Steve was the observer happen this time. It happened to Soda. It got to a point where Steve couldn't take it anymore he went behind the building and threw up. When he came back to the crack in the door way where he was watching it was over. With a tear in his eye he went to the front of the building. Soda was already running home. Darry was gone today. Ponyboy will be with Soda all day...


Soda ran in the door and Ponyboy ran in the opposite direction up the stairs. Soda made chase and grabbed Pony's foot at the top of the stairs making him trip. Soda pulled for Pony to come down but Pony kicked Soda in the nose giving him freedom and he made his way to his bedroom. After locking the door he retreated to the bed.

"OPEN UP, PONYBOY!" Soda yelled in fury. He slammed against the door. Ponyboy thought he was just banging on it with his fist but when he burst through the door with his shoulder Soda fell to the floor. Soda charged at Pony but Pony tried to escape the room. Soda grabbed his ankle making him trip.

Soda got on top of Pony and punched at his face. Getting blood on his face. Pony saw the blood drip down Soda's nose in between the punches. It seemed that Soda was hitting Ponyboy in slow motion to prolong the agony. Soda pulled Pony into a sitting position. "Fight me, Ponyboy." Pony looked at Soda in awe. Soda really did hate Pony, enough to make them get in a fist fight.

"Fight me, Ponyboy." He said shaking him back and forth. Pony had it. "Fight me, Pony! Fight me, Pony! Fi-" Before Soda could finish Ponyboy hit him in the nose hard. Soda fell on his back and Pony got on top of him. He brought up a fist but was stopped by Soda. Soda switched positions getting him on top. Soda was ruthless. He wouldn't stop. Punching, elbowing. He put his knee on top of Pony's chest and leaned. He didn't stop until Ponyboy began to scream. Pony was bleeding all over his face.

"Soda..." Pony muttered in between a hit. "Why do you hate me...?" Sodapop stopped and froze. He got up and ran away. Pony looked out the door to see where he ran, but he couldn't see anything he passed out.

Ponyboy was awakened by "Jesus Christ, kid!". He opened his eyes slightly.

"Steve...?" Pony called.

"W-W-What is it, kid?" he asked with distress in his voice.

"Is Soda still here?" he muttered.

"Y-Yea he's downstairs watching T.V. Here, let's get to the bathroom and clean you up." he said carrying Ponyboy to the bathroom.

"Is he upset at me?" Pony asked.

"No... He doesn't know you're here." Steve said distressed.

"Oh..."

"Was it him?" Steve asked putting alcohol on a cotton ball which he used to dab at Pony's cuts. "Just like you said yesterday?" Ponyboy slightly nodded. "Shit. Listen, kid, I've got something to tell ya..." Steve told Ponyboy what happened at work that day.

"Oh my god..." Ponyboy muttered with a tear escaping his eye.

"Shh." he shushed. When Steve had finished bandaging up Ponyboy he put the first aid kit away.

"That explains everything," Pony muttered. "The beatings..."

"The memory loss..."

"He's blacking it out subconsciously..."

"We need to tell him." Steve suggested.

"Agreed." Pony said. They left the bathroom and went into the living room where Soda was watching T.V. Soda looked at them both when they came downstairs.

"Oh my god! Pony!" he said jumping from his seat to examine Pony's cuts. "Are you alright?" He asked worried.

"Listen, Soda. There's something we need to tell you." Steve said. "Sit down and listen." he demanded. Soda sat down in the middle of the couch and Steve and Pony sat on either side of him. Ponyboy offered Soda his hand which Soda took sincerely smiling at him. As the conversation went on, upstairs in Ponyboy and Soda's bedroom Pony's blood began to slowly dry.