Chapter Seven

Darry POV

Two-bit had stayed at our house that night checking Pony's fever almost every hour. When I woke up the next morning, he was sitting at the table looking like hell.

"His fever's pretty much gone."

I sat in the chair beside him.

"That's good."

He nodded, but didn't look up.

"You should get some sleep. Go to my room and..."

"Darry, I'm sorry."

I arched an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"For freaking out. It's just... Everything with Karen... It started with a fever..."

I put my hand on his shoulder.

"I should've known it was nothing, but my mind ain't right."

"Your mind's just fine. It's okay. We get it."

He smirked.

"The kid's an ass when he's sick."

I chuckled.

"Don't I know it. He's the only kid who is."

Pony can't stand being coddled. It gets on his nerves. Soda stumbled into the kitchen a little while later. We both had the day off.

"Hey, guys. Pony's fever's almost gone."

"We know."

Pony POV

I apologized to Two-bit for being an ass. The summer went by fast, and things had definitely changed.

"Kid."

I groaned and turned to greet him.

"Steve."

He scowled.

"What're you doing here, Ponyboy?"

"Would you believe I got lost?"

"Nice try."

He looked around.

"Soda's here. You better get lost."

My eyes widened, but I didn't move. Steve got closer and started hissing at me.

"Look, kid, get outta here! I ain't leaving this party just because we gotta take you home. You're not even suppose to be near this place. Get lost!"

Steve stomped away and I sulked to the door. Everyone had been talking about the party at Buck's, and now I had to miss it because my brother decided to get a life. I hadn't been walking long, when a car pulled up next to me.

"Get busted, kid?"

I scowled and climbed in.

"No. Steve told me to leave before Soda saw me."

Two-bit laughed.

"Well, hell's bells, kid. At least he's finally getting out! Maybe he'll get laid!"

I had to laugh at that.

"You got two hours until curfew. Whatcha wanna do?"

"You ain't got no plans?"

"Nope."

We decided just to go to the lot. We talked some, but we fell into a comfortable silence.

"You know, I used to never understand you and Johnny. How you could be best friends and not talk, but I get it, now."

"Yeah."

Things had gotten better. The state wasn't up our asses thanks to Mrs. Thomson, I didn't tense up anytime someone mentioned Johnny or Dal, and me and Two-bit had gotten a whole lot closer.

Sure, I still struggled from depression from time to time, but I was coping. Darry did try to understand things more. I guess we'll just have to see how things go.

Author's note: That's the end! For now... I might do a sequel in the future, but not right now. I'm planning a story that will be longer like Fate and Life, I just wanted to do a couple of short stories. I didn't like New Struggles, but I do like this one, so like I said, I might do a sequel to this one day.