Sorry this chappie's a bit shorter, but I typed it up last night at like, eleven pm after the 8th grade dinner dance (yay! I finally graduated!!! *jumps up and down hyperly*) so don't yell at me!!!

Killslay: Thanks for your, as-always, great advice! In answer to your questions, I considered it, but no, Pony's not going to have a new friend in Murray. I find it annoying when there are too many OCs. Yup, I'll have Johnny write a letter too later! And no I didn't purposely make Kevin's word similar to Darry's; that was just coincidence, but thanks for mentioning it! heehee~ you'll find out later why he is doing this foster work~. Like, why the social worker assigned him to Pony. I still haven't decided how Kevin and Pony are going to act when the social worker comes (I mean like, if Kevin's going to answer, or Pony). Thanks for reviwing!!!

Lis: Thanks so much for e-mailing me!!!

Aaliyah- Charity: I promise Soda's next letter will be longer!!! Juan de Nova and Bassas da India? Sorry my geography sucks- where are they?

Aislynn: Looking forward for an email from you! Good luck on your fic! I'm sure it'll be great.

Hell-Flame: hah! Ur last! Daayvid! You evil guy! Actually ur nicer than YaYa cos I'm practically begging her to read this and she won't!!! teeheehee~ ur the first person that I know who read this. O and that comment about the evil fathers wuz really funny! I was laffing my head off. Hehe did u notice that mi spelling for urs is da worst? LOL. Sowee can't help it. newayz, thnx 4 reviewing! Oh and if you bug me about this chapter (you'll know wut I'm talking about after you finish it) I will totally do the Stephen-act and shove glitter down ur shirt.

Thanks to DBZ gal, MissLKid, Gryphon girl and Estelle Yavetil for reviewing too!

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from 'The Outsiders'; SE Hinton does. Oh wait, I own Dillon. Do I own Sandy's mom? She's kinda SE Hinton's, but she wasn't mentioned in the book. LOL. Whatever~

~*~SODAPOP'S POV~*~

The first thing I checked when I got back home the next day was the letterbox. Sure enough, a letter was in it, waiting for me. I picked it up eagerly. It was from Pony.

I sat down on the couch, quickly opening the letter.

"Hey Soda," I read, "Everything's fine here, so don't worry. Kevin mostly ignores me, but that's okay with me. The weather in Murray is about the same as it is in Tulsa. As a matter of fact, Murray is pretty much the same as Tulsa, except that there aren't any Socs or Greasers here. Everyone in Murray looks about the same. They could all be classified into the same middle-class group.

I started at Murray High School today. People there don't really pay me any attention either, which is good. Classes are also pretty easy.

Ps. Say Hey back to everyone for me!

Pps. I miss you all too.

Ponyboy Curtis."

I grinned as I put down the letter. I didn't like the fact that Pony was being ignored, but I was content that he was okay. I frowned. I couldn't shake off an underlying feeling of uneasiness as I looked at the letter. I shrugged, ignoring it. It was just my imagination. I left the letter lying on the coffee table, and flipped on the TV.

~*~PONYBOY'S POV~*~

I cleaned my bleeding shoulder with one of my shirts, and turned off the lights in my room. This time, I kept the small lamp on. I lay down in the narrow bed, keeping an eye on the door. I know it sounded stupid, but I was terrified that Kevin would storm in again, his eyes blazing and his fist raised. . .

I trembled and drew up the covers.

No, I decided suddenly. I won't let him make me cower in fear. I lowered the thin blanket and closed my eyes, refusing to let the fear consume me.

In my mind, I was back in Tulsa, with Soda's arm flung over me, his light snores lulling me to sleep. I sighed contentedly, and finally fell asleep.

I woke up early the net morning, hoping I would be able to slip out of the house before Kevin woke up.

I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face in the bathroom, and went into the kitchen. I found myself face to face with Kevin. The fear I was able to chase away the night before returned twice fold, and I involuntarily took a few steps back.

"Make me my breakfast, kid," growled Kevin, reaching out and cuffing me hard on the head. "And next time wake up earlier."

My head spun and I grabbed onto the counter to steady myself. I put a hand up to my head, nursing my temple.

"Hurry up."

With that, Kevin swept out of the room. I stood still for a moment, shaking away my dizziness, and then went to make breakfast, quickly wolfing down two eggs in my hunger; last night I had not had dinner.

I left Kevin's breakfast on the table and rushed out of the house before he came back in.

~*~SODAPOP'S POV~*~

I flipped through the channels of the television boredly (A/N: lol is that even a word?), finally switching it off with a sigh. I stood up and stretched. Darry wasn't home yet; usually it was only Pony and I in the house at this time. The house seemed unbearable empty without him.

I thought for a moment. Yes, I decided. I had waited too long.

I picked up the phone, my fingers automatically pressing the familiar numbers. I waited impatiently while it rang.

"Hello?"

I sighed inwardly. It was Sandy's mom. She hated me, thinking I was some dirty hood who would be a bad influence on her daughter.

"Hello. This is Sodapop Curtis. May I talk to Sandy please?" I said as politely as possible. It didn't work, as I knew it wouldn't.

"She's unavailable-" started Sandy's mom, her tone considerably colder. She was interrupted by another voice.

"Mom, is that Soda?"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey honey," I grinned.

"Hey baby," she replied.

"Can you meet me at the park?"

"Now?"

"If you have time."

"I'll try."

"Thanks. I love you."

"Love you too."

I put the phone down, and put on Darry's khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt. I went into the bedroom, feeling around under the mattress of the bed. Finally, my fingers found the tiny blue velvet box. I grinned softly as I drew it out and placed it safely in my pocket.

I checked my reflection in the mirror, running my fingers through my hair to make it neater. I sighed. Why were we always out of hair grease when I needed it?

I headed out of the house and walked to the park, sitting down on a bench.

I didn't have to wait long. Less than five minutes later, Sandy walked in, looking around for me.

I grinned helplessly as I saw her. Her blond hair shone in the last hours of sunlight, and her pale blue dress matched perfectly with her china blue eyes.

I stood up, attracting her attention as I did so. She smiled as she walked up, and I pulled her into a kiss, losing myself in the sensation of her soft, warm lips against mine. I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of her shampoo, entangling my fingers in her long, silky hair.

"I missed you," I breathed as we pulled out of the kiss. She laughed, a beautiful soft, tinkly sound.

"We saw each other yesterday."

"I missed you all the same."

We smiled at each other.

"I love you Sandy."

"I love you too baby."

I got down on one knee, looking into her beautiful eyes. My heart suddenly started banging against my ribcage. I reached into my pocket and opened the small box, opening it and taking out the silver ring. I took her hand with my other hand.

"Sandy Runtherford, will you marry me?" I asked breathlessly.

There was total silence for a few moments, broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind fluttering through the tree leaves.

Then Sandy looked away.

"Soda. . . I can't."

I felt like she had slapped me. I tried to swallow the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat, but it wouldn't go away. My heart felt like a heavy stone in my chest.

"Why?" I managed to whisper painfully. "I thought you loved me."

She shook her head. "Look baby, I love you, but I don't want to marry at sixteen in this crummy neighborhood. I was going to tell you- I'm moving to Florida tomorrow. Permanently. To live with my grandmother."

Her tone softened as she looked into my eyes. She put a hand on my cheek. "People move on. I'm sorry."

She gave me one last dry kiss on the cheek, and walked away.

I sat down on the ground, hardly believing what had happened. I watched as the only girl I had every truly loved walked away, her golden hair flowing over her shoulders, her hips swaying slightly as she walked. I shut my eyes, engraving the image of her face in my mind.

"I'll always love you, Sandy," I whispered after her one last time.

I watched until she disappeared from my view, and put a hand to my cheek, which was still tingling from her last touch. I was surprised to find tears running down them.

I buried my head in my arms and bawled. The tears wouldn't stop coming. I didn't care who saw me.

"Well, look at this bawl-baby," came a voice above me I didn't recognize.

"What do ya reckon he's cryin' about, Dillon?" came another voice.

"His mommy kicked his good-for-nothin' ass outa the house, probably," smirked a third voice. I took a deep breath and looked up.

Three Socs were circling slowly around me. Instead of being afraid, I merely felt annoyed. I stood up. The biggest Soc cracked his knuckles in an obvious attempt to be menacing.

"Gonna go crying back to your mommy, Greaser?"

Grateful for an excuse to start a fight, I flew at him. A little taken aback by the ferocity of my attack, the other two Socs didn't join in until the one I was slugging shouted for help.

They jumped on top of me, and then we were all rolling around on the ground, hitting, kicking and punching. I gladly released my emotions into the fight.

Too soon, it was over. The Socs got up and ran away, nursing several injuries. After a moment, I picked myself up too, ignoring my aching body, and walked slowly back home.

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