PONYBOY:

The days wore on slowly, quietly, with no action. It was as if we were all on automatic; just doing the everyday-life things we had to, like sleeping, eating, breathing. Everything was tense, and akward. Everyone was on edge. Nobody was happy. Darry and Soda even got into a fight. Yeah, they never fight. I guess Sodapop went to go and see Steve in jail after all, and Darry found out somehow. He blew his roof. You could hear him yelling from all the way down the lot, I'd bet.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis! There are reasons I didn't want you to go there without me. What in the hell makes you think for one goddamn minute that it's okay to just break the one rare rule I gave you whenever you want?" His face was redder than a tomato, veins were popping out of his neck and arms from him being so tense. He looked like he could blow smoke from his ears.

"Well I don't know, Darry! Maybe when your rules are stupid? I'm seventeen, now. You know I'm capable of making my own choices! What's it matter anyway? I don't see the big deal here!" Soda wasn't hesitating to scream back, just as loud. Bewildered, Darry had to regain his composure.

"When they look up who you are and see all the driving tickets and trouble you've gotten into and everything on your record, alls it'll take is for them to say the word and you'll be taken away from me and Ponyboy and put into a boys home! If you want that, then damnit Soda be my guest. Get out for all I care!"

Soda got real quiet, looking at his feet. But only for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Darry. But Steve would have done the same for me. He's like family. He's my best friend. And I'm not gonna let prison change him like it did Dally. I'm not going to let him go through what Dallas went through - and that's being alone, having no one there to talk to you or keep you company. So I don't care how you plan on punishing me, I won't ever regret or be angry at myself for doing my job as a friend."

Through clenched teeth, we found out that Darry could infact raise his voice even higher.

"Well you ain't foing your job as a brother, not to me or Pony!" Then he left. Took the truck and drove off. Gone. That's the only time I'd ever seen Darry lose his head, lose self control. Soda sat down numbly on the couch, tapping his foot to keep from going insane. It hurt me to see my happy, lively brother so stressed out.

"Soda?"

"Not now, Ponyboy." His reckless brown eyes were blazing with anger, pain, rage, and sadness. it struck me how much he looked like Dally had when we visited him in the hospital that one day. That was almost two months ago, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. I sat down beside Soda, not speaking. It seemed silent for a little while, but it was comfortable. I knew Soda would never hurt me, and I never felt weird about anything around him. I could be exactly who I wanted to be, he'd understand. He always understood.

"I'm going to Florida, Ponyboy."

I didn't think I heard him right. It was like my ears and my head weren't connected. I heard the words, but I didn't listen. They didn't register.

"Wha-what? WHAT? Soda no, you can't! No! Soda, no please no. Please don't go. Don't leave me here alone. No, Soda!" I started bawling and shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't just leave me here, not now. Not when the very foundation of all our lives were threatening to fall apart. When he spoke, his voice was unnaturally calm.

"Ponyboy, I know it'll be hard for you but I got to. Sandy would never forgive me if I didn't. She needs someone there for her, and after all I went through with her I'd never be able to forgive myself for not being there. You'll be alright, I know it Pony." I wished he was kidding, bbut by the look on his face, I knew he was dead serious. I wished someone would just come and kill me. I wish that Soc Bob did kill me that night. I bolted out of the front door, trying to get away from reality.

STEVE:

Life in jail blows. I woke up one morning aching all over. It wasn't the best night of sleep I've ever had. It was probably one of the worst. Dally was still asleep. It occured to me that either he was up all night, or he was just used to sleeping in jail. Maybe a little bit of both. I sighed, wishing I had Soda to talk to. At least I wasn't gonna lose my job. Soda talked to our manager for me. We've been in here almost two weeks now. Two to go.

I wondered vaguely if my dad knew, or cared, that I was in jail. He probably didn't, and if he did he wouldn't care anyways. So it was a stupid thought. I wish I had a cigarette, and I wish Dally didn't punch me yesterday. My eye really hurt.

I was just talking, about how I couldn't wait to get back and see the gang. And he was in a really pissy mood, but he's so unpredictable. I didn't know he was that mad. He just punched me in the eye, turning it purple, and told me to leave him alone and shut up. I wasn't too fond of being clobbered, so I did. He's been muttering stuff in his sleep about New York. I wonder why he's been thinking about that. Usually he'd beat down anyone that mentioned New York. He wasn't exactly proud of being a hoodlum. He liked being titled "tough," and "careless." But he wished he didn't get all the bad breaks. He just wished life was easy, but since it wasn't, he tried to make it as hard for himself as possible.

Sometimes I think about what would've happened if he died that night the cops shot him. We all for sure thought he was. I know I wouldn't be in jail right now..that's for sure. But I'd never wish death on Dally. Hell, I wouldn't wish death on Ponyboy, and God knows I can't stand that kid sometimes. When he's supposed to act tough, he wimps out. When he's supposed to keep his trap shut, he's being a smartass. And he wanted to do everything with Sodapop. Not that I'm jealous or complaining, the kid just annoyed me.

I wish I knew how Two-Bit was doing. Probably fine, he always is. He's a tough fighter. He's been to New York too. Not lived there, like Dally. And he wasn't as dangerous as Dally, either. Dally was tough. Tougher, colder, meaner than the rest of us. Dally didn't care bout anyone, except maybe Johnny. I don't know why, Johnny was so quiet. But I guess that was refreshing to Dal. But Two-Bit got jumped by four guys once, and he fought off every one of them. That's tuff. It takes a lot of guts and strength to be able to handle multiple guys at a time. I kind of admire ol' Two-Bit, and I'm jealous as hell. He's got a great mom, funny, too. And a sweet little sister. He's got a decent home to live in, and a car that he didn't even have to pay for. His mom paid it all. She would let that guy get away with murder, I swear. But then again, Two-Bit was one of those people you just didn't mind doing stuff for. He's a real good guy, nobody ever really gets mad at him.

I saw Dally waking up out of the corner of me eye, and the guards came walking down towards our cell. We were probably going to get let out for food, or new clothes, or forced to go out with the other guys and just pretty much sit around and get in fights. I hated doing that. I stood up slowly, bracing myself for whatever was coming next.

- Yawn. This might chapter might have bored you guys, but out of all the characters in The Outsiders, Steve was the one we heard the least about. We didn't really know any of his feelings, so this is me; creating a solid personality for him. The next chapter'll have some action, promise (: -