After school, Ponyboy and I went to the drug store in the shopping center for some cokes. We had planned to see a movie at the movie house but nothing that was playing caught our interest.. So we decided to go to the drug store instead.

"Are you sure you wast me to go to that youth thing tonight?" I asked Ponyboy for probably the tenth time since lunch.

Pony took a sip of his coke before replying, "Chris, I'm sure. Besides, I know Soda would be disappointed if you don't go."

"He'll be disappointed that you're not going." I pointed out.

"I know, but he'll understand. You, on the other hand should go. Who knows? You just might find what everyone is supposedly searching for." Pony told me.

"At a church?" I asked. "That's a crazy idea!"

Ponyboy grinned. "Yeah, maybe it is."

I thought for a minute. "Do you really think Soda would be disappointed if I decided not to go?"

"Yeah, I do. Chris, he was the one who befriended you before the rest of us did. I know the two of us have become good friends, but you should spend time with Soda, too." Pony replied as he stood up to go throw away his cup.

It was true, Soda was the first friend I had made when I moved to Tulsa. He had been walking to Steve's house when he saw the moving van in front of my house. So, he came over and introduced himself. It wasn't long before I had met the others. Including Johnny and Dally. That was in July, a few months before Johnny and Dally both died. It was after Johnny and Dally's deaths that Pony and I became good friends, but if it weren't for Soda, I wouldn't know any of them.

"Are you ready to go Chris?" Pony asked once he returned.

I nodded and followed him out of the drug store. We walked to his house where Soda sat on the porch in his stocking feet drinking chocolate milk.

"Hey you two!" He called out cheerfully when he saw us. "Ready for tonight?"

"I'm not going, Soda." Pony told him.

"Pony, you have to!" Soda exclaimed. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

"Sorry, Soda, but it's just hard for me. It reminds me of Johnny and the fire." Pony explained. "But Chris is still going."

Soda grinned at me. "I'm glad. But, I wish you'd come with us, Pony."

Ponyboy sat down next to him. "Maybe next time. But right now, I don't think I could handle it. I know things have gotten better as time has passed, but there are still things I'm having a hard time with. This is one of them."

Soda just put his arm around Pony's shoulders. "That's okay. You don't have to come."

Pony looked up at me. "Hopefully, Two-Bit will still go. Otherwisa, it'll be just the two of you until Steve shows up."

"Yeah." I agreed while Soda nodded. "Boy, tonight is going to be really interesting. I hope we don't end up regretting it."

"Me too." Soda admitted. "But Pastor Brian seems to like it and he's okay. So maybe it won't be so bad."

I nodded absently as I recalled my conversation with Ponyboy at the drug store. I still thought it was a crazy idea that we would find what people are searching for in a church, but at the same time, I couldn't help wondering if maybe Pony was on to something and didn't know it.