Chapter 3

I ran until I couldn't breathe any more, and by then I could see the lot coming into view.

I just sat down, leaning against the fountain, thinking about what just happened,

Tears streaming down my cheeks.

I must have sat there for about half an hour when in the distance I could hear my name being called as if from very far away.

I stood up and stumbled out of the lot until I ran into Soda,

"Darry, I found him! Pony where have you been, we were looking all over for you, oh no you read the letter didn't you"

I looked down at my hand which still miraculously held the letter from Sara and nodded.

Soda realizing that I was still in shock from what I had just learned took hold of my hand and led me all the way home.

When we finally got home the lights were on and Darry was waiting on the porch.

"Pony where the hell have you been, you worried us sick, we thought you ran away again."

I guess I looked pretty bad just then, because Darry gave me a look that said to go get cleaned up and we could talk about this in the morning, but apparently getting over something this big was harder then I thought, because I still couldn't make myself take two steps towards without Soda lending a hand.

He led me into the bedroom helped me get undressed then left the room.

I don't remember him coming back in, but I really don't remember anything that happened that night, but when I woke up in the morning I was all cleaned up, and Soda was sleeping on the bed next to me.

I got up as quietly as possible and tip toed into Darry's room.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed with the letter clutched tightly in his hands, a grim look on his face as he read it for probably the hundredth time this morning.

I knocked softly on the door not wishing to startle him

"Darry?"

He looked up almost as if he was expecting me,

"Hey Pony, come on in, I know this has been hardest on you."

I was barely listening, the same thought kept running across my mind,

"Darry, I don't have to go live with her, do I?"

A small grin spread across his face as he looked at me slightly amused,

"You don't have to worry Ponyboy; you will never have to go down there for more then a few hours much less a few months."

"Thanks," I said sounding relived "I think I'll go make breakfast now."

About an hour later Darry came down followed shortly by Soda,

"Hey pony, you're up early, couldn't sleep last night?" Soda asked innocently even though I new he was really concerned.

"Yeah," I answered with a shrug, "Too much on my mind."

I was trying really hard not to look in his eyes; I didn't want him to think of me as a baby who can't stay at his brothers' ex-girlfriends house for a little while.

"Pony?"

I looked up as Soda called my name, looking in his eyes exactly how I didn't want to.

"Yeah, what's up?" I said trying to sound natural.

"I asked you a question, didn't you hear me."

"Sorry, must have dosed off for a second, what did you ask?"

Darry and Soda both stared at me just then like I had two heads and I guess I couldn't blame them.

"I asked if you wanted me to give you a lift to school. But on second thought you don't look so good maybe you'd better stay home today, what do you think Darry?"

Soda was walking in slow circles around my chair as he was saying this; I knew he was just trying to help me out because we both knew I would be sent home anyway for zoning out like I always am when there is something big on my mind. Although now it was all up to Darry and all I could do was pray, my life was in his hands.

Darry gave me a look that said 'I guess I have no choice do I' and at that moment I realized that I was home free,

"Pony, since this is really been hard on you, I guess you can stay home today, but only if you stay home, no movies and no lot, the whole gang is working today so you'll have no company what so ever, in fact don't…"

Thankfully at that moment Soda came to the rescue,

"Darry I think he knows the drill. Now you have work in five minutes so hurry up and let's get moving."

After Darry left Soda still had fifteen minutes till Steve came and picked him up.

"Look pony…" here we go the speech about how Darry loves me and just wants to protect me.

"Soda you don't have to tell me, I know Darry loves me…"

"Pony, come on man, cut me some slack, I was just going to tell you to take some aspirins every couple of hours, you really don't look so good, I'm not that good of a liar."

"Sorry." I slouched down into the couch; I rested my head against the arm rest, and closed my eyes.