing isn't causing him pain.
-Sodapop's POV-
After I had slammed the door, I took of my jacket. I was sweating quite a bit today, on account that it was like 100 degrees outside and I was wearing a jacket. But I couldn't let them see anything. Once I took off my jacket I examined it. There, on my right arm, was a blood-red S tatoo. It was the sign of the Suiciders gang.
A gang that I am now part of.