It was the night of the drag race. Soda had today off work. As he sat on the living room couch, he considered going to the DX to see Steve. Maybe he needed a tune up in his car before the races and Soda could spend the day in the garage with Steve. "Hey Soda, Johnny and I are going around town," Pony said walking down the stairs with Johnny behind him, "You want to come?"

Soda sighed. "No thanks, I think I'm just going to sit around today. Maybe go out on a walk a little later."

"You sure?" Pony asked.

Soda nodded, "Be back by dinner."

Pony and Johnny walked outside the front door. "What is up with him?" Johnny asked, "He has seemed so out of it the past while."

"I think it's still Sandy," Pony said.

"No, it can't be that."

"Why not?" Pony asked.

"He was starting to get over her, slowly but he was. Now it's like he's completely crashed again," Johnny said.

Pony thought for a moment as they walked down towards the street, "I don't know. He has seemed really depressed lately, but I can't think of any other reason why."

"I wouldn't know either, but there is something going on," Johnny said, "I think you should talk to him."

"I'll try tomorrow. I don't want to ruin his night when he goes to the drag races."

"Are you going?"

"I told Darry me and you would go together if you wanted. Or we'd just stay home and do something else. What do you want to do?"

"Let's see how the day goes. I'm not sure if I'm up for a drag race."

After Soda ate some lunch he decided to walk down to the DX. He couldn't stand being alone in the house anymore. He was really missing Steve by now. The DX store was empty and no one was really around. Soda wandered into the garage and found Steve leaning against the wall eating some chips with a can of Pepsi.

"Hey," Soda greeted.

"Hey man," Steve replied, "What are you up to?"

"Just got bored at home. Doesn't look like you're doing much," Soda commented.

"I'm done. Unless someone brings a car in I'm just going to relax," Steve said sitting on chair.

Soda nodded, "Are you going to work on your car for tonight."

Steve shrugged, "I did a little work last night at home. I haven't raced in awhile though so it's in good shape."

Soda lowered himself and sat on the floor. He glanced over and was at eye contact with Steve's lower half. Soda quickly looked away as he felt an arousal approach him. Not now, Soda thought to himself, not here, not now. I can't control myself anymore. Soda slowly stood up, trying not to make anything obvious and hoping Steve wouldn't notice. Stupidly, Soda glanced down at Steve's lap again. How badly Soda wanted to sit on that lap and straddle…no, Soda mentally yelled at himself, stop now before you do something stupid.

"I think I'm going to get some more food," Steve said standing up.

Before he could stand all the way up, Soda pulled at his arms and planted his lips upon Steve's. Instantly, Soda felt warmth and happiness inside him. It was just what he wanted from Steve. As quick as those feelings came, they left. Soda was shoved off and connected with a fist. Soda fell against a car and landed on the garage floor. He looked up at Steve's eyes. He didn't know what Steve was thinking. His eyes were full of anger and confusion, and maybe other emotions Soda hadn't seen before. "Don't hate me…" Soda practically whispered. Steve opened his mouth a few times trying to find the right words but ended up marching out of the garage.

Soda laid his head against the car as he felt his cheek swell up. His eyes grew hot as tears slid down his cheeks dripping to the floor. "What did you expect to get out of that huh?" Soda asked himself.

Two hours passed. Soda was still crying against the car. Steve was still gone. Everyone in town probably knew by now. Soda wanted to kill himself. After that move, Soda wanted Steve more than anything, but Steve didn't want him and Soda couldn't live knowing that. Footsteps started getting closer to Soda. He was waiting for another blow to the face or the back of his head.

"Go."

Soda turned and looked up at Steve. He no longer looked angry, just disappointment and that killed Soda. Slowly, Soda stood up and wiped at his eyes. His cheek was a large bump.

"I don't want to see you tonight, you hear me?" Steve said looking Soda straight in the eye, "I'm telling the boss you aren't coming in this weekend since you aren't feeling well at all." Soda tried breaking the eye contact, but Steve was serious. Maybe he was going to quit working here. Maybe he'd runaway. Soda wanted to just bawl right there.

"Go home Soda," Steve said walking past him. Soda didn't hesitate. He didn't want to hurt Steve any longer. He walked out of the garage and found Two-Bit walking towards it.

