Update time! Spring break has ended...Field Hockey has started...now I am very busy. Sigh. If only I could write all day.

Thank you all so much for your reviews. They make my day, FYI ;)

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Soda POV

"Soda. It's for you."

Suddenly broken out of my daze I spring to my feet, ripping the phone from Darry's hands as he holds it out to me. I had been so lost in my world of what if's that I had forgotten that Ponyboy was going to call. Suddenly I'm nervous and excited to talk to my brother.

Two-Bit sees me gripping the phone like my life depends on it and smirks at my urgency. "Hot date?"

"Nope," I say quickly and bring the receiver to my ear. Not a girl for once, but an imperative phone call all the same. Seeing that I'm not going to offer any more information Two-Bit and Darry exchange looks but have the decency to let me be.

"Hello?" My heart picks up when I hear that it's Pony. "Soda?"

"Yeah it's me," I sigh, sinking up against the wall. It comforts me just to hear my little brother's voice. Only he's not so little anymore. "In the flesh. Actually not really."

"Oh thank God." He breaths. "Beatrice told me you called when I was gone. She said you asked her to tell me to call you back."

"Yeah, I did."

"Well...is everything ok?"

I hesitate, looking around afraid someone might be listening in. Darry is sitting at the kitchen table with a crossword puzzle in front of him and Two-Bit is standing over him, talking fervently about everything from broads to beer but I can tell Darry is only half listening. I"m safe.

I tighten my grip on the phone and pull it closer to my ear. "No." I say bluntly

"Shit. I knew this would happen." Ponyboy almost sounds scared. He thinks he's worried about me?

"Wait. Soda. You aren't planning on entering any drag races anytime soon...are you?"

I had been about to launch into my argument with Steve but Pony's random question catches me off guard. At Least I know he's still his scatterbrained self, even in Miami. "What?"

"Well, are you?"

I laugh to myself. Maybe he's not used to the bright lights in Miami and they're doing something funny to his brain. Or maybe...no. I can't think about that possibility. I'll drive myself nuts. "Not me. Steve? Maybe." My chest hurts as I mention Steve.

I hear Ponyboy swear silently under his breath. "Well tell him not to."

"Why?"

"Just tell him." he says firmly.

"Alright…" I say. Though I don't really see that happening in the near future if things stay the way they are.

Ponyboy is silent. I can't seem to break the awkwardness between us. I frown, that awkwardness is never there. "Listen Pony...I really need to-"

Somewhere in the background of the phone call I hear someone yell to my brother. "Coming!" he shouts back. He must've held the phone away from his ear because his voice sounds muffled. I guess he hadn't wanted me to hear. The pain in my chest grows.

Then he says back to me "I got to go Soda. Dinner."

No. No. No. I had waited all day for this phone call. "Ponyboy-"

"Soda I really have to-"

Someone rips the phone from my brother's hand. I cringe at the noise of yelling and static as Ponyboy fumbles around to get it back again.

Breathless, he speaks again. "I'm sorry. I guess...I mean...I'll call you back tomorrow."

The he hangs up. Not even a goodbye.

Fuming, I look at the dead reciever in my hand regretfully. This is not the brother I know. My brother should be on the couch right now, lost to the world in some book. He does not belong in Miami with that bunch of jackasses.

How could I let this happen?

Angrily I slam the phone back onto the wall. Darry jerks up and looks to me, obviously alarmed at my temper. "What's wrong?"

I don't even answer. Just grunt. Defeated by my little brother I retreat my bedroom, slamming the door behind me, and sink onto the bed wondering where it all went wrong.

Ponyboy POV

"Welcome to the zoo."

"Hey Smith, this place reminds me of your house."

"Shut up Clarke."

I tune out Smith and Clarke's inane bickering. The place is a zoo if I've ever seen one. People are everywhere...all kinds of people. Screaming babies, little kids, old people...decrepit geezers as Two-Bit would call them. I get a flash of guilt remembering home.

Lowell tugs at my sleeve, catching me off guard and scaring me. Seeing my face he smirks "Curtis. Look. Gorillas."

I crane to get a look around his shoulder. Sure enough, there are the gorillas. I wink at Lowell. "Yup. You told me."

"I say we go."

"Yeah," tunes in Smith, coming up behind me. "We could sure get some action in with the gorillas."

I glare at him, but I think my smile gives me away.

As we walk, Clarke comes up next to me and sticks his mouth next to my ear. "Shit. You wanna know somethin?"

I turn on him. "What?"

"I forgot to brush my teeth this morning" he says, grinning widely at me.

I should have known. This is Clarke out after all. I jerk away from him and pull the package of NECCO Wafers Two-Bit had given me from my back pocket. I knew that they'd come in handy. Mentally I thank Two-Bit.

"Here. Make your breath nice and fresh for kissing ass." I grill, throwing the candy at him. Somewhere I hear Lowell guffaw loudly. Clarke accepts it without losing his smooth façade and pops one into his mouth.

"What would we do without you Curtis?"

"You'd be dead."

"And that's why you're here."

I don't have time to reply before another round of yelling erupts. "Watch this," Smith calls to me, running up from behind. I just manage to skirt out of the way as he comes sprinting in, taking Clarke by surprise by jumping onto his shoulders. He winks at me. "Free transportation. Ain't gonna turn it down."

Clarke swears and dumps Smith back onto the pavement. People start to stare. I guess Smith had gotten what he wanted; attention.

I roll my eyes, but grin. Darry's wrong. There are worse people to hang out with.

...

I did have a dream/nightmare scene to tack onto this, but it just didn't fit right. Haha, guess you'll have to wait till next chapter.

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