Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I am not making any profit off of this, and it is just for entertainment purposes only. Please enjoy it!

The next day was a Monday and I was trying my hardest to keep my head up, for Ria. I made her go to school but I didn't go. I leant my car to Steve, though, so he could drive Pony and Johnny to school. It was around noon, so I walked to the DX station where Soda works. I walked up to the counter, and Soda was sitting on the counter, making out with Sandy. I let out a laugh, and Soda and Sandy whirled around to face me. I grinned at them.

"Boy, you two sure don't waste anytime, huh?" I said. Sandy mumbled that she had to go, and headed out the car. Moments later I heard the screeching of car tires. Soda punched my shoulder.

"You made her leave." He said, but grinned.

"Soda," I said in a mock serious voice, "Does Darry know how serious you two are? Does he need to give you, 'the talk.'"

Soda jumped over the counter, and swung at my head. I ducked, and twisted Soda's arm behind his back.

"Holler 'Uncle!'" I said, laughing.

"Alright, UNCLE!" Soda said, laughing as well. I let go of him and he faced me and grinned. The store door opened again and Johnny, Steve and Ponyboy walked in.

"Lunchtime already?" Soda said, handing them each a coke.

"Guess so." Steve said, taking a gulp of his coke.

Pony was frowning slightly, and his hand was in his pocket. I raised a brow at him.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Out of smokes." He said. I laughed.

"Never thought I'd see the day when you ran out of smokes." I joked. Pony looked to Soda.

"Hey Soda, can I have-"

"No." Soda shook his head. I guess the rest of us looked confused, because he added "Me and Darry are trying to get Pony to cut down on smokes."

"Good luck." Johnny and Steve said in unison. Pony grinned, and Soda sighed.

"Keep smoking five packs a day, kid, and you'll get cancer and die." Steve said. There was an awkward silence, and Steve looked at me in horror.

"I didn't mean...I don't...I..." He stuttered.

"No. It's okay. Really." I said. It wasn't like he had reminded me, I never stopped thinking about it. It was always there. In the back of my mind. It was a sadness, and a worry.

Johnny looked up at the wall, I guess there must of been a clock up there or something. "We need to go." He mumbled quietly. Steve nodded.

"Take it easy, Two-Bit." Pony said with a wave, before they disappeared.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Soda asked me.

No. "Yeah, why?"

"You have big black circles under your eyes." He said, but then he dropped it.

"Better go. Later, Soda." I said.

"Seeya." He said to my already turned back.

I walked back home and sat on the couch, staring at the tv. It wasn't turned on or anything, and I was feeling too lazy to get up and do it myself. Ria came home and I smiled at her.

"How was school?" I sounded like mom.

"Fine."

"Have any homework?" Yeah, like mom.

"Yeah."

"Gonna do it?"

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"Whatever." She said, and went into her room.

Someone started knocking on the door. I stood up and went to the door. I swung it open and saw the face I hadn't seen since Ria was born. The face that I hated.

"What the hell are you doing here dad?"

Ooooh! Cliff hanger. Sorry it took me so long. Been busy. I'll try to update soon.

OneManShow