A/N: Hey everyone! I took a little bit of time between updates, because I wanted to try and get ahead by typing a few chapters for each story, and I wanted to give some readers a chance to catch up on reading. Enjoy!

Two-Bit's mouth hung open, "I don't..."

"I don't need pity," Soda whispered, not wanting to risk anyone hearing, "That's the last thing I need right now."

"I'm not giving you pity," Two-Bit shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'm not playing with your feelings man."

"Then what?" Soda asked with slight frustration.

Two-Bit sighed, "I just...I guess I was just experimenting a little."

"Do you think you're...?"

Two-Bit admittedly shook his head, "It's not something I've thought about lately, no."

"Are you doing this, because everyone thinks we're doing that?" Soda asked.

"No Soda, damnit. This is just horrible timing on my part," Two-Bit ran a hand over his temple.

"What?"

"Soda, I'm a pretty open-minded person, you know that. And...I guess when you admitted to me your feelings, I figured...why not experiment it, you know?"

"Why?"

Two-Bit couldn't think of an answer right away, "I don't know. I guess I didn't think anything was wrong with it."

Soda looked down, "Nothing's...wrong with it. I just don't want you doing it, because of me being all depressed and shit. I'm not desperate for a relationship. That's not going to make me feel better."

"Soda, I'm really not just trying to play with you here. I was just experimenting, that's all. We don't have to keep going. I know you have feelings for Steve more than anything, so..."

Soda looked up at Two-Bit, "Keep going? You mean you weren't done experimenting?"

Two-Bit shrugged, "I don't know Soda. No. Not really. It's not like I had this all planned out."

"Were you going to tell Darry?"

"No, not until...I guess we see if it got serious or not..." Two-Bit trailed off as if not wanting Soda to hear that last part, "Are you going to tell Darry?"

Soda slowly shook his head, "No. Even if I tried being with someone, I don't think I could tell Darry right away. It's too much right now."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"No," Soda let out a long breath, "I just needed some answers that's all."

"Look, we don't need to figure it all out right now," Two-Bit sat on the bed, placing a hand on Soda's back, "Just think about what you might want and we can talk about it later, okay?"

Soda looked up at Two-Bit and let out a small grin, "Okay."

Soda wasn't sure what was next for him, but he didn't want to just turn Two-Bit away. As much as Soda was aware Steve was angry, Soda wasn't ready to give up their friendship completely yet. He couldn't give up on Steve. Not yet. He also wasn't stupid though, and didn't want to put all his hope on Steve. As long as Steve could still be his best friend, that's all Soda could ask for right now.

At the end of their conversation, Two-Bit and Soda shared a long hug. Soda didn't want to let go. It made him feel comforted, and he wanted Two-Bit to just kiss him again. Soda felt a little sad Two-Bit hadn't done that, but he knew after their conversation, Two-Bit would be taking it slow. When their hug finally broke, the two boys headed downstairs.

"Who wants to get a game of poker going? We should have some fun tonight," Two-Bit said.

"Let's do it," Dally agreed.

Darry walked into the house with a hand full of mail, but everyone saw a worried look on his face.

"What's up Darry?" Two-Bit asked.

"Hey Soda, go on upstairs for a second," Darry nodded towards the stairs. Before Soda could even utter a response of protest, Darry said, "Now." Soda slowly dragged himself back upstairs. The rest of the gang was left in the living room in confusion.

"What's going on?" Two-Bit asked.

"I was afraid of this," Darry said quietly, "Look."

Darry handed over a piece of paper. Two-Bit opened it and read the lettering in black marker. 'You'll go to hell!'

"Oh my God," Two-Bit muttered, handing the paper to Dally.

"Pony, don't look at it," Darry firmly said, "You and Johnny go outside for now."

Once the younger greasers were out the front door, Darry continued, "I was hoping this wouldn't happen."

"Do you think Steve did this?" Dally asked.

"I don't know," Darry responded, "It could really be anyone. I mean everyone knows by now, right?"

"Oh yeah," Two-Bit said.

"Steve's mad enough, so it could be," Dally said.

