A/N: Hello my wonderful readers! Today marks 1 year since I posted the first chapter of my first story. It has been such an incredible experience writing for you all! Thanks to everyone for their amazing support and reviews and personal messages! I've loved it so much and am looking forward to continue this on! Stay Gold!

Steve and Two-Bit couldn't believe what they had heard Soda yell out. They both stood there, unable to respond. Even when Soda marched past them, neither of them could utter a word. They could only manage to stare at each other.

When they finally moved, they walked to Steve's car and found Soda inside, sitting in the back seat.

"Are you going to say anything?" Two-Bit asked Steve quietly before opening the passenger door.

"I should," Steve opened the driver door and sat down. He didn't put the key in though. He just sat there, trying to figure out what to say. Two-Bit tried to think of something to say, but couldn't find the right words.

"Are we going home?" Soda finally asked.

Steve turned around and looked at his best friend, "Soda, why did you say that?"

"What?"

"You know what."

"No I don't."

"Damnit Soda," Steve slammed his hand down.

"Steve," Two-Bit said softly, "Don't get wound up."

Steve turned back around and shoved the key in the ignition, turning the car on. He sped out of the parking area and headed home. He began speeding and taking tight turns to get his frustration out. Soda didn't budge at any of it.

Once they got back, Steve walked into the Curtis house without a word, leaving the other two outside. Two-Bit and Soda slowly walked up towards the house.

"He's in a mood," Soda commented.

"Come on Soda," Two-Bit looked at his friend, "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Yes I do believe he's in a mood as he stormed inside the house," Soda simply said, not batting at eye at Two-Bit.

"Soda, you know what I'm talking about," Two-Bit shook his head, "You didn't kill Ponyboy damnit."

Soda looked at Two-Bit with a mixture of shock and anger, like he could hit Two-Bit for saying those words. Instead, he turned and marched into the house. Two-Bit was ready to go home and be done with the night, but first went inside to take care of some business with Steve.

When he entered the house, he found Steve in the kitchen making a sandwich. "Steve, are you okay?"

"Fine," Steve said taking a frustration bite, "Soda still blames himself, so yeah, I'm fine."

Two-Bit shrugged, "He wouldn't even say it to me out there. He played dumb to it."

Steve shook his head, "I can't fucking believe it Two-Bit."

"Maybe it's not as bad as we think. He may have been talking out of emotion, he may have been saying it to just defend Darry."

"No," Steve shook his head, "You heard how he said it. He still believes it. He still fucking believes that he was driving."

Two-Bit sighed, "Look, we can't take care of that right now. Just go to bed, don't let it bother you all night."

"Yeah sure."

"Well then let's make sure it doesn't bother you all night. Where are your pills?"

Steve sighed, "In the bathroom."

"Go get them." Two-Bit followed Steve towards the bathroom, and watched him down one of his pills easily. "Wow, that was easier than last night."

"I'm too mad to care," Steve rolled his eyes.

"Well maybe I'll make you mad every night," Two-Bit laughed.

"Shut up," Steve groaned as he walked out of the bathroom.

"Where are you going?"

Steve sat down on the couch and pulled the blanket over, "I ain't sleeping with him. He probably doesn't want me to."

"Alright fine," Two-Bit said, "Well I'm heading home. I'll come by tomorrow." As Steve reached for the remote, Two-Bit grabbed it and put it next to the TV. "No TV, just go to sleep."

Steve rolled his eyes again, "Fine, fine."

"I'll be by tomorrow."

"Actually that's a good idea. We should find a time to tell Darry what Soda said, in private."

"Yeah we should," Two-Bit looked down, not looking forward to that conversation, "Well good night."

The next morning was a tense one between the best friends. Soda walked into the kitchen to make breakfast while Steve stayed on the couch. They didn't look at each other. They didn't speak to each other. Soda got some chocolate cake, put it on a plate and sat at the table, eating in silence. Steve picked up a magazine from the coffee table and started flipping through it. Even though it was silent and they were each doing their own things, the anger between them was obvious and it was making the house very uneasy.

After some time passed and Soda began cleaning up, the front door opened and Two-Bit walked in.

"Morning," Two-Bit said, easily noticing the best friends hadn't talked about anything.

"Hi," Steve greeted as he tossed the magazine back onto the table.

Two-Bit looked around to get a glance at Soda, "Hey Soda. How are you doing today?"

Soda didn't respond.

"Oh okay then," Two-Bit shrugged.

With that, Steve got up from the couch and slipped his shoes on. "Come on, let's go for a drive."

"Alright, sure," Two-Bit said as he followed Steve outside, "He didn't talk to you this morning huh?"

"Nothing."

"Hello Darry!"

Darry glanced down from his spot on the roof. It was Janie Davis calling up to him. "Hey," he waved, "I'll be right down." As Darry got to the ground, he quickly wiped his hands down his work pants. "Hello again Janie. How are you today?"

"I'm good," Janie smiled, "And how are you?"

"I'm good. What can I do for you today? Are you...?"

Before Darry could finish his question, he heard an all too familiar voice call out. "Darry!"

