Ok, this is an extremely short chapter and I could have tacked it onto the last one. But I didn't. So this will have to do!

Also-special thanks to IamOnlyMe for that awesome review. I really appreciate your comments, am glad you like the story and apologize for making you late for your appointment. So…here is a quick (but short) update.

I originally wasn't going to write about Darry's reaction…but then I thought enough people might want to see it. So…here you are…

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Soda's POV

"Do you think you could have at least told me you had left? With my car?" Steve lectured me exasperatedly. "The boss is royally pissed. And he got pissed at me; he called me a liar, thinking I was covering for you…"

"Steve, stop-" Two-Bit tried to interrupt a frazzled Steve. I rubbed my forehead and watched Darry come in grumbling behind Steve.

Steve pointed a finger at Two-Bit angrily. "Don't you start." Then turning to me he continued, "And I would have covered for you Soda, except I didn't even know where in the hell you had gone…not to mention that I had to walk here." He stopped huffing and waited for my explanation.

"What happened to the phone?" Darry asked me, slinging his work pack on the couch. Then Darry saw my face and pushed past Steve. "Lay off," he told him. "Soda?"

My mouth flapped open like a fish's, gasping for air. Two-Bit watched me carefully and as Darry stood there staring at me, Two-Bit stepped up and opened his mouth slowly. "Darry…the phone call-"

"The phone call was about Pony," I finished for him. We both shot each other grateful looks.

Darry's eyes drifted to the broken phone and then back to me. "It's bad news, isn't it?" Like he was awaiting the executioner, Steve broke out the smokes.

I pulled together all of my strength and blurted, "He was shot. They don't know if he'll make it." With that, I cracked. I emitted a loud sob, covering my face with both hands. "I wish mom and dad were here," I said muffled.

Stepping toward me my brother hugged me tightly, but his body was tense. I pulled away and Darry met my pale face. "I shouldn't have let him go. The second I found out I should have called the state. He would have been better off in a home." Desperately he choked, "But I didn't know what to do. I didn't want you to go either."

"You did your best," Steve said, patting Darry's shoulder. None of us had ever really seen Darry lose his cool. It unnerved us.

"My best doesn't seem to have the ideal results," Darry said brokenly. I shook my head at that but I didn't know what to say. Apparently, Darry and I both blamed our selves.

Guilt was a pretty shitty thing.

He breathed in hard and tilted his face toward the ceiling. Steve and Two-Bit looked at each apprehensively. Then Darry collected himself, moving numbly towards his room, saying, "We'd better get a new phone in case they call."

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