We spent the rest of that day walking and hitchhiking our way randomly, in any direction but home. We finally stopped at a dingy hotel, which we had just enough money on us to pay for a room for the night. There were only two beds, but there was an old sofa too, so we at least had somewhere comfy to sleep that night.
As I lay on the sofa I thought about the fire. I wondered if I could have saved Darry if I hadn't ran out of the house so quickly- maybe I'd have been able to pull him out in time, before the corridor ceiling fell in- maybe I'd have been able to get him to jump out the window if I'd been with him in the house as it burnt.
Maybe if I'd phoned the police about the burning car we wouldn't be sleeping in a lousy hotel, hiding from the police who should be helping us- maybe the Socs would have been caught, and the house wouldn't have burnt down, and Darry would still be alive. It was my fault for not phoning them. For not pulling Darry out of the house after me. For not shouting louder at him to get out.
I curled up under the blanket that I'd gotten from the cupboard, and tried to sleep, guilt plaguing me as I lay in silence. I must have dropped off to sleep at some point, because the next thing I knew the sun was shining through the window of the hotel room, and Two Bit was pacing by his bed.
"What's the matter Two Bit? Apart from the obvious." I added dryly.
"Soda isn't here. When I woke up he wasn't in his bed, so I figured he must have gone to the toilet or something, but that was ages ago. Did you see him leave?"
Darry crouched down by the sofa, his eyes wide with worry
"Did he tell you where he was going?"
"N-no. I never heard him leave- are you sure he didn't just go downstairs to get some breakfast or something?"
I replied, confused- Soda wouldn't ditch us!
I was sure Soda wouldn't ditch us- unless maybe he didn't want us to get in trouble, and he knew whatever he was doing was dangerous. I began to worry properly then. Had Soda turned himself in to the cops to try and convince them that we're innocent? Had he gone off to find somewhere safe for us to stay? What was he doing- and why hadn't he told us?
"Ponyboy- shut up! If he's gone then there's no point trying to figure out where, or why. We may as well stay here for a few more hours and have breakfast- if Soda might come back then we should stay here for as long as we can."
I shrugged, embarrassed- I hadn't realised I was speaking my thoughts aloud.
I walked over to the window and peered outside, trying to determine whether or not Soda could be outside, but it was just a more or less empty parking lot, with a distinct lack of Soda.