Hello!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

WARNINGS: IMPLIED ABUSE

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Aimee asked.

"That's the address," Soda replied.

They pulled up in front of a relatively nice house- not too shabby, but not extravagant. It wasn't a huge house; it was of average size, but it was also completely white, except for the blue front door and the blue curtains. The grass was neatly mowed, and there was a garden in the back that looked beautifully tended to.

Ponyboy's foster home.

"It looks like a dollhouse," Soda murmured.

Aimee nodded. "It's too perfect."

They sat there, staring at the house, for several minutes. They both had a bad feeling in their stomachs, like they were staring at a medieval torture chamber instead of a normal house.

"Well… we'd better go inside," Soda said. "No use sitting out here in the cold."

Aimee nodded, and the couple got out of the car and approached the house with tentative feet and nervous hearts. Soda raised his fist and knocked lightly on the door.

"Brat, get the door!" a male voice shouted.

"Oh, he better not have just called my little brother a brat," Soda growled under his breath as footsteps approached the door, and the door opened.

Ponyboy couldn't have been more surprised if he saw their parents standing on the other side of the door. His eyes widened, comically, and he blinked at least a dozen times before snapping out of it.

Overall, he didn't look that much different than when he left almost a month ago. He was skinnier and paler, and he wasn't wearing any hair grease. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a baggy blue shirt that looked like it'd be big on Darry. His feet were bare, and he was shivering, and Soda couldn't blame him. Outside was freezing, being the month of December, and the house didn't feel much better, but Ponyboy was wearing short sleeves and no socks or shoes. He must've been cold as heck.

"Soda," he finally managed. "Aimee. What are you two doing here?"

"Is it crime for me to come see my favorite little brother?" Soda laughed, hugging Ponyboy. He frowned as his hand rubbed up and down the boy's back, wincing as he felt Ponyboy's spine stab his finger, like there was no fat or muscle to cushion the bones. He could feel Pony's ribs through his shirt.

The baggy shirt had made it hard to tell how skinny Ponyboy truly was; Soda had been suspicious, but it hadn't looked worrying, but now that he was hugging Ponyboy… let's just say that he's positive that Ponyboy was not anywhere near this skinny when he left home.

Ponyboy rolled his eyes. "I'm your only little brother."

"And that's why you're my favorite," Soda chuckled.

"Boy, who's at the door?" a man asked as he stepped into the doorway.

The man towered over Soda at around 6'5, and he had shiny, perfectly straight brown hair, not one strand out of place. His eyes shined a sky blue, and he was fairly pale. He wore a pair of crisp blue jeans without any rips or stains and a white button up shirt. He didn't exactly have a pleasant expression on his face, but it wasn't one that sent anyone running.

"This is my older brother, Sodapop, and his girlfriend, Aimee," Ponyboy answered. He spoke slowly and flatly, as though trying to stop his voice from shaking. "Soda, Aimee, this is my foster father, Mr. Worth."

"Nice to meet you," the man said, shaking Soda's hand.

"You, as well, but just so you know, my brother has a name, and it is not boy," Soda snarked.

"Has there been a change in Ponyboy's-" the man said the name like it was poison in his mouth "-placement?"

"No, but his social worker said we could visit," Soda told him.

The man nodded. "Of course. Come on in, but please take off your shoes before doing so. Ponyboy, why don't you go get Mrs. Worth?"

Ponyboy nodded and turned, but when he did so, his sleeve slipped down.

Soda's breath hitched, and Aimee swallowed as she followed his gaze.

Bruises of all shades and sizes stained Ponyboy's shoulder, like someone had beaten the boy… repeatedly.

Thanks for reading! Bye!