.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

6. In the cold I am standing just waiting for the sun.

July turned into August and the month passed by so slowly, each day the gang felt the heavy absence of their missing friend. Ponyboy was still miserable moping around shutting himself. Darry took him to the doctor, worried, since he really lost a lot of weight. The doc. informed that if he didn't eat properly he was bound to get anemia. Darry took his brother home talking to him of how serious the situation was, later into the lecture his voice got higher when Ponyboy only stared blankly at him with no response. In the end, Darry bought him some vitamins and asked Twobit's mother for any recipes that contained vegetables and other related ingredients.

August turned into September which meant school started. Ponyboy was already up without having Darry to wake him. He turned on his side, it still hurt too much that Soda wasn't there to greet him every morning. He went to the bathroom taking a quick shower, Darry was a little surprised but went on to the kitchen to make breakfast. Johnny arrived next to Twobit who hollered his presence making the oldest Curtis roll his eyes at that.

Pony mumbled a hello plopping himself in a seat with a bowl of cereal that was placed in front of him. Johnny nudged him to eat, he too worried for his friend. Twobit slapped his hands together as he ate away at his bowl. Darry grimaced, Pig.

"Where is Steve anyway?" He asked sipping on some coffee.

Twobit stopped munching giving Johnny a look. Ponyboy caught it wanting to know too. He saw how Steve was also very affected, he hasn't showed up a lot lately. Buck even had him as a frequent client at his bar. Steve's way of dealing with the pain was drinking, Ponyboy shook his head. He hates his Dad for being a drunk and he's turning into one, what a shithead. Turns out Steve was going straight to school not stopping by. Darry shrugged uncaringly though he felt a small sting inside. Ponyboy frowned, now Steve was going to break apart too. Without Sodapop he was a goner as well.

Minutes later Darry got them in his truck driving to school. Johnny asked if Pony was excited, it was his second year in high school. This year he shared some classes with Johnny, they were in the same level since Johnny flunked one and Ponyboy skipped a grade for his very high evaluations.

"Okay I guess."

Twobit raised an eyebrow, "Hell I'm jealous, having a nerdy friend means having an A plus on all my tests."

Johnny smirked, "I'm not gonna cheat Twobit."

Ponyboy shrugged, "I don't mind Johnny Cakes."

Twobit grinned, "See? Easy grade, I should get into a class with you Pony. We could partner up maybe in science class. Make an explosive volcano!"

Darry snorted, "Knowing you Twobit you'd get yourselves suspended."

Pulling up they walked out of the truck, Pony was the last one but before leaving Darry caught him by the arm. He hesitated, the words he was thinking were hard to let out, Pony waited silently until finally his brother spoke.

"Have a good first day Pone. I'm real proud of you... Uh-Twobit will walk you home after school so...Just wait for him ok little buddy?"

His younger brother was surprised by his affection yet he felt touched. It was rare for Darry to say these kinds of things, he was usually a serious person. For the first time since Soda was gone Ponyboy smiled truthfully without having to fake it, "Ok Darry. Have a good day too. Bye."

Darry nodded smiling back feeling happy also, "I'll call you when you get home. Bye kiddo." He drove off.

Twobit and Johnny were waiting for him at the entrance, some other greasers were talking to them making some plans for a party in the weekend . Johnny followed Ponyboy inside walking to their first class, they had History together then lunch, Lab Science and finally PE. After getting to their lockers Pony spotted Steve. He walked by grunting a hello. It was obvious he was having a hangover with his red eyes, pale face and dark bags under his eyes. Johnny noticed too however he decided to ignore him.

Lunch time outside was relaxing, Johnny handed his buddy a smoke both puffing away talking about their classmates, how many Socs were with them, if they knew anybody else and of course, good looking broads. Sure enough Twobit showed up with a goofy grin chatting excitedly about a girl that was new in his classroom.

"So I thought, 'What a lovely ass she has,' the minute she walked inside-"

Ponyboy felt himself turn red, "Twobit..."

Johnny folded his arms, "Gee, it's only the first day and you're going all crazy over a girl you barely know."

"Hell yeah Johnny, the best part about her is that she's a freaking blonde! Can you believe it?! This has got to be a sign I know it!"

The warning bell rang, everybody scurried out the lunch room, outside the greasers mumbled some words of how school was boring as fuck. Ponyboy threw a finished apple into the trash can, Johnny was relieved he had eaten something. Twobit walked backwards to the hallways saying, "You wait up for me by the school stairs ya got me Pone?"

"Yeah."

Twobit eyed a girl with long curly blonde hair, honey colored eyes, short but a very good body. They instantly knew it was the broad Twobit was talking about and just like he had mentioned, a very nice buttocks. Mathews wiggled his eyebrows giving them a thumbs as he left to his next class.

The rest of the day went by fast, Ponyboy savored the hours in school. The long hours of class made him content, it was as if school was his safe place. His personal nirvana. Unfortunately at the end of the day he had to go home where he did not feel comfortable like before. Happy. The over whelming emotions would surge through him like a stab to the heart. It just wasn't home. Nothing was the same and probably ever. In his eyes everything was falling apart.

Afterschool, just as Twobit had told him, Ponyboy waited outside watching the rest leave. Johnny had skipped PE, he left with Dally before last class wanting to see what fun they could get to. Ponyboy tapped his foot on the ground getting impatient. The whole parking lot was empty now as well as his school. He frowned angrily sitting down on one of the steps. Stupid probably forgot about me.

Ponyboy looked up at the sky. Gray clouds hovered above him, gusts of wind slammed against his body making him shiver slightly. His sweater wasn't enough to keep him warm. The trees swayed, leaves blew in the wind forewarning the upcoming season of Fall.

He sighed sadly. Pony was alone sitting on the stairs of his school waiting for someone who had probably forgotten about him. He stood up deciding to walk by his lonesome, Darry was probably going to get mad that nobody was answering the phone. His eyes closed, the thought of going home was unbearable. That over whelming sensation rushed in his chest.

Ponyboy Curtis stood in the cold looking ahead. Sodapop had left him broken...shattered. His little brother had to keep on going even though it hurt like hell. He sighed walking away, What a day...

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(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)

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