Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. Sigh. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.

A/N: If you like it, love it, or even if you hate it, you know what to do. Tell me in a review. I would love it if you favorited, followed, and/or if you gave me (a) suggestion(s). Thank you. :)

Sodapop's POV

I woke up to see Ponyboy staring at something with a wishful/mournful expression. He was staring at the horizon like he was aching for it to give him something. Once he looked at me I tried to read his green eyes, but there was just too much emotion in then for me to read.

I was hoping dad had gotten drunk or high enough to be passed out and leave us alone. Darry couldn't afford a hospital bill at the moment, he was working himself sick. I hadn't told him, but I planned to drop out and get a job at the DX. The boss said that he would hire me when I was ready. Steve was the mechanic, the best in Tulsa, which means that I automatically got a job too.

I knew that Ponyboy would be devastated. I just hoped that he could forgive me.

X

I turned in the slip today. It had been "signed by parent or guardian" which was true, I guess, I was kind of my own guardian. I knew that I needed to tell Darry about this, but I figured that I could tell him with a paycheck in hand. My paycheck was going to be a little over $50, which wasn't too bad of pay.

I waited a week and slowly approached Darry with my copy of the drop out paper hidden behind my back.

"Hey, Darry?" I questioned cautiously, "Got a minute?"

"Yeah, what do you need, Sodapop?" Darry asked. I handed him the drop out paper and then the check.

"I want to help Darry, help keep Ponyboy in school and college. Your going to kill yourself on your own," I informed him gently. He looked madder than I had seen him in a long time. I shrunk back.

"Soda, what where you thinking?" He yelled. I wanted to tell him to stop, but I didn't want to make him angrier.

"You need help, Darry, admit it," I informed him,"It can't be undone."

"I'm upset, Soda, your not one to normally give up, but…" he sighed heavily, too warn down to keep yelling at me about this, seeing how I was so set on dropping out. I nodded mutely, too stunned that he let me off that easily to speak. He ran a hand through his hair and sat down to pay the bills.

I hoped that once work picked up at the DX that I could take some burdens off of him so that he would be less stressed out all the time.

Ponyboy's POV

I was so bored in the house. Everyone worked and dad was only-God-knows-where getting high pr planning to get high.

That was good for me, he only hurt us when he was dying for a fix or out of money, which was out fault. All his money he blew on booze and other junk, which meant that before Darry could legally get a job we slipped a little money from Dad's wallet and other people's wallets or eaten we could get enough money sometimes we ate out of garbage cans. It was gross, but it was survival.

A/N: Was that too short? I warned you that they may seem OOC. Darry didn't yell because he didn't want to scare Soda and because he didn't have the state to worry about. Soda, and all abyss kids, are sensitive to yelling and fist raising.

Please vote:

#1: Ponyboy gets really sick while Darry and Soda are at work and Mr. Curtis hurts him really bad.

#2: I know I've done a separate story like this, but Darry works himself sick, brother fluff.

#3: Ponyboy gets a high fever and Mr. Curtis gives him drugs and Pony takes them because his fever is high and he's delirious.

Thanks guys.