"Let's just get rid of it before Soda sees," Darry said taking back the paper and tearing it up, "This is going to get out of hand fast."

"But how do we stop it?" Two-Bit asked.

"Call a rumble and stomp their heads in," Dally said.

Two-Bit shook his head, "Dally this isn't just the Socs. They might even know that much."

"Bullshit," Dally said, "You hear the town just like I do Two-Bit. Everyone knows! And it's only going to get worse if Soda keeps hiding away."

"Oh yeah, because you have accepted this so well, right? Soda is just so comfortable around you. He's not afraid of you beating his head in at all," Two-Bit mocked.

"Don't start on me! I'm here ain't I? I've accepted it as best I can. I'm not the one sending threatening letters!" Dally barked.

"Okay that's enough!" Darry yelled, "Let's not let this thing get us in a fight. Dally, don't start anything until we find out who did this."

"We won't find out who did this," Dally said, "You guys aren't getting that. Lots of different people are going to take their own shots at this. The next letter could be from someone else, and the next one, and so on."

"Just don't start a rumble until we know if the Socs are behind it," Darry said, "It won't make Soda feel better anyway, so just leave it alone for now. We'll try and hide these things as best we can."

"Fine," Dally said, "But just remember once this news really gets to that side of town, they'll have something big against us and they'll sure as hell use it."

"I know, I know. We just have to try our best to be there for Soda. I'm going to check on him. This conversation ends now."

Two-Bit walked over to the couch and sat down, expecting Dally to be right behind him, but instead he heard the door open. "Where are you going?"

"Relax, I'm going to talk to Steve. I'll see what he has to say about the letter," Dally said walking out.

"Do not cause a stir," Two-Bit stood up.

"I'm only talking to Steve." Before Two-Bit could get anything else out, Dally was gone. He saw a glimpse of Pony and Johnny tossing the football back and forth, Dally not saying a word to them. Two-Bit let the door shut. He stood there and stared at nothing in particular. He just wanted to fix things so that Soda could move on and actually go on with his new way of life.

Suddenly, a thump of footsteps was hurrying down the stairs. "Soda left again. I...I can't find him," Darry said grabbing his keys, "Two-Bit go see if he went back to the park. I'll go look in town. Damnit, I can't believe he left alone!" Two-Bit hurried without asking or even going upstairs to look himself. Darry was in too much of a hurry to even ask where Dally went.

"You two stay here," Darry pointed at Ponyboy and Johnny, "We're going to look for Soda, make sure he's okay."

As the youngest greaser watched Darry and Two-Bit leave in a hurry, he sighed and looked at Johnny, "Any other day, Soda leaving without a word wasn't a worry."

Two-Bit drove slowly, keeping his eyes locked for Soda. He was beginning to feel angry. This wasn't fair to Soda. So what if he changed his ways and he wants to live his life differently? Why can't people just accept other people? What was so wrong with that?

Shaking his head, Two-Bit could feel how much of a hypocrite he was being. There were people who probably asked themselves those same questions after he, himself, made fun of those same people.

"I'd take it back if I could," Two-Bit said to himself.

As he parked his car next to the park, Two-Bit got out to look around. It was dark out by now, so he had to use the streetlights. After walking around some, he found Soda against a tree, with his face buried in his propped knees. Two-Bit got closer, and saw Soda's shoulders were shaking. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Soda jumped. Two-Bit saw the tear-stained cheeks and the swollen eye. Without asking, Two-Bit took a seat and pulled Soda in, letting him bawl against his leather jacket.

"I'm sorry Soda," Two-Bit said quietly, "I'm so sorry."

"I'm going to regret this," Soda cried.

Two-Bit shook his head, "No Soda. Don't talk like that. Don't be ashamed of this, please. I know it's easy for me to say that. I know it probably means nothing. Just...don't give up Soda. Don't give up."

Darry parked his truck at the DX. He knew it was a long shot, but the DX was still open for a couple more hours, and he knew he couldn't rule it out. As he got out of his truck, he heard commotion coming from the garage. He didn't recognize any of the voices to be Soda's though. However, he did recognize Dally's strong voice carrying out. By that instinct, Darry rushed into the garage and found Dally and Steve face-to-face exchanging yells. Even when the gang was together and getting along normally, Steve and Dally were not the ones to get in a fight with each other. They would throw fists fast. Darry pulled Dally back and got between the two.

