A few days passed and things had taken an interesting turn. Steve had begun hanging out with some new friends of his. Just other greasers who also had a deep hatred for the homosexuals. When these guys found out who Steve's old friends were, they were taking chances to taunt them whenever they could. Dally was ready to jump Steve himself if he ever saw him, but Steve wasn't going out much, so Dally was just telling everyone he was being a coward. One thing that was agreed upon was there wasn't going to be a rumble, at least not yet. It was difficult when a lot of the greasers were torn. Some wanted to rumble with the Socs, because they didn't mind kicking their heads in, but it would also be supporting someone who was gay and a lot of the greasers weren't sure if they actually did.

The gang was at the Curtis house one evening trying to figure out how to handle it all. No one seemed safe, as any of them could be jumped by one of Steve's new friends. No one even knew how far Steve would take this. With his anger and grudges, it could be a long time. Soda especially knew that. He knew how long Steve could be mad at someone.

"We need to tech Steve a lesson. He can't do this to us!" Two-Bit yelled.

Darry sighed, "I know, I know. We are on our own in this. Even if we tried to report harassment to the police, they wouldn't do anything about it because of Soda..."

"He's going to hurt or threaten the rest of us somehow," Two-Bit added in. Two-Bit knew he'd be just as much of a main target as Soda if anyone knew the truth about them.

"Why are we even discussing this? Let's just go after him and his new little gang! Let's end it right now," Dally barked. He was extra mad, because there was already an incident where one of Steve's friends tried to scare Johnny. They didn't touch him, but the scaring worked.

Soda looked around at everyone. He couldn't believe how hard this had gone. It was practically greasers versus greasers. It was like a Civil War. His heart was dropping and he was remembering everything before this all happened. Back when Steve was his best friend. They did everything together. Everything. Now, they were enemies. Soda could only wonder if Steve felt any regret for everything happening. Did he miss Soda at all? Did he miss what they would do together? Did he want their friendship back? Did he miss the rest of the gang? Steve was beyond angry, but was it possible he missed Soda and didn't like what had become of them? Maybe he was too tough-guy to admit it. He wouldn't come back and admit he was wrong to the gang.

Soda couldn't take anymore thoughts and went to his room. No one tried stopping him.

Burying his face in his pillow, Soda let the tears fall. "Why did I have to become gay?" he cried to himself. From what Soda could see, the only good thing that came out of this was he never thought about Sandy anymore. The other good thing was Two-Bit, even if it was a secret. Soda turned his head, and opened the drawer next to his bed. He felt his blade, a lighter, random paper crumples, and some pictures. He pulled one out and looked at it. It was of him and Steve when they were little. They were covered in cake after tossing it at each other. There was some frosting on the back door too from them throwing it around outside. Soda couldn't even tell whose birthday it was or how old they were, a cake fight always happened at everyone's birthdays. Even now it would happen, no matter what the age. Now that he thought about it, Two-Bit's birthday was coming up. Soda had to do something for him. He had been there for him and made him feel accepted and loved.

Slowly, Soda began wiping his tears and put the picture away. He couldn't keep crying over Steve. If that part of his life was meant to be over, than it was over. There had to be a new beginning, and Soda had to be willing to smile for it.

"Hey."

Soda shut his drawer and looked behind him. Darry was in the doorway.

Sniffling, Soda replied, "Hi. Did everyone leave already?"

"No," Darry shook his head, "But um...they all want to go find Steve tomorrow night. I can't stop them of course." Soda lay his head back on the pillow, looking away. "I'm...going with."

"Okay," Soda quietly said.

"I know...Soda, I know you'd rather us not hurt Steve, but he's hurting everyone else. He's going to make it worse."

Soda nodded.

"It needs to end before he takes things way too far."

"I know," Soda said, "I'm...not upset about you guys going after him. I'm still so angry at him for what he did to Ponyboy. If Steve knew anything about it, he knew that no one touched my brothers. He knew that would hit me the hardest. He's trying to get my ugly side out on purpose. He almost did at Buck's."

"I know buddy."

