.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

"This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by"

After the following days Steve has been acting like a spy. Whenever he could he would find out where Sandy would go in his spare time. Having Evie as his girlfriend was an advantage, although sometimes asking her where Sandy would hang out or if she was out a certain time day would be a little awkward. Steve Randle asking for Sandy is not really his thing.

"Just curious, what if Soda asks?" That was his excuse for Evie not to blow a gasket.

So far in the past days he didn't find anything suspicious and was thinking Ponyboy just misheard. Made it up somehow not hearing correctly. But still I'm keeping my eyes open. Steve cared a lot for Soda being his best friend, he would do anything for him. If Sandy was really doing what he think she was he had a big bone to pick with her. Sodapop doesn't deserve that kind of shit, not from anybody.

"So you had a fight with Soda because he didn't go with the movies with you?"

"No no you don't undewstand! He bwoke a pwomise! And becos he told me he was gunna be with me if da shadow eveh took me."

Laura noted some stuff done on her small notebook, "You don't like it when people break promises?"

Pony shook his head, "No."

"Did you ever break a promise?"

"No miss Lauwa. Maybe lied...but not bweak pwomises."

"I see...and it made you feel sad."

"Yes, maybe Soda doesn't weally cawe about me...I miss my Mama and Daddee."

Laura leaned closer stroke his cheek, "I'm sure they miss you as much s you do and don't ever think Soda doesn't care for you. He loves a lot Pony, so does Darry so never ever doubt that you got it?"

Pony nodded his eyes watering, "I love dem too."

She smiled, "Now tell me about the shadow you keep talking about, how many times do you dream of this shadow."

"A lot. It scawes me, sometimes I wake up scweaming."

"Are you afraid of the dark?"

"Nu-uh."

"But you're scared of shadows, the dark is where they come from."

"I'm not afwaid of da dawk, I'm afwaid to dweam. Da shadow only comes in my dweams."

The therapist notes more stuff down very intrigued by his response, "So you like the dark?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Becos da shadow can't find me in da dark, I can hide in it."

Ponyboy runs around in the lot with Soda chasing behind him, Steve was smoking along with Dally. Johnny, Twobit and Darry watched Soda run after Ponyboy playing tag, the air cool clouds above covering the sun. It was a good day for everybody. Twobit grabbed the football from the ground tossing it to Johnny who didn't catch it not expecting it. Darry joined in eagerly, "Hey pass it here Johnny."

Johnny tossed it to him, Darry caught it. Soda and Pony stopped watching them . Pony stuck his arms in the air, "Hewe Hewe!"

Darry smiled, "Here you go 'lil buddy, " He threw it lightly at him so he could easily catch it but he didn't . It fell right out of his hands, the ball went into some bushes.

"I'll get it!" Pony shouted looking for it.

He crawled around searching for the ball, there was only dirt and some small rocks laying around. His hands patted the ground, he growled a little frustrated that it he couldn't find it. Darry said, "Want me to look for it?"

"No! I said I got it!" Pony responded. Finally his eyes set upon the ball, it was near a worn out tire. He grinned proud of himself for doing it all alone. Grabbing it in his small hand, he walked away until he heard a peculiar sound.

Meow..

Pony looked back his eyes again wandering around the small area, again the sound. Meow...

"Hewe kitty kitty..."

Another bush around ruffled, Meow... Pony squinted his eyes letting the ball he found fall again on the ground not hearing his brother's anxious shouts calling for him, they couldn't see where he was because Pony was behind the bushes.

"Hewe kitty kitty I won't huwt you."

Suddenly emerging from the bush a small white kitten appeared, it's paws were black, one ear was also black and had a roundish black spot on the back. It had green eyes peering up at the human in front of him not scared all. Pony carefully extended his hand near the kitten's nose, "Don't wowy, I won't huwt you. Hewe hewe."

The kitten smelled the small hand, it purred getting closer to him. Pony carried it in his arms caressing the kittens back making it purr more. Then Darry showed up with Soda behind him with a worried look on their faces, "Glory! Ponyboy I was looking all over for you! What do you think you-"

Soda shushed him, "Darry wait...What do you have there, honey?"

Pony showed the kitten that he was embracing, "Look! A kitty! Can we keep him?"

Darry with a stern voice said, "I don't think so Ponyboy. It's too much of a responsibility. Let it go now."

Soda pursed his lips then grabbed the kitten, "Awe c'mon Dar, let's keep it at least until it grows older. It can keep the mice away from the house!"

"We don't have mice Sodapop."

Pony pouted, "Pliiis Dawy?" He stared at the kitten who was gazing curiously at Sodapop that was making funny faces, "He doesn't have a Mama or Daddee either. He's like us Dawy. But he doesn't have any bwoders or sistews. We can be it's bwoders..."

Darry gulped down hard, Dang kid... He sighed closing his eyes, "All right. But Sodapop Patrick Curtis you teach it to go to the bathroom outside you got me?"

His little brother beamed, Soda grinned, "Don't worry 'bout anything Dar, we'll take care of this 'lil guy!"

"Yay! I get to have a kitty!"

They went back to the gang who were talking, Twobit saw the animal asking, "Whoa, the football turned into a cat!"

Steve smacked his head, "Dumbass they found it!"

Darry narrowed his eyes, "Watch your moth Steve."

Pony showed off the cat to everybody, "Look Johnny! Ain't it tuff?"

Dally snatched it from Pony's arms with one hand, the kitten meowed irritated, Dally smirked, "It's a boy. See its tiny 'lil wiener there?"

Johnny rolled his eyes, "What are you going to name it Pony?"

"Name it Ponycat." Twobit said.

Pony shook his head, "Ima name him...Pepsi."

Everybody laughed except Jhonny and Pony. The little Curtis frowned not enjoying that they made fun of his name for his pet. Soda stopped noticing his little brother mad, "Oh don't be like that Pone."

Johnny shrugged, "I like it."

Pony hugged him, "Good. At least somebody likes it!"

Steve had the small animal now, "Pepsi the grease cat. At least we have a new member. Welcome to the grease family."

Twobit whistles loudly, "Imagine a Soc cat!"

Pony giggled, "Do Soc cats have mustangs too?"

Everybody howled in laughter, the gang was filled with happiness in the air. Pony's innocent comments or questions were enough to make anybody smile. They all felt the need to thank him sometimes, his good attitude really rubbed off on anybody.

Dally ruffled Pony's hair, "Jesus, kid. What we would do without ya?"

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)