Darry groaned as he looked towards the street and saw Two-Bit and Steve walking up to him. "Oh gees," Darry muttered.

"You're popular today," Janie commented.

"Apparently," Darry said through a fake smile.

"Hi Darry," Two-Bit greeted with a big smile across his face, noticing the attractive woman talking to him.

"Hi guys," Darry said, "Don't you have work today?"

Steve shook his head with a smile, "Nope. We were just going for a drive."

In that moment, Darry hated his new bigger job title as he knew he had to be more polite instead of telling his friends to beat it. "Janie, this is Steve and Two-Bit. They're friends of mine. Guys, this is Janie, she owns this house."

"Hello boys," Janie said as she held her hand out, "Nice to meet you guys."

"Oh the pleasure is ours," Two-Bit returned the handshake.

"More than you even know," Steve added on.

Janie laughed, "You two are funny."

"They are real riots," Darry said sarcastically, "And they are just leaving, right?"

"Yeah sure," Steve said, "Come on Two-Bit, let's go get some shakes. Nice meeting you Janie."

"It was nice meeting you guys too," Janie said as she turned back to Darry, "You have some nice friends."

Darry rolled his eyes, "Their more of my little brother's friends. They entertain my life that's for sure."

Dally looked over at the young greaser. Johnny was sitting on the swing, slowly going back and forth. Dally didn't know what to do. Johnny was barely doing anything, barely talking to him. He didn't want to go over to the Curtis house. Dally could tell he was sad, mad, feeling lost, but didn't know how to fix it. He felt them separating from the gang a little bit, as all he wanted to do was be there for Johnny, even if he wasn't sure how.

"I can't believe you guys did that today," Darry sighed as he was in the kitchen with Two-Bit and Steve.

"Oh come on, we had to," Two-Bit laughed.

"Yeah, first off, you told Two-Bit of all people?" Darry asked, looking at Steve.

"You didn't want me running to Soda," Steve shrugged, "Who else do I tell?"

"Nobody," Darry said, washing his hands in the kitchen sink. Steve and Two-Bit laughed at his answer.

"She likes you though," Steve said.

"Sure," Darry shook his head while drying his hands.

"Steve's right," Two-Bit said, "If you want our serious input, she digs you."

"We barely know each other."

"That's probably why she digs you then," Two-Bit laughed.

"Oh cut it out," Steve smiled as he got up from his seat, "For real Darry, I think she wants to get to know you better."

"Without any of your help," Darry grinned.

"I don't know," Two-Bit outstretched his arms dramatically, "Steve and me are old pros with the ladies. You might want us at the next table, telling you what to do secretly."

"How would that work ding dong?" Darry asked, "She knows what you look like."

"Disguises," Two-Bit winked.

Steve shook his head, "Oh Darry, we may have a little problem."

"With Janie?"

"No, no. We thought about telling you when we stopped by, but then we saw her there, so we just waited until now."

"What is it?" Darry asked concerned.

Steve looked over at Two-Bit, "While we were out at the races last night, a buddy of ours came up to talk to Soda, just tell him how sorry he was for...what happened and everything. He made a comment that kind of set Soda off."

"Well what did he say?"

"It wasn't anything bad," Two-Bit jumped in, "Really, it was not the kid's fault."

"Soda just said something that...I thought we were past, but I guess we aren't," Steve added in.

"What was it?" Darry asked desperately.

"He yelled that he was the one who...killed..." Steve swallowed hard, "Killed Ponyboy."

Darry nearly dropped the cup he was holding, "He...he...he...what?"

"He's still blaming himself for the accident," Two-Bit said.

"Which, let's just be clear right now, there is no one to blame for the accident," Steve said.

Darry hung his head, "Yes there is."

"No Darry, there isn't," Steve said firmly, "There is no one to blame, so you get that shit out of your head now. That could have been any of our cars, any of us driving. It wasn't you."

Darry took the cup and slammed it down on the counter, "Soda really said that?"

"Not even slightly like that," Steve said, "It was word for word."

"Damnit," Darry muttered.

"He still thinks it's his fault," Steve looked down, "I think he needs to talk to somebody."

"You're right," Darry sighed, "He'll need to talk to someone about that, about the move, just everything."

"You really don't want us to tell Soda about this girl?" Two-Bit asked trying to change the subject.

"Okay first of all, there's nothing to tell."

"Right," Steve smirked.

"But either way, no. I don't think Soda would have a good reaction to it. Nothing I do is good right now."

"So when are you going to ask her out?" Two-Bit smiled.

"Would you guys stop it?" Darry whipped the towel towards Two-Bit, "You both are absolutely nuts."

That night after dinner, Steve met with Soda in the backyard.

"Can we talk?" Steve asked.

"Sure," Soda sighed as he pulled out a cigarette.

"Look, I didn't mean to get mad at you last night," Steve said, "You just frustrated me. You weren't driving Soda. You..."

"Steve," Soda stopped him.

"What?"

"You keep telling me that, Darry keeps telling me that, everyone keeps telling me that I wasn't driving."

"Okay?"

Soda turned to face Steve, "Then why am I only remembering it like that?"