Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders or Who Knew? By P!nk.

I wish I could touch you again. I wish I could still call you a friend. I'd give anything. When someone said count your blessings now. For they're long gone. I guess I just didn't know how. I was all wrong.

Promise Pink. It was sealed tightly in a small glass bottle with a black lid and white paper around it saying it was from Vinson's Drug Store. It smelled as if it could be used to poison a small animal or if used wisely, a small person.

"Dally not comin' by?" She coated the first toe lightly, going over it again and again.

I clinched my knees closer to my body, breathing in. "He's workin' 'till eleven. Think he just wanted to head on back home after. Rent's due today."

"Darry you goin' in?" Sodapop asked from across the room.

"Danni," Kathy nudged me with her elbow. "You should invite Dally over sometime."

I gazed up at her as she painted another toe. "Why?"

She grinned. "'Cause I fancy 'im."

I kicked my foot up, causing paint to drip. She laughed. "Nah, really, why?"

She shrugged and tore out a cotton ball. "Invite him over for dinner. Him and Darry can bond."

Darry had a big fight with Dally last month when the cops called looking for him the night before Sam's death. Dally ended up coming by right after to pick me up. It didn't end well...I stayed home that night.

"What's he been sayin?"

She shook her head and untwisted the bottle. "Nothing. I'm just sayin'."

That was code for: I'm not getting in the middle of this. I hear enough of it at night. "Sure you are." I smiled at her. "Thanks Kat."

She rolled her eyes and nodded. "You owe me."

"Three Jacks!" Steve shouted and the sound of chips moving filled the kitchen.

"You cheated!" Two-Bit protested.

"Fuck you," Steve winked. "Someone's gonna owe me some dinner after this game." He winked again at Two-Bit.

Two-Bit grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Ass-hole."

"Goin' down to Austin for the big show this weekend?"

He tipped the brown bottle back and let the liquid run down his pasty dry mouth. He'd been needing this all fucking day. "Dumbasses down there never do nothin' worth seein'."

He got out a stick, lit it, and handed Greg one. This was what kind of work he was made for. Not sitting around in that bar like he did for months. Why didn't he do this sooner?

There was a payphone across the street. He chugged back a little more alcohol and started over there, Greg closely behind.

"Who you callin' now?"

He didn't answer, just put in his change, and dialed the number he remembered by heart. He had for a long time. It's come in handy a few times.

It rang once.

"Oh I see," Greg chuckled and leaned against the light pole. "Man, she's got you by the short and curlies."

It rang again. "Funny, champ. 'Least I got someone holdin' what they're attached to. Damn man-"

"Hello?"

Greg smirked and walked in a circle around the phone.

"Ay."

He could hear her smile forming on the other end. He could see it. "How's work? You off yet?"

He could smell her lips. Her breath coming through the other end. "Nah, I'm still blowin' my brains out in here." Greg kicked a loose rock and laughed.

"Oh."

He curled his lips up and pressed the phone closer to his mouth. "So, uh, how 'bout you pay me a visit tonight? Huh?"

She started to giggle and he could just picture her tying the cord around her finger and leaning against the wall. "Well Mr. Romantic that the best you can do?"

He smacked his lips and pressed the phone closer. "Curtis, come over."

She paused for a minute. He knew she was trying to hide her smile and act serious, play the part. "What am I gonna get out of it?"

"What are you not?"

Greg motioned for him to hurry, pointing at his wrist at a watch that wasn't there.

"Can't," she finally said. "Guys are over and Pony's out and Darry's already on needles."

He could really use another drink right now. His mouths was just watering, begging him to hang up the phone and follow Greg to the nearest liquor store. That was the plan for Greg anyway.

He pressed against the brick wall behind him and sneered. "Sneak. Back door right behind ya, Curtis."

"Begging now," she smarted off. "Could get used to this."

Greg started throwing rocks toward Dally, still yapping about how this was taking forever, just hang up on the chick and book it. They had better things to do than stand in an ally all night long.

