Please forgive me for such a long wait. I was on vacation and I meant to update but I didn't. Also a heads up: I won't update for quite a while in August. I'm moving. :/

I hope you accept my apology with this chapter. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

XxX

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)

XxX

"Hey, Pony, what'cha reading?" Soda asked as he entered the house.

"Gone With the Wind," I muttered, not looking up.

When Soda didn't respond, I quickly looked up at him. He was looking at the ground, but he was smiling. I wonder if he remembered the night we talked about this book and the note Johnny gave me.

Soda walked in on me while I was reading the note Johnny gave to me again. He asked why I was crying. I didn't know I was crying till he mentioned it. He asked what was wrong, and I told him. I told him about the note, and how Johnny told me to stay gold, and everything else.

XxX

I smiled at that memory. I could tell Soda anything, and he wouldn't judge me; no matter what I said. He would stay there and listen. He knew how to make me smile and feel better. He knew the right words to say at the right times.

I sighed and looked out the window. The sun was just about to rise and I didn't sleep at all. Curly stayed awake the whole night, blabbering about things I didn't care for while driving. I tried to tune him out, but it's hard to when he talks non-stop.

Today's my birthday. I'm finally eighteen. I wonder if Darry or Soda remember it's my birthday. Probably not, but I can still imagine. I don't think Curly knows or cares that it's my birthday and I don't plan on telling him at all.

Curly's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Hey Curtis, wanna stop for some grub?"

"Sure man," I replied.

With that, Curly pulled into a road that led us to a little diner. We both climbed out and headed inside. I looked around and noticed it wasn't crowded at all. There were only a few people here, mostly old couples.

Something immediately caught my eye. A payphone. I looked at Curly and saw him looking at one of the waitresses.

"Curly, I'll be right back," I muttered to him.

He nodded and went walking in the direction of the waitress. I sighed and walked over to the payphone slowly. I pulled some change out of my pocket and slowly put it in. My hands started to shake.

Calm down, I told myself. I slowly picked up the phone and dialed the number. I prayed to God someone answered. I just need to hear their voices.

Ring.

I took a deep breath. I was shaking even more.

Ring.

Still no answer.

"Hello?" A voice asked.

I immediately dropped the phone.

XxX

"Hello?" I asked again, annoyed. Was this a prank call? No one was answering on the other line. It's starting to piss me off.

Still no answer, I hung up the phone. I sighed and sat back in my chair. Soda and I have searched all over town, but still no Pony.

Soda interrupted my thoughts when he ran into the living room.

"Who called? Was it Pony?" He asked, anxiously.

"No, Soda, it wasn't Pony," I muttered, hating to tell him we still can't find Pony.

He sighed and plopped on the couch and closed his eyes. He hasn't gotten any sleep whatsoever, and it's killing him. I haven't got any sleep either.

I have no idea where Pony is, and I hate it. I just want him home. I can't think of what else to do. We searched high and low all over Tulsa, but there is no sign of Pony anywhere. But I'm not giving up. We're going to find him, and life will get better for us, I hope.

"Darry?" Soda asked.

"Hm?"

"The two of us ain't gonna do much for finding Pony. We need more help,"

He was right. But who would we ask?

"I agree, but who could we ask?" I questioned.

He hesitated.

"Two-Bit and Steve."

XxX (Steves POV)

"I win!" I yelled, and pulled all my winnings towards me.

Poker is my game, and always will be. I put all the money I won into my pockets and left Buck's. I remember when I used to play poker at the Curtis's house. But that seemed like a lifetime ago.

I wonder how they're doing. When I was still hanging around there, they were goin' through family troubles, or something. I thought it would pass, like it usually does. But it didn't.

It tore them apart. It tore the gang apart.

I tried to help Soda, but he pushed me away from him. I got the sign that he doesn't want to be friends, so I completely stayed away from them. I didn't want to get into shit with them.

I saw the kid, Pony, at Buck's a few days ago. I meant to go ask him why the hell he was there, but I kept my distance from him. He was hanging with Curly. I wonder why he would do that.

I wonder what Two-Bit's up to. I see him occasionally. We talked a few times, but he was too drunk to remember. Nothing changed him. He's still the same old beer lovin' Two-Bit.

I hate to admit this, but I miss the Curtis's and Two-Bit. Yeah, I actually miss the kid. He may be a smartass, but he ain't that bad to me.

I lit a cigarette and looked up at the sky. I wish things could go back to normal, before all this hell broke out.

XxX

And I know
I may end up failing too.
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you.

XxX

And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and leave a review. :)