Chapter 5: Job Lost, Job Gained

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. Sigh. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.

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Soda's POV

When I woke up I was in the army hospital. I remembered during basic training I had aggravated the spot where I tore my ligament, so I had come here.

"Hey Curtis," a voice greeted me. I turned and saw the Sargent.

"Great news. Once you recover your flying stateside," he congratulated me. What? I was finally going home? This had to be some kind of joke, I thought, but I looked at the Sergeant's face and realized that it wasn't a joke. I was really going home.

"Thank you." I was so relived.

Ponyboy's POV

It was official, Darry had lost his job.

"It's all your fault, you brat," he screamed at me. I didn't make eye contact, trying not to make him more upset, but he grabbed me and forced me to look at him.

"Look at me when I talk to you," he ordered. I nodded meekly.

He stared at me for a moment before he pushed me back into the wall. My head snapped forward at the pressure when it collided with the wall and I slid down. I put my knees in front of my head to protect myself from Darry. I felt so stupid, being curled in a ball, but I couldn't afford another concussion right now.

He wasn't going to stop, I realized. When he stopped to take a swig of his beer I hurried to my feet and ran out the door. My whole body felt the cuts and bruises Darry inflicted, making it hard to run, but I ran until I made it to the lot.

I saw a figure in the lot laying there. I froze.

"W-Who's there?" I called softly.

"Pony?" I heard a familiar voice asked in confusion. "It's Steve. What are you doing out here?"

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, dodging the question.

"Escaping my dad. What happened to your face?" He lightly out his hand under my chin and examined my face.

"Naw. No, no he didn't," he was shaking his head in denial, but his voice was full of pain and conviction. He knew what had happened. I panicked.

"No, no! He didn't. I got jumped," I lied quickly.

"When?" He asked. I shrugged, trying to spear nonchalant.

"Yesterday."

"Liar. Them cuts and bruises are too fresh," Steve told me. "Don't lie to me. Who. Did. It?"

"Socs," I lied. Steve cussed.

"That's bullcrap. But whatever, I don't need your answers. I already know," Steve said, keeping his voice even.

X

Why wasn't Tulsa hiring sixteen year olds who could only work part-time? Hm... Maybe I wasn't the list qualified, but Soda got a job at fifteen. Wait, the DX, that's perfect.

I walk into the DX and saw Steve.

"Hey, Steve, you guys hiring?" I asked. He looked over his shoulder at me.

"Yeah, and the bossman put me in charge. What skills you got?"

"Well," I thought about it. What was I good at? Reading, running, what else?

Steve noticed my lack of an answer. He looked me up and down. "You got girls attention like Soda, 'specially since you got taller and more muscular. You start tomorrow," Steve told me.

"Thanks, Steve," I said honestly. He looked uncomfortable for a moment before responding.

"No problem Kid. Anything, ya hear me?" He asked seriously.

"I hear ya Steve. Thanks."

Aufenthaltd Gold,

~Alee