Steve POV

I was out the door again after I took a good hard look at Sodapop. Him and his damn brother. His damn brother. Ponyboy… it's always his fault. With everything! Why me and Soda can't have any alone time; why me and Soda can't go anywhere by ourselves. Why Soda and I can't do anything anymore. After Dally and Johnny died, Ponyboy went delirious. Dropped like a ton of lead right in front of the whole scene. Scared Darry and Soda shitless. Two-Bit took full blame saying he knew Ponyboy was sick the whole time and how it was his fault Pony was like that.

Me? What did I do? I avoided the guys for a whole week. The whole week that was happening. If I tried to start up a conversation with Soda, I knew he would just and only talk about Ponyboy the whole time. Ponyboy knew I didn't like him before that all happened. And it didn't bother me none.

Me and Pony started getting along at Dal's and Johnny's funeral. After everything was over and we all headed back to the Curtis' house, me and Pony got to talking. I don't know how much I had to drink, but I started seeing through to the kid. It was like something clicked between us. We both apologized for our behaviors towards each other.

It was at this moment that I remembered what I did to Ponyboy earlier. I went out and fought, with his brother, a whole gang of socs so Ponyboy wouldn't get hurt himself; causing his older brother to get a broken leg. I convinced Ponyboy that Two-Bit would be okay when he was very sick and passed out. I hugged Ponyboy and told him everything would be okay.

I was jealous, and I'm talking extremely jealous of Ponyboy and Sodapop's bond when I really got to thinking about it at the hospital. When Soda mentioned he wanted Ponyboy to decorate his cast, I got really sad. When I called Darry and he started bragging about Pony, that got me depressed. It made me cry. I broke at the hospital. Something I haven't done since elementary school.

I didn't know where I was headed. I honestly didn't care where I went. So, I went to the next best place I could think of. Two-Bit's house. We all loved Two-Bit's mother. She was like our second mother incase something happened. When I reached Two-Bit's house, she was outside sitting on the porch, reading a book in the swinging bench seat she had on the porch.

I walked up the driveway and approached the porch. "Well hello there Steve, how have you been?" Ms. Mathews asked. He voice was soothing and sweet. Very gently.

"I'm fine, thanks Ms. Mathews."

She smacked her lips. "Please Steven, call me Susan."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Okay… Susan," I said sarcastically. "Hey, I was wondering if I could talk to you about a thing or two."

"Susan" made room for me on the bench. "Of course, take a seat." And I did.

I told her everything. I informed her about Two-Bit and said he was doing well. Then I began talking to her about what I really wanted to discuss. I talked about Ponyboy and Sodapop and how that really got on my nerves, I told her about how I was confused for running out like that and trash talking about Ponyboy. I told her about how me and Soda went out and got into it with those socs and how he ended up breaking his leg.

"Oh my, is he okay?" Ms. Mathews-I mean "Susan" gasped.

"Yeah, he got home some time early this morning… but here's another thing," And I told her about my meltdown at the hospital and why I broke. I told that women everything. Even about how my dad ignores me now.

After I was done, "Susan" slouched in her seat. She put her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "Steven, have you ever heard the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost?"

I shook my head. "No, why?"

"Because, I think it has a very valuably meaning to it. My son told me about it. He said he got it from Ponyboy. And would you like to know who Ponyboy told it to?" I nodded. "Johnny. A while ago, I think a month ago, Two-Bit brought Ponyboy over here. Ponyboy told me all about his time in Windrixville. How he missed Two-Bit, Darry, Sodapop and Dallas. He even said he missed you, Steve."

That made me slouch and think. "That poem… the one by Robert Frost, how does it go?" I asked her.

She smiled.

"Nature's first green it gold,

Her hardest hue to hold,

Her early leaf's a flower,

But only so an hour,
Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day,

Nothing gold can stay."

That made me smile. "Sure does sound like something Ponyboy would say."

Ms. Mathews took her hand off of my shoulder and into her own lap. "You know Steven, if I were you, I'd go back to the house and apologize. About everything."

"You're right," I got up. "Do you have anything else to say? Any advice?"

She thought for a moment. "Stay Gold."

I waved a goodbye and started for the Curtis' residence. When the house approached my view, I stopped; hesitant to go back in or not. I didn't even know how long I had been gone. But by judging by the sun; I'd been gone for a while.

I walked onto the porch and walked inside without even stopping to think. I saw Soda and Pony talking on the couch, Darry in the armchair and Two-Bit sitting on the ground, drinking tea.

"Hey Steve, welcome back," Two-Bit croaked. I laughed and patted Two-Bit on the shoulder then sat beside him. "What?"

I looked at him as everyone was staring at me. "You've got quite some mother Keith…"