(Thanks for the reviews guys. Pony'sgirlfriend, thank you. I missed the story too. FrankElza I'm glad you liked it. I hope you guys like the next chapter too. Please read and review.)

Tragedy

Soda and I waited up on the couch. Darry came back around 3:45am. He couldn't find Pony. By 4am, we were all pretty worried.

"You two need to get some sleep," Darry said looking at Soda and me.

"But we want to wait for Pony." I said rubbing my eyes.

"You are exhausted," Darry said. He sounded just as exhausted if not more. "I will wake you when he comes home."

I looked up at Soda. "Come on Liz." He stood and helped me up.

Darry picked up the phone.

Soda froze and looked at him. "You aren't calling the police are you?"

"What other choice do I have?"

Soda took the phone from him. "Darry give it a few more minutes please. We will be separated."

Darry took the phone back from him. "He could be hurt Soda. I have to do something."

The two brothers looked at each other wielding the other to cave.

A knock came to the door in that moment. Darry hurried to open it. We all hoped Pony would be on the other end, but it was the police.

"Can I help you officer?" Darry asked politely.

"We need to speak to a Ponyboy Curtis."

"He…he isn't here right now…" Soda said.

"Do you know where he could have gone?"

"No," Darry told him. "We are trying to find him. I was just fixing to call the police."

"Why do you want to talk to Pony," I asked the officer. He looked over at me with a frown of frustration.

"He is a suspect in a murder case."

"What?" Soda asked in shock.

I just stared at the officer. He must be mistaken.

"I am also looking for a Johnny Cade and a Dallas Winston."

This can't be happening.

"Someone was murdered?" Soda sounded as disbelieving as I felt.

"Yes. A young man was stabbed and left for dead. His friends named Mr. Curtis and as the ones who did it. Dallas Winston was no doubt involved."

"You don't know what you are talking about," I said angry.

"Elizabeth go to your room," Darry said sternly.

"No Darry. This isn't happening. The cops just want to blame someone!"

"Young lady you are out of line," the officer said glaring at me.

"You are a liar!" I yelled at him.

Before he could respond Soda grabbed me and pulled me into the back bedroom. Darry's room. He closed the door and turned to me.

"Stop this Elizabeth."

"It can't be true Soda!"

I had angry tears forming in my eyes.

"It can't be true. Johnny and Pony wouldn't hurt anyone."

"I know Liz." He hugged me to him. "I know."

"I want to know what is going on." I look up at him.

"I'll open the door to listen, but we are staying here."

I nod.

Soda opened the door about 3 inches so we could hear what was being said.

The officer was asking questions about Pony. He wanted to know the last time Pony was seen and where he was headed when he left. Darry answered all the questions and then asked one of his own.

"Who was the boy that was killed?"

"His name was Bob Sheldon."

My world went black. My brother…was….dead….

I woke up in Darry's bed. Soda was sitting next to me. He looked down at me as I stirred awake. It took me a little while to remember, but when I did tears came to my eyes.

"It can't be true Soda."

He stoked my hair, but didn't say anything.

Darry walked in.

"Elizabeth…." He kneeled down and took my hands. "I'm sorry sweetheart."

I shook my head. "It's not true. The office was a liar Darry."

He looked to Soda and then back at me.

"Liz your parents confirmed that Bob was killed."

I shook my head. "They lie too."

I started crying. Darry stood and sat next to me. He brought me into his lap and rubbed my back.

"I'm sorry Liz."

He let me cry like that for a while. I couldn't process what they were saying. It couldn't be true.

"Where is Pony? Johnny?"

"We don't know yet sweetheart." He kept rubbing my back. "Dally was brought into the station. I am hoping he may know where they went."

"Did they kill him?"

Darry stiffened a little.

"The police told me that the Soc boys are saying Johnny stabbed him. They told the police that Johnny and Pony were looking for trouble."

I shook my head.

"I don't believe it either Lizzie." He held me and Soda came to sit close to us.

We all just sat there in disbelief. This can't be happening.

Two Bit came by and the house later in the morning. "I got word they went to Texas. Dallas told the cops that is where they headed."

We looked at him. "Why would they go there," Darry asked.

"I don't know, but I'm heading out there."

"No you're not." Dally appeared behind him.

"Dallas where is Pony," Darry asked him with an edge to his voice.

"I don't know," Dally told him.

"You are lying."

"Darry I don't know, but I know they are not in Texas. I let that slip because they wouldn't let me go otherwise. Besides they will be looking for them there which means the boys won't get caught."

"You think it's better for them to be on the run?" Darry was angry.

"Yes I do. Better that, then them in jail."

Darry through this hands up in the air and growled. "They could die out there on their own Dallas."

"They are smart kids Darry."

"Does any of this seem smart to you?"

"Dally, what are the cops saying now," Soda interrupted. We were all on edge, and it was best to not get Darry too worked up.

"You know that kid Randy? He came forward and told the police that him and his Soc friends were the ones who jumped Pony and Johnny. Bod was drowning Pony and Johnny stabbed him to stop him from killing Pony."

I went white. I ran to the bathroom and vomited in the toilet. My brother was murdered by my best friend. My brother was trying to kill Pony. It was just too much to handle. Soda came in and hugged me to him. I was crying again.

"It's going to be okay Lizzie."

I wanted to believe him, but how was anything going to be okay again?