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

"Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page
Time rolls on

Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries

Memories are bittersweet
The good times we can't repeat"

Twobit furrowed his eyebrows together as he looked at the beer in his hand, after his 6th beer his head was getting lighter. With his head swaying a little, he grunted knowing that again he was drunk again after so many nights by himself in the bar sitting down while everybody else were chatting away with friends. He remembered Johnny's words. Everythings fucked up. He grimaced, It's true. It just ain't the same. God...Why'd you have to do this? Why'd ya hafta break-break us? He then started biting on a toothpick, since his gang was broken, who will be the one to pick up the pieces? How will they pick up each piece? How would they even start? Soda's all zombie,, Steve's moody, Darry's all down and low, Johnny won't talk or show up, Dally's practically gone and me?...Pff look at me. I'm-I'm a stupid drunk! Angry at himself, he threw the beer bottle against a wall shattering into pieces. I've had just about enough of this shit.

He walked out before getting an earful of the owner. If nobody is gonna do shit 'bout this whole thing, I'm gonna be that someone.

Steve nudged Soda with his elbow, "C'mon man, I say we go."

"I don't know, I feel beat."

"You always feel beat."

Darry shrugged, "I say you go Soda, you haven't been out lately. It would do you some good."

"See! C'mon man!"

Dallas groaned, "Christ, can't you just go? It won't hurt anyone."

The door opened with Twobit barging in, Darry asked, "Drunk again?"

Twobit shook his head, "I'm right as rain. Just came by to have a little talk with ya'll. Where's Johnny?"

Soda pointed at the bathroom door, "Taking a piss. What's going on?"

Their friend sighed setting himself down on the couch next to Soda and Steve. Dally leaning against the wall smoking. There was a moment of silence, Darry didn't understand what was going on, he never saw Twobit so serious. Steve rolled his eyes thinking it was one of his lame jokes, Soda really didn't care, Dally rubbed his forehead, This better not be a waste of my time. They heard the toilet flush, Johnny walked out stopping when he saw the boys sitting down having a serious look on their faces. He gave Dally a questioning look to which he didn't get a response just a shrug. Twobit stood up taking a deep breath, he did not plan this out, all he wanted to do was fix things.

Steve exhaled noisily, "You going somewhere with this Twobit?"

"Actually yes. I was thinking ya know and-"

"You think Twobit?" Dally snorted.

Twobit glared at him, "Shut up will ya? Listen to me this one time!"

Dally raised an eyebrow, "Hey chill out man."

"I can't chill out Dally. Don't ya'll see what's going on with us? Look around! We ain't the same! I'm sick and tired of everything! Dally isn't even here! Can't you see this? Christ, please guys. I wanna change! I hate getting drunk almost every night! Aren't ya'll tired of it too?"

The greasers stayed still not expecting that outburst. Johnny blinked until a small smile appeared on his face, So he does remember. Darry nodded slowly knowing what he was trying to say, Steve puffed while folding his arms, About freaking time some says anything. Dally scratched his cheek, Tough stuff...Soda frowned, Steve was already getting on his nerves with that every day. Son of a... Can't they take it easy for once? This is just fucking great... Twobit was still silent waiting for someone to say something. Unexpectedly Johnny was the first one to speak, "I agree with him."

"Believe it or not me too, nice going bird brain." Steve said.

Dally shrugged, "I guess."

Darry cleared his throat, "You're right Twobit. Soda?"

Soda sighed getting up to leave but Steve gripped hi roughly by the arm, "Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

"Leave me alone!"

Darry gritted his teeth, he also had enough of his only brother adapting to this new attitude, these past months he hasn't seen a blink of Sodapop Curtis. The one that used to grin goofily at everything, the one who used to be positive in tough times, that care free person was no longer there. This new one wasn't Soda, this one was a walking corpse carrying a sad soul. Darrel grabbed Soda by the shoulders firmly face to face, "You better stay here and listen Sodapop Curtis! Don't you understand? We're trying to help each other! We haven't been the same, you haven't been the same!" His voice was breaking, "I just-just want everything to be better. You don't know how hard it is to-to come back and see you this way..."

Soda's bottom lip started to quiver slightly, he got out of his hands looking at everyone in the room, "You just don't understand! Losing Pony was-is...Unbearable... I still can't get over the fact that he ain't here no more! We lost Ma and Dad...Now Pone? I mean, we've been through so much...What did we do to deserve that huh Dar? I made a promise to Pony that I wouldn't let anything happen to him, and now look where he is? 6 feet underground dead! What a good freaking brother am I?!... I just want Pony back..."

Steve stared at the ground feeling sad for Soda, now he understood everything. Twobit's eyes started to get watery to which he discretely wiped, Johnny closed his eyes hearing the pain in Soda's voice, Dally didn't know how to react so he stared out the window. Darry took a step towards Soda who was sobbing, his brother suddenly hugged him burying his face on his hair, "Oh Soda...If what you say is true then I'm also a bad brother. I failed you both."

"No Dar that's not what I meant."

Twobit interrupted, "None of you have any fault. How could we have known about Pony? Or the killer wanting him? Nobody."

Johnny said, "At least Pony's is better wherever he is, " He smiled softly, "With your folks."

Soda sobbed again this time cracking a smile of his own, "I bet he is. I can only imagine..."

Steve put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "You just gotta let go Soda, we gotta let go."

Darry's lips curved upwards, "We'll work it out Soda, I promise."

Twobit sighed happily getting closer to the almost group hug, "Just have to hang in there."

Soda gulped realizing what good friends he had by his side, his heavy heart a bit enlightened from the Greaser's positive attitude. In tough times we have to stick together. Steve grinned at him patting him on the back, Twobit started laughing for no reason at all, all he felt inside was a surge of happiness. Johnny chuckled at his weird state but also felt better, a weight off his chest.

"I think we need some chocolate cake."

Steve smirked, "About time, but let Darry do it. You put a lot of sugar in it."

Darry rolled his eyes, "Gonna get be diabetes one day."

Twobit rushed to the kitchen, "What are ya'll waiting for? C'mon, get started on it."

"You're always hungry..." Dally pushed Twobit playfully.

They began to chatter away, something in the air changed. No more tense gloomy emotions in the air ruining the day. Johnny watched from the living room as Darry got out the milk from the fridge, Steve handed a bowl to Soda and Twobit grabbed the eggs. Dally rolled his eyes seeing Twobit trying to juggle the eggs that cracked when he filed, then Darry yelled at him to clean up the mess. Johnny couldn't help but to smile widely, Finally. We begin to pick up the pieces.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)

[PS One more chapter to go! Thank you for reading :)]