AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Many thanks, to those who left a review and those reading and following along with this story. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 3

Darry pulled his shirt on as he walked out of his room towards the living room. Pony quickly rushed passed him as he darted out of his room, gathering his belongings for school.

"Steady up, kiddo."

"Sorry Darry. I just don't want to be late today because there's meant to be a competition on today for track and I want to get some practice in early," Pony responded.

Darry smiled proudly at his youngest brother; that kid was sure to go far in his athletics.

Soda rushed out of the shared bedroom, grabbing Darry just as he walked by.

"Hey Dar: would it be alright if I invited Sandy over tonight to have dinner with us? She don't always get on to well with her relatives; her grandparents nag at her a lot and her parents back in Florida didn't want her, so I thought it'd be nice for her to have a nice break away from that," Soda asked.

Darry smirked, "That the only reason?"

Soda blushed slightly. "Well that and I kind of wanted to hang out with her."

"You're really into this girl aren't ya Sodapop?"

Soda gave a beaming smile. "Yeah, she's real sweet and every time I look at her it's like I can feel something special."

Darry slapped his brother's shoulder. "Sure thing little buddy; just one rule: I don't want you doing the deed. You're just a kid and I don't want you messing up your life."

Soda smirked at his brother's concern; a baby in the mix was not something Darry would be happy about.

"Weren't you that age once?" Soda joked, stirring his brother up.

Darry frowned and crossed his arms, showing he thought strongly about the matter.

"Sodapop: I said no; besides Pony shares that room too."

"Come on Dar, I ain't that dumb. 'sides who said we have to do it in the bedroom?" Soda teased.

"Sodapop, if I find out..." Darry's growl was cut off by Soda's laugh.

"Relax Darry; I ain't ready for that any way." Soda playfully punched Darry in the arm in which the older Curtis promptly responded by grabbing Soda in a head lock and ruffling up his hair with his rough fist.

"What's going on?" Pony asked as he made his way back down to his room to grab his English assignment.

Darry and Soda pulled out of each other's wrestling hug.

"Darry just said I can invite Sandy over for dinner tonight."

Pony's heart beat fast; he didn't like Sandy and how she was taking Soda away from him. Pony frowned.

"What's up Pone? You don't have to be shy around her, she's real nice; remember at the movies?" Soda smiled.

"Yeah I remember," Pony drawled and hastily snuck into his room to grab his English assignment, ignoring his brothers.

Soda didn't think much on Pony's behaviour for he was too excited about having his special girl over for the night. Pony pushed passed Soda when he exited the room; just wanting to forget what he had just heard.

"Darry, can we go now? I want to get to school," Pony pushed.

"Sure Pone. Let me just grab my keys and tool belt and I'll meet you in the truck. You okay for a lift today Soda?"

"Yeah Steve's coming by in about an hour."

On the ride to school Pony remained quiet while Darry concentrated on the road.

"You okay Ponyboy?" Darry asked.

Pony flicked his head up from gazing out the window to face his big brother.

"Huh? Yeah fine," Pony mumbled. "You nervous about this track competition today?"

Pony sighed; if only that was all he was concerned about. Pony was dreading dinner that night.

"Yeah just a little," Pony lied.

Darry took one hand off the wheel and pressed it against Pony's shoulder, giving a squeeze.

"You'll be fine Pony; you're a great track performer and I have faith in you kiddo. Just do your best."

Pony pulled a weak smile at his brother's comforting words.

Darry's truck pulled up outside the school and Pony grabbed his books and papers and stepped out of the truck.

"See you at home tonight Pone. Go ace that track comp!" Darry cheered and started up the rusty ignition and drove off.

Pony shuffled through the halls of the high school towards his locker. After he'd had his track practical and warm ups he made his way back down the hall towards his class, not once letting his mind go over Sandy coming over.

Pony was in such a daze that he hadn't realized Two-Bit creep up behind him, until the older greaser had grabbed him around the waist; startling the daylights out of him. Pony spun around with a deep scowl on his face.

"Two-Bit!"

Two-Bit burst out laughing, "Ya should have seen your face!"

Two-Bit made a gesture with his mouth and hands to indicate Pony's shocked expression.

Pony ignored his buddy and leaned down to pick up some papers he had dropped during Two-Bit's prank. After Two-Bit settled he noticed Pony's unimpressed expression.

"Hey what's up Pony?" Two-Bit questioned, slapping Pony on the back.

Pony picked up the last of his papers.

"Soda invited Sandy over tonight," Pony responded slightly irritated.

"Ah I get it; not sure what to wear to impress Soda's girl huh? She is pretty hot don't ya think Ponyboy?" Two-Bit smirked.

Pony blushed; he hated talking about girls and he did not think Sandy was hot at all.

"Never fear Ponyboy Curtis, let the lady charmer help ya out," Two-Bit offered, slinging his arm around Pony's neck.

Pony sighed and shrugged Two-Bit's arm off. "No thanks," he said coldly and walked towards class.

