A/N: I am so sorry that this update is so late. It has been such a long time. I was in a math class that took up all of my time. It's finally over and caused the inspiration for this chapter. I sincerely apologize for the tardiness but this isn't the only idea I got from my absence so things should be much better. I hope you guys enjoy this!

Story Sixteen

Johnny and Sodapop

"Pity Seat"

Soda sat on the porch steps, eyebrows knitted together, elbows resting on his knees. He watched the rain poor down and took a drink of his Pepsi. It figured that it was raining. It just figured. He dropped his head, staring at the bottle that would tap his shin every now and then. This was one of the rare times that he wanted a beer. He didn't drink, he hated it. He wanted to live life to the fullest. He didn't want his senses impaired. But now he wished he was out with Dallas at Buck's. He might as well. That's what most greasers did, right?

Just a dumb greaser, Soda thought to himself. Just a dumb greaser.

He should have known. He should have known how it would turn out. Why had he even tried? Why had he bothered? He let his mind drift over the past weeks of studying every equation, every different problem. Darry had sat up late with him every night for the past three weeks, trying to help him get through this test. Ponyboy had tried to help himself dozens of times, although he wasn't close to those problems in his own classes. His dad had gone through every old homework assignment with him, walking him through it. Their mom had quizzed him every time he helped with dinner or cleaning.

Now that he'd taken the test, he felt exhausted, depressed, and stupid. He hadn't gotten the grade yet but he didn't have to. It was easy to know he failed. The test had gone horribly. He'd only known a couple of problems and guessed on the rest. It had still taken him the entire class period to finish.

What had gone wrong? He'd studied, he had. Maybe he could have studied harder? Maybe he should have dedicated everything, absolutely everything, to it. Maybe he just couldn't do it. Maybe he'd never be able to do anything school related.

He could hear his family inside. Their voices were distant but he knew they were talking about him. Vaguely, he could make out his father's disappointed and defeated tone or Pony's quiet, worried-about-Soda voice. Darry's deep rumble sounded from the house as footsteps went to the door, his voice growing clearer. Soda managed to make out the words check on him. He felt his entire body tense. He didn't want to talk about it, especially not with his brilliant big brother. He leaned back slightly, trying to hear more.

"Maybe not now, Darry," his mom said gently. "I think he wants some time."

Soda stayed tense until he heard Darry's loud steps back away, slowly getting quieter. He relaxed his body and leaned forward again. His posture was horrible, he knew. His mother would tap him in the back if she were with him, like she usually did. "But I'm a greaser, Mom!" was his usual response. She'd always roll her eyes at that.

"Soda? You okay, man?"

Soda jerked his head up and met Johnny Cade's eyes. He leaped to his feet as he took the kid in. Johnny hadn't been at school that day and now it was apparent why. He looked awful. He had a good bruise on his face and a few on his arms. "Golly, kid! You okay?" Soda went to him in the rain and lead him underneath the porch.

"Sure. Man, what're you doing out here? It's freezing."

"Oh. Here." Soda tugged off his jacket and draped it around Johnny's shoulders. Years later, when he looked back on this, he wasn't sure exactly why he didn't take Johnny inside. Part of him thought that maybe he hadn't been ready to go back in yet. But a much larger part of him thought that he had wanted Johnny Cade to himself for a few more moments. And later in his future, he was glad that he had made this choice. He was glad for this moment.

Johnny shook his head and tried to pull it off but Soda clapped a hand on his shoulder, keeping the jacket there. "I'm fine," he told him sternly. "Wear it." Johnny opened his mouth to argue but his face softened in an instant, giving a small nod. Soda couldn't help but wonder what in the world that was about but didn't ask. Instead, he asked a different question. "What's goin' on with your face there?"

Johnny gave him a small smile, eyebrows raised slightly, his amusement plain as the rain pounding around them. "I, uh… Nothin'. Let's just not get into it."

Soda looked at him for a moment then guided him to the porch steps where he had been sitting mere minutes ago. "Sit," he commanded. Johnny hesitated before sitting down, wincing a little as he put his arm down beside him. Soda sat beside him and said, "You are now in the pity seat. I know because I had a pity party there myself. You are now to tell me everything." Johnny threw him a disbelieving look and Soda managed his first grin since his test because it wasn't for him. It was for Johnny Cade. "Come on, grease," he prodded.

Johnny rolled his eyes before his smile started to falter. His eyes flicked to the ground and he shrugged. It was that look, that distinctive kicked puppy look that told Soda everything.

"Your old man or your ma?" Soda asked gently.

Johnny was quiet for several minutes, lips held together so tightly that they were turning a little white. Finally, he said quietly, "Old man."

"What'd he do?"

"I got in the way of his poker game. Then I didn't get out of the way fast enough." Johnny shrugged. "Ain't nothin'. Don't worry."

Soda shook his head. "Johnny. I ain't askin' what you supposedly did. I'm asking what he did."

"Coulda been worse. Just knocked me down, grabbed my arm real hard. I'm fine."

