I DON'T OWN THE OUTSIDERS. YOU DIG?

(Pony POV)

Dad was so much better then I had seen since... you know... that. As long as I don't think about it too much, I won't cry because Mom died. But anyway, Dad had gone to work, like he had told Darry he would, and Darry told us. I think Dad really is getting better because he realized that Soda and I need a parent, and he's the only one we have left, and he needed to be strong for us.

It was a few days after me and Soda talked to Darry. Two days to be exact. Which ment only one thing to me and Soda. It's Monday, and we promised Darry we would go to school today. The gang knew we were coming back and they have it all worked out. Apparently, they think we need one of them with us at all times. It's not really going to be any change because Johnny is in all of my classes, and Steve is in all of Soda's, but me and Soda don't like the fact they think we need a babysitter.

So anyway, after we got ready, Dad already having left for work at his roofing job, Darry drove Soda and I to school. I didn't think that I was too far behind because, while me and Soda got off school, Johnny, Two-Bit and Steve still had to go, and Johnny got me all my work. Steve got Soda all his work but I don't think he looked at it at all.

As Darry pulled up to the side of the school were kids were dropped off he turned to look at Soda and I. "You guys know the drill. Don't get into fights, Soda, try to behave, Soda, pay attention, Soda..."

"I resent that!" Soda exclaimed, "Pony's the one that's always got his head in the clouds."

"Fine, fine," Darry gave in, waving his hand lithaw hat Soda said was not important in the slightist bit, "Both of you pay attention and stick by the gang."

"We don't need no babysitters," Soda shouted playfully while jumping out and laughing, "See ya' Darry."

"I swear," Darry said, somewhat to himself, "That is the most hyper boy on the planet."

"You never see him in the halls," I informed him, only half-kiding.

"I pity the people who have," Darry joked, shacking his head.

I laughed. "See you later Superman," I said as I got out of the car. As soon as I did, Soda came running back, put and arm around me, and walked with me into the school.

"See you," Darry yelled after us.

And so Soda and I walked into the school like it was any other day, like we had never been gone. But the idea that we had never been gone was lost as soon as we entered the building. It seemed like every two seconds another person would watch us as we walked down the hallway. Each look held ether pity, sorrow, an apologetic look, or silent laughter. The laughter, of course, coming from the Socs.

When we made it to my locker, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Steve were there. Two-Bit was there making some lame joke that made no since to anyone but him. Steve looked like he was about to beat the tar out of him, and Johnny just looked confused at the joke.

Johnny saw us first. "Hey guys" he said quietly, "How are you?"

Steve and Two-Bit looked confused as to who Johnny was talking to, until Soda jumped on Steve's back and said, "Not bad, Johnnycake, not bad at all."

Steve was yelling at Soda to get off his back at this point. Johnny, Two-Bit and I were laughing like crazy while me and Johnny opened our lockers, witch were real close to each other. Soda got off Steve's back when some greaser yelled at us a teacher was coming.

Two-Bit looked at his watch (one guess how he got it) and screamed "Micky Mouse says class starts in five."

"OK, Goofy," Soda said, "Come on Steve, we have to get to our lockers before class and I want to see if I can really be on time for first period for once."

"Never gonna happen, Soda," I said as I closed my locker, "But get going if you want to try and prove me wrong." Even as I say it, Steve and Soda take it as a challenge and were running off yelling over their shoulders that they would see us at lunch.

The day went by like any other day, other then the looks the other students kept shooting at me. When it was finally time for lunch and Two-Bit was driving us to the store, Soda looked like if he got one more look he would get into a huge fight with whoever it was from. I got to say, the looks were getting on my nerves, too. Every once in a while I saw a teacher giving me looks. And I lost count of how many people said they're sorry to me by the end of the day. In truth, I lost count by the end of first period.

When the school day had finally ended, Soda meet me at my locker and, after I got my books, we said bye to the gang and ran out of there. Darry was waiting for us and I was grateful. I don't think I could stand one more look and I knew Soda was about to explode. So we ran to the car, flew the door open, and nearly got in a fight over who would get in first.

Once we closed the door, Darry gave us a strange look. "Why were you both running like that?" he asked, looking behind the car to see if we were running away from someone.

"I know I was running," Soda said, looking slightly annoyed, "because if I got one more look of pity, one more apology, then I would have been suspended."

"Same," I agreed with him, shooting Darry a sorry look.

"Sorry, guys," Darry said with a impatient sigh, "but it looks like you'll have to deal with the looks for a while, or until something else happens."

"Yeah, we know," Soda said in a annoyed voice, "That doesn't man we have to like it."

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