My turn at a chapter. Pony's POV. Pony and Steve are doing better, gettin' along. Soda and Sandy are broken up and Soda is all depressed. Two-Bit is suspended, and Darry is his normal self, cept he and Pony are doing better too. All is swell!

I do not own the Outsiders, Nor does Sammy.

Pony POV

It's a school day, Monday, and Darry and Soda are already awake. Of course, I was long awake before them. It's a habit from Windrixville. But I didn't really get out of bed. I was still curled up under the covers and waiting for Darry or Soda to some by and drag me out by my ankles. But no one did, so I laid there, thinking about what happened only a month ago. Johnny killed a Soc, we ran to the abandoned church, the rumble went on, Johnny died, and later, Dally died too. It was all too much for me in one day. But my report turned into the book, The Outsiders. It sold so many copies, I lost count.

Yawning, I turned on my other side and closed my eyes. But then I heard the door open and the bed sink behind me. There were a pair of large hands on my arm before the person laid down too. I thought of Darry at first, until of course, the voice.

"Pony..." Steve called in an eery voice. I jumped because I thought it was Darry. He sat up and grinned wickedly at me. Lately, after Soda made Steve read the book, we've gotten a lot closer. He's like yet another brother. Like I need a fourth one, but I really don't mind.

"Damn, Steve!" I yelped, knocking a fist on his chest. He wore his usual school clothes; a green tee and a pair of oil stained jeans. He continued to grin at me.

"Soda informed me to wake up the little one. He's stuffing his face right now," he said, jumping off of the bed and jerking the covers from on top of me. "Nice outfit kid," he said with a smile. I had fallen asleep in my boxers. That's it. "Darry said out in five, and I took up three."

"Thanks a lot, Steve!" I yelped, throwing a pillow at him. He dodged, picked it up, and threw it back.

"Hurry up, kid, cause if you don't, Darry'll eat me," he called as he shut the door, leaving me alone. I chuckled, got up, and rubbed my hair down. It was always on ends. Frantically, I searched for a pair of jeans and a clean shirt. I found the jeans and slid them on. As I was on one foot, the door slammed open once more, causing me to fall backwards onto the floor. I looked up to find Two-Bit rushing to me.

"What ever happened, I didn't do it!" he cried, pulling me to my feet. I rolled my eyes. Two-Bit never changed, never. It was normal for him. I buttoned my jeans and zipped them up before grabbing my shirt.

"Don't do that, Two-Bit!" I yelled at him, causing his comical grin to form on his lips.

"I didn't mean to! Darry said breakfast or he's giving it to Steve." My eyes grew.

"STEVE!" I yelled, pushing Two-Bit out of the way, "DON'T YOU DARE EAT MY BREAKFAST!" I ran into the kitchen, bumping into a big black object. I found it was Darry.

"Hey sleepy," he said, wrapping an arm around me in a soft hug. After the book, me and Darry got real close, and I was glad. He shoved a plate in my hands. I joined Soda on the couch and began eating. This happened about every morning. Two-Bit came back, throwing me the shirt I dropped in an attempt to beat Steve to my food.

"Thanks," I said between bites, "Hey, can I get a ride, Two-Bit?"

"Sorry, kid, suspended for glueing the principals door shut. The fat bastard got stuck in the window, trying to get out!" he jeered. There was a small smile on Soda's face. Two-Bit went on, "They didn't catch me until they noticed I was the only kid out of lunch at the time. No one was there..." and he wiggled his fingers for effect, "Besides, it's dead..." Darry came out with a plate piled high for Two-Bit. Steve, with food around his mouth, came out and sat in the reading chair Darry always sat in. Then I remembered, Steve has a car!

"Steve, can I get a ride to school?" I asked. His face stayed the same, so I stuck out my bottom lip. He laughed, shaking his head.

"Sure kid," he said, "Don't see why not."

"Thanks." I gave the plate to Darry and headed for the bathroom to grease and comb my hair. I grabbed the hair grease tub and ran my fingers in it, then pushed my hair back with it. My hair was still a little blonde from when Johnny and I ran to Windrixville. But some red was showing around the crown. I was thinking of dying it back to blonde, to remember Johnny and Dallas. But that's for another day. I combed my newly greased hair in place and walked out. I looked over at Soda, who looked deep in thought again. He was all weird after Sandy left for Florida. And I was sorry too. He loved Sandy too much to let her go. But he had to. He got up and headed for the kitchen. As he passed me, I leaned on Soda's shoulder, making him look down at me.

"See you after work, Pone," he said. He looked really tired. I gave him a quick hug and smiled.

"Alright, see you after work," I said, sliding into my shoes and pulling on a coat. Steve got up and put his coat on too. "Bye Darry! Bye Two-Bit!"

"Bye Pone!" both yelled. Steve and I went out to his car. He slid in the passenger seat, making me eye him oddly.

"How bout you drive. You're learnin', right?" he asked. I smiled and slid in.

"You're taking quite a chance with your baby, Steve."

"The sooner you have a licence, sooner you have a car, sooner I don't drive you anywhere," he said, grinning.

"Gee, thanks!"

"Anytime, kid."