The sound of the Socs' voices rang throughout his mind as Sodapop walked along the deserted streets with Two-Bit. Beside him, Soda could faintly hear Two-Bit muttering words under his breath; some of the words were created and only he could understand them, yet Sodapop understood that Two-Bit was beyond furious with the events of the night. He honestly, though, couldn't blame him.
As this thought passed through his mind, Soda glanced in the direction of his friend, catching sight of the swollen eye and the blood that trickled along the side of his face. It was obvious the rings that rested on Bob's fingers had cut Two-Bit up real good and the cut to his eye would form into a small scar. Sighing in disgust, Soda turned to look ahead of him, catching sight of his house in the distance.
His eyes glazed over as he returned to the memories of the evening. Then suddenly, a wave of anger radiated throughout his body as his mind fell onto his brother and Johnny. They had both been present when the fight began but they didn't bother to help him. Why was that? Soda had always rushed to help them no matter what and yet Ponyboy had turned his back on him?
As this realization began to course through his mind, he pulled open the screen door and entered into the house. The living room, which seemed to be a safe haven for the gang, was crowded and the chattering voices seemed to fade away as Two-Bit entered behind him. He had a feeling he didn't look all that great, mostly after the fight he had endured on his own, but he didn't think he had gotten beaten that badly.
Before he could say anything, though, Darry was on his feet and in front of him, observing the bruises to his face."What happened to you?" he questioned roughly, as Soda gingerly moved his hand over his bruising cheek.
"Nothin', Darry. I'm fine."
"What happened?" Darry repeated, his gaze having turned toward Two-Bit who had fallen carefully back into the armchair.
"We ran into a wall. Whatcha think happened?" Two-Bit's voice came as he rested his head back against the chair. "That big time Soc that's always hanging out with Cherry came along and got a bit outta control. So we got into a fight."
"Why?"
"What ya mean why?" Soda replied, his attention turning back toward the conversation. "He got mad cause we was sittin' with Cherry and her cousin I guess."
Darry's eyebrows rose slowly as he looked at his younger brother for a few moments before glancing back toward Two-Bit. He was tempted to question their intentions in picking up two Socs, however, he didn't have time. At that moment Ponyboy entered the living room from his room and Soda's eyes flashed toward him dangerously.
The two brothers looked at each other for a few moments, neither saying a word. However, the glares they were giving each other made it evident to the other gang members that something had happened.
"What's goin' on?" Darry questioned, his voice breaking the two brothers from their thoughts. Turning their attention toward their eldest brother, Soda and Ponyboy merely shrugged before turning their gaze onto each other once more.
"Nothin', Darry…" Soda replied calmly, his eyes blazing with anger. "Nothings goin' on at all…"
"Yeah…" Ponyboy replied quietly before he slipped into the jacket he had taken from his room. "I'm goin' out, Darry. I'll be back later…" he stated, almost indifferently as he quickly hurried from the room, making certain to put a good distance between himself and Sodapop.
As the door slammed shut behind him, Soda remained motionless a few minutes as he glanced toward Two-Bit who had become engaged in a conversation with Dallas and Johnny. Deciding that he couldn't stand the thoughts of betrayal that were cascading through his mind any longer, though, Soda turned on his heel and headed out the door.
Catching sight of his brother a few yards away, he ran to catch up and as soon as he could he caught hold of Ponyboy's shirt.
"What kinda trick you tryin' to pull, Pony?" he questioned, attempting to keep the anger from his voice. "What kinda crap was that?"
"What?"
"You know what!" Soda replied as he moved in front of his brother, preventing him from walking any further. "What's the big idea just walkin' away like that?"
"Darry says…"
"You care what Darry says now!?" Soda questioned. "Since when do you walk away from a fight?"
"Since you…" Pony began. However, he stopped, his voice failing him for the moment.
Shaking his head slowly, Ponyboy turned his eyes away from his brother and looked toward the ground, attempting to control his thoughts. There was a part of him that wanted to lash out at Sodapop for picking up the Soc, but there was another part of him that believed Soda had no idea what he was doing. "Why were you with the Soc anyways?" Ponyboy questioned, his eyes turning to look toward his brother as he attempted to lower the hostility in the conversation. "You always say to not get mixed in with them, so why this time?"
Soda sighed slightly, his eyes having turned toward the dark night as he listened to his brother's question. He couldn't explain why he had done what he did. He couldn't voice his thoughts about the Soc, mostly not to Ponyboy. "I don't know…"
"You don't know?" Ponyboy questioned, his eyes flashing slightly. He had a feeling his brother did know and yet was holding back on his thoughts. "You know damn well, Sodapop!"
Soda's eyes flashed dangerously as his brother's voice took on a dangerous tone. He was, at that moment, uncertain as to whom the fourteen-year-old in front of him was. It was as if Ponyboy was no longer himself. Deciding he wasn't going to attempt to converse with his brother anymore that evening, Soda merely shook his head before turning his back toward his brother.
"You know, Pony, if it had been you, I would've jumped in there to help you…" Soda stated coolly, his eyes staring at the house that rested not too far from them. As his words caught Ponyboy's attention, Pony realized there was little to say in response. However, Soda didn't give him time to think of anything either for as the words disappeared into the silence, Pony could hear his brother's footsteps walking away as he returned to the house.
As his brother's footsteps became quieter and quieter, Ponyboy let a small sigh escape from his own lips. All his life he had been there for Sodapop and Sodapop for him. Now, however, everything was changing and for some reason he felt like he was losing the only person that ever really understood him.
Cindy rested on her bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling above her. Her thoughts were on the events of the evening, just like she knew they'd be. She was unable to stop thinking about the angry look in Bob's eyes and the cold one in Cherry's. She couldn't forget the sound of the Greasers' voices as they defended her and her cousin.
As the thoughts drifted once more through her mind, they seemed almost surreal now. She couldn't help but think, though, that maybe something was meant by the actions the Greasers' displayed. For some reason, she simply couldn't say that they were just being nice because no matter how nice someone wanted to be, they'd never fight for someone to stay and watch a movie.
Sighing softly as her thoughts turned more into daydreams than anything else, Cindy was unaware of the fact that her door had opened and her cousin stood in the doorway. However, Cherry remained quiet as she watched her cousin slip deeper into her thoughts.
Part of her wanted to shake Cindy from the thoughts she was enjoying yet Cherry couldn't bring herself to do that. She knew that Cindy was far better off in her daydreams than in the reality that was unfolding. After all, her cousin would never be able to understand the turmoil that was going to come from the night's events.
Deciding to spare her cousin the thoughts, Cherry quietly backed out of the door and shut it silently behind her. As she returned to her room, she let a small frown appear on her face. She was going to have to face this thing no matter what, the question was, though, would she involve her cousin and if she did, what would happen?
