Chp. 20 is up! Thanks for the reviews everyone. Let me know what you think of this chapter. I wanted to get Two-Bit's and Steve's POV's in here.

I think the next chapter will be the smack down between Darry and Ponyboy! ;) Ding Ding

Enjoy!

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Two-Bit's POV

"Ponyboy Curtis! I did not just see you do that!" I half-hissed, half-whispered to him.

I had walked into the Curtis's bathroom just in time to see Ponyboy swallow a handful of aspirin. He grimaced and choked on the pills.

"Glory Two-Bit, you had me scared to death!"

"Scare you to death? Kid, you seem to do that to me on a daily basis. Give me those." I ripped the bottle out of his hand and shook it, listening to the rattle of the tiny pills.

"How many did you take?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Um, five, six."

I looked at him closely. "You know if you don't feel well you need to tell Darry."

Let's not have this turn out like last time.

"I'm fine," he said shutting the medicine cabinet. "I just want to make it through school today without a headache. Besides, Darry and Soda don't need to miss anymore work on my account."

He leaned against the sink. "What are you doing here this early anyways?"

"Walking you to school."

"Are you serious?" he asked, eyes wide.

I couldn't believe it myself. You would have thought that after last time his brothers wouldn't want me anywhere near him. This much trust made me mighty nervous.

"Pony come get some breakfast before Soda eats it all," Darry hollered as he walked down the hall, buttoning his shirt and trying to put his watch on at the same time.

"I'm not that hungry Darry."

Darry stopped and stood in the bathroom doorway. "You haven't 'been that hungry' now for a week." He frowned seeing the aspirin bottle in my hands, "What're you two doing in here?"

"Two-Bit has a headache. I was just getting him some aspirin," Ponyboy lied quickly.

I popped the top and dry-swallowed two tablets, so that Ponyboy's lie would be true. Then, I clenched my teeth and yanked him out of the bathroom past Darry. "Let's get to school." I wanted to get the hell out of there before Darry got wise.

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Steve's POV

"Hey Steve." A young voice made me poke my head out from underneath the hood of a blue Chevy. I was on my lunch break from school and had swung by the DX to see Soda. Somehow I got suckered into "taking a quick look" at this busted piece of crap.

"You at lunch too?" I asked Ponyboy suspiciously.

"No, just thought I'd come down here and apply for a job," he said sarcastically to me.

"Don't worry we wouldn't hire you," I smirked at him. "Yo Soda, Pony's here," I yelled into the shop.

"Hey Pony, come to help me fix some engines?" Soda asked coming out of the back. He tossed Ponyboy a wrench.

Smiling, Ponyboy said, "Figured I'd come visit you, brighten up your day."

I snorted.

"How's school going?" Soda asked wiping his greasy hands on a rag.

Ponyboy shrugged, looking at the ground. "It's alright. Everyone has their questions. I'm either real popular or real pathetic. I just wish I were invisible."

Sympathetically, Soda reached out and patted Ponyboy's arm.

Then I said something without thinking: "Don't worry, they'll forget about you once the next murder or drug bust hits town."

It had the opposite effect I had hoped for. Ponyboy actually chuckled and said "Hopefully", while Soda went ashen and narrowed his eyes at me.

"Sometimes you can be real stupid Steve," Soda said spitefully.

Clearly uncomfortable as we glared at each other, Ponyboy said, "I should get back now…"

Soda turned to Ponyboy, "Did you walk here by yourself."

Ponyboy shot me a quizzical look: how else did I get here?

"Um, yeah."

"Well I don't want you walking back alone," Soda said. "Take Steve with you. Steve go with him."

Pony and I both protested at the same time.

"Soda, I just got here," I complained.

"I can find my own way back Soda," Ponyboy said helpfully. He shot me an apologetic glance.

Soda pulled me aside and said lowly, "Steve, c'mon. I don't want anything to happen to him."

"He's a big boy, I'm sure he'll be fine." I said stiffly. I definitely was not going to be volunteered for the next baby-sitting position. "It's just a ten minute walk, what would happen?"

Soda grew frustrated and snapped, "Would you just go?"

"Alright," I said dropping my arms to my side in defeat. I wanted to avoid a fight as badly as possible.

"Are you ready?" I said roughly to Ponyboy. He merely sighed and hooked his thumbs around his belt loops.

"Curtis!" Our boss bellowed from behind us.

"I gotta go," Soda said. "I'll see you tonight Ponyboy! See if Two-Bit can walk you home..." He left us standing outside frowning at his retreating figure.

"You gotta be kidding me, Soda's nuts!" Ponyboy said incredulously.

"You're telling me kid." We looked at each other and for the first time in our lives we agreed on something.

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Let me know how this was! Thanks for reading and reviewing! I appreciate it so much! Hope you're enjoying it.