"Soda!" he yelled walking up to him, "What are you…oh man, Soda what happened?" Soda rubbed his cheek trying to ignore the question. "Soda what happened?" Two-Bit asked again, "Did you get jumped?"

Soda shook his head, "No."

"Tell me what happened man. That's an ugly one," Two-Bit said as he inspected his face.

Soda began walking away and Two-Bit rushed to keep up. "Soda! Talk to me! What's going on?"

"Steve," Soda replied stopping and looking at Two-Bit.

"What about Steve? Did he do this?"

Soda nodded looking down at the sidewalk.

"Why the hell would Steve do this? He's been doing so much for you the past few months. Did you guys get in a fight?" Two-Bit asked. As Soda kept looking down, Two-Bit lowered his voice, "You can trust me Soda okay? If you don't want anyone else to know, that's fine, I'll shut up. But please, tell me what's going on."

Soda swallowed hard, "I…just pissed him off and he hit me. I don't want to say how. He was just having his short temper days and I got at him too much over Sandy."

Two-Bit nodded, "Well alright. I'll come to the drag race with you if you don't feel comfortable going by yourself."

Soda shook his head, "He told me he didn't want to see me tonight…"

"What! Why not? Now that really doesn't sound like Steve. I understand he gets mad, but he gets over it as soon as he does something like hitting. I'm going to talk to him," Two-Bit said heading back.

"No! Two-Bit just leave it alone please," Soda begged, but Two-Bit kept walking. "Two-Bit! Don't go piss him off more please!" If Two-Bit tried anything, Steve would shun Soda forever. Soda began running home. He couldn't stay here.

Two-Bit walked into the garage finding Steve shuffling his tools around. "Hey Steve."

Steve turned, "Hey Two-Bit. How are you doing?"

"Doing good. What are you up to man?"

"Finishing up around here," Steve replied leaning against the workbench.

"Cool," Two-Bit nodded, "I ran into Soda. What's up with you messing up your best friend's face like that huh?"

"Two-Bit, don't even start with me…"

"And then you tell him he can't go to the drag race tonight? First off, you have no authority over what Soda does. What in the hell is wrong with you though? Telling him you don't want to see him? What could Soda have done about Sandy that could piss you off this much? Yes, Soda has lounged about her for a long time now, but that doesn't give you the right to do this to the poor guy."

"I said don't start with me Two-Bit! You don't know what's going on so butt out!"

"We are all friends Steve, this is my business. And it will especially be Darry's business when he finds out."

"Friends fight Two-Bit! It happens! Now get out of here before I give you a shiner too!"

"You wouldn't, you know I'd fight back. Soda wouldn't because he's your friend, he told me the whole temper excuse so that he wouldn't have to fight you," Two-Bit said.

"Get out of here!" Steve barked. Two-Bit didn't want to cause more trouble, so he strolled out of the garage and headed back to the Curtis household. Once he arrived, he found Pony and Johnny on the couch talking.

"Soda here?"

"Yeah," Pony replied, "He's really upset though."

"I know, Steve hit him. Then he yelled at him."

"What happened between them?" Ponyboy asked.

"I don't know exactly. This wasn't some stupid piss off thing though, I can tell. I'm going to talk to Soda," Two-Bit said heading up the stairs. As he walked into the boy's bedroom, he found Soda throwing things into a bag. "Soda, what are you doing?"

Soda wiped tears from his eyes quickly, "I can't stay here, Two-Bit, I just can't." Two-Bit shut the bedroom door. He walked over and took the bag away from Soda's reach. "Two-Bit!"

"Soda, stop it."

"Put it down!"

"No."

"Two-Bit! Please!"

"Soda, I'm not letting you do anything stupid," Two-Bit said throwing the bag on the floor, "Now sit down." Soda slumped onto his bed. "Now what is going on? What is happening between you and Steve that is causing you to want to runaway?"

Soda stayed silent.

"Soda…this is ridiculous. Do you see what you are doing?"

"I have to."

"You don't have to do anything. Now listen to me, we are going to the drag race tonight. We are going to talk to Steve together."

"No. He doesn't…"

"Shut it Soda! I don't care if Steve doesn't get what he wants. He can deal with it. Now we are going and I'm staying here until then to make sure you don't do anything stupid."