Darry Had agreed to letting Dally stay.

"For as long as he needs to," he'd told Soda. Darry was real good about being an adult figure to the boys. He'd do whatever he could for them. He would be the best leader for the gang, if they had one. Dallas thanked Darry, and he headed off to drive Soda, Steve, and himself to work. Dally was the only person left in the house, since Ponyboy and Two-Bit went to a movie. He had plans with Tim Shepard, but he was pretty bored waiting to get picked up.

Tim and Dally had always been close, though nobody really understood their friendship. One day they could be beating the tar out of eachother, and the next it's like they have been best friends their whole life. Dally guessed it was mainly because they liked to do the same things, Tim was a real hood. And if Dally hadn't grown up so close to his own gang, so close to Johnny, he probably would of joined Tim's. They both drank, jumped Socs and other social outcasts, hustled and cheated for money, fought rough, with blades and chains, and pretty much strutted around with the feeling that they ran the whole town. They understood eachother. They were more street-smart and tough than the rest.

Dally was sitting on Soda's bed, looking around. Trying to remember the last time he'd slept in a bed. He'd been used to curling up beside buildings, or next to Johnny in the lot. From time to time he used the Curtis's couch, and the backrooms at Buck's. He hadn't slept in a bedroom since he was a young kid. He smiled inspite of himself at the idea of a bed to call his own, even if it was technically Soda's. Glancing down, he saw a piece of paper sticking out of the drawer in the desk beside the bed, and he was curious. Dally wasn't trying to get into Soda's personal stuff, but knowing Ponyboy had a note from Johnny, Dally didn't want to find out anymore "surprises."

Sodapop, it read. Dally realized it was a girl's handwriting. Probably from Sammy or Sandy, whatever it is. That one broad he'd been with all this time.

I'm sorry you have to find out this way, but I really have no other choice. It's true, Soda. I'm having a baby. I know I'm too young and all, but I just can't find the strength to get rid of it, or give it up. It just ain't right. My parents aren't happy, they threw me out of the house with fifty bucks and nowhere to go. So I'm heading to Florida, to live with my grandma. I'm real sorry. There's something else you need to know, and it's not a good thing. I feel awful, but I have to tell you. It ain't yours.
Now, I understand what I did was really wrong, and I don't know who's it is, Soda. I was drunk and at a party a couple weeks ago, and we haven't done anything for a month or so. I don't know if that makes matters worse, or better. But it's not yours. At least now, you don't have any responsibility in this. You don't have to worry. I hope I see you again someday, but let's face it. This is all there is to it. Sorry, once again.
Sandy.

Dally was utterly shocked for a moment, he'd of never guessed Soda would be tangled in a mess like that to begin with. Not loving, carefree, Sodapop. He had no worries. He was always happy. But thinking twice, Dally then realized how much problems Soda had to deal with, that no one bothered to ever ask about or listen to. He'd lost the girl he loved, his buddy, and almost his own brother all in the same week. And he was still smiling. It was then, that Dallas realized that Sodapop Curtis was a lot more tough than he originally gave him credit for. He gained a lot of respect for him. He wondered if Steve knew, but doubted it. Steve was among the type to not ask questions or have serious conversations about life and problems, unless the other guy brought it up. And somehow, he knew Soda didn't.

A car horn honked, snapping Dally back to reality. He folded up the note and put it back where it was, and hurried outside to meet his buddy.

"Hi Tim," he greeted hastily.

"Hi, Pal." Tim nodded and unlocked the door to the rusty old souped up truck of his. "How about we go put away a couple of six-packs and see how much we can hustle out of ol' Buck this week. If we get enough we can probably go pick up some new blades. I broke mine this morning, and saw Two-Bit's the other day. It was pretty tuff. Sound good?"

"Yeah, sounds fine, man."

Sodapop was about to leave the DX, his shift was beyond over, but he always liked to stay and help out Steve whenever he could. Steve worked full time, and Soda only part time. But there was nothing better to do. He decided to leave after awhile, it was a really hot day. He walked to the parking lot to get in Steve's car, who he'd go back to pick up later on, when Two-Bit trotted up to him happily.

"Soda, I'm free of charges! The cops let me off with a warning, since I haven't got in trouble with em' for a long time." He couldn't of been grinning any bigger.

"That's great, buddy." Soda was genuinely surprised, but glad nonetheless.

"I'm probably going to celebrate by getting boozed up tonight, you comin' along?" It was after Two-Bit asked that, that Soda knew he wouldn't ever learn from his mistakes. In Two-Bit's world, it was only wrong when you got caught. Soda never drank, so he didn't know why Two-Bit would want him to go. But Soda hadn't been partying in a long time, and it could only be good for him. So he considered it.

"Only if you let me do the driving," he said finally. Soda loved to drive, and he liked to drive fast. But he was certainly a better driver than Two-Bit was, especially when he got drunk. Two-Bit thought that that idea was just fine.

"But wait, who's gonna watch Ponyboy? Darry's not going to make it home tonight, he's staying over at work. He has to get up early in the morning tomorrow, and work late tonight, so he's just staying." Soda frowned, he was always uneasy about leaving Pony alone all night.

"Dally, or Steve. Or both." Two-Bit said, but Soda wasn't sure that they'd be the best for the job. Ah, well. It was better than nothing. Boy, Steve and Ponyboy together for the night. Dally sure was in for a treat.

- Okay, in case you didn't get it, the last paragraph is what the next chapter will be about. The three boys that don't get along at home all night, and how chaotic the things will go. It will probably be funny :D I'll update soon.