"Listen, I have to work late tonight." Darry explained to Soda over the phone the next day. He had called the DX so he could talk to Soda. "No going out tonight."

"But Darry…" Soda began to whine.

"Soda, don't fuss like that. I need you to stay home and keep an eye on Pony. He's been acting strangely lately."

"He's fine Darry. He aint a baby. He doesn't need someone to watch him."

"You're staying home with Pony tonight, Sodapop, understand?"

"Yeah," Soda sighed.

He was worried about Pony too, but had hoped to hang out with Steve that night. "Besides, I don't want you out late at night just yet. Not after what happened the other night with the socials and Tim's gang."

"Why do you have to work so late?" Soda asked.

"They need more help because someone got sick." Darry explained. I'll be home at midnight at the latest."

"Gosh! That late?" Soda exclaimed. "Yeah. Get straight home after work."

"All right, Darry." Soda said a bit annoyed with the fact that he had to stay in all night.

Soda got off work an hour later and took the bus home with Steve. Pony and Two-bit were already there. Pony was trying to do his homework as Two-Bit sat drinking a beer, making ridiculous comments. Two-Bit then stared at Pony for a moment becoming bored with the way he was just sitting there doing a history chapter review and not saying a word.

Soda's shoes went flying through the air and Steve slammed the door. Pony and Two-Bit looked up. "Boy, you two look like you're having fun." Steve teased. Soda walked over and flipped the radio on full blast and him and Steve tackled Two-Bit.

Pony moaned. "I gotta get this work done. Can't ya'll keep it down?"

"Keep it down?" Steve said rolling across the carpet. "That wouldn't be any fun."

Ponyboy gave up and went to Darry's room which was the farthest room to the back of the house. He closed the door and did his homework on the bed. He sighed as he got to his math. He needed help. Soda, Steve, or Two-Bit couldn't help him. At first Pony had been happy that Darry was working late because he wouldn't have to deal with him but he was never gonna be able to finish this.

He pushed his math book to the side and pulled out science. His mind wandered as he began reading about igneous rocks and magma. It was a quiet enough place to work with the door shut but he still couldn't concentrate. He had to finish his homework though. His grades had been slowly raising back up and if Darry had any kind of sign that they were going back down he'd clobber Pony.

A playful scream suddenly echoed through the house. The door flew open and Soda came running in. "There he is!" Soda exclaimed. Two seconds later Pony found himself crying with laughter. Soda tickled him until his stomach ached. Then they both lied down breathing hard.

"Watcha doin in here?" Soda asked rolling over to the end of the bed.

"Trying to get some peace and quiet, away from you morons."

Soda slugged his little brother lightly and smiled at him. "You ok?" He asked.

"Yah I'm fine." Pony replied getting sick of people asking him that. "Why?"

"Well it's just that, Two-Bit said you were looking kind of down the other day like something was the matter."

Pony shook his head. "I'm fine."

"All right." Soda said unconvinced, but if you need to talk…"

"Thanks Soda." Pony said. "I'm ok, really." Sodapop looked at Pony and studied his expression for a minute. Pony wasn't all-right. Something was wrong. Soda could see it.

"I gotta finish this." Pony got up and picked the papers that had fallen off of the bed. Soda remained still and watched him. "I'm ok!" Pony insisted looking at Soda as if he was reading his mind.

Sodapop shook his head. "Something's wrong." He said. "I'm gonna find out what it is Ponyboy Curtis, if it takes me forever." Pony rolled his eyes. Soda got up, ruffled Pony's hair, and returned to his noisy friends.

"I reckon I'm making dinner tonight." he announced. Two-Bit and Steve groaned. Soda glared at them. "Well if you think you can do any better than me, come on over here and help me out." Soda said searching the fridge for an idea. Neither Steve or Two-Bit came and Soda smiled about his victory.

Later when dinner was ready Pony didn't come. "He's probably still in that room working like always." Two-Bit said. The three boys chowed down on salsa and chips. Soda hadn't found anything appeasing in the ice box to make for dinner.

It got later into the night. Steve and Two-Bit left eventually so Soda went to go see if Pony wanted to play Poker. He looked in Darry's room but Pony wasn't there so he looked into the room Pony and he share and found him completely covered by the covers, lights out, and sound asleep. Soda was a little disappointed but didn't wake him. He went back into the living room were he watched television until ten thirty.

The phone rang at about that time. "Hello?" he picked up.

"Soda? It's Darry. You guys ok."

"Yeah, we're fine. When are you coming home?"

"About an hour, where's Ponyboy?"

"Sleeping." Soda laughed. "I went in there at nine and he was out."

"Gosh, he did that last night too." Darry said. "All-right, I'll be home as soon as I can little buddy."

"Ok. See yah then. Bye." Soda said and put the phone down.