"It's me he can hurt the most Darry. He knows everything about me. He has everything against me."

Darry thought about that for a minute, "Well, and you know everything about him too."

Soda looked over at Darry following his train of thought, "Yeah, I do..."

"Soda, you don't have to tell us anything..."

"No...I know we already hurt him the worst and that's why he's reacting this way. It's the same way he reacted when he was younger."

Darry looked deep in thought, trying to think what happened in Steve's childhood, "How did we hurt him?"

Seven year old Sodapop Curtis walked over to his parent's bedroom and knocked on the door. He wanted to know what was wrong with his best friend. They were playing football when Steve got mad and ran off. Soda's mom brought Steve upstairs to find out what was going on. It had been awhile, Darry warned Soda to stay downstairs, but Soda didn't listen. His mom walked out of the room and shut the door.

"Mommy, what's wrong with Steve? Why won't he come out and play?" Soda's bright eyes looked up at his mom.

Linda Curtis held Soda's little hand, led him downstairs, and set him on the couch. "Soda, something has happened at Steve's home. It's making Steve very sad and I think he's going to be sad for awhile. We need to do what we can to make him feel better."

"Mommy, he wasn't sad. He was very, very mad."

Linda smiled, "That's how he shows he's sad honey. Some people use anger as a way to deal with being sad. He might also be feeling mad with the sad."

"Oh," Soda said, still unsure how Steve could be sad without crying, "What happened at Steve's house? Did someone get hurt?"

"Well, Steve's mommy is gone. She's not at home anymore."

"Where did she go?" Soda asked. He was even more confused. He didn't know what his mom meant by gone. Where would Steve's mom go? "Did she go on vacation and Steve misses her?"

"No honey. No one knows where she is. She left, and Steve misses her very much. She may not come home again. He feels very alone. Now he may get mad from time to time, but you got to remember to not take it personally. He's going through a hard time. We just need to help him smile. You can do that, can't you?"

Soda gave his mom and a big smile.

"Oh and Soda, don't you ever worry about me leaving you or Darry or Ponyboy. I would never abandon you boys."

Soda looked up at Darry, "Abandonment."

After Soda's talk with Darry, Two-Bit decided to take him out for a drive. He wanted to make sure Soda understood what they were doing, and why. He wanted Soda to understand that they couldn't wait for Steve, or really anyone else, to do something terrible before acting on it.

They drove around in silence for about thirty minutes. Soda didn't mind it. He enjoyed being in Two-Bit's company, even if it was just a simple car ride.

"Darry told you what we were doing tomorrow night right?" Two-Bit asked.

"Yeah I know," Soda looked down at his hands.

"Are you mad about it?"

"I don't know if mad is the right word," Soda answered.

Two-Bit sighed, "Look, if you really don't want us to do it, fine. I at least won't. I'm sure Darry would respect that too, but Dally...I don't know. He might go out anyway."

Soda appreciated Two-Bit for considering his feelings about it. He also appreciated that he could be honest with Two-Bit about his thoughts.

"I...I just wish things hadn't gone this far," Soda admitted, "But I also know I'm living in fear and anxiety everyday, wondering if today is the day he's going to do something really bad to me or one of you guys. Then I also wonder if that's his game, making me worry every single day and waiting for him to do something and then he never does. Like he'll scare me out of being gay."

Two-Bit's heart sank. He didn't realize the honesty in Soda living in true fear every single day, waiting for Steve to finally strike. "I just don't want you to hate me or Dally or Darry for going to him, to send him a message of our own."

Soda looked up at Two-Bit, "I could never hate you or anyone else. It's not just the idea that it's Steve everyone is going after, it's just everything going to these desperate measures."

"I know."

The couple was silent again as Two-Bit drove on. Neither of them knew what to say about tomorrow night. What else was there to say? Soda did feel some comfort not being at home, figuring that'd be the first place for Steve to go. Two-Bit eventually drove up to his house and put his car in park.

"No one's here," Two-Bit said, "Or I can take you home."

