Soda got into the front seat of Steve's car, just as he was turning the radio dial, searching for any song that didn't belong to the Beatles.

"Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody"

Steve rolled his eyes and finally left the radio on the next station he tried.

"Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann. Take my hand"

Soda laughed and started to sing along, while Steve shook his head. He backed out of the Curtis' driveway and headed in the direction of the DX. He would drop Soda off there before heading to school.

"Hey, you want to go to the drag races tonight?" Steve asked.

Soda paused, as the song ended, before answering. Did he want to go out tonight? He wasn't too sure. "I don't know, man."

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day..."

Steve groaned, but Soda sang again. He leaned toward Steve, his voice high, as he shouted the chorus.

"I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, talkin' bout my girl..."

"You're such a doofus, Soda," Steve said, but he was smiling.

Truthfully, Steve was glad to see Soda clowning around. He had been quiet and distant lately, like he was wrapped up in his thoughts. Whatever he was thinking about, it was bringing him down. He figured it would be good for Soda to go out and have a little fun.

"All right, buddy, just let me know," Steve said, pulling into the DX parking lot.

"Aw, Steve, just go without me."

It wasn't a bad suggestion, and while they certainly didn't go everywhere together, Steve didn't like that idea today. No, he wanted to spend time with his best friend. Even if all they did was hang out and play cards, he'd make sure Soda did something. "Nah, I'll just hang out at your house."

Soda shrugged, not really wanting Steve to stay in on account of him, but still glad he would. Just thinking about going out, he had suddenly felt overwhelmed.

"You all right, man?" Steve asked, eyeing Soda.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"Good. But...well, if you want to talk, you can tell me anything. It's not a big deal."

Did Darry and Pony send out a memo or something? Soda wondered. He wasn't annoyed. Actually, it felt good. He realized Steve knew him well enough to see something was wrong. He knew him as well as his brothers did. Soda simply didn't feel like talking anymore right now. It had been a long night and morning, and he wanted to start the work day. He needed a break from the thoughts in his head.

Pony walked to his locker with several textbooks in his arms. He still had some catching up to do, so he was taking extra work home today. Pony felt an elbow jab into his side before the books went flying, and he lost his balance, toppling to the floor.

"What's the matter, Greaser? Too clumsy for walking now? All that grease took you down, man," Pony heard a voice say, followed by maniacal laughing.

He recognized the voice and realized it was Gary Reed, a Soc, who was in his honors math class. The Socs had mostly left Pony alone since everything with Johnny, but some of them found great amusement in messing with him. Gary, in particular, liked teasing anyone he believed to be beneath him. Pony thought it was too bad their math class didn't cover manners.

"Hey! If you know what's good for you, you'll lay off my buddy!"

Pony looked up to see TwoBit approaching. He hadn't even known TwoBit was near, but it wasn't a surprise. He was practically Pony's shadow now. Pony scrambled to stand up and gather his books, then placed them in his locker.

"Your buddy needs to learn to fight his own fights, grease," said Gary's buddy, Thomas.

"Back off!" Pony shouted, coming to stand in front of both Socs.

"What are you going to do? Pull a blade on us too? You wouldn't get away with it this time," Gary responded.

Everyone, Socs and Greasers alike, knew what had happened when Johnny rescued Pony from drowning in the park fountain. They all knew Johnny had stabbed Bob Sheldon. Yet, even most Socs did not bring it up. Pony felt a chill go through his body, as his anger dared him to turn this verbal fight into a physical one, but TwoBit held him back with a hand on his shoulder.

"They ain't worth it, Pony," TwoBit said quietly.

"Ha, you always let this one fight your battles?" Thomas snapped.

"Shut up, Soc. Mess with my friend again, and you'll find yourself looking for new teeth!" TwoBit threatened, grabbing a hold of Gary's shirt and shoving him into a nearby locker.

TwoBit pushed Gary away, as he and Thomas laughed again. Both Socs started to walk toward a set of doors leading outside, but they had to have the last word.

"Good day, Greasers. Don't run into anymore burning buildings. We'd hate to lose you too!" Gary shouted merrily, sauntering away.

Pony couldn't move for a moment. No one at school had ever mentioned anything about the burning church or the manner of Johnny's death. Even as cruel as the Socs liked to be, that was one line they didn't cross.

"Kid! You with me?" TwoBit questioned, waving his hand in front of Pony's face. "Don't, Ponyboy. Just let it go," He added, softening his tone.

