Well, actually, I need to know what you guys think of this so far. I would like to continue with this, but not if it's unsatisfactory. Please give me your opinions of whether I should continue, and if you spot any mistakes, please note that too. Thank you very much!

Never did I think of such a thing happening to my baby brother.

Never did I think of how much everything had affected him.

I should have realized this.

I am his older brother.

I should be protecting him.

Keeping him safe.

But I couldn't.

He had to make it through himself.

I should have at least realized the situation when it first occurred.

But I didn't even do that.

It all started just a week after those fateful incidents with Johnny and Dally.

Wednesday- 9:47 PM

I walked into our room, and found him at his desk, scribbling away.

"What's up, Pony?"

"Hmm."

Odd... usually he'd make more of a response. I walked over, bending over the desk slightly.

"Whatcha writing?"

"Homework."

"For...?"

Finally, he placed the pencil down and gave me a look... a look. Well, excuse me for being curious.

"I'm writing a theme for English class. It's due on Friday and I still have a lot more to write. So if you don't mind... try not to bother me unless it's important."

"Like... if the house is on fire?"

"Well... yeah. I mean, I gotta protect the theme... it's the deciding point of my semester grade."

"Huh?" Hey, I don't go to school anymore, so don't expect me to understand all that mumble jumble.

"What I get on this will decide whether my grade will go up or not."

"Golly, is your grade bad?" Nah, this is Pony I'm talking about, how can it be bad? I mean, he's the brain of the group.

"Umm..." Whoa... he's shifting his eyes and clenching his jeans... no way...

"Ponyboy!"

"Don't tell Darry! Please! I don't need him yelling at me about it."

"Well..." Oh gheez, he's giving the sad look... the things I do for my baby brother. "... all right. But ya better bring it up, cause I don't need you guys fighting anymore."

"Thanks Soda. But stop acting like Darry with my grades cause you're scaring me."

"Hey, hey! I just want ya to do good in school so we can ship you off to college, you dig?"

"Yeah, I dig ya." And with that... he went back to writing... and stopped... and turned back around. "Tell the others not to bother me, 'kay?"

"Will do." Leaning back on the bed, I shifted into my spot. "Whatcha writing about anyways?"

"You want to read it when I'm done?"

"Is it long?"

"Kind of."

"Aww, Pony, you know I don't read much. Why don't you read it to me instead? I swear I'll listen to every word."

When he didn't respond, I sat up. "Pony? You hear me?"

"Uhh, right. What?"

"Gheez, I said that you can read it to me instead."

He just sort of stared at me like I just suddenly called him trash or something. What's the deal here? "Hey, Pony, don't get all upset. I mean, I'll read it if ya want me to, it's just that I'm a slow reader, ya know?"

He sighed, looking a little relieved. "Heh, yeah, I know, but I think you might like this."

"Oh yeah?" I leaned back down, getting comfy. "Is it about me?"

"Some of it."

"Hmm? Pony, are you writing about us or something? Like, the gang?"

"The theme is suppose to be about our personal experiences and our feelings on the said topic."

I wonder... "Like... what?"

"You'll see when you read it."

"You're not reading it to me?"

Looking over, I noticed he slightly stiffened. "W-well... it's something that you should read on your own. It wouldn't be right if I read it to you."

I didn't say anything for a moment, letting it sink in. "All right... if you say so."

"Right."

And he didn't say anything else that evening... or the next day... or the day after that... I never realized that this would be the last conversation I would have with Ponyboy.