Chapter 11

We'll be ok

SODA'S POV

A couple of days later, Pony started giving Davanee baby food. It was funny to see her spit up on him the first couple of times.

"So what are you doing tonight?" asked Pony, trying to get Davanee to eat.

"Steve and I are going to a party at Buck's place. You can come if you want" I offered.

"I dunno. I guess I could if Darry or Anya can baby-sit" said Pony.

"Good, you need to get out of the house. You haven't been out with the gang in God knows how long" I said.

"Thanks for pointing it out" said Pony. Pony finally got Davanee to open her mouth and he shoved the spoon in once she did. She made a funny face but kept whatever she was eating in her mouth.

"I don't think she likes that" said Pony.

"What are you feeding her anyways?" I asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

Pony picked the jar up and said "carrots."

"That doesn't look like carrots" I said.

"Of course it doesn't. It's baby food" said Pony.

I left Pony and Davanee in the kitchen. I had to finish getting ready to go out. I threw on a clean shirt and a pair of jeans. It took me almost twenty minutes for me to do my hair. I am very particular about my hair. It has to look absolutely perfect before I go out. I know it sounds like a weird thing to obsess about but I really don't have much else to be crazy about aside from Sandy.

Steve arrived at our house around 7 and we left at about 7:20.

We got to Buck's around 8ish. There where a ton of people there. There was cheep Hank Williams music blaring from inside.

PONY'S POV

Steve and Soda went off to play pool, leaving me alone in a room filled with a bunch of skanky girls. I sat down on one of the couches that was in a far corner of the room. I sat by myself for a long time until one of the skanky girls noticed me sitting by myself.

She was a greaser no doubt. She was medium height with long, blonde hair that went down to the middle of her back. She could've been real pretty if she didn't wear so much make up and if she didn't wear such skanky clothes. She had on a mini skirt and cut off shirt.

She walked over to the couch and sat down next to me.

She said "hi."

"Hi."

"My name's Carly. What's yours?"

"Ponyboy."

"Ponyboy. That's a cool name."

"Thanks" I said, scooting a little further down the couch. Of course, she moved closer to me.

"How old are you, Ponyboy?"

"14."

"17. You in high school or junior high?"

"High school" I replied.

"Really? You know most girls find a smart guy hot" whispered Carly in my ear. I shuddered slightly. I turned to look at her but before I could say anything she started kissing me. We kissed for a long time.

We stopped kissing and she looked at me. She smiled slightly and started leading me upstairs. I was about to go with her but then a picture of Davanee flashed through my mind. I could see her sitting on the living room floor, playing with some of her toys. She stopped, looked at me, and giggled and smiled. But then the picture changed. It was a couple years down the road. She looked to be about ten or so. She was outside playing with a girl who looked to be a little younger then her. The little girl looked just like Davanee. Both of the girls stopped and looked at me. "Hey Dad" said both of the girls. Then it changed again, about 5 or 6 more years down the road. Both Davanee and the other girl where sitting out on the front porch. "How come you never told us?" asked Davanee.

I stopped myself before I was about to make the same mistake again.

"What's wrong?" asked the girl.

"I can't" I replied.

"Why not? You're not shy, are you?" asked Carly.

"No, I'm not. I just can't do this again. I'm sorry but you'll have to find someone else to be your entertainment tonight" I replied. Carly looked at me funny before storming off and finding some other guy to hook up with.

I walked out of that party by myself. I figured it wasn't worth ruining Steve and Soda's night. They can stay and have their fun. Besides, Steve would probably hurt me if they had to leave on the count of me. Surprisingly, I got home that night without getting jumped or anything.

"Your back early" said Darry, who was trying to get Davanee to eat, "something wrong?"

"No. I just wasn't havin' that much fun. Has she eaten anything?" I asked, walking into the kitchen.

"No. I can't get her to eat a thing" said Darry.

"Here, let me try" I said. Darry got up and handed me the spoon. I got her to eat on the first try.

"How'd you do that?"

"I dunno" I replied.

I finished feeding Davanee while Darry watched the 9 o'clock news which is weird because he never watches the news. He normally reads about it in the newspaper. I gave Davanee her bath, put her in her pajamas, and rocked her in her room. She liked to be rocked every night.

"Tonight's been a long night" I said, looking down at Davanee while she looked up at me with those greenish-gray eyes. 'She has my eyes' I thought to myself, 'I've never noticed that before.'

"Your dad could've done something real stupid again. You see, I met this girl and we started kissin' and I thought 'well, this is ok just as long as it doesn't go any further' but it turned out she did want to go further and she started draggin' me upstairs. And the bad part about this situation is is that I wanted to go but then I saw you. I saw you now, when you're 10, and 15, trying to explain the mistake I made. But don't get me wrong, your not a mistake. I would never say that to you, unlike Johnny's parents. I'd never hurt you either. How could someone hurt something so innocent and cute?" Before I could say anything more, I noticed that Davanee had fallen asleep. I gently placed her in her crib so that I wouldn't wake her.

"I figured there was another reason why you came home early tonight" said Darry from behind me. I turned around to see him leaning against the door frame.

"How much of that did you hear?"

"All of it. You know when she first came here I thought 'there's no way he can do this. He's just a kid' but as the weeks went on and I saw how well you where handling it I started to think that maybe you do know what your doing" said Darry.

"To be honest, I don't. I'm just going by what I think is right" I said, walking out of Davanee's room, "but I think we'll be ok."

"Me too."