Chapter 26
Disclamier I don't own the outsiders.
Thanks for the review and advice.
Okay here's it is, I'm going for a smoke enjoy.

"Hey can Sandy come over?" Soda asked looking at Darry who was making the dinner.

It had been a week since Pony had been jumped and Sandy had not been back to the house since. Soda wanted her and Darry and make peace, Pony seemed to be alright with her, Soda and Pony had a long talk one night about her and he Soda had explained everything to him. Everything was kind of getting back to normal, Evie was back with Steve and Sandy was back with Soda. It was just Darry, He didn't say anything but Soda knew he wasn't happy.

"You sure little Buddy?" Darry asked.

Soda sat at the table now and watched Darry work for a moment. He nodded slowly and turned to look out the window.

"I believe her when she said she never got the letter Darry. Something happened her in Florida but she wont talk about it."

Darry turned to his brother now and sat opposite him.

"You trust her?"

"Yeah I do. I know her Darry, Sandy could never lie to me. That baby was mine. She was protecting me, protecting us in her own way."

Darry pondered for a moment. He wasn't sure he liked it but he nodded slowly and ruffled Soda's hair.

"Okay invite her for dinner so. Maybe me and her should have a talk anyway."

Soda looked anxious at Darry's words and Darry couldn't help but smile.

"Don't worry kid I aint gonna scare her off."

Soda smiled warily and jumped up. He patted Darry's shoulders as he passed.

"Thanks I'll go get her."

"Dinner in an hour." Darry called after him.

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Sandy looked at Soda through the old cracked mirror in her room. He was sitting on her bed watching as she brushed her hair as he buttoned up his own shirt.

"Talk about what?" She asked turning around now.

Soda shrugged.

"Okay ready lets go." Sandy said. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she stood up.

Soda smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "It'll be okay." He said as they began the walk to his house. The walk was taken in silence. Sandy was so nervous she felt she would throw up.

Darry was waiting on the porch and to say he had a face like thunder was an understatement. They were twenty minutes late after all. Soda smiled slightly at Sandy as they walked up the steps. Darry didn't seem to notice them and now Soda stopped. Suddenly he turned his head to look at them

"Dinner's almost ready Make sure Pony doesn't burn it will you." He said flatly.

"Hey what's up?" He asked. "I thought you were mad cause we're late."

"Are you?"

Soda eyes narrowed with confusion. He ushered Sandy inside and told her he'd be in a minute.

"Hey Darry what's up?" He asked again looking his brother in the eye.

Darry sighed and he really looked like he was trying not to cry. Soda shook a little with fear, the last he saw him like this was when Pony ran off.

"Umm nothing."

"Darry come on tell me."

Darry looked at his brother and nodded slowly. It just then dawned on him that he wasn't the only one who had to grow up too soon. He acted all immature and that around the gang but underneath it all Soda worried just as much as Darry. He worried about bills and getting separated just as much as Darry did.

"Soda I lost my job. I just got a phone call."

Soda paled. Darry might as well have told him some died. That was the worst news he could've gotten.

"How, why. You're his best worker."

"We lost some big contract. He was depend on it. Me and some other guys had to go."

Soda sighed and then smiled slightly. "Hey you'll get another job." He said.

Darry smiled in spite himself and nodded.

"Hey you still have your other job right?"

Darry nodded. Nobody actually knew what Darry's other job was. Something he came home form his job got fed and changed and went out again. Sometimes he went straight from work. He worked on the weekends too sometimes. He never said where he worked or what he did.

"I'll see if I can get some extra hours too." Soda said brightly. "We'll get through this."

Darry sighed and smiled now. "Yeah we will. Don't tell Pony you know how he worries."

"So I guess you wont be talkin' to Sandy then."

Darry shook his head and laughed. "Nice try little buddy."

Soda shrugged and they walked inside.

Two-Bit was there of course and Soda rolled his eyes. Didn't that greaser ever go home. He was watching Ponyboy and grinning widely. Sandy sat awkwardly on the couch, her head shot up when Darry and Soda walked in. Darry nodded towards her and walked into the kitchen. Soon after wards they were called to dinner.

Pony began to clear the plates and Soda helped him while Darry and Sandy sat at the table. Darry took a deep breath and looked in her frightened blue eyes.

"Okay come on."

Sandy stood and followed him out onto the porch. The evening wind was blowing slightly and Sandy shivered more with cold then fear. If Darry didn't like her anymore there was no hope for her and Soda. Darry watched her for a moment. He could see why Soda liked her, she was a nice girl and nice Greaser girls were hard come by.

"He was really upset when you left." He said.

Sandy looked up at him, she couldn't tell if he was angry or sad or indifferent. His eyes, his face were all expressionless.

"I didn't leave I was shipped off." She said, then she lowered her eyes. That just sort of slipped out.

"When that letter came back it broke him you know… I know he says you didn't get it…"

"You don't believe him or me do you?"

"You don't know what he went through Sandy. He went to Hell and Back because of you."

Sandy still stared at her shoes and nodded slowly. "I have an Idea." She mumbled.

This made Darry really look at her. He had been avoiding looking at her, but she looked so sad as he spoke about her being away.

"So what went on Sandy. Why didn't you get the letter?"

Sandy closed her eyes slightly. She didn't want to remember it why was he pushing her.

"I just didn't, if I had I would've replied. Course I would. I knew I was breakin his heart Darry but…."

"You weren't ready? Is that it you weren't ready?"

"Either was Soda Darry, he would've married me, we're just kids."

Darry nodded.

"You had it rough in Florida then."

Sandy nodded slowly. No letters, no phone calls unless she was there, no papers. It was hell. Sandy thought. She didn't want to tell him.

"Sandy if you hurt him again don't come back." Darry said.

"I swear Darry I wont hurt him."

Darry nodded. It was the closest she'd get to his approval. She smiled now as they walked inside. They both heard Soda let out a sigh of relief and even Pony and Two-Bit smiled. She did know that Darry was keeping a close on her but she expected nothing less. After all she'd do the same.