Chapter 13 WOW I'm guessing I'm gonna write a lot over the summer! Good news for you guys though.

I'm so happy that everyone's still leaving positive reviews for me! These last few chapters haven't been the best, but I'm just trying to fill in some space until I can get to the really good stuff. I afraid there's gonna be a few more chapters like this until things start to get a little more interesting and more dramatic.

BTW: Ponyboy still hates Soda (I mean if you were Pony wouldn't you?) But he doesn't hate him as much. I know Dallas hasn't had much of anything to do with this story so far, but I'll try to make more apprences from him in later chapters.

As for the kid Ponyboy saw, It will be explained later on in the story. After I posted the last chapter and re-read it… I found that part a little confusing, so I'd thought I'd clear it up!

CHAPTER 13 - Sodapop's POV

"Wake up. We gotta get to work Pepsi-Cola." Darry was standing over me. He was already dressed in his work clothes, carry his tool belt in his hands.

"I'm gonna be late so you haft' a walk." When he left the room I listened to his footsteps walking down the hallway. With the jingling in car keys and the slam of the front door, our old ford started and peeled off down the street. Carrying my older brother, to another long, tedious day at work.

Releasing my hold from my Ponyboy, I slowly stripped away the covers and crawled outta bed. Him and Johnny were still sleeping peacefully, so I started looking around for some clothes to wear to work. I just ended up grabbing a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans and my DX shirt for over top. The usual. I grabbed my towel off the back of the door and snuck outta the room as quietly as I could.

When I got to the bathroom, I couldn't help but look in the mirror. There were bags under my eyes that made it look like I popped a blood vesicle in my face. My skin was a pale colour, and the brown eyes the usually held laughter and happiness, were faded to a dull, light brown. Man was I tired. I'd only gotten a couple hours of sleep last night, worrying about Ponyboy so much. I didn't know how Darry did it. Heck, he'd always be Superman to me.

The steam from the shower helped wake me up. I'm normally a morning person, but today was just… blah. I didn't know how to explain it. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep the whole day away. And that wasn't like me at all. I didn't want to stay here and get yelled at by Ponyboy again, but I didn't want to leave the house either. I knew why. I didn't want to face Steve. What he said wasn't called for at all. When I saw him, I'd let lose and say something I'd regret later. I always say what's on my mind, never thinking before speaking, I get that from dad.

Stepping back out of the shower, I slipped into my work clothes and headed for my room. I couldn't find my shoes… again. I got down on my knees and peaked under the bed. Only my right shoe was there. I reached for it and almost jumped back in surprise when I saw Johnny staring at me.

"Hey John." I said, a smile playing at my lips when I noticed how Ponyboy was curled into Johnny. He noticed what I was looking at, and a faint blush crossed his cheeks.

"Hey." He said lowering his gaze to his lap. I let out a small chuckle and turned to root through the closet. I'd never be able to explain how my shoes ended up in the weirdest places. One time Darry even found them in the fridge. I let out a sigh when I couldn't find it, I was gonna be late for work. Late for yelling at Steve.

"You seen my shoe, Johnnycakes?" I asked turning around to face him.

"Did you check the fridge?" He asked me. The gang never let me live that one down. I chuckled and walked over to the door.

"You'll stay with him today, right Johnny?" I said motioning past him to Pony.

"Course." He replied with a small smile on his face.

"Good." I said. "Two-Bit should drop by later, but I don't know if Dall' be here or not. Oh, and I think Darry made some breakfast. It's out on the counter if you guys get hungry."

"Thanks." He said. "Bye Soda."

"See ya later Johnnycakes." I said while messing up his hair with my hand. I walked past him into the hall way and almost tripped over my left shoe. I don't know how I didn't see it there before. I slipped it on and walked into the kitchen, searching through the ice box for some chocolate cake. With a handful of my delicious breakfast and both shoes on my feet I headed out the door, on my way to another day at work.

As I walked along the street I could feel myself getting angrier at Steve. Ponyboy was my baby brother. He always came first, Steve knew that. What he said wasn't fair, to Ponyboy, to Darry… to me. Steve was my best friend and I can't choose between either of them. But if I had to choose, we all know who'd win. Even if he hated my guts right now.

