Chapter Seven: Understanding

Soda POV

My week of grounding started out awful. I realized just how stubborn girls could the next day.

"Hey."

She ignored me. It was even worse when I remembered that her and Pony were on Spring Break, so they'd be home a lot. Or so I thought...

She'd been hanging out with her group of friends a lot. She hung out with Pony and Two-bit, too, but she was still hanging out with those kids. She didn't talk to me for three days.

On Wednesday, someone knocked on mine and Pony's door.

"Yeah?"

The door opened and I looked up.

"Since you're off, you wanna go to the stables?"

I was kind of taken aback, but I remembered when my mom would get mad at dad. It'd take her a couple of days, but she'd get over it.

"Sure."

We took Two-bit's car, without permission, and went to see our horses. I hadn't seen Sport in a week, so I was happy. The car ride was quiet. When we saddled them and went riding. She finally spoke.

"So, how's work going?"

"Uh, you're asking me about work?"

She shrugged.

"Seemed like a good conversation starter."

I chuckled.

"I'm sorry for what I did."

She smiled.

"I am, too. I'm not used to people being overprotective. My parents didn't have to be because I was always at home."

"What was that like?"

"I didn't know any different, but now that I'm here... I don't know, it's almost not like I remember."

"What do you mean?"

"I look back and feel lonely now, but I didn't when I was living it. It was just life. Me and my parents. I never even knew I was adopted."

I stopped Sport and she turned Crystal around to face me.

"What?!"

"Yeah..."

"Why didn't they tell you?!"

She shook her head.

"I don't know, I guess they thought I'd look at them differently. Like, I wouldn't look at them as my mom and dad or something..."

"I didn't know about you, but I did know I was adopted. I couldn't imagine..."

"It's okay. I'm used to it, now."

We got back to walking.

"I like having friends. Like I said, I never knew what loneliness was, so at the time I didn't feel it. It's almost like even though I have friends now, I feel lonely for my old self."

"Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without mine."

"Our's..."

I looked guilty. My friends were her friends. She sighed.

"Soda, you guys and Two-bit and Steve are my... Well, you're the ones that I'm closest to. Just because I'm hanging out with other people, doesn't mean that I like them more."

"It's not that... I just..."

"When we hang out, they're not doing anything wrong. If they did, I'd leave."

"I'm glad to know that."

"Yeah. I couldn't..."

All of the sudden, Crystal reared up.

"Cam!"

I flew off of Sport. Cam was lying there breathing really hard. She pulled out her inhaler from her pocket and took a couple of puffs while I held her up.

"I'm okay."

I looked around. Crystal was beside Cam. She chuckled and touched her nose.

"I'm okay, Crystal."

She looked at me.

"Something must've spooked her."

I nodded.

"Does anything hurt?"

"My wrist, but it mostly just knocked the breathe out of me."

I examined it.

"Hmmm. Doesn't look broken, but it's probably sprained."

She shrugged.

"Not the first time. I've fell off of horses all my life."

I helped her up.

"What was your worst?"

"Fractured my ankle."

I told her about my worst one that I'd gotten when I used to ride in rodeos. We got back on the horses and went back to the stables and put them in their stalls. When we got back to the house, Two-bit greeted us with a scowl. I smirked.

"Sup?"

He growled and tackled me. He got a few good punches in, but so did I. It finally stopped when Cam got in between us. She looked at him.

"Feel better you big baby?"

He glared at her, but no one could stay mad at Cam. He finally smirked.

"Yeah. I feel better."

We shook hands. Not the healthiest way to let off steam, but it worked for us.

Cam POV

We all three walked into the house. Ponyboy was laughing. He'd seen the fight from the window.

"Have fun at the stables?"

"That's where you went?"

I nodded.

"I'm surprised my car made it that far without breaking down."

I started laughing really hard and Soda glared.

"It did! I had push start that thing four times!"

Two-bit started laughing. Soda rolled his eyes and walked out of the room, walking back with the first aid kit. Two-bit cocked an eyebrow.

"I know I didn't hurt you that bad!"

"It's for her."

Pony looked at me concerned.

"What happened?"

"I'm fine. My horse got spooked and reared up making me fall off."

"She's just got a sprained wrist."

He got out some bandages and wrapped it up.

"You need to keep it wrapped for about a week."

"How do you know what to do?"

The three boys grinned. Pony sat next to me.

