Blowin' Smoke

Candymouse22: He's returning right here in this chapter, don't worry. Thank you so much for your review! :)

Amanda (Guest): Thank you so much! I'm glad you feel that way. And I wanted to show another side there for Darry. :)

Guest: I'm glad you enjoyed! Thank you for your review.

Unknown (Guest): Thank you for taking the time to review. I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying that part. Darry and Ponyboy sometimes need a good bonding time.

CHAPTER 14

Sodapop's POV (Mid April)

Steve had been in a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, for two weeks when he was finally able to come home. Darry, Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and I all waited for him to come home at the bus station in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa. The waiting was killing me, and it seemed like the bus was taking hours, when in reality only a few minutes had passed.

My mind wandered out of sheer boredom, back to the last time we were at a bus station, only then we had been seeing Steve off instead of taking him home.

The car ride to the bus station had been a stressed silence. Everyone was too upset to say anything of substance. I felt close to tears, and had a lump sitting uncomfortably in my throat.

"We're gonna miss you, man," Darry had said once we were outside the bus station. A robotic lady came over the intercom, announcing that Steve's bus left for basic training in five minutes. The words, seemingly so final, sat anxiously in the pit of my stomach.

"Be safe, man," were the only words I could muster, and they came out shakily. Instead of responding, Steve engulfed me in a hug, saying more than what words I could form given the circumstances.

"I'm coming back, Sodapop."

Two-Bit held his arms out for a hug, grinning. "Let's get the sissy moments over with, you pansy," he teased. Steve punched him gently in the arm, letting out a small, chocked laugh.

Ponyboy, who previously had been hanging back, stepped forward when Steve reached out to give him a hug. I was surprised he was the one to initiate a goodbye of any sort to my brother.

"Take care," I heard him whisper. "Come back for my brother."

"I'm coming back for all of you," was Steve's response.

Now, we stood waiting for Steve to return to Tulsa, the day we had all been waiting for since he got the draft letter. The day Steve was safe and back with us.

The sound of the oncoming bus broke through the noises of the crowd; the sound of people laughing, talking, and the occasional screaming child. I could hear the motor chugging in the distance before it approached, signaling its arrival with a the squeal of its breaks.

The doors opened, releasing swarms of people that had previously been swallowed by the humongous bus. Frantically, my eyes scanned the crowds for Steve. I didn't see him at first, but the familiarity of a strange's face eventually held my attention.

This stranger was Steve, but he was essentially a stranger, a man I had seen in months. Deep down, I knew inside it was Steve, but it didn't look like him. He looked sick, hunched over just slightly and grabbing his stomach with one hand, and had his hair buzzed short. His face was hard and looked like he was in pain, but he had on a smile. He had always been fit, but he's newfound muscles were clearly defined by his uniform even though he was thinner than before he left.

I found myself closing the few feet of space between us in a run. I grabbed on to him as if my life depended on it, and I was surprised at the strength of the grip I received back.

"I missed you, man." I heard him laughing in my ear.

"Bawl baby," he teased, grinning.

"Don't I know it," I responded as Darry, Two-Bit, and Ponyboy came up behind me to see Steve. He gave Darry a hug first before Two-Bit, and then finally he gave Ponyboy a hug.

"You grew, kid," Steve commented, making Ponyboy grin.

"Big enough to fight you yet?" Pony sassed.

"Nope!" Steve laughed before changing the subject. "You guys ready to go?"

"Yeah. I'm hungry," Two-Bit complained.

"Of course you are, Two-Bit," Steve said. "I kind of am too."

We started walking towards our vehicle as we continued to talk about food.

"We'll stop and get something. You pick, Steve," Darry decided after a minute.

"I would kill for some Dairy Queen."

"Dairy Queen it is, then."

I couldn't stop smiling. Steve was back. He was sore obviously from his injury, and his hair looked pretty ugly short, (I would have to tease him about that later) but he was safe and I couldn't be happier.

OoOoOoO

Steve ate like he hadn't seen food in months. Which, to be perfectly honest, was probably the truth because you couldn't call army food actual food.

By the time we returned back Steve the vehicle he looked exhausted, but happy.

On our way back to our house, we dropped Two-Bit off at his house. He said he was staying the night at his house because it was his little sister's thirteen birthday the next day and he wanted to be there.

Since Steve was eighteen now, the plan was decided that he was going to live with us until he could find an apartment to rent in Tulsa. I was real glad; I wasn't sure if I could let him out of my site just yet. It hadn't sunk in yet that this whole thing was actually happening. I had to keep telling myself that this wasn't a dream.

By time we pulled into our driveway, Steve was close to dosing off. All he did after Darry shut off the engine was walk inside, say goodnight to us, and then trudge back to my old room. I couldn't help but laugh.

A few hours later, I went to bed worry free, finally knowing that my buddy was safe.

Stay Gold,

- Alee XxX