Disclaimer-I do not own "The Outsiders."

Ponyboy was for once grateful that Steve had decided to come over to see Soda. He was even more grateful that he had showed up right before he had went off to school and Darry to work. That way neither of the two brothers had to take time off of school or work to stay home with the scarred teen. There was no way they were going to leave him alone. Not after what had happened last night.

Steve looked around the strangely neat room before knocking twice on the open door. The Curtis house had been kept a lot more clean since Soda was always home now and that there was not much for him to do. He would have felt even more guilty than he already does if he didn't clean. It's the least he could do for his family. Besides, it sometimes helped to keep his mind off of "Him."

Darry always manages to thank and praise him for the good job he's doing with keeping the house so clean. Soda knew that Darry's intentions were good when he thanked him but he couldn't help but feel more pathetic each time he does this. He wanted to do more. He wanted to work again. He wanted to be able to go out with Steve and pick up girls and not worry about a darn thing. He wanted to be normal.

Soda rolled over onto his other side so that he was facing the door when he heard the knock and couldn't help but feel his lips tug upwards into a large smile when he saw Steve standing in the doorway. "Hi Steve!"

Steve watched his best friend as he sat up in bed with what almost looked to be his old, prize-winning smile stretched across his face, causing the thin scar that was right above his left lip to stretch upwards a bit. "Hey Soda. Howa doin'?"

Soda shrugged his shoulders at this but couldn't manage to get rid of the smile that was on his face. He was so excited to see Steve. He hadn't seen him in a few days. "I'm okay," he said when the shrug he did didn't seem to satisfy as an answer for his best friend.

Steve knew that this was a lie. When he walked into the house he had just caught the tail-end of the conversation between Darry and Ponyboy about what had happened last night with Soda. He heard about the kick and about the broken mirror and when he saw Soda's bandaged up hand he couldn't help but to stare.

Soda followed his gaze down to his hand when he noticed it and couldn't help but to stare too at the blood that had seeped through the bandages. He slowly flexed his hand a bit before saying a little quietly, "Darry probably already told you all about last night, huh?" He felt his eyes well up slightly with tears and shook his head before saying in the same quiet tone he had used before, "Everyone in the gang will all eventually know. Won't they..?"

Steve felt a wave of sympathy wash over him as he asked this. He didn't know what to say to Soda. He couldn't lie to him … But on the other hand Darry really didn't tell him anything. He just sort of walked in on the conversation about last night.

"Darry didn't tell me anything Soda and you don't have to tell me anything either if you don't want to."

Steve stared at the expression on Soda's face, seeing that it hadn't really changed even after what he had just said and sighs before sitting down on the bed next to him. The short tempered greaser stared at his friend for a moment before putting his arm around him and saying, "It's okay Soda. You don't have to feel bad. Nobody's mad at you. And you don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to. But if you do wanna talk you know that I'm always here for ya'."

Soda nodded slightly at this but didn't take his gaze off of the floor. Steve was trying, he knew that, but he wouldn't understand. No one would be able to. The knives, the darkness, the sight and sticky feel of blood. No one would be able to.

Steve waited patiently for more of a reaction from Soda than just a nod but finally accepted that this was all he was going to be able to get out of him after a couple of more moments of waiting in silence. He stared at his best friend before saying with a small smile, trying to change the subject and to help lighten up Soda's sad mood, "Hey why don't we go outside or something. You're as pale as a ghost buddy. You could use some sun."

Steve stared at the slight fear that flashed across his friend's glassy eyes before saying a little quickly, "We don't have to go anywhere. We could just sit out on the porch. Come on Soda it's better than just sittin' in here all cooped up. Whaddya' say?"

Soda sighed for a moment and hesitated before looking up at Steve and couldn't help but nod a little at the determined look on his friend's face. Steve could be so stubborn sometimes when he wanted to be.

"Okay, but just for a little while."

Steve smiled at this and took his arm back from around Soda before standing up. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it quickly when Soda started to speak first.

"I-… I want to change first before we-….. I want to change."

The car obsessed greaser easily got the message Soda was trying to give to him. He wanted him to leave the room. Soda never really minded changing in front of the gang when he had to but now … it was a whole other story. He didn't even like changing at all because when he did he had to reveal more of his scars, more of his memories. He hated them. He hated himself.

"Okay buddy. I'll be right out in the living room waitin' for ya'."

Soda nodded and watched his friend as he went. He sighed and looked over at the window and stared at the sun that was brightly shining through it. It was a beautiful day. He smiled softly to himself but this smile soon faded when he opened the drawers to his dresser.

Steve forced himself to keep his gaze away from his friend's bedroom. No matter how badly it pained Steve to see those scars he still wanted to look. They helped to fuel his anger. He vowed to never let that bastard get away with what he had done to Soda. He always knew that that freak was weird but of course no one listened to him. He told Soda numerous times to stay away. Why didn't he listen..? He always knew.

Steve swallowed almost nervously before turning his head slightly back towards the open doorway. He needed to see it. Soda already had a clean pair of jeans on but he had yet to put his shirt on. His back was facing the doorway, giving Steve a clear view of the deep large letters that were sprawled into the upper portion of his back. "MINE," Steve read silently as unconsciously his hands slowly clenched into fists. "MINE," he read again.

Well that's it for chapter eight =) I'd like to thank Steph36 for her review! It's always a pleasure to read hers =) Reviews are always welcome. Positive or negative ones, I don't care which. Please review and tell me what you think!