Hello, and hope you enjoy this chapter. I struggle a bit at the end, but I think the ending turn out fine...Hopefully.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for what I own.

Chapter 2

Soda pov

I really wished Ponyboy would wake up. I had something I needed to tell Darry, but Pony was like a shied to me. Without him, I felt un armed for what would come.

Luckily, it was Saturday and while Pony slept of his hangover, I headed down to Steve's feeling slightly relived but yet frustrated that I would have to tell Darry this evening.

When I got home Ponyboy was looking much better. He was in the kitchen and he and Johnny were having an intense conversation on lord knows what. I cook smell a roast beef in the oven and Pony was mashing up some potatoes, just the way Darry like them.

" Sucking up are ya?" I asked jokingly. He turned trying to keep a serious expression when suddenly he flicked the masher a bit, sending some potato my way. The white blob landed on my check and stuck there. Johnny was struggling not to laugh, his face turned away and hand over mouth. Pony smile proudly at me, just bagging for some pay back. I started to walk over, pretending to expect the meal when I smeared the potato all over Pony's face. He wipped it off with his sleeve and laughed. We were even now.

Roast beef was expensive so I knew Pony had bought it with his own money. He must of felt pretty bad for last night then!

Johnny walked out pass me than went out the door, calling out a bye over his shoulder. Just as he left, Darry walked in.

I sucked in a deep breath and sat at the table while Pony put our meal on the blue plates. We started eating in an comfortable silence.

Finally Pony tossed his brown manilla envelope towards Darry. I watched as Darry scanned over it and a slow smile spread over his face. I craned my neck to look to see how he how done.

All A+'s! I nearly coughed on my drink as I realized how smart my brother was compared to me. It was really embarrassing because I know that as much as Darry tried not to, he would be comparing .Darry looked at me, waiting for me to give him my report card.

I slowly passed mine, wishing I could completely disappear. I looked up at Darry and watched as the smile on his face from Pony's report card quickly turned into a frown. Pony looked at me, our eyes met. I could tell he felt worried for me. Darry took school really seriously.

" You only passed two courses" Darry said not looking up. His voice sounded un surprised, and I think that's what hurt most. The fact that he expected that I wasn't going to do well. I mays as well put a giant L on my forehead, let the world know how stupid I was. When I look up I saw Pony staring at me, His eyes saying " Don't be so hard on yourself". Boy, sometimes that kid knew me so well, it scared me.

" How do you expect to go anywhere with that!" he raised his voice.

Checks burning, I started at my fork and whispered
" I don't expect to go anywhere, because I'm going to drop out and work at the DX. In fact today Steve and I went down there and the boss offered me a full time job."

Darry face was red and if I hadn't been in that much trouble, I would of laughed. I knew that wouldn't be the bets choice right now, so I sat still and listened." What do you think mom and dad would say... Do you think that they would just let you quit and give up like that."

How could he pull the mom and dad card. It was a tender spot for all of us and for Darry to bring it up just like that was insensitive. I felt just as angry as him."Well I wish Mom and Dad were here instead of you and anyways, you know just as well as I do that were about to lose the house. With the money I make at the DX, we' ll be fine. Besides, I was just going to work there after I finished school, so what's the problem with starting early?" I was yelling loudest of all but didn';t care. Darry looked like I had just slapped him and in truth, I did feel a bit bad. It wasn't his fault mom and dad died. I know he wished he was in collage now, instead of taking care of his kid brothers and their crazy problems.

I stole a glance at pony. He looked worried. He knew that we were low on money, but never in his wildest dreams did he had he known that we could loss our house. Me being 16 and pony only 13 meant that I was the one Darry confide in and told me our financial problems. I never will admit it but I take pride in that, it makes me feel responsible.

I could tell that I had giving Darry some pretty good reason why I should drop out of school and he also knew just as well as me, that even if he said no, I wouldn't go back to school anyways. He looked up at the ceiling, like he was searching for the answer up there.

" I just don't know what mom and dad would do" he sighed. I knew from that, that Darry as much as he hated it, was saying that I could become a high school drop out.

I nearly changed my mind when I looked over at Ponyboy. His face was a mix of disappointment, embarrassment and anger. I was taking back by it and later, when we crawled into bed I said

" So what do you think about me dropping out?"
" I could tourer you" he replied desperately. I felt a small amount of sadness. Even thought I would be so much happier at the DX, I knew Pony would never see my reasoning. To him, giving up school was like giving up his way out of here, his get out jail card.( Good ol' manopoloy:) That's how we were different. Even if I went to school a thousand times, I would never make it further than " Would that be a full tank today, sir?"

One way or another I knew I would end up at the DX and one way or another I knew that Pony would end up doing something great. That was just life. And nobody said life was fair.

I'm not sure if I should continue or not. Review and tell me...

Thanks