Two-Bit shrugged. "Okay, well you know where to find me if you want my help!" Two-Bit called out.

That night at dinner Sandy ate politely as Soda scoffed his food as usual, while Pony ate slowly feeling somewhat uncomfortable with Sandy at the table and Darry had also kept his manners and ate much slower.

Passing some small talk, Darry had asked Sandy a little bit about herself and her family to which Sandy sweetly replied explaining about her parents in Florida and her grandparents whom she was living with in Tulsa.

Pony listened in but was more concentrated on taking his view away from Sandy and his brother as they shared wide grins or giggles; or worse when they played footsie under the table.

Pony shifted in his seat becoming frustrated at Sandy and Soda's coddling. Sandy noticed Pony's quiet stature and thought it pleasant to engage him into the conversation that she and his brothers were having.

"How was your day Ponyboy?" Sandy's soft voice travelled across the table.

"Yes, how was your track competition?" Darry questioned, not giving Pony a chance to answer Sandy; not that he wanted to anyway.

Pony glared at Sandy and his brother as Soda rubbed his hand up Sandy's leg.

"Soda, stop it," Sandy giggled.

Darry eyed off his younger brother, warning him to tone it down.

"Ponyboy?" Darry pushed.

"It went fine," Pony mumbled and went back to picking at his food.

"So Ponyboy, Soda tells me you're a great track star. Is that what you want to be when you finish up in school?" Sandy asked.

"Pone, Sandy asked ya a question; get your head out of those daydreams huh?" Soda joked, reaching over to poke his brother in the arm.

Pony snapped out of thought, having had enough of all the coddling and giggling; Sandy was ruining his relationship with his brothers and he surely was not going to tell her anything about himself.

"It ain't your business!" Pony snapped.

Sandy went silent and looked away in surprise. Soda gave his little brother a glare and Darry immediately frowned upon Pony's outburst.

"That is not the way we speak at the dinner table, Ponyboy," Darry scolded.

Pony felt his cheeks redden having been scolded in front of Sandy, but he couldn't help himself; he was angry.

"Well she asked a question and I answered it didn't I? There ain't no rule that says I have to explain," Pony snapped, not holding back on his sass now either.

Pony dropped his fork down loudly, wanting to make a scene so Sandy would leave. Darry of course was not impressed one bit.

"No but there is a rule that says you mind your manners when we have guests in our house, Ponyboy."

"Pony I'm sorry if I upset you," Sandy muttered quietly.

Pony glared at the young girl. "It ain't about you, so shut up!"

"Ponyboy!" Darry yelled.

"Well it ain't. She should never have been invited; she ain't wanted!" Pony snapped and flopped back into his chair roughly.

Soda glared at his little brother and immediately went to comfort the upset Sandy who had now burst into tears from Pony's harsh comment; making a clear connection with her personal life issues with her family.

"That's it! Ponyboy you finish what is on your plate and you go to your room. I don't know what has gotten into you but it had better not continue little man," Darry warned, standing up at the table to tower of his teenage brother.

Pony frowned, feeling unhappy that his brothers were being mad at him; Sandy wasn't minding her manners when she was playing footsie under the table with Soda.

Pony roughly pushed his plate away, not having any appetite anyway with watching Soda comforting Sandy and stood up.

"I ain't hungry!" he snapped and went to stomp away from the table.

Darry's face was burning red with anger and embarrassment; Pony never acted so childish, but as his guardian he was not going to have it.

"Ponyboy Michael Curtis! You do not walk away from the table without being excused and you will not behave in that manner in my house!"

"Fine; can I be excused?" Pony sassed.

"Oh you are excused alright young man and you can go straight to your room where you'll stay for the next week while you're grounded!" Darry bellowed.

Pony spun around and glared at his big brother.

"Don't worry I was going to my room anyway. Who'd want to stay out here with a brother who thinks he's the be all, and another that's so dumb he picks up some bimbo!"

Soda's eyes shot up and had he not been consoling his girlfriend he would have gotten up and given his brother more than a talking too.

"Ponyboy: enough! Get to your room!" Darry's yell echoed through the house.

Pony swiftly turned and ran down to the bedroom, slamming the door in haste and anger; how could his brothers be like that; it wasn't fair.

Darry sat back down with a huff and stared at his younger brother, noticing his tense body.

"Don't worry Sodapop; I'll give Pony a good talking to later. Sandy, are you alright? I'm sorry for Pony's fiasco, he had no right to treat you like that, and he knows better."

Sandy gave a nod; feeling utterly embarrassed having cried at her first invite to dinner at her boyfriend's house.

"That's okay I understand," she whispered.

"It's not okay sweets," Soda said.

"Soda's right. Ponyboy will give you a proper apology before you leave tonight. Now you both best eat your dinner before it gets colder than it already is," Darry informed.

Soda shifted away from Sandy and gave her a kiss on the cheek before getting himself comfortable at his spot on the table.

All that could be heard was the clinking sound of the cutlery on the plate until all three had finished their meal; Pony's plate still unfinished sitting in a vacant spot on the table.