"What?" It was the only word Tia could choke out.
"He got off work at 7, Steve was working until 11, but said he saw him leave. He never came home." Darry explained.
Tia just stood there for a second, taking in the information. The Socs have him, she knew it.
"I know what happened." Tia said quietly.
"You do?" Darry asked sharply.
"It's the Socs. They took Kent's Brother last night and Wade earlier today. I would bet my life on it they got Soda too." Tia told him walking over to where he was sitting.
"Are you sure it was the Socs who took them all?" Darry asked.
"Yeah, positive." Tia replied sadly.
Seeing Darry like this made Tia's stomach twist in pain. His family had been through enough, Darry shouldn't have to put up with this, Tia thought. With his shoulders sagging, he wouldn't meet Tia's eyes. She couldn't think of anything to say to him to try and take the hurt away. Instead she sat on the arm on the chair and hugged him. He leaned into her hug, greatful that she was there with him.
"We'll get him back, I promise we'll get him back soon." Tia whispered.
Tia groaned when she heard Pony moving around in the kitchen, she knew if he was up that meant she had to get up for school. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She was still in what she had worn last night, jeans and a white tanktop. She stood up and stumbled into the kitchen.
"G'morning." Tia mumbled, pooring herself a glass of chocolate milk.
She looked over at Pony who was eating at the table. The look on his face was distant and dull. She knew Darry must have told him what happened with Soda before leaving for work.
"Don't worry, kid. We'll get him back, we'll get him back real soon." She told him what she had told Darry.
"I sure hope so." Pony said sighing.
They ate breakfast in silence, Tia had just finished changing when Dally's car pulled up. Dally had been driving Pony and Tia to school pretty much every day. Tia wasn't sure why, but she didn't ask because it sure as hell beat taking the bus.
Tia got in the back seat, Pony got in the passengers seat. Dally knew somethings was up by the look on Pony's face. He glanced back at Tia for an explanation.
"They took Soda last night." Tia told him quietly.
Dally cursed as he started up the car and floored the gas. He dropped Pony off at his school first then drove Tia to her's. On the short drive there, Tia told Dally what Darry had told her last night.
"The Socs are taking things to far, I am personally gonna beat the tar out of every single one of them if they keep this up." Dally stated, pulling up in front of the school.
"Not unless if I get to them first." Tia informed him, getting out of the car. "See ya."
The morning passed quickly, as usual, Tia wasn't paying attention in class. Instead of napping, she watched all of the Socs in her classes. All of the guys had the same smug look on their faces. Like they knew something no one else did.
At lunch, Tia and Lisa went with a big group of friends to the convinence store about 20 minutes away from the school. It was the hang out for all of the kids from both schools (the jr.high and the highschool) at lunch time.
Tia bought a coke and joinged her group who were sitting under one of the trees next to the parking lot. A car load of older Socs from the highschool pulled up and parked close by. She recognized some of them from the rumble, they recognized her too.
"Well if it isn't Dallas Winstons toy." One said walking over, his group followed.
Tia just rolled her eyes and held her tongue, everyone knew she was really close with Dally, some people just took it as a different type of close then what it really was. She always felt a hit of guilt for KJ, he knew nothing like that was going on with her and Dally. He handled all of the comments and sneers about her and Dally really well too. But she still wished people would just stop it.
"Does your house seem a bit...emptier then usual." Another asked her, the smile on his face made her sick.
Her temper flared and she shotup and went towards the group of Socs. She went right up to the one who had made the last comment. He was a good few inches taller then her, but she didn't back down.
"I swear to God before this is all over and done with I'm gonna make you wish you'd never been born." Tia stated.
"Is that so?" He asked, his tone amused.
"Yes, it is." Tia replied, giving him a cool glare.
Even though she felt like slugging him right then and there. She knew it was a bad idea, he had 4 buddies with him and even though her friends would back her if a fight started, they Socs were bigger and would end up doing most of the damage. The Soc leaned in close and whispered in her ear.
"Dallas should keep a close eye on his play thing. I'm sure he wouldn't want anything to happen to it."