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Chapter 12: First Rumble

Soda walked up to Steve's house. Steve didn't have work at that time and Mrs. Curtis made him clean up the house. He had tempted Ponyboy to play football with him in the living room. Luckily, she caught them before the football hit anything valuable.

Soda knocked on the door.

"Hold on," yelled someone from inside. And it didn't sound like Steve.

A man with a white beater and unbuttoned pants came to the door. Soda didn't know who this guy was. Then it hit him. It must be his dad.

"What do you want?"

"Um…Is Steve home?"

Steve then came to the door.

"I've got it dad. I'll see you later."

Steve's dad grumbled something and closed the door, leaving Soda and Steve outside.

"Is that your dad?" asked Soda pointing his thumb towards the door.

"Yeah. That's him. Now you see why I don't want anyone to meet him."

"Well….he was probably just cranky."

"He's always cranky."

"Oh. So have you been racing lately?"

"Not yet. I have to meet them somewhere Friday. Why don't you come?"

"Friday…Friday. I can make it. Dad's taking us hunting Saturday morning."

"Hunting. That should be fun."

"Not as fun as racing. How's your car doing? Got anything new?"

"Not yet. I haven't looked at all."

"So you haven't spent the money yet?"

"Nope. But Mark did tell me where I could get more money."

"It's on that paper he gave you?"

"Yeah. You saw the whole thing?"

"I was dizzy, but not blind."

Steve laughed and they leaned against Steve's car.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. That's why I came over here."

Their conversation was interrupted by a Ford truck pulling up in front of the house. Darry was driving. Two-Bit stuck his head in the front and out the window. He was pushing past Ponyboy.

"C'mon you guys. We're going for a ride."

Soda and Steve looked at each other and shrugged. They then went over to the car. Soda stuck his head in the window.

"Hey Darry. Can me and Steve sit in the very back of the truck?"

"Just as long as Mom and Dad don't see."

Steve and Soda jumped into the pick-up of the truck and got comfortable. When they walked past the window, they saw Dally leaned back in the backseat. You could look at him and tell he was tough. Even if he did have bright blonde hair.

The gang went to the movies. They showed Dally the way in. He liked it that way. Even though it was cheap to get in. Everyone got to know each other even more. Especially Dally. He had a little interest in Johnny's story. Probably because he had the most interesting story.

On the way back Soda and Steve were still in the pick up part.

"Watch this!" yelled Soda.

He then stuck his head out the side and let his tongue out. Imitating a dog. Steve smiled, and then Soda put his head back into safety when a stop sign nearly collided with his face. Steve laughed his voice off then.

Suddenly Darry stopped the truck and Steve and Soda slammed against the truck. It didn't hurt much though. They could hear Dallas in the truck complaining,

"What's the big idea?"

"Rumble!" replied Darry.

Soda and Steve heard about those. They were big fights. They didn't think it would happen to them though.

Suddenly, some socs came towards the truck. They pulled Soda and Steve out and began to attack. One soc tried to stomp Soda but he grabbed his foot and made the soc trip onto the ground. Steve rolled out of the way of the soc trying to stomp him, got up and began to retaliate.

By that time, the gang had jumped out of the car and joined the rumble. In front of the truck, there was a big crowd of socs and greasers fighting. Soda started helping his best friend out and they were fighting together. Soda then saw no one was in the truck.

"Where's Ponyboy?" he yelled to Darry, who was holding down socs good.

Darry took one glance at the truck and saw it was empty. Then they spotted a soc dragging Ponyboy towards the crowd. Soda left Steve and went after his brother. Steve didn't know what was going on. He wondered why his best friend took off. Then someone hit him in the back of his head. They continued to slug him, but he escaped the hits and moved out of the way. Soda had already beaten the soc and put Ponyboy back in the car. Luckily, they didn't hurt the young Curtis brother. Who was very shaken up.

By that time, the fight started breaking up when sirens were heard. The gang jumped back into the truck and drove off. Soda and Steve were in the back by themselves again.

"Where did you go!" yelled Steve with a disgusted face. Soda then knew Steve was mad.

"I had to help Ponyboy."

"You left me out there."

"But.."

"No. Just forget it."

Soda just looked at Steve. Steve wasn't too mad at Soda. He was just mad that he was always second rate. Pony was getting in his way. Soda turned his head and looked at the scenery. Steve hated to see his best friend depressed. They pulled up to Steve's house.

"Look Soda. I'm sorry. I'll be calm by tomorrow."

Soda looked at him.

"Alright. See you tomorrow."

Steve jumped out the truck. He could still hear Two-Bit's voice, who was excited about what had just happened.