Chapter 18: Still Friends

Six months later…..

"And done."

"Finished."

"Yeah. This car had a lot of things wrong with it."

Steve had just finished working on a car that was taken to the DX yesterday. Soda helped by handing Steve the tools.

"When's quitting time?" asked Soda.

"In about five minutes," answered his best friend.

Then two ladies walked into the garage. Steve noticed them first.

"Hey, Evie. Sandy."

"Hey boys," said Evie and she sat on Steve's lap. Soda got up and he and Sandy walked outside.

"Have you been doing okay?" asked Sandy.

"Yeah. Everyone's been doing okay. Darry didn't have the chance to go to college like he wanted."

"I heard you dropped out. Is it true?"

"Yeah. It's the truth."

"But why?"

"I'm dumb. I wasn't passing much."

"You're not dumb. It just takes longer for you to get things."

"Yeah. Anyway, so you still coming to the game tomorrow?"

"Of course."

Evie then walked out of the gas station, signaling that she was ready to go.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow," said Sandy.

"Alright. Bye."

The two ladies walked off and Steve walked out also. It was quitting time. Ever since Soda dropped out, he took the full time at the DX. When school started, Steve took the morning shift on Saturday and Sunday. But he took the afternoon shift on the weekdays.

Steve's car wasn't working right again. So they had to walk home. They walked by their houses to change shirts and they were off again. Walking down the street.

"Man."

"What's up?" asked Steve, with a cigarette in his mouth.

"I was just thinking about how much stuff we've done."

Steve was searching through his pockets for a lighter. He didn't have one.

"Like when we met?" asked Steve taking out the cigarette.

"Yeah. I mean when we first got to middle school. And this greaser and soc stuff started."

"And everyone we met on the way."

"Yup."

"First Two-Bit, then Johnny, the Shepards, and then Dallas."

"We've never had problems as friends have we?" asked Soda.

Steve thought for a moment.

"I-I think we've been mad at each other at least once."

"When?"

"I was mad at you when you left me at that rumble. And you were pretty ticked when I called Darry 'that name'.

Soda thought about that situation. He could remember it perfectly.

……..

The whole gang was at the Curtis house. Two-Bit was joking around with Darry. Because he came up to the front shirtless, showing off his muscles. He was really just putting ice on his arms from work that day.

"It's Superman, or Muscles," yelled Two-Bit cracking up at his own jokes.

Then Steve decided to jump in. Big mistake.

"More like All Brawn and no Brains."

Darry then turned around and gave a grand slam punch right in Steve's jaw. Nearly shattering it. Steve hit the ground hard and he realized what he had just done. He forgot that Darry hated that he couldn't go to college. Darry walked towards the back and Soda yelled at Steve.

"What was that for!"

………

"Yup. Only once in our lives," said Steve.

"And we're still friends. Ever since grade school-."

"Ever since you gave me that apple. I know."

Soda and Steve laughed all the way. They were very good friends. They had started the greaser/soc war together. Got in their first rumble together. Been through drag races, bad dates, good dates. Sodapop Curtis and Steve Randle. Two best friends with a bond that couldn't be broken.

Okay. That's it. Yeah. This is it. This story deserves an award, most reviews. As far as reviews, it passed Louis and Dean. Well, I know I've been advertising my next one for a while. So I had to push back the Curtis and McCormick one. But I've got a good story for y'all. I think you guys would except it. The story has y'all thinking back to the story again. After Johnny was jumped, what if he didn't start acting all quiet, shy and scared. What if he got tougher? I'm telling y'all now. I plan to make this a little darker than usual. And once again. I'm going to let you guys vote. Vote on which one will come after my next one. Here are the stories:

Staying Together:

Hoping that it would help Ponyboy and Sodapop deal with their losses (Johnny, Dally and Sandy), Darry decides to take them on a trip. But soon ends up at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

(Horror!)

Curtis & McCormick:

Ponyboy and Tex meet. Tex and Mason meet the gang. But because of the events in Tex, a drug dealer is after Tex. The gang is pulled into the drama. Will they make it through?

(I know. It's been a while)

Next Outsiders, Latest Story:

Yeah. Trix and Danny are back again. It's finally summer and a certain person is graduating. But with Trix and Danny, you know it attracts action.

All right. Those are them. Most votes comes first, second most comes second, etc. Catch y'all later. I hope everyone likes the next one.

Rebellious and Bitter- NEXT!

Staying Together-YOUR CHOICE

Curtis & McCormick-YOUR CHOICE

Next Outsiders, Latest Story- YOUR CHOICE

& many more!