AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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Chapter 12
Two weeks passed by quickly with no conflicts between Soda and Pony; in fact they were getting along just the same as before all the jealousy and fighting started. It wasn't until one Saturday when Pony was hanging out with Johnny and Dally near the Dairy Queen that Pony turned his focus onto a young couple leaning against a far away table; the couple were cuddling one another and the female was giggling.
"Hey Pony, Ponyboy; what's up?" Johnny asked; giving his lost in thought friend a nudge.
"I think that's Sandy," Pony whispered.
"Sandy as in Soda's Sandy? Where?"
Pony gave a nod in the direction of the couple. Johnny who had barely seen Sandy found it hard to distinguish if the blonde was in fact the same Sandy.
"I'm not sure Pony; it's hard to tell," Johnny admitted.
Pony sighed and took a drink of his shake.
"What are you two babbling about?" Dally questioned; stuffing a handful of fries in his mouth and chewing loudly.
"That's gross Dal," Johnny commented to his buddy.
"Well I don't see how else I'm gonna get that food inside me and I ain't running for no polite food eating contest, Johnnycakes."
Pony smirked at Johnny, both thinking the same: Dally was one of a kind and had his own way about everything.
The blonde girl let out a loud giggle as the stock and tall, muscular guy tickled her abdomen. Pony shot his gaze back over to the couple, having second guessed if he was wrong, but that laugh was too familiar; he'd heard it too many times when Soda had charmed Sandy.
Pony stared in anger at the blonde girl as he confirmed his suspicions; the girl cuddling up to the jock-looking teen was in fact Sandy.
Johnny watched his friend in understanding.
"What are you two gazing about now?" Dally questioned impatiently; slumping in his seat, arms out wide to his side.
"Pony's certain that blonde over there with that guy is Sandy; Soda's girl," Johnny explained.
Dally squinted his eyes at the couple.
"Gee she sure does move fast; not long out of Soda's bed and into another's," Dally laughed.
Pony shot Dally an angry look with a huge frown on his face.
"She wasn't in Soda's bed and she's still meant to be with Soda!" Pony snapped.
"Whoa calm down kid; didn't mean to touch a nerve. So you saying she's cheatin'?" Dally implied.
Pony pushed away what was left of his shake, not feeling very hungry or thirsty anymore now he felt angry and wanted what was right for his brother.
"Shoot your brother don't deserve to be cheated on. I take it he don't know?" Dally asked.
Pony shook his head. "I have to tell him; it's not fair she's leading him on."
"Well I sure as heck won't be hanging around for that; you got guts kid," Dally stated.
"What's say we get out of this place; it's starting to cramp my style," Dally spat in his impatient attitude.
Pony and Johnny quickly stood up and followed their older friend.
As the three made their way back to the Curtis house Pony kicked a stone along the ground; it clinking as it bounced along the asphalt.
"What's bothering ya Ponyboy?" Johnny asked quietly.
"I don't know how to tell Soda, Johnny; he's gonna be real hurt," Pony mumbled.
Dally clapped his arm around Pony and Johnny's shoulders.
"Don't worry about it kid; it happens to everyone at some point, it's just unfortunate it's happening to ya brother. Heck I don't know how many girls that I've cheated on or have cheated on me," Dally assured, however it did not make Pony feel any better.
Pony really didn't want Dally's stories or advice right now for he was too focused on how he was going to break it to his brother. Pony shrugged Dally's hand off his shoulder.
"I can make my own way home now," Pony mumbled; it was only a few more blocks back to the Curtis house.
Dally shook his head. "Sorry kid, I ain't lettin' ya walk home on your own. Shoot, your brother would skin me alive," Dally pointed out and it was true; Darry would give anyone a punch-out who didn't look after his brothers.
Pony spun around to face the tough hood.
"You leave my brother's out of it!"
Pony was so caught up in his emotions he had been thinking when he snapped at the Dallas Winston.
Dally stood tall and stared the younger teen down.
"Who do you think you are giving me lip kid?" Dally challenged.
"Come on Dal, leave him alone. Pony's just upset," Johnny whispered with a hand on Dally's chest, trying to calm the hot-head greaser.
The only person who could ever calm Dally down was his pet kid brother, Johnny. Dally kept quiet and ruffled his shoulders to relax his tensed up and fighting mode body.
"Yeah, well it ain't no way to be talking to me kid. You smart mouth me again and I'll pound you," Dally threatened, though everyone knew Dally would never hurt Johnny or Pony, even in play fighting.
"Sorry Dal, I was just thinking," Pony responded.
"I'll walk home with ya Ponyboy if ya just want some quiet time," Johnny offered.
The thing Pony liked about Johnny was he could just be there, they didn't have to talk, they just had to know each other were there for company and Johnny understood the youngest greaser well.
Pony nodded.
"Fine, if you two don't want me around I'll go hunt myself some action, but you two stay out of trouble and you keep safe Johnnycakes," Dally affirmed.
Johnny nodded, "Sure Dal."
Dally lit up a cigarette and walked back in the opposite direction.
"Come on Pony," Johnny encouraged.
"How am I gonna tell Soda, Johnny?" Pony asked after some time of walking.
"Just tell him the truth Ponyboy."
"I just don't want to hurt Soda again. We've been getting on real well after we got over the letter incident."
Johnny rested his hand on Pony's shoulder.
"You have to tell him. Imagine how he'd feel if he found out from someone else and you'd already known and not told him," Johnny explained.
"Thanks Johnny. Hey you going home?"
Johnny shrugged, "Yeah guess, not like my parents would care. As long as Dad don't hit me tonight."
"Come on over if you need to," Pony offered.
Johnny nodded and shoved his hands into his jeans jacket pockets and walked back down the street as Pony walked through the gate to the house and went inside.
That night Pony kept quiet unable to find the courage to tell his brother what he'd seen
"Ponyboy you alright? You're mighty quiet and you were quiet all through dinner; you ain't getting sick are ya?" Darry inquired.
"No Dar, I'm fine. Just thinking about something," Pony mumbled then got up wandering into the bedroom.
"I wonder what's up with Ponyboy," Soda queried.
"I don't know Pepsi. I really hope he ain't getting sick."
"I'll go have a talk to him," Soda concluded.
"Well if it's anything serious I want to know about it; I know what you two boys are like, trying to hide things from me because ya worried about me being mad or money struggles," Darry implied.
Soda chuckled, remembering how Pony and Soda had both tried to hid being sick from Darry before.
"Sure thing, Darry."
Pony was silently sitting on the shared bed; butterflies in his stomach, as Soda slowly made his way into the room; closing the door behind him.
"Hey: Pone," Soda initiated in a soft tone.
Pony flicked his head up towards his brother.
Soda sat down next to Pony on the bed, wrapping his comforting arm around his younger brother's shoulders. Soda felt Pony tense up under him.
"What's up Ponyboy? You can tell me," Soda encouraged.
Pony swallowed nervously.
"Soda there's something I have to tell you," Pony whispered.
"Yeah I'm listening; what is it Pone?"