Steve's rusted car wasn't parked outside like usual, but the station was open and me and Steve were opening all this week. I could hear him the back of the shop, dropping wrenches, bolts and nuts everywhere. He looked completely hung over, and had huge bruise forming on the cheek where Darry had punched. No surprise for Steve, but usually it was Two-Bit or Dally that got drunk everyday of the god damn week. And wouldn't shut up about there killer headache the next day.

He was wearing a old, filthy DX shirt that had grease and oil stains all over it. There were hole in the pocket and the name tag on the front read 'Ed'. It was the only extra we had at the station, so my guess was he didn't go home last night. I didn't care about his life right now though.

I stared hard at his back until he could feel eyes watching him. He turned around and his expression changed when he saw me. He almost looked scared, and I was about to laugh at the thought when words started to barge there was outta my mouth.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT LAST NIGHT STEVE HUH? WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO DO? HE'S JUST A FUCKING KID! THIS IS HARD ENOUGH ON HIM WITH OUT YOU TELLING HIM HE DESERVED IT!" I screamed right in his face. I don't remember a time when I was ever this pissed off at Steve.

He flinched. If I didn't know any better I'd have though he was afraid I'd hit him. But I knew if was just because yelling don't really do anything to help a headache.

"Sorry. I didn't mea-"

"DON'T TELL ME YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT STEVE!" My voice keep rising. "I KNOW YOU DID!"

"I'm sorry okay Soda? I really didn-"

"YES YOU DID!" I screamed. "YOU MENT EVERY FUCKING WORD YOU SAID!"

"No. Just let me expla-"

"EXPLAIN? YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN?" I couldn't believe he actually wanted to try and change my mind. This'll be good I thought and took a seat on one of the stools up the cash register. Steve was just standing there with a blank expression on his face.

"Well… my dad kicked me out again." I couldn't see what that had to do with Ponyboy. "And then Evie…" His voice kept trailing off.

"Anyway. I went to Bucks. She was with Tim. Wait no." He sounded confused. "I went to talk to you." He said. "I needed a place to stay, but when I got there you were crying and I couldn't talk to you. Then you told us about Pony…" He voice trailed off again and he shifted nervously on his feet.

"So then I went to Bucks. She was there… but not with me." He stopped again. "I got kicked out. Went to buy cigarettes and heard some Socs talking about Pony." He said. "And Johnny." He added as an after thought.

I didn't know he got kicked out of his house again. He slept in the lot by the looks of him and I felt a pang of sadness for my best friend.

"They… they said there names." He sounded distant now, far away.

"What were they?" I asked, urgency filling my voice.

"Hum…" Now he looked confessed. " Bill?… Bo. No, Shawn?" He asked himself in a low voice. "Andy?…Ann…" He was talking to himself now, not me. "Shelly? … no that's not it."

"Steve?" I asked to get his attention back. "You don't remember do you?" The anger was rising inside me again. He didn't remember the names of the people who raped my brother!?

"YOU DON'T REMEMBER! SO, YOU'R SAYING YOU WERE TO DRUNK TO REMEMBER WHAT THEIR NAMES WERE!" I screamed at him again.

"NO!" He shouted. "I know them… just not right now." The sad look he plastered on his face actually reached his eyes. "I'm sorry Sodapop. I really am."

"GET BACK TO WORK!" Our boss yelled from his office. I've never liked him.

I sighed and looked back at Steve, who was just standing there.

"So where you gonna sleep tonight?" I asked him. He walked over and sat down beside me.

"Don't know." He said. "Maybe I'll go home and see if I'm a member of my family again. If not there's always Bucks." He sounded defeated.

"There's always my house to." I said. He laughed.

"I think I'll steer clear of Superman for a while."

"Yeah. Might be a smart idea." And that was it. We were made up. Steve didn't say he was sorry for what he said, but in his own way he did. Steve hasn't really ever been a person for manners.

Sorry this chapters so short, and sorry again it took so long to update. But I've meet a couple new people this summer and I've been busy getting to know them. But I promise it WON"T happen again!!