TwoBit enjoyed fighting. He really did, but he wasn't itching for Pony to get in trouble at school, and he sure didn't want to see him hurt again. That was why TwoBit had stood with Pony, instead of knocking that Soc's teeth out for daring to mention how Bob had been killed with Johnny's blade. He forced himself to think only of Pony. The adrenaline rush of a fight wouldn't justify failing to keep his buddy safe from harm. It had also been difficult not to react when TwoBit heard the even more brutal comment about the fire. He had to admit that if Pony hadn't been there, he wouldn't have hesitated for a moment. TwoBit was even more protective of all his friends now, but he considered watching out for Pony his own personal responsibility. He would never forget how sick Pony had been after Johnny and Dally's deaths or his role that he felt had contributed to the illness. TwoBit had sat next to Pony's bed and cried, full of sorrow and regret. Darry had appeared at his side and assured him that Pony getting sick absolutely was not his fault. TwoBit still thought he could've done better though. Maybe if he had told Darry about the fever, Pony wouldn't have been at the rumble, then he never would have passed out. That kid couldn't so much as stub his toe now without TwoBit telling Darry all about it.

"Come on, kid. Let's go visit Soda at the DX. I'll swipe us some Pepsis and candy bars," TwoBit offered, slinging an arm around Pony's shoulders.

"Sure, TwoBit. Hey, thanks for showing up," Pony said, grinning slightly.

"No problem, Pony. You know I got your back. And, just so you know, if you hadn't been there when the Socs said that about...well, about Johnny, I would've punched their lights out."

TwoBit wasn't joking, and Pony knew it. Even though he pretended to resent it, Pony was glad for TwoBit's protectiveness. He'd once told Pony he wasn't like the rest of them and not to try to be. TwoBit was right, and he wouldn't even let Pony try to be like anyone, except himself.

The bell above the door dinged, as Pony and TwoBit walked into the DX station. Steve was right behind them, rushing to clock in and join Soda at the counter.

"Hey, Soda!" Pony greeted.

"Hi, guys! Come to see me too?" Soda replied, referring to the two teenage girls pretending to read magazines, while actually ogling Soda.

"Nah. Came to get some Pepsis and candy bars, then we'll be out of your hair," TwoBit said, eyeing the candy.

"Just remember you got to pay for those," Soda commented, grinning.

"Are you accusing me of being a thief? Why, Sodapop Curtis! I've never been so offended!" TwoBit cried, pretending he was shocked he'd been accused of such a crime.

Soda laughed, glancing up at the girls staring at him. The one who was staring the most and whispering to her friend was a redhead, and her friend was a blonde. Soda rolled his eyes, as he rung up the drinks and candy Pony had handed him. He usually reveled in attention from the girls coming into the DX, but it bothered him today. He just didn't want to be watched for anyone's entertainment. He felt if they stared enough, they would be able to see the conflict inside of his head. With the way his friends and brothers were talking to him lately, he wondered if his eyes betrayed his buried emotions. Soda was distracted from his thoughts when he saw a car pull up to a gas pump outside.

"I got it, Stevie," Soda called, heading outside.

Steve usually chose the hands-on work with the cars over standing at this counter, but Soda did seem eager to get outside. Steve glanced at the girls still in the store. They were whispering now, and the redheaded one was scribbling something onto a slip of paper. He knew what it was since girls always swooned over Soda. Steve actually wasn't jealous because the ladies looked his way twice too when they heard he was Soda's best buddy.

"See you later, Steve," TwoBit said, taking a swig of Pepsi.

"Bye, man. Hey, Pony, tell Darry me and Soda might be going out tonight," Steve said.

"Oh! I just remembered! Remind Soda that one of Darry's work buddies is having a bunch of people over tonight. He's going to go for a while, and I might too. His buddy's got a couple of nephews my age. See ya!" Pony called, as TwoBit pulled him out the door, like he was in a hurry.

Steve shook his head at his friend and grinned. He watched Soda finish up with the car outside. The customer had just asked for the basic services of cleaning the windshield, filling the gas tank, and checking the oil. Before Soda could get to the door, the two girls stepped into his path. The pretty redheaded one handed Soda the slip of paper Steve knew had her phone number written on it. Soda appeared to be listening, but only nodded as she chatted away. The blond girl stood to the side, but looked to be listening intently. Soda smiled at the redhead, then waved as he ambled away to come back into the DX.

"Hey, man. That's a good looking chick. She give you her number?" Steve asked Soda, grinning at his best friend.

"Yeah, her name's Susan," Soda said, while he re-shelved the magazines the girls had been reading.

"You going to give her a call?" Steve wondered.

"I don't know." Soda shrugged.

The bell above the door dinged, signaling the arrival of a new customer, and Steve greeted them at the same time Soda spotted another car pulling up near the gas pumps. He didn't say anything this time, as he made his way outside to tend to the customer, leaving Steve to the cash register.

A/N The song lyrics belong to the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Temptations :)