Ponyboy sat on the Curtis living room couch rehearsing his lines/lies about were Soda was. Soda couldn't lie. He just couldn't keep a straight face when he lied. Darry'd be home in another half an hour and he'd want to know of course why Soda wasn't there.

When Darry came home Ponyboy was prepared enough to succeed. He couldn't let Sodapop down. He'd promised to help out, though he did hate lying to Darry. At first Soda hadn't wanted Pony to get involved but somehow Pony talked him into it. Soda still felt bad and had promised to take all the blame if they were caught.

"He had to do a double shift at the DX." Ponyboy explained when Darry asked.

Darry looked at him strangely. "How come?" He asked.

"I dunno." Pony shrugged. "They asked him to. He said he'd be back real late."

"How late?" Darry asked. Ponyboy shrugged again.

"Why didn't he run this by me?" Darry wanted to know.

"It was really last minute." Ponyboy said. "He didn't have a chance to call you."

"Whatever." Darry said shaking his head.

****

(Meanwhile at the DX…)

Soda took a seat next to Samantha at the Dingo and they ordered some drinks. "So, how has everything been since that run in with the soc?" She asked.

"Oh, it's been ok." Soda said. He swallowed. He might as well tell Samantha what was up. He trusted her now, didn't he? "It's just… my big brother. He just found out that my girlfriend isn't a senior in high school, she's a twenty-eight year old college graduate." He smiled.

Samantha laughed. "Was he upset?" She asked.

"Well, yeah." Soda said. "He thinks I'm at the DX working right now."

"Oh, I don't wanna get you in trouble, Soda." She said.

"Don't worry." He said. "It'll be ok. Darry doesn't get off work till about now and Ponyboy's covering for me."

"Ponyboy?" She asked. "Your younger brother has an original name too, huh?"

Soda nodded. "Yup."

Soda sighed. This conversation was boring him "Hey, you wanna get out of here?" he asked. "Yeah." She said. They both jumped up and left to go for a walk on the town.

Soda soon found himself in the truck with her tongue in his mouth again and he had no problem with this. He got caught up in the moment though and didn't realize what the time was. "Mhhmm." He said while releasing his lips from hers. "What time is it?" he asked.

"What's that matter?" She asked inching back towards him and pulling his head back near hers.

"Because…" She kissed him delicately. "I…" She kissed him again. "gotta get." Another kiss. "home." He finally got out. He stayed lip locked with her though for a few more seconds and then made himself pull away. Darry would go ballistic if he was late. "Oh, why do you have to go so early?" "It's not early." Soda said. "I don't think it is at least. What time is it?" Samantha looked at her watch. "Only two." She said pulling him back. "Two!" Soda exclaimed, pulling away and starting up the car.

Samantha sighed and sat back in her seat. "I'm sorry." Soda said. "But my…" "Yes, I know." Samantha said sounding kind of upset. "Your brother. I know." "Are you mad?" He asked her. "No, just frustrated. I haven't been used to following curfews for quiet a few years now. Why can't you just tell him that you ended up having to work much later than expected?"

"It's not that easy." Soda said.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Well, because Ponyboy already had to lie about me working a double shift and if he finds out were I really was he'll have a fit. He's forbidden me to see you."

"Oh, wonderful." She said sarcastically.

"Hey, if I had a choice I'd be your age so we could see each other whenever we wanted." Soda said.

"Yes, I know." She said. "It's all-right. Maybe you can talk to him." Soda nodded but inside he was almost laughing. She did not know Darry!

****

Soda arrived home about a half an hour later. He'd had to drop Samantha off. He could only imagine what Darry would say and he was trying to think up some kind of brilliant excuse but he couldn't. To Sodapop's disbelief though when he arrived home Darry was sound asleep on the couch! He couldn't remember once that he or Pony had come home late and he was asleep. He always waited up for them.

Sodapop snuck in through the front door quietly, making sure he wouldn't wake Darry. He went into his and Ponyboy's room were he found Pony lying on the bed, wide awake and reading.

"Hey!" He whispered. Ponyboy looked up startled and smiled when he saw Sodapop. "How'd it go?" He asked. "Ok." Soda said. "What did Darry say?" "Well, he was upset that you didn't tell him you were working longer but I think he fell for it." Pony said. "How in the world did you get Darry to fall asleep? He would've hit the roof if he knew I just got in." Soda said. Ponyboy smiled and said, "sleeping pill." "What?!" Soda said.

Pony nodded. "Found them in our medicine cabinet and I put it in his water when he wasn't looking. He was asleep by one, so he won't know you came in late.

"Thanks. You are so cool, Pony." Soda said ruffling his little brothers hair and plopping down on the bed. "Your welcome." Ponyboy said and looked back at his book.

Soda smiled smugly to himself. With Pony's help he would be able to do this, somehow. He had to. He had to see Samantha. Soda began to think about all of it though. Darry would find out at some point. Wouldn't he? He could only keep this from Darry and be successful at sneaking out for so long. He tried to push the worries out of his mind and think of ways to resolve any problems. Sodapop soon fell into a restless sleep.



*Getting better or worse? Lemme know. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!*