So fun fact everyone: I was in the hospital for the last four weeks and i get to finally update this great story. So after being discharged, I present to you the interlude nobody was waiting for.

Sodapop:

"Hey man," Two-bit walked into the DX.

"What's up," Steve walked from the employee lounge in the back of the shop. It was getting close to dark, which means it would be time to close up soon.

"Nothin' much. Just tryin' to find some pretty gals out t'night."

Steve and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. Two-Bit was definitely drunk now. Steve walked around the counter and patted Two-Bit's shoulder, "That's great buddy. Hey how about instead of driving tonight, I take you home. Doesn't that sound like a great idea?"

After I turned off the lights, flipped the closed sign, and locked the doors, I grabbed my keys and rushed behind the drunk man and Steve.

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"D'rry! My m'n, what's up," Two-Bit yelled on the floor of the living room.

Darry was trying to cover Two-Bit's mouth with a pillow, "Shut up Two-Bit. Ponyboy is upstairs sleeping and if you wake him up, I swear he will kill you before I do."

Two-Bit snorted, "Yeah 'ight. If he was here, he could kill me."

Steve raised an eyebrow, "What did you say?"

Two-Bit's face turned pale like a sheet and his eyes turned glassy, "Nothin'. Oth' than the fact that D'rry can't 'eat me up."

That rallied Darry up because he started to wrestle Two-Bit on the floor, regardless of Ponyboy upstairs. I thought back to what Two-Bit said. If he was here. I walked upstairs and opened the door to our room. It was empty. The window was opened giving the room a cool chill.

"What are you going to do," Steve whispered behind me.

I looked at him, "I don't know but I got this."

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Two-Bit was passed out on the couch and Darry was snoring on his favorite chair with a newspaper in hand. Steve left a few hours ahead after witnessing Darry punching Two-Bit in the gut for calling him a social ingrate (surprising that Two-Bit knew a word like that).

I sat on the bed, facing the window. I was trying to imagine a way to look stern and mean like Darry, but I just looked and sounded silly. I heard two whispers outside and I knew that one of them was Pony. I thought, I don't know this person he went with. He could've gotten hurt while he was out. I would never know until it was reported on the news. Plus isn't there a killer out on the loose? HE COULD'VE DIED AND I WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE DAMN POLICE CALLED FOR ME TO IDENTIFY A BODY. Ponyboy climbed up the window and waved at someone. He turned and saw my expression, anger.

"So," I started, "where were you and who were you with?"

"Um, you see," Pony started, "I was at the movies."

"With who?"

"My friend."

"Who is your friend?"

"Romeo? Romeo Bello. He just moved here from Italy."

I crossed my arms, "Oh really. So you don't think he'll mind if I invite him to come over and have dinner with us tomorrow."

Pony glared at me, "He would love to come over."

I looked into Pony's eyes and sighed, "Pony, sneaking out of the house to go to the movies is both dangerous and reckless. There is a killer out on the loose and you could've been killed tonight and all I want to say is be careful."

I hugged Pony and he hugged mumbling about being careful and the usual answers parents want to hear.

"But I'm serious about your friend coming over and eating dinner with us. If you're going to be sneaking out at night, I need to know if this Romeo fellow is an okay guy."

"Ugh you sound like Darry with a twinge of Two-Bit."

"That's why I'm the fun brother."

He's lying to me and I have a bad feeling about this.

Well, how is Ponyboy going to explain to Soda that Romeo is like a young man from Italy who totally wants to get into his pants? (whoops...too much info ;D) We will find out soon in the next installment of… THE MAN.