"Come on."

She sighed and smacked her lips together. "Sorry. Guess it's just you tonight."

He smirked at her. "Been that way for a while, Curtis. Thinkin' maybe I should, you know, hit Sylvia up again."

"You got a dollar on ya?" He couldn't help but laugh. The truth was there. Too bad he didn't. "Sorry," she said. "I'll make it up to ya. Just hang around will ya?"

"I might."

She chuckled again and he could see her un-twirling the cord. "Pony's home. I gotta go." He nodded. "Night, Dallas. Don't be too lonely tonight."

Greg threw his hands in the air. Dally swiftly nodded at him and mouthed for him to get the drinks.

"Night, Curtis."

He started crying the moment he walked in. Everyone stopped and looked as he went hysterical, Soda, Darry, and I trying to calm him enough to where he could get words out.

He told the story, how they went to the park, how she cried again, how she just flat out told him. It didn't take five whole minutes. She didn't even apologize.

"Pony," Soda reached out.

Pony threw his hands up and backed away. "I can't." He ran up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door close.

Everyone was quiet. Each trying to figure out something to say.

"Cherry's been ignoring him at school," I put it lightly. "Won't even walk to class with him anymore. It's like..." I picked the words carefully, "she's embarrassed of him."

Soda's head turned to the stairs and I think I saw a pinch of anger come out as his hands tightened.

Darry on the other hand, was full force. "Why in the world is she doing that?"

"She knows she has to," Steve broke it harshly. "She's in the middle of it. Them Socs are goin' to turn on her. She ain't gonna let that happen."

Kathy rubbed her arm and stared in the same place Soda was. She knew it wasn't her place to run up there but she felt like she should. She should hold him and tell him what girls are like even though she has no idea what's going on.

I pushed on my temple. "He's right. Cherry isn't going to cut ties with her side. She has to keep them happy."

Darry took one last sip of beer before chucking it. "I knew this would happen."

Soda's head moved slowly. "Darry-"

"You knew it too!" he berated. "Sodapop c'mon. We were worried about this from the start and now look. Looks like we were right."

Soda tilted his head and sent a calming look to Darry. "Don't go sayin' that now. He's hurtin'."

"What a bitch," Steve whistled.

Darry ran a hand down his face and turned his attention to Kat. "What do you think?"

Her head didn't move. It was obvious what she thought. "His heart is broken. He's just a kid. You gotta be the shoulder, not the destroyer Darry."

I leaned against the arm of the sofa. Someone once had this spot. He'd sit right here while Ponyboy flipped through a book, quietly reading it to him. He was going to feel bittersweet about this mess.

"Sodapop," I said.

"What?"

I sighed and clinched a pillow. "You need to talk to him." I squeezed the pillow. "He really wants you right now. He might not say it but he does."

His eyes wondered over to me. They were tired and drained. We both knew how deep this was. Ponyboy wasn't shy about Cherry and what was going on. It's been a few long sleepless nights on our end of the hall.

He nodded and took his warn body up the stairs, pulling himself up each step.

This was his role. We needed Soda...all of us. He was our glue. He kept this family alive.

"Pone." He cracked the door open slightly, too afraid to barge in. "You...you wanna talk?"

Pony had his face driven deep into his pillow, soaking it wet with sweat and tears. "Mmmm."

Soda took a step forward, easing the door shut behind him. He knew this was tough. No sense in having everyone else hear them too. "What was that buddy?"

Ponyboy lifted his head up and wiped the snot off with his arm. "She...she said to get lost."

Soda slid his feet across the carpet and took a seat on the bed, his arm absentmindedly going to Pony's back. "Pone I'm sure-"

He flipped over. "She did Soda! She said we were never going to work and she was ending it before anyone got hurt."

His tears didn't shock or phase Soda. He knew his brother well enough to know his heart. "I'm so sorry Pone."

He shook his head and flopped back over on the bed, his pillow going over his head.