"We have to patch up all the time from fights. I think we're about as good as doctors."

"Yeah, Steve and Darry can even stitch you up. They learned it from Dally."

I stared at them widened.

"How do you do that without numbing it?"

Two-bit grinned.

"Why, you get liquored up, my dear friend!"

Soda laughed.

"It's the only time Darry would ever let us get trashed. It's only happened twice though. The first time was Steve, and the second time was Two-bit. Dally taught Darry with Steve and taught Steve with Two-bit."

"Okay, okay. I get the picture."

Soda laughed again.

"We only go to the hospital if we have to. The doctors and nurses ask too many questions. Then, the state's on our asses."

I nodded. The rest of Spring Break went by without a hitch. On Monday, I was in my second class of the day when I was called to the counselor's office. I trudged my way down there and walked in the door. A man stood up and smiled at me.

"Hi, I'm Mr. Turner."

"Hi."

I sat down in the chair in front of his desk. He frowned at me.

"What happened?"

I looked down at my wrist.

"Oh, I fell off my horse last week."

"Oh, did your doctor say what was wrong?"

"Uh, no my brother did. It's just sprained."

"Why didn't they take you to the doctor? I mean, you fell of a horse."

I looked at him confused.

"I didn't fall off a horse, I feel off myhorse. And I was fine. He did the same thing my dad used to do. I've fell off of horses all my life."

He straightened up and opened a folder.

"Okay, well, I just wanna ask you a few questions."

"Okay."

"How're you doing? With your parents death?"

I froze. I talked about them, but not about their death.

"I'm doing okay."

"Mhm... And how are you liking where you live?"

He gave me a pointed look that I didn't quite understand.

"I like living there."

"You know you can be honest with me."

I looked at him confused again.

"I am being honest. I was homeschooled and only ever lived with my parents. I love being around people my own age, and I'm really glad I'm getting to know my brother."

"Yes, I understand that, but don't you think your parents would want you to be living with people who could be like parents to you?"

I glared at him.

"Does my social worker know you're talking to me? Because I've already went through all of this."

"No, I was going to contact her today. Listen, we just want what's best..."

"Stop. You don't know what's best for me, and you don't know me. And don't you dare use my parents against me! They'd want me to be with people who care about me, and I am."

He looked taken aback.

"But, don't you think..."

I stood up.

"We're done here."

Two days later, I was called in there again. Mr. Wright, the principal, Mrs. Brenda, and Mr. Turner were all standing there. The principal spoke up.

"We've been talking about you."

I got a little worried. I think Mrs. Brenda could see it because she winked at me. That made me relax a little bit.

"I believe that Mr. Turner has something he wants to say to you."

"I'm sorry, Cameron. I should have never talked to you without talking to your social worker first. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

The rest of the conversation was just awkward, and I was glad when Brenda took me out in the hall.

"I guess he called you."

"Yeah. With a bunch of 'concerns'. He thought a lot of things about Ponyboy because he listened to the rumors that kids were spreading instead of finding out the truth."

"What about Ponyboy?"

"About the murder."

My eyes got wide.

"You didn't know about it?"

I shook my head. She frowned.

"I've screwed up big time."

I went through the rest of the day in a daze. Did he murder someone? Did he witness a murder? Did something happen to him? I walked home alone that day. I wasn't thinking. Two-bit barreled his way through the door about thirty minutes after I got home.

"Glory, kid! You were suppose to meet me after school!"

"How come I heard about a murder today?"

He looked confused.

"What murder? Who killed someone?"

"No, the counselor was worried about me living here because of Ponyboy and a murder. What murder?"

His face paled.

"They haven't told you about all that yet?"

Slowly, I said...

"No. Two-bit..."

He shook his head.

"I can't tell you about that, Cam. That's something you need to ask them about. What'd the counselor say?"

"Mrs. Brenda said she told him the whole story and he apologized."

I guess he could tell by my expression that I didn't like the fact I hadn't been told.

"Listen, it's not what you think..."

"I don't think bad about Ponyboy, I just think someone shoulda told me."

Around 5:30, he walked through the door. Two-bit had decided to stick around.

"Hey, guys."

"You're in trouble."

He looked at Two-bit funny.

"Why? What'd I do?"

I stood up.

"What's all this about a murder?"

Author's note: I know there's not a lot of drama, yet, but there will be soon! Please review!