"Go on." Darry gently but firmly pushed Ponyboy in the direction of the building.

Sodapop, who was much more resentful towards Darry then Ponyboy, had gone ahead after one more glare and scathing remark towards his elder brother. Seeing Ponyboy hadn't followed him, he turned back around.

Ponyboy was standing uncertainly between Darry and Sodapop. Soda walked towards him, and placed his hands on Pony's shoulders.

"Come on Pony, we should go inside."

Ponyboy lowered his head, unmoving.

Soda sighed. "It'll be okay. Darry aint gonna help us, but we have each other. And I will never abandon you."

"Promise?" Pony asked timidly. Soda saw Darry walking away from his brothers, without even saying goodbye, and he glared at his retreating back before looking back down at his younger brother.

"I promise."

Nine Years Later

Darry sighed, pinching his nose tiredly while tossing the burnt eggs in the trash.

That was the third time. It was getting ridiculous.

The problem was, that even after living in Paul's house for five years, Darry still wasn't accustomed to how fast the stove heated up. Seeing as Paul was a Soc (And Darry was too, he reminded himself,) he had a better-working, more expensive stove that cooked much faster. It was a good thing, less waiting time, but Darry still found himself sometimes missing the old, cheap stove he had back when he was a Greaser. Despite how much it had annoyed him.

Not that such thoughts meant that Darry missed being a Greaser. Of course not.

And even if he, theoretically, totally hypothetically did, he could never go back to his old life. All of the Greasers had abandoned him once they realized what he did. The Gangs reactions once they realized were the worst of all of them.

Dally: Seemingly indifferent on the outside, but Darry could see cold anger in his eyes.

Steve: Indescribably furious. Had to be held back by Dally and Two-Bit to stop himself from knocking Darry's teeth out. And Darry knew they only restrained him due to the knowledge that Darry was older and stronger than him.

Johnny: Perhaps the reaction that hurt the most. Sad, dissapointed. But not even angry. Just resigned and disbelieving.

Two-Bit: Darry had never seen such a serious look on Two-Bits face, nor the same amount of anger in his eyes.

So Darry had gone and lived with Paul. Became a Soc, and they gladly accepted him. Darry rarely saw his old gang, except in rumbles, where they made sure to target him.

Many Soc's mocked Darry for his unwillingness to jump Greasers, but Darry couldn't stop thinking about what his parents would think about about beating up people like Johnny, innocents who were only targeted because of the class they were born into.

Though he was sure they would hate him already for abandoning his brothers.

Darry missed them. The guilt he felt sometimes... It was indescribable.

"Yo, Darry!" Paul shouted, interrupting his thoughts. "There's gonna be a rumble tomorrow in the vacant lot. All Soc's are needed, so you can't chicken out of this one like you did last time."

Darry sighed. "All right, Paul. I'll be there."

Paul nodded. "Hey, whats that smell?"

"It's the burnt eggs."