Soda inhaled some air and let his hand take the place it was once at. He could feel the heat and tears that were escaping from him. He could hear his small whimpers as he cried and he could feel his pain.

He hurt for him. His heart was breaking just as much.

"I know what you're going through." The words came out as simple as they were.

The bed squeaked as Pony looked up from his state. His face red and wet and shocked. "Soda I didn't mean to-"

"You're the one hurting here," he stated. "Don't go worryin' 'bout me none. I just wanna tell you somethin' and you're gonna hear me."

Ponyboy agreed and rolled back over to where his face met Soda's.

Soda got comfortable and started into his brother's damp eyes. "Now I know you know 'bout what happened with me and Sandy. I loved the girl Pone. I know you loved Cheery the same way. I could see it."

Ponyboy's eyes turned to the ground. Soda gently lifted his head back up.

"I blamed everyone for it. I blamed her, hell I called her something I never thought I'd ever call a girl."

This caught Pony's attention. He knew it would.

Soda went on, "but I blamed God too. I cussed at him. Told him this was all his fault, how could he do this to me, I hated him." Pony sniffled and looked back to the ground. "I know you loved Cherry, Pone. I suppose you still do and that's fine."

Pony's head shot up. "It is?"

Sodapop shrugged. "Yeah."

Ponyboy wiped his eyes and sat fully up, his eyes meeting his brother's. "Soda, when did you get over Sandy? I mean...when did it stop...hurtin'?"

Soda looked at the ground this time. Speaking the truth would just hurt the kid and he knew it. He shouldn't lie, but it seemed like the only way. "It wasn't long."

"How-"

"I don't know, Pone!" He slammed his fist on the bed and sat up. "Look this isn't about me ok?"

Pony's head flopped back to the ground, his heart aching even more.

Soda noticed it and quickly scrambled back. "Pone, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at ya like that. It's just...I don't like talkin' 'bout her. Don't get upset again, Pone. I'm sorry."

He sniffed and shook his head as Soda rubbed his back again. "You still love Sandy, don't ya Soda?"

Soda took a breath, thinking the answer he should give in his head. "No. I don't love her anymore."

"Soda-"

"Sandy is gone. She's happy and I'm happy she's happy. I think 'bout her, sure." He shrugged. "I loved her an awful lot, more than I have any other girl and sometimes I don't know if I will ever love someone like that again."

Ponyboy knew about how much Soda favored Sandy. Everyone in town did. Everyone expected them to end up like Evie and Steve. They were made for each other. Everyone thought they'd made it.

"But it gets better," Soda went on. "I ain't gonna lie though, it gets tough and you're gonna hurt….a lot."

He already felt the pain.

"That's why you got a pretty amazin' family though." Soda nudged him and smiled. "We'll help ya Pone. We got a whole stash of tissues right down stairs."

Pony chuckled. Soda grinned wider and began to rub his back again.

"It'll be alright Pone. Cherry'll come around and if she don't, you'll find someone better. I promise kid."

After some time of consoling, Soda seemed to get through to him. Pony lied down on his back and stared up at the ceiling, his feet on Soda's lap. Soda talked about the simple stuff. Sports mostly and occasionally work. Finally Pony was asleep.

Soda gently pulled Pony's legs off his and stepped off the bed and over to the door.

"Soda," he called out quietly. Soda barely heard him as he turned around. "When...when does it stop hurtin'?"

Soda felt his heart rip. He saw the tiny tears in his brother's eyes. He saw through him to his heart that was shredded. It was like time moved back a year and he was looking in a mirror. Oh how he wished he could have stopped all this. Gone back and warned Pony not to make the same mistake he did. If only he could take it all back.

"It will, Pone. I promise it will. You'll find someone one day. Your soul mate."

If only he could tell that to himself.

But I keep your memory. You visit me in my sleep. My darling, who knew? My darling. My darling, who knew? My darling I miss you. My darling, who knew?

A/N: Thanks for the support. I really appreciate every one of you guys. Lots of love to you. I promise a quick update for the holidays. :)