Soda-

My head was spinning, I wanted to throw up and cry all at the same time. I watched as my vision went spoty. I heard the voice of a man asking me if i was alright. I felt the oxygen mask over my nose and mouth. It wasn't long before my vision went blurry and my head ached. I felt the world slip out from under me. I passed out as the sirens roared.

Pony-

It all happened so fast, first I heard two shots and then Soda came stumbling out. He was walking like a drunk man, whispering " I killed him, I killed him", before vomiting and taken away. He looked like his head was hit by something. He had blood all over the front of him, his shirt was stained badly. The cops rushed into the building.

They rushed Tommy-boy to the hospital, he was covered in blood and looked awful pale. He was so weak, which was a strange sight. Then they carried the man out, the man Soda must have killed. He wasn't much older than Soda, maybe nineteen or twenty.

He reminded me of Dallas, Dallas wanted to die violent and young. Did this young man want the same fate? What happened to cause these young men to be like this? I had always wondered what Dallas might have been like before New York , hood live and jail had made him cold. Surely, he wasn't always so cold and hard.

That look in his wasn't one of hate and despair in my opinion. They were the look of someone broken and confused, not someone who hated the world. Dallas Winston didn't hate the world, he had loved Johnny. Loving Johnny is what kept him from blowing up all the time. Johnny needed Dallas the same way Dallas needed Johnny.

Not that Dallas Winston would have ever admitted that. Dallas's story, shows me many things, one of which is that the world changed him. He wasn't always that way , it shows because of the way he loved Johnny.

I wondered many questions about the young man that shot Tommy and hurt my brother. I knew that TIm Shepard won't be happy about this shooting. He was an agreement with the Brumley gang and other gangs that the DX is out of bounds. It was a deal meant to ensure the safety of guys like Soda , Steve and Tommy-boy that didn't do anything to be shot at.

I watched Darry , who showed no feelings. I had learned to read him, no feelings on the outside meant inside he was fight so hard. I wanted to cry but I felt all cried out. My brother was alive and that was what mattered.

Darry-

Many questions rushed through my head and I wished there was an answer. My brother was alive but he could have been killed today. My family could have been torn apart for the second time in a matter of months. I realized I need to move, the boys would be safer if I could move them to a safer neighborhood.

What if I lost my life months ago? What if Soda had been killed today? If I had died, and Soda would have died today, Pony wouldn't have anyone else. I hated these thoughts but it was the truth. Most accidents happen less that 5 miles from the house. But we both nearly lost our lives at work, we need to move.

I could get a second job and take out a loan. I don't like the idea of owing the bank money, but it might be what we have to do. Even if I had to work three jobs, if Soda had to change jobs and if Pony had to change schools, we need to do this.

I put my arm over Pony and made my way to the truck. "Let's go , Pone", I say softly

Pony and I walked to the truck and climbed in. We drove the the hospital leaving the many cop cars behide. I heard the sirens in the distance and was happy to be out of there. I drove as fast as I could legally and we finally arrived.

I climbed out of the car and throw an arm around Pony. He was shaking hard and I understood his dislike for the hospital. Dallas, Johnny, me and Soda all spent time here in this hospital. We walked together to the front desk, I spotted a blond nurse.

"I'm looking for Sodapop Curtis", I say

"He's in recovery room one", She says

"How is he?", I ask

"He was hit in the head, needed eight stitches and he's fine now. Just a little shell shocked.", She says

"Thanks", I say

We find Soda's room and knock. "Come in", a voice says weakly

"Soda", I say

Soda just looks at me and I walk towards him. I wrap my arms around him and he begins to sob. "I killed him, Dar. I killed him", Soda say

"Shhh, Pepsi Cola. It was an accident.", I say

" I killed James and now I killed this man.", Soda says

"Both times it was an accident. You didn't mean to.", I say

"But they are both dead because of me. That fact doesn't change.", Soda agruess

FLASH BACK

Ten years ago...

Soda was playing in the back yard with Steve and James. James was a friend to both boys, they were over at the Curtis's old country home. They were playing happily until James stopped. The boys were eight years old and in the third grade.

"Can you show me your Daddy's gun?", James asked

"I don't think so. Daddy told me not to play with it.", Soda says

"Come one, Soda. Your dad doesn't have to know if we don't tell him.", Steve says

"I don't think so", Soda says

"As long as we put it up, no one has to know.", James says

"Don't be a square, Curtis", Steve says

"I'm not square", Soda aguress

The boys walk past Darry who is reading a comic book with Pony playing happily beside him. Darry was ten and Pony was six.

"Where do you think your going?", Darry asks

"In the house to get a drink", Soda says

"Alright, but come right back out.", Darry says

Mama was out doing laundry , hanging the clothes on the clothes line. Daddy was out in the garage tinkering with an old car he was working on. The boys follow Soda into the study and Soda opens the locked drawer on his daddy's desk. Soda knew where Daddy hid the key. He unlocked the drawer and picked up the gun.

The boys admired it for a second and SOda went to put it up. James grabbed the gun from Soda and they fought over it. Steve stood to the side, cheering the boys on. Soon, a bang was heard and James fell to the ground. Soda had shot James while they fought over it.

James was only eight years old when he died. Mama and Daddy rushed in to find the boys in Darrel's study. Darry had Pony on his hip when he arrived in the room. Daddy attempted to revive James put there wasn't any saving James. He was shot in the chest nearly his heart. He didn't have a chance.

Soda was forever haunted by that day, he was only eight when it happened.