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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Darry's POV

Steve still hasn't shown his face around the hospital or at the house. Ponyboy is getting out of here soon and I knew that Soda was going to confront him one way or another, even if Steve was too chicken to straighten this out.

I still wasn't too sure what to think. Putting a gang member in danger didn't seem like Steve at all. He and Pony had never gotten along, but this? I couldn't believe him. It was crushing Soda. He was a worried mess over Pony and was still hurting over Steve.

Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally didn't know about Steve's involvement in the jumping. I didn't want to be the one to tell them. Dally was still out beating any Socs heads in with Tim Shepard, unaware that he true culprit was right under their noses.

I wondered if Pony would ever forgive Steve. He was never really good at holding grudges, but this had never crossed our minds. I think that if Pony forgave him then Soda would be his friend again. Maybe not best friends, but he would be back in the gang.

A best friend should never do anything like this. Were they ever really best friends? I wasn't too sure anymore.

X (Darry's POV still)

Today Ponyboy was being released from the hospital. I was glad, I had been here when my parents died and as stupid as it sounds, the thought of having Pony here even if he wasn't in critical condition freaked me out.

"Come on, Soda," I called. Pony was sitting in the waiting room chair while I signed the endless release forms.

"Ready to go?" I asked Pony. He smiled, the first real smile I had seen since our parent's car crash about two month ago. If I knew that getting out of the hospital would make him smile, I would have sent him to more hospitals.

"I'm so excited," he told me.

"Alright, then. Let's go."

Sodapop's POV

Ponyboy had been home for five days now. He was really tired a lot, but physically he was improving quickly. The only thing I was scared about was his mental health. He was jumpy and scared a lot now, he jumped at sudden loud noises and never really liked to go outside for anything. He hadn't seen a sunset since we got home.

The whole gang had been over a few times to watch him or try and cheer him up, except for Steve. I needed to talk to him, it had been bothering me all week that he was responsible for Pony's jumping, but I was putting it off to stay with my kid brother. Darry told me that the longer I put this off the worst is was going to be. I needed to know if the rumors Tim told me about were true, but a part of me hoped that Patrick was lying.

I decided to try his house. I didn't want to run into his dad, but I needed to talk to him now while Darry was home.

"I'm going out!" I shouted. Darry nodded.

"Be back by curfew," he told me sternly.

"Alright, Dar," I muttered as I wrapped Ponyboy in a quick one armed hug and said my goodbyes to the both of them.

I reached Steve's house in just a few minutes and hesitantly knocked on the old red door. I said a quick prayer of thanks when Steve answered the door and not his drunk dad. He looked pretty shocked to see me. Great was fidgeting around uncomfortably, which sent my blood boiling, I knew that it was true and that stung.

"Uh… Hey, Soda," he mumbled.

"Don't feed me any bull, Steve. I know what you did, and as furious as I am, I am going to let you explain," I replied coolly.

"I never meant to hurt him, Soda, honest. He always follows us like a lost puppy. I can't even explain why I did it, I just acted because I guess I was jealous. I'm sorry," he told me.

"It's going to take more than a quick 'sorry' to fix this, Steve. I'm sorry too." And with that I left. He just stood at the door, shock and confusion written all over his face. I couldn't help it and I turn slightly towards him, but when I did I saw that he had tears running down his face. I took in a quivering breathe, trying to keep my own tears at bay.

I knew that when I walked away from Steve's house, I also walked away from his friendship.

A/N: Did I get Soda's and Steve's reactions correct? Please review.