A/N: Alright readers, hope you enjoy this chapter! Soda took me a completely different direction then I was planning to type.

The next night Soda was suppose to go out with Dalton again. He felt scared though. Last time he had a gun pushed into him, and it would've taken one movement for it to go off. In addition to that, as hard as he had tried to keep sneaking out a secret, it apparently didn't matter since Darry was still suspecting something was going on anyway. Since he was too scared to just not show up at the lot, Soda began walking down the street. Guilt was weighing on him, because he just knew Darry knew he was out right now. Soda wanted to just go to Darry for comfort, tell him what happened to him, and just apologize. Then he wanted to forget about it all, and move on. Unfortunately, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.

Then there was Steve. Soda would easily fix things with Steve to avoid anymore of that suspicion, but that was becoming more difficult than he thought it would. Soda was beginning to feel like he was putting himself in a more complicating situation, and he didn't know how to get himself out. He could try quitting with Dalton, but would he let Soda get off so easily? Would he threaten Soda to keep quiet about everything and never reveal what they were doing? There was no way Darry or Steve would just let him keep quiet about everything, especially if Soda brought up the gun incident or Dalton wanting the pills.

The nights Soda would sneak out to meet Dalton at the lot, he would purposefully avoid Steve's house. Not that he was worried Steve would be up that late just looking out, but it hurt a little to walk by Steve's house. After the first couple of times of feeling that hurt, Soda just decided he'd take a longer route to the lot. That night though, Soda found his feet going for Steve's house. It was like his mind knew what needed to be done. Everything Darry had been saying to Soda was replaying in his head. He didn't want to keep being mad. The moment at Gary's house was replaying in Soda's head too. He didn't want to keep being scared.

Deep down, Soda knew the only way to get his friendship back was admitting he was working with Dalton and end it. Soda was starting to think he wasn't that great of a liar anyway. Everyone obviously knew he was hanging out with Dalton, they just didn't know what he was exactly doing with him, or that money was still involved. Or they at least didn't have the proof of that. Soda didn't care anymore though. As he got closer to Steve's house, he knew he wanted out. Things were getting too dangerous for Soda. He couldn't go on with this, no matter how good the money was.

The most important reason Soda had for wanting to leave was Dalton asking for Pony's pills. He couldn't do that to his little brother. He didn't know if he could just simply say 'no' to Dalton though. Would Dalton pull a gun on him for refusing to supply? Maybe the gang would help him with that one.

No matter what, Soda knew he wanted his life back. He wanted his best friend back.

Approaching the driveway, Soda noticed Steve's car was back. "Him and Two-Bit must have fixed it up," Soda said to himself. Quietly, he walked up the driveway to take a closer look. Sure enough the car looked as it had before and there was a new tire on. Soda then looked up towards Steve's bedroom window. Part of him hoped Steve would be awake and looking down, but nothing happened. Soda looked back down at the new tire. Part of him just wanted to run back home before Dalton came looking around. Another part was telling him to talk to Steve right then and there, even though it was the middle of the night.

Soda walked over to be below Steve's window. He picked up a few small rocks and threw them at the window.

"Just like middle school," Soda smirked. He kept throwing any rocks he could find until he saw a faint light come through the shades. "Come on, get up," Soda muttered. Soda hadn't realized how much he needed Steve right now until he started throwing the rocks. Now he wasn't sure if he'd be able to leave with nothing. The shades began moving and Steve looked out the window. Soda hoped he'd come down and not just ignore him. The shades closed, but the light stayed on.

After a few minutes, the front door slowly opened and Steve walked out. "Soda?"

"Yeah," Soda said going up the front porch.

Steve closed the door behind him, "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Soda took a deep breath, "I don't know. I couldn't sleep. I just...I had to talk to you." Steve nodded, but didn't respond. Soda looked down at Steve's arm that was still wrapped. His stomach turned at the sight, wanting to kick himself for not being there for Steve through it. "I see your car is fixed up. Did Two-Bit help you?"

"Yeah, he did."

"That must have been," Soda paused, "Interesting."

Steve smirked, "You could say that."

Soda opened his mouth, closed it, and reopened it to continue, "Okay, I want to know if you actually found anything."

"Do you?" Steve asked.

"Just tell me, Steve."

"Yes Soda, my tire was messed with," Steve blurted, "It didn't just run over shit on the track. Someone stuck it good with a blade right before I drove it, and then it just popped, bad."

Soda gulped. He knew there was ways to tell when a car tire had an accidental run in with some sharp object, or when someone intentionally poked a hole or slashed it or anything lie that. He knew he couldn't deny that.

Steve rolled his eyes at Soda's lack of response, "Put two and two together Soda. From what I've been telling you." He began to turn to go back inside, but Soda couldn't leave at just that.

"Steve wait."

"What Soda?" Steve asked as he looked at Soda with frustration.

Soda swallowed. He thought back to what he was thinking about before. Steve wanted him to admit he was still hanging out with Dalton. He just wanted Soda to stop hanging around Dalton and to realize what they were all telling him about Dalton and his gang. "You were right."

