A/N: just out of sheer curiosity...where/how do the readers want the story to develop...?

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Two-Bit's POV:

I am done for. Unless I get Pony back to the party and bribe Soda so he doesn't squeal to Darry. The consequences of failing at this made me run harder to the address Pony had told me. Personally, I didn't think letting him go was a thing to get bent out of shape for.

But he wasn't my brother.

I cursed myself for giving approval. I should have made him call Darry. It was just like when he was sick. I didn't tell anyone and look where it got him. Arriving at the house, I swung the door open, gasping for breath. Kids stared at me in amazed fear as I walked in.

Damn. I wasn't that old was I?

"Hey Matthews."

"Hey Curly." He had seen me walk in. "I know I'm not invited…"

"No problem," he said coolly.

"Ponyboy here? Got a little issue with the kid…" I said nonchalantly.

"He's upstairs with Mike."

I walked down the hallway flinging doors open. What's behind door number 2? I thought. Oh great, 12 year olds necking. I resisted the urge to throw condoms at them as they screamed at me to get the hell out.

Opening another door I saw 3 kids huddling over a limp figure on a sofa. I knew it was him. I had a sixth sense for trouble now after the rumble. Darting across the room I shoved the kids aside. He was lying down on the sofa. His face was white and his breathing shallow. Dried blood was on his shirt.

"Christ Ponyboy." I sat on the edge of the sofa, gingerly touching his face.

"Two-Bit," he wheezed, "my chest hurts something awful." His looked at me with huge pupils.

"What happened?" I yelled to no one in particular. Silence as the kids stared at me. Ok. Time to be an adult. "Kids!" I barked.

"He um…took something," a girl said softly. Then I noticed the table. Smeared with white powder. She added helpfully, "Coke".

My mind went blank as I thought as in the soft drink? I snapped to as an older boy was saying " …think he's OD'ing." I felt Pony's pulse. It was racing fast. Too fast.

"Call an ambulance! "NOW!"

"No way man we don't want them here-" I cut the boy off mid-sentence, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to my eye level.

"Listen you little shit!" I seethed. "Call the goddamn ambulance now, or I will fucking kill you!" I threw him across the room.

"I'll do it," the blond girl ran for a phone.

Pony giggled weakly, "Why on earth do people do this to themselves to feel this shitty?" I knew he was only trying to make me feel better but I looked down at him in amplified horror. Why in the hell did he do this? Sure, I had tried it once but geez he was only a kid…and smarter too. His eyes drooped and I heard a strangled gasp. I wasn't sure if it came from him or me.

Clumsily, I touched his neck for a pulse. Now, instead of pumping loudly it was thin and thready. I had to press deep in the neck to feel it. I gulped, not liking where this was headed. "Ponyboy, an ambulance is coming ok. Plea-"

He cut me off and looked sadly into my eyes. "Tell Darry he was right. I don't ever use my head..." His eyes closed again but this time his head lolled to the side. "Pone? Pony? Kid!" I shrieked, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. He was limp and I felt his burning, clammy body on my palms. Oh god. If he dies here, like this...

A/N: Should I continue this? asks innocently, bats eyes