It was ten in the morning when I walked out of the house and went to Pony's. I had taken a quick shower and gotten dressed so I didn't have to be there when my fake dad woke up. Soda walked out of his house and asked if I saw Pony recently.
" No. What happened?"
" Darry hit him last night and he rushed out."
" You looking for him?"
" Yah. I'm going to Buck's because Dally was there and he might know where he is. I also need something from him."
When we reached Buck's place, Dally wasn't there. Soda talked to Buck as I looked around. I went up stairs and ended up in a bedroom. It smelled of smoke and a strong drink. It made me want to gag. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a navy blue piece of cloth.
" That looks oddly familiar."
I picked it up and it was a t-shirt or more of a sweater with the arm holes cut off.
" Ponyboy's shirt."
I rushed down the stairs hurriedly. Soda was waiting for me at the door.
" Soda I found something."
I handed him the shirt. He had a worried expression on his face that turned to mad. He rushed out the door and I had to run to catch up with him.
" Soda slow down!"
He turned around so quickly it startled me.
" Valley you need to go home."
" No. I want to help you find Dallas."
" Valley listen to me. I don't want you to get hurt. There is no way of telling how Dally's going to respond to me. He could beat me up for all I know."
" I get beat up a lot. I can take a punch"
" Val please."
" Okay I'll leave."
" Val I didn't mean to upset you."
" No it's okay. I understand."