Chapter Six

Steve POV

Two-bit had come gotten Ponyboy to take him to the movies. He'd been looking at colleges and applying for scholarships, so he'd been holed up in the apartment. It was nice to have some time to myself.

*knock knock*

I groaned and got up to answer the door. So much for time to myself.

"Yeah, what do you..."

He grinned at me.

"That any way to greet your best friend?"

"Sodapop!"

I grabbed him and hugged him, us both laughing as we pulled back.

"How ya doing, Stevie?"

"A hell of a lot better now that you're here."

He came in and we talked for a while. I realized he must not know about the kid yet.

"Look, Soda... About