"You weren't in school."

Johnny shrugged again. "I didn't feel like it much."

Soda shook his head, looking away. "Man, you ain't one to just ditch school. I do that, or Steve does, or Two-Bit, or Dal. You don't. You're the one with hope."

"Man, who says I got hope?" Johnny asked, a hint of fire entering his tone. Soda glanced at him, taken aback. Was this really what Johnny was going to get fired up about? Thinking he didn't deserve a compliment? The idea gave Soda's stomach a sick twist. If anyone deserved it, it was Johnny Cade.

"All of us. We know you got hope. We know you're gonna go far," Soda said. "And not to sound arrogant, but we're the ones who matter. Not your pop. Not your ma. Us. We're your family, Johnny Cade, and I hate that you seem to forget that."

"I don't forget it," Johnny muttered, fixing his eyes on the ground. "I don't. But… Aw, look, it's just… Never mind."

"Nah, come on, man."

"I said never mind." His tone was quiet, defeated.

Soda watched him for several minutes before saying quietly, "But we ain't your parents."

Johnny looked up at him with wide eyes before looking away again. He was quiet instead of answering. That was all the conformation Sodapop needed. He pushed a hand through his greasy hair. "Look, kid… Man, I wish I could knock some sense into them. But all I can do is…" He fell quiet for a moment, not because he couldn't think of anything to say but because he couldn't find the right thing to say. Finally, he said rather loudly, "All I can do it adopt you." He threw Johnny a cheeky grin which grew when he saw Johnny fighting a smile himself. "Aw, come on. I'd be a good dad. I'll let you eat chocolate cake for breakfast."

Johnny grinned softly. "Man, I don't want your chocolate cake. Too sweet."

Soda snapped his fingers, feigning disappointment. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Maybe it's the extra five cups of sugar," Johnny said playfully.

Soda grinned. "Nah, that can't be it."

Johnny chuckled and shook his head. When he looked back at Soda, he was serious again. "Your turn."

"Hmm?"

"What's eating you?"

"Nothin'."

"I could see it in your face when I came up. There's a reason I didn't argue with you." Johnny pulled at the jacket.

Soda glanced away. "Well, I have no idea what that could be."

Johnny kept his eyes on him for a few minutes. "It's the test, ain't it?" Soda bowed his head a little in answer, swallowing hard. "I'm sorry, man…"

"Face it, we all expected it a little," Soda said quietly. "Had to. It is me after all."

"That don't mean nothing."

"It does and you know it." Soda looked at him finally. "I ain't no good at school and I never will be. I'm just a dumb greaser."

"That ain't true."

"Yeah, it is."

"No it ain't." Johnny looked at him. "Soda, you ain't dumb." Soda scoffed lightly, turning his gaze to the rain again.

"Maybe I should just drop out."

Silence fell between them as the weight of what he said affected them both. Johnny blinked at him, unable to believe it. Sodapop Curtis had never been a quitter and he couldn't imagine why he wanted to quit now. He was smart, whether he saw it or not.

"Soda," Johnny said softly. "You ain't dumb. You're one of the smartest people I know…"

"Oh yeah?" Soda said miserably.

"Yeah."

Soda glanced at him. "If I'm so smart, why couldn't I pass that test?"

"Your teacher assigned you homework until the day before," Johnny said quietly. "I watched you try to do that and study. And you knew the stuff."

"Prove it."

"Fine." Johnny sat for a moment then fired a math question. Soda thought for a moment before answering. Johnny asked again and Soda answered. This went on for a few minutes until a very small smile was placed on Soda's face.

"Yeah, yeah. I see your point," Soda said quietly. "I get it."

"You froze, Soda," Johnny said softly. "That don't mean you're dumb."

"Thanks."

"Besides, your mom would never let you drop out," Johnny said lightly, giving him a nudge with his elbow.

Soda let out a low chuckle. "No kidding. Long as she's around, dropping out isn't an option."

"Speaking of your mom, I'm hungry." Johnny looked at him. "I'm done with my pity party if you're done with yours."

Soda grinned softly and got to his feet. "Yeah, I am."

Johnny hopped up to his feet and walked to the door, Soda watching him the whole time. What would they do if his old man went over board someday? What would they do if something happened to Johnny Cade? Their group couldn't survive without him. But the thought was too horrible to entertain so Soda dismissed it. He was worrying too much. Nothing would happen to Johnny. He'd be around a long time.

Life wasn't that unfair.

"You comin', man?" Johnny asked, looking at him over his shoulder.

"Yeah." Soda bounded to his side and went inside with him. "What are we eating?"

Everyone's eyes darted to them, the concern obvious in their eyes. Soda wasn't sure if it was for him or for Johnny. Before anyone could ask, Soda said, "We're okay." He stopped and looked at Johnny. "Well, I am. What about you, Johnnykid?"

Johnny's lips twitched into a small smile. "I'm okay." Soda nodded and threw an arm around his shoulders. Yeah, he was okay. He had a feeling that he would be as long as Johnny Cade was around.