Hi! So, I hope that you all had happy holidays! Um…la di da. Sorry, I really don't know what to say. Homework has still been a bother. (Yes, even over break). And…I'm watching Star Trek right now. Its been interesting. Though, I've been more busy writing this than following the plot. But I must say that I think (so far) that I like Kirk more than Spock. Anywhoo….

I hope that you like this chapter. And the game (which you just lost. Kudos to those who know what I'm talking about) that they play. It may (or may not) take a while for the next update, because I have to decide something involving characters.

VITAL: please re-read the first chapter. I apologize, but I needed to change something to its opposite regarding one of the characters. Thank you.

Enjoy!

Wait, one more thing. Sorry if I Spy wasn't around in the 60s. I have no clue, and am too lazy to check. So...please don't let that ruin my story for you! XD

Now you can enjoy!

"How long have you been drivin', Darry?" Steve asked.

"About…oh, seven hours. Maybe." Darry replied, shrugging.

"I can drive, Dar," I offered.

"Nah, it's okay. I'm fine," Darry answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Alright," I said skeptically.

A while passed in silence. I don't know exactly how long it lasted, I wasn't watching the clock.

"Anyone wanna play a game?" Steve offered. I managed a small smile.

"What game do you have in mind?" Darry asked, with a note of amusement in his voice.

"I don't know. I Spy?"

"I'm in." I answered. "Who goes first?"

"How 'bout Superman?"Steve suggested.

"No." Darry answered shortly.

"Okay. I'll go." Steve said. "I Spy with my little eye something…..blue."

"The sky." I guessed.

"Nope….it's dark blue…and shiny…."

"the…wrapper that is behind my seat," I guess again, without turning around.

"Yep." Steve answered, grinning.

"Okay. My turn. I spy with my little eye something…..brown," I stated.

"The…dirt!"

"Nup. It's tall…."

"That stick!"

"A stick ain't tall Steve,"

"Fine. A tree?"

"Yeah."

"Let me try one." Darry said. "I spy with my little eye something….stupid."

"The taco stand we just passed?" I guessed. Darry shook his head.

"It has two parts…"

"the bagel that was on the ground!" Steve suggested.

"No."

"The coffee cup!"

"Soda, how does the coffee cup have two parts?" Steve asked, laughing.

"Well, there's the coffee and the cup. That's two."

"How is it stupid?"

"Yeah. I happen to like coffee," Darry replied.

"Fine. Um…. I give up,"

"Me too."

"This game." Darry answered.

I smiled and Steve started cracking up.

"My turn." Steve announced. "I Spy with my little eye something….green,"

"Why do we always start with a color?" I argued.

"I didn't." Darry noted.

"Fine. Something small. And green." Steve answered with a grin.

"Grass?"

"Uh…no-yeah." Steve replied, slumping in his seat with a look of defeat.

"I Spy with my little eye something….black."

"Darry's shirt."

The game continued like this for hours.

"We're running out of things to do this with, Steve," I announced.

"Fine. We'll stop. You win. For now,"

Half an hour later, I heard soft snoring coming from the back and looked at the time. 12:00AM. It was midnight. I noticed Darry stifle a yawn.

"You sure you're okay to drive, Dar? You look awful tired."

"Yeah. I'll be fine," Darry responded.

"Wake me up if you want me to drive," I said slowly, shifting in my seat to a better position.

"Alright, little buddy," he said. I nodded and closed my eyes.

V^V^V^V^V^V^V

"DARRY!"

a scream

the squeal of a tire

a few choice words

a sickening crunch

silence

V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V

"Soda? SODA!" I heard Darry shouting frantically. I opened my mouth and closed it again. For some reason, nothing was coming out. It was a few moments before I could finally say anything.

"I'm fine Darry." I announced. I paused for a second. Was I? Nothing hurt. I could think. I wasn't dead. I moved my legs. I ain't stuck. I tried to open the door. It opened. I climbed out.

"Soda!" Darry shouted again when he saw me. He ran up to me and immediately started turning my head from one side to the other, inspecting any damage. "Are you okay? Anything hurt? Should I get a paramedic? "

"I'm fine, Darry." I repeated. "What happened?"

"Car crash," he answered, quietly.

"Where's Steve?" I asked, it suddenly dawning on me that I hadn't heard or seen him.

"He's over there," Darry said, motioning to the other side of the truck. The truck. I turned to the scene of the crash. It surprisingly wasn't bad. The truck was fine, just a big dent on the front bumper. The other car had its trunk open and slightly smashed. No one was hurt.

In fact, everyone was out of their vehicle, mostly arguing. Steve was busy shouting at another guy.

"OUR FAULT MY AUNT BETTY!"

"Steve?" I asked, walking up to him. The guy he was arguing with shot me a look that made me almost back up. Steve turned and looked at me.

"Soda!" he shouted.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"What happened?"

"I'm not really sure—,"

"I fell asleep at the wheel," a voice said. I turned around to meet Darry. "I'm so sorry guys. Its all my fault." His eyes were misty, and he couldn't seem to keep my gaze for more than half a second before looking away.

"Hey, I'm alive. You're alive. Steve is alive. The truck ain't totaled. No worries." I said, slinging an arm over my older brother. He looked at me, incredulous.

We got checked out pretty quickly. Darry took the blame, and any verbal battering the driver of the other car had to throw at him. The family that was in the car didn't press charges or ask anything of us, so they left us in peace after about two hours. After Darry had assured the officers that we were all okay, and that he would never do that again (not like he meant to in the first place) they drove off after giving us a ticket.

"So, what now?" I asked to the open.

"Maybe we should stop for the night."

Darry and I agreed.

V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V

Never forget that Ponyboy's life is in my fickle hands.