Steve's eyebrows furrowed, "Right about what?"

"Dalton. He was trying to get me into some other shit," Soda went on.

"And you still hung out with him?" Steve added in. Soda nodded. "Are you going to stop?"

"After hanging around him, I realize the trouble I'm getting into. Well, the trouble I've already gotten into," Soda said, "I'm going to stop. I have to stop." Soda paused as he watched Steve's expression. It didn't change much, so he was unsure what Steve was thinking. "I just want the gang back. I want us back."

Steve sighed, "I miss you too, man."

Soda walked up to Steve and pulled him in a hug, "I have to stop Steve. This shit ain't worth it."

After a small embrace, Steve broke up the hug, "Do you want to come inside?"

"Yeah I do," Soda nodded.

The boys quietly walked inside and made their way into Steve's kitchen, "Just keep it down, my dad's asleep. Want a drink?"

"I think I should have a beer actually," Soda answered, "To be able to get through telling you everything."

"You and me both," Steve grabbed two beers from the fridge, "Want to go out the back?" Soda nodded. They both walked out the backdoor and sat on the back porch. They were silent for a moment. That was okay with Soda as he wanted to take it in. Him sitting with his best friend. He was feeling the nerves of not showing up at the lot, but he felt somewhat protected being with Steve. As Soda glanced over, he caught a glimpse of Steve's cast again.

"Steve, I'm sorry I haven't been here to help with your arm," Soda finally said.

Steve shrugged, "It's no big deal."

"When is it going to be better?"

"I might be able to get the cast off sooner than expected. It would need to be wrapped some more, but I'll have more movement with it," Steve explained.

"That's good to hear," Soda said as he took a sip of his beer.

There was another short silence before Steve spoke up, "Do you want to tell me what was going on?"

Soda sighed, "A lot. Too much."

"What was Dalton having you do for money?" Steve asked. Soda knew he shouldn't have underestimated Steve to know money would still be involved.

"Well, it was basically called delivering people medications their doctors wouldn't give them anymore," Soda began, "But, it's really drug dealing. I figured that out."

"Are you serious?" Steve asked in shock. Soda nodded. "I was trying to figure out what you may have been up to, but I didn't think it would have been that bad. Damn Soda, that is some serious shit."

"I learned that," Soda looked down, "I could have been killed, Steve."

"No shit."

"No, not generally could have been killed over drug dealing. I really came close."

"What happened?"

"Some guy got pissed off and," Soda paused and took a hard swallow, "He, uh, pulled a gun on me."

"God da...shit Soda," Steve shook his head struggling to find words. Soda looked over and saw Steve just stare across the yard. He couldn't figure out what was going through his mind. Steve's expression was just blank.

"Are you okay?" Soda asked.

Steve looked down and tossed his beer can into the yard. "Soda, I'm glad you came here tonight instead of with him. I really can't lose you."

Soda slightly smiled, "I'm glad I came here too."

"What did Dalton do about it?" Steve asked, clearly a little shaken at the picture in his head of Soda being at gunpoint.

Soda felt his stomach flip. He took a soothing breath of fresh air to keep himself calm. "Um, he had one of his friends go take care of it."

Steve thought for a moment, "If you don't want to tell me specifically, that's okay. I can paint a picture."

Soda nodded, "I don't know if I can even say it out loud."

"You know you should talk to Darry about this too."

"I know," Soda ran a hand down his face, "I don't know how. He'll be so pissed at me. And if I tell him about the gun and shit...I don't know what will go down."

"I'll talk to him with you if you want," Steve suggested.

Soda slowly nodded, "That would help. Actually, there is one more thing and it's probably the most important part I should tell Darry."

"What is it?"

"Dalton asked me for Pony's pills."

"Ponyboy's pills? Why?"

"To give them to another person," Soda answered, "He wanted me to see if Pony would be just fine without anymore pills and take them for someone else."

"Oh my God, Soda," Steve placed his free hand over his face, "What did you say to him?"

Soda shook his head, "Nothing. I just didn't show up tonight."

"You can't put Ponyboy's health in jeopardy like that."

"I know, I know. I just didn't go tonight, because I feel like if I tell him no, he could do something bad to me," Soda said, "I'm actually kind of scared I didn't show up. I don't know what he'll do."

Steve looked up and shook his head, "Don't worry about it. If he's smart, he'll just let it go."

Soda nodded, "I hope so. I am feeling exhausted now though. I should just go home and go to bed. Can you come by tomorrow?"

Steve smiled, "Of course."

The boys walked through the house and out the front door. Soda turned to Steve, "I'm sorry about everything, Steve. I just want to put this all behind us though."

"Sure," Steve smiled, "I'd be happy to."

The next morning, Soda was being shaken awake. He blinked his eyes open and saw Darry above him. "Soda, wake up. I need you to get up now," Darry was saying in a low voice.

"Okay, okay," Soda said sitting himself up. He looked over and saw Pony fast asleep next to him. "What's going on, Darry? What's wrong?"

"Come downstairs."