Blowin' Smoke

Candymouse22: I'm so glad! Details are NOT my strong point. Thank you so much for your review!

PonyboyCurtis1952: I'll see what I can do, but I've already killed them off so I'm not sure what I can do.

Amanda (Guest): First of all thanks you so much for the story ideas! I appreciate it so much. And secondly, I legitimately love Ponyboy's sassy level too lol. I like the sympathetic Sodapop thing lol. Thank you so much for reviewing.

CHAPTER 16

Third Person POV (Mid May)

"Why would it be such a bad idea, Steve?" Darry questioned.

Soda had suggested Steve see someone to talk, an idea Steve did NOT like at all. But everyone else was agreeing with the idea, because Steve had been angry all the time and he always looked like he didn't sleep. He needed help.

"I'm not crazy. I'm not seeing some freaking shrink!" Steve spit. Sodapop flinched, looking hurt; he had only suggested the idea to help out his buddy.

"We aren't saying you're crazy! All we are saying is that you need help. You ain't dealing, Steve."

Steve glared at his friends, feeling extremely ganged up upon.

"Remember what I said?" Ponyboy piped up, referencing his conversation about not shutting Soda and the gang out. The words were supposed to calm Steve down, but it seemed to be his last straw. He stood up and stormed out the front door. He had no idea where he was going to go, he just knew that he had to get out.

The next few hours passed in a drunken, emotional blur. Steve wandered around aimlessly, angry and looking for a fight, and not paying until to where he was going, until he began to hear music and laughter in the distance. His eyes landed on Bucks and without a second thought he went inside.

Steve sat down on a bar stool before ordering a beer. After the first one didn't make him feel better, he ordered a shot of whiskey. He downed the bitter taste in a gulp, trying anything to make him feel better.

A few drinks later, after things started to get blurry, Steve wandered out of Bucks. He was even sure if he paid or not, but he didn't turn back.

The only rational thought that ran through Steve's brain was, "I can't go back to Darry's like this; he'll kill me." So, instead, Steve founded himself outside of a place he hadn't stepped foot in four months. He was standing outside of the place he grew up in for eighteen years: his dad's house.

He found his father on the couch, drunk and only half-conscious. He had half a dozen beer bottles thrown randomly in various locations around the house. There was a pile of vomit in the far corner, making the entire place smell like the inside of his father's stomach. The heavy stench of beer and puke almost made him puke, but he swallowed it back.

Steve's father, even though he was drunk, could tell the state of his son. Surprisingly Steve, the old man started cackling.

"Like father, like son," he proclaimed between laughs.

"Wha'dya mean?" Steve slurred slowly in a confused tone.

"You're a drunk, boy, just like ya daddy."

Steve clenched his fist, beginning to sober up a bit due to his anger.

"I ain't ever gonna be like you. I will never be a worthless, abusive pig like you are."

The only response his dad gave was a wild, crazy laugh, before taking a long sip of his beer. Overwhelmed and beyond furious, Steve stormed out of his dad's house, slamming the door behind him.

Steve felt like a teenager again when he laid eyes on the lot and decided it was the only place that he was going to able to sleep off all of his alcohol consumption. Lucky for him, it was April and the nights were perfect for sleeping outside.

Emotionally drained from the day and having the alcohol to help him, Steve fell straight asleep for the first time in a long time.

OoOoOoO

Steve woke up the next morning extremely hungover, but much clearer.

"I will not become my dad," Steve repeated in his head, trying to build confidence for what challenge he was about to tackle.

He shakily opened the door to the Tulsa Psychiatry Clinic, taking a deep breath before crossing the threshold, entering the place that would either completely humiliate his greaser image or help him move on. Clearing his throat, Steve sauntered up to the receptionist desk.

"Hi, ma'am, I, uh- I want to-to make an appointment, but I'm not real sure, uh, how to do that," Steve stumbled over his words awkwardly, but instead of laughing or making a disapproving face at him, the receptionist just smiled sweetly at him.

"Sure thing, sweetheart. When's a good day for you?"

"Well, uh, any week day 'sides Tuesday's," Steve responded, because on Tuesday's Steve was the only mechanic available to work at the DX.

"Do you wanna start sometime next week?"

"That would be great."

"Alright, we have an appointment available at 3:15 on Thursdays. If all works out, that day is available every week or however often you come. That sound alright?" The lady drawled. Steve nodded, feeling slightly nervous at the idea of coming every week.

"That sounds just fine, ma'am. Could I have a business card?"

She smiled, handing him a small piece of paper. He thanked her and walked out with a huge weight lifted off of his chest.

All he had to do now was talk to Darry.

OoOoOoO

Steve knocked on Darry's door with a newfound sense of confidence. He was nervous for sure, but for once he felt like things just might be okay, and that gave him a small sense of ease.

Darry was the one that answered the door, a mix of relief and anger evident on his face once he realized who had knocked.

Steve gulped. "I made an appointment for Thursday," Steve held up the business card, pausing for a moment before continuing. "You were right, Darry, I messed up real bad. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Steve. I get it. I'm glad you made the appointment," Darry responded, opening the door for Steve to come in.

"Go talk to Soda, he'll be real glad too. He's in his room," Darry informed the nineteen year old. Darry's lack of anger surprised Steve, but he was thankful that he was forgiven so easily.

When Steve entered Soda's room, he was surprised that he was greeted by a hug.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming back."

"You can't get rid of me that easy," Steve joked, making Soda grin.

Things were going to be okay.

A/N: Here's a more appropriate length chapter since the last few have been a little shorter. Hope you guys enjoyed. :) Please review as always; they make my day and are writing fuel.

Stay Gold,

- Alee XxX