Everyone Pov:

Ponyboy was frozen on the ground, shock coursing through his veins as he tried to register the

note. The previous message from the phone call was all but forgotten as the note was ripped to

pieces. He didn't know what he would do if anybody found out about this. Everybody would hate

and be ashamed of such an embarrassing secret. Over his dead body will he ever tell anyone

that he had a stalker on him.

Speaking of stalkers, Ponyboy wondered who it was that wanted him so badly. The images were

even taken years ago and Ponyboy shuddered at the thought. The words "You know who I am"

echoed in his mind and he pieced the clues together. The socs called him after the rumble, so it

was most likely the socs who did this.

Never in his life did he think that the socs would go as far. He was scared for his life and that

was all there was to it. However, a small sliver of his mind kept jumping back to the name "Cig

Boy", he had heard it somewhere but couldn't put his finger on it.

All he could remember was a long lost memory of him back in the country. Running around in

the fields of tall wheat, laughing with his friends. His mind wandered to his parents, how they

would always set up a small picnic under a tree, his mother would stare with lovingly gentle

eyes. The memory was too painful for Ponyboy, and he suppressed any further thoughts.

Besides, there was no way it had ANYTHING to do with the country.

The creak of the door caused him to immediately fall flat on the floor. Quickly, to avoid suspicion

he lay on his back, all the photos stashed underneath him. Soda was still laughing at some

stupid joke one of the gang made as he turned his attention to Ponyboy. His smile dropped as

his eyes landed on the very awkwardly laid out Pony.

'Uh- ain't it a bit uncomfortable down there?" He questioned, eyebrows raised in a humorous

manner like Two-Bit always did.

"Nah, it was getting too hot, so… the floor feels really nice, yea, nice, heh…" The lie fell easily

out of Pony's mouth and he spread out his arms further for emphasis. He felt really bad for lying

to Soda, but this secret….he would take to the GRAVE. Only when things got out of hand would

he consider telling anyone. Sodapop didn't give up though, he stared at Ponyboy for a moment

before frowning and bending down.

"Are you feeling okay honey? You do feel a bit warm, did you take any aspirins today?" A hand

landed on Ponboy's forehead and he was glad Soda didn't see right through like he usually did.

"I-I'm not really feeling sick, Soda. It's just hot in here, um you should go take a shower! You're

really starting to stink."Soda's shoulders visibly relaxed as he let out a small chuckle.

"You're the one to talk buddy." Still, Soda grabbed a towel and tossed his t-shirt on the floor

beside Pony, revealing his lean frame. After messing up Ponyboy's hair, he left the room

whistling the theme song to Mickey Mouse.

The door thudded shut behind Soda and Ponyboy let out a breath he didn't realize he was

holding. He hurriedly gathered all of the photos and shoved it under the mattress. Maybe if he

ignored all this crap, his life could return to normal he thought as he changed into his night

clothes.

He hopped into his bed, and carelessly tossed the blanket over himself. Exhausted from all that

thinking, he fell into a restless slumber. Later, he could feel an arm thrown across his chest,

probably from Soda. As the night wore on, he swore he could feel someone nibble on his

ear….."Probably my imagination" Ponyboy thought.