"Hold it, hold it!" Darry's voice raised above there's, "What's going on?"

"I'm just having a chat with Steve," Dally said.

Darry looked over at Steve, waiting to hear what he had to say. "I didn't send the letter," Steve simply said.

"Why should we believe you?" Dally asked, "I told you if you messed with Soda..."

"Hold on Dally," Darry cut in, "Steve, I know you don't see eye-to-eye with Soda right now, but he misses you. He's been beating himself up over this. Can you really not put this behind, and just go back to being friends? Just accept who he is?"

Steve didn't respond. He simply turned around to continue his task.

"Steve, we're not asking you to be with him in that way," Darry went on, "Just don't quit being in his life."

Steve still didn't say anything.

With that, Darry turned to Dally, "Let's go. Soda ran off."

"What?" Dally asked. Steve appeared to turn around for a moment, but turned back and kept his mouth shut. "Yeah, you feel bad now, don't you?" Dally sneered as he turned and marched out of the garage.

"Two-Bit may have found him," Darry said as they climbed into his truck, "Let's go check."

"You do realize Steve ain't coming back, right?"

"What do you mean?" Darry asked.

"You asked him to still be part of Soda's life and stuff, but you know that's not going to happen anymore. Steve's done."

Darry sighed, "I know. I'm just afraid of when that's going to hit Soda, when he realizes it."

"He ain't stupid," Dally said.

"I know that, I'm not saying he hasn't thought of the idea of Steve not being his friend. But it hasn't hit him yet that Steve really isn't coming back into his life."

"Come on," Two-Bit softly soothed as he lead Soda inside.

"I heard what the letter said Two-Bit. I have to leave," Soda said.

"No you don't, everything's going to be taken care of."

"Soda?" Pony asked as he saw the two enter the house, "What happened?"

"Socs got him," Two-Bit simply said, "He'll be okay. I'm going to bring him to bed."

Pony looked over at Johnny, tears filling his eyes. "It's going to be okay Pony. He will be alright. We just need to get through this part."

"How long does this have to last though? I know it's only been like a week, but come on," Pony shook his head, "When will people let it go?"

Johnny looked down, "It's going to be awhile."

Two-Bit and Soda got upstairs. Soda slid his jeans off and climbed into bed. He was beginning to relax. Being jumped by Socs wasn't what scared him, he's had that happen a couple of times in his life, but it was their threats. He truly believed they wanted to kill him. They didn't do much, but it was clear if he didn't change his ways, someone could kill him.

"Don't jump out the window this time," Two-Bit grinned as he began rubbing Soda's hair.

"Two-Bit..." Soda began as his eyes closed.

"Just go to sleep Soda," Two-Bit said, "You're done talking today."

"I just want you to lay with me," Soda softly said as his eyes closed.

"Maybe another time," Two-Bit said running his hand through the greasy hair.

He watched as Soda went into a light sleep. Life was unfair to him right now, and Two-Bit could only wish he could make it all better. He stopped rubbing the hair and just looked down at the floor, trying to think of something, anything to fix this. The front door was heard opening, and Two-Bit hurried downstairs.

"Dear God, please tell me you found him," Darry asked anxiously.

"He's asleep," Two-Bit said and watched Darry's eyes relax immediately, "I see you found Dally."

"Steve says he didn't send it," Dally said with an unbelieving tone.

"Do you believe him?"

"Of course not," Dally said taking a seat on the couch.

"Um, Darry," Two-Bit said putting his hands in his pockets, "Soda got jumped by some Socs."

"What?" Darry asked.

"They didn't do much, thank God. But he did get caught up on."

"We knew this was going to happen," Darry sat himself down in his armchair, "He has to be careful. We all do."

"We can all hold our own," Dally said.

"Almost," Darry said as he glanced at Pony and Johnny in the kitchen, "Those two I'm also worried about."