Soda stepped out of the car and walked up to the house. Two-Bit unlocked the front door and they both stepped inside, going up to Two-Bit's room.

"So, what is the plan tomorrow?" Soda asked.

Two-Bit sat on his bed, taking his boots off, "Well, we are just going to go find Steve and his buddies. We're going to give Steve a piece of our minds. He's hurt you and Pony, he has been behind some of the threats. Hell, we don't even know if the Socs have been behind anything yet. So Steve is who we got to take care of. It'll be a big fight for sure, but we'll manage."

"Yeah," Soda put his hands in his pockets.

"And before you ask, you are staying home. Darry and me don't need to be worrying about you. Steve would forget fighting us and just go after you. You realize that right?"

"I don't want to go anyway," Soda shook his head, "I'll just stay back with Johnny and Ponyboy."

"You wouldn't be able to hit him would you?"

"Yeah I could. He's gone too far. I don't really know how I feel...towards him, but I am angry at him."

"Do you hate him?"

Soda slowly shook his head, "Do you?"

Two-Bit sighed, "Soda...he's been one of my close friends for years. I don't hate that guy. I do hate this new guy he's become."

Soda nodded as he stared at the floor. He couldn't argue with Two-Bit on that one. He almost agreed with him, but he wasn't sure if he could physically say or even think of the word hate.

"Come here," Two-Bit said. Soda walked closer and Two-Bit pulled him onto his lap. "It's going to be okay. I don't care what it takes or how long it takes, we'll take care of you. If I can help it, nothing bad will happen to you."

Soda laid his head on Two-Bit's shoulder, "Can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course. Go call Darry and just let him know, alright?"

Soda went down into the kitchen lifted the phone to call his house.

"Hello?"

"Hi Darry, it's Soda."

"Soda, where are you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm at Two-Bit's. I was just going to let you know I'm thinking of just chilling here for the night. I think I need it."

"Okay," Darry said sounding down, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Two-Bit's just been a big help, so I just want to hang with him tonight. I don't do that with Steve anymore, so I kind of need a night with just another guy."

"That's just fine little buddy. I know you'll be safe there. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks Darry. Can I talk to Pony?"

Soda waited a minute before the phone got picked up again. "Hey Soda."

"Hey Pony," Soda smiled, "I'm going to stay with Two-Bit tonight, so you'll have the bed to yourself."

Pony chuckled, "Gee thanks."

Soda smiled, "I just wanted to see how you were doing with everything."

"I'm fine Soda, really," Pony tried reassuring his older brother, "Stop worrying about me. I can handle a little hit."

"Not just that, but with everything...about me."

"Soda stop. I love you, no matter what."

"Thanks Ponyboy. I love you too," Soda smiled, "Can I say bye to Darry?"

"Sure hold on."

"Hey little buddy."

"Hey Darry, I just wanted to say good night. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Alright. I love you."

"I love you too Darry. Good night."

Soda hung up the phone and walked back upstairs.

"Do you wonder if anyone suspects anything of us?" Two-Bit asked.

"I don't think so. Why?"

"I just didn't know if you sleeping here would throw something off."

"No. I just said I wanted to hang with another guy, like I would with Steve. I'm sure Darry figured I'd want to get away from the house anyway." Soda laid back on the bed as Two-Bit climbed on top, pressing their lips together. Soda groaned as he began running his hands under Two-Bit's shirt, slowly pulling it off. Two-Bit began kissing down Soda's neck, Soda lightly scratching down Two-Bit's back.

"What do you want tonight?" Two-Bit asked.

"You," Soda managed to gasp out, but then realized what he had said.

"Really?" Two-Bit asked.

Soda just hung his mouth open, "I...I...don't know."

Two-Bit grabbed the bottom of Soda's shirt and removed it. "Let's just see where the night takes us."

Soda let out a weak smile, "You won't get mad if we don't?"

"Of course not," Two-Bit kissed Soda's lips and began kissing down his chest.

A/N: I'm so happy I got this up before the weekend! Tomorrow I'll be flying out to Tulsa for the weekend, I'll be back Sunday night. Please review! Stay Gold!