Chapter Four:

Disclaimer: Everything Outsiders related belongs to S.E. Hinton and the song "Responsibility" is by Grand Funk Railroad. The song doesn't fit that well, but it was the only one that did fit that I could find.

A bunch of Socs had their backs to Johnny and Ponyboy. They didn't seem to have heard Ponyboy's groan.

They were closing in on someone, but Ponyboy couldn't see who. "You're done for, grease," one of the Socs snarled. He snapped open a sharp switchblade.

"Listen, guys, can't we talk this through?" Upon hearing this, Ponyboy's eyes grew wide. He knew that voice all too well.

"SODA!" Ponyboy yelled. This time, the Socs heard him. They all turned towards him.

Ponyboy and Johnny both took advantage of the Socs' confusion to grab Soda, each to an arm, and run like crazy in the other direction.

When they were a good seven blocks away, they stopped running, breathing hard. Ponyboy sneezed seven times in a row. Sodapop started laughing through his heavy breathing.

"What," Johnny demanded, "if I may ask, is so funny?" Soda just laughed harder. Ponyboy thought that maybe he'd finally cracked.

When he finally caught his breath, he said, "I hope no one saw that. That was the most cowardly thing I've ever done!"

Ponyboy agreed, but he wasn't about to admit it. "Give me a break, Soda, there was ten of them with blades and three of us!"

Sodapop shrugged. "Whatever you say." Then he seemed to see Ponyboy for the first time. "Hey, wait just a darn minute. Why aren't you at home?"

"I thought maybe I'd take a walk. I feel a lot better already," Ponyboy lied. In truth, he felt as miserable as ever. His nose was running again. "Why aren't you at work?"

"Business was real slow, so boss closed early. I have to go back this afternoon, though," Soda added. "Right now, I'm taking you home."

"Aw, c'mon, Soda, please? It's no fun being all cooped up at home," Ponyboy begged, trying not to cough.

"No way, Pony! You're sick, and you need to be at home! I'm responsible for you!" Soda protested. Ponyboy tried to retaliate, but he sneezed instead. Then the music started, and Soda started singing.

"Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee,
Into my life came responsibility.
She's got some shakin', kickin', sailin', long blonde hair,
And when I want to get off you know she'll take me there.
I'm talkin' 'bout...
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee,
She fill me up with responsibility.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee,
She fill me up and let me down, can't you see...
Life is full of re...re-spons-ibil-ity.
Life is full of re...re-spons--responsibility.
Life is full of re...re-re--responsibility.
Life is full of responsibility.
And I'm responsible for you and me.
Good lovin' messin' up my mind,
A chick like this one is so hard to find.
She takes care of everything I need,
And when I want some stuff you know that she takes heed.
I'm talkin' 'bout...
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee,
She fill me up with responsibility -- yeah.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee,
She fill me up and let me down, can't you see...
Life is full of re...re-spons-ibil-ity.
Life is full of re...re-spons--responsibility.
Life is full of re...re-re--responsibility.
Life is full of responsibility.
And I'm responsible as I can be.
Yeah, responsible, responsible baby.
Yeah, responsible.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-eee.
Responsible, responsible baby.
I'm tryin' to be responsible, responsible baby...
...Yeah, ayyyy...Yeah...ayyyy...
Every day, baby; yes I am, baby; you know I can, baby.
Life is full of re...re-spons-ibil-ity.
Life is full of re...re-spons--responsibility.
Life is full of re...re-re--responsibility.
Life is full of responsibility.
And I'm responsible for you and me.
Life is full of re...re-spons-ibil-ity.
Life is full of re...re-spons--responsibility.
Life is full of re...re-re--responsibility.
Life is full of responsibility.
And I'm responsible for you and me."

Soda finished and started pulling along Ponyboy, who was gaping at him like he had grown a third head. Johnny started hurrying along with them, acting, like Soda, as though nothing had happened.

"C'mon, you two, lets go back home." Ponyboy sneezed again. "See? You're getting sicker already!" Soda exclaimed, as if that proved his point.

Halfway home, thunder crashed in the sky. A raindrop landed on Ponyboy's nose. Then another, and another.

"Uh, oh," Soda said. The three of them started running home, but not before it started pouring.

They were drenched when they got inside. It's a good thing Darry's not home, thought Ponyboy thought. He'd skin me alive if he knew I was out.

He shivered and sneezed while Soda made them all hot chocolate. They could hear him complaining in the kitchen. "Darn! Food coloring doesn't work on chocolate!"

Meanwhile, Ponyboy changed into some dry clothes and lent Johnny some of his. As soon as Soda finished making the hot chocolate, he changed and was about to run off to work when the phone rang.

"Yes? What...Yes, of course…yeah, okay…okay, cool!" Soda hung up and sat back, satisfied. "Closed for the day because of the rain!"

Ponyboy nodded. Thunder clapped outside and the lights went out. "Great," muttered Soda. "Power failure."

Ponyboy took a sip of his hot chocolate and tried not to yelp as it scalded his tongue.

It took even more effort not to scream as the door banged open and a tall, dark figure stood in the doorframe. Combined with the dark sky and the thunderstorm going on outside, it was like being in a horror movie.

"Why are you all sitting in the dark?" Ponyboy relaxed. It was only Darry. "Power failure," Soda explained.

"Oh. I'm home because, well, you know, you can't really fix roofs in the rain," he explained, answering the question in Ponyboy's head.

"Hot chocolate?" Soda offered. "Yeah," said Darry gratefully. He found some candles and lit them. Together, they sat in the soft candlelight, drinking hot chocolate and playing cards.

This actually isn't so bad, Ponyboy thought. I could get used to this.