"Then what?" Steve asked the next day as Soda told his friend what had happened when he saw Sandy. Soda went on to tell Steve every detail. "Man, I'm sorry." Steve said. He hated to see his best friend so upset like this. It was already enough when Sandy got pregnant and took off. Then rejected his letters. Then when he goes all the way over there to see her she tells him off again. Steve hated Sandy for hurting Soda like that.

"At least I know now." Soda said. "She couldn't have possibly been any more blunt about it."

"Soda, Darry made breakfast." Pony poked his head into their room to tell his brother.

"Ok, thanks Pon." He and Steve got up and headed out into the living room. Two-Bit was on the floor in front of the TV, looking content with the chocolate cake and a beer.

"Get out the way!" He said as Steve stepped in front of the television.

"Oh, sorry man." Steve said, moving.

"Pony, you're coach called last night." Darry said, walking out of the kitchen. "He's been begging me to let you back on the track team."

Pony's head shot up. "Will you let me?" He asked. Please say yes. Please please please. He thought. There was nothing to look foreword to when he wasn't on the track team and he wanted back in bad.

Darry sighed. "I'm thinking about it but I'm not sure yet, kiddo. I'm not gonna disregard all that you've been up to lately."

"Please Darry." Pony pleaded.

"I told you I'm thinking about it. Begging won't help you any if only make your chances worse so drop the subject."

"You're so mean!" Pony said.

"Ponyboy, I'm only trying to help you."

"Yeah, well you've got a lousy way of doing it."

"C'mon guys don't start this again." Soda pleaded with his brothers.

Pony nodded. "Fine." He didn't say yes. Pony thought. He said he was thinking about it. I'm not going back to school until he says yes and if he doesn't then I'm not ever going back! I'll drop out just like Sodapop and work at the gas station. I don't care what anybody says!

"Five minutes, we have to get goin'." Darry said, going into his room to find his wallet. He sighed inwardly. Why did there always have to be something wrong? He still couldn't get over the fact that Soda would even consider taking off in the middle of the night and going to Florida.

"Two-Bit! Do you have to put the cake on the floor?" Soda said, taking his foot out of the chocolate mess and hopping into the bathroom.

"It ain't my fault you stepped in it." Two-Bit said.

"Now we can't eat it." Pony whined.

"Nah, it's still good." Two-Bit grabbed some and stuffed it in his mouth.

"Somebody is cleaning that up and it ain't gonna be me." Darry said, coming back out into the living room. "We need to get going. Where's Soda?"

"Bathroom." Steve said, nodding towards the hallway.

"Hurry up!" Darry yelled.

"I am!" Soda yelled back. "Give me a minute, all-right? I've got cake all over my foot!" Sheish, no patience. No patience at all. Soda thought, drying his foot off.

Darry sighed and snatched up his keys. Soda came out a minute or two later. "My car broke down. Will you give us a ride, Dar?" Two-Bit asked.

"Yeah." Darry said.

"That's ok." Pony said. "We can just walk, Two-Bit. There's not enough room in the truck anyways."

"No, you'll be late if you walk." Darry said. "It's already eight. Get in." Pony sighed. If Darry took him he might see him leaving the campus instead of going into school. There was no point in arguing though so he just got in. It was fine when he got there though. The second him and Two-Bit were out of the car Darry whizzed off down the street.

"Darry, when are we gotta get the front of the Ford fixed?" Soda asked.

"As soon as I can find the money to pay for it." Darry said.

"Minor detail." Steve said, nudging his friend.

"Soda the second you get off work you come straight home, hear me?" Darry said, looking at Soda through the rear view mirror. Soda sighed. "I mean it, Sodapop. Do not let me come home and find out you're not there."

"Fine." Soda said. "I still think it's stupid that you're grounding me. All I wanted to do was see-"

"I don't care what you think. You're grounded and that's just the way it is so live with it, little buddy." Soda groaned and leaned his head up against the seat. "If you ask me you're getting off easy."

"Two weeks of house arrest is getting off easy!?" Soda shrieked. "You're crazy!" Darry rolled his eyes and pulled into the DX. Soda and Steve hopped out. Darry pulled back out onto the street and headed for work, reviewing the most recent events over in his head again and again and trying to think of solutions but he wasn't successful. He flipped on the news and then turned it back off immediately, getting frustrated with himself because he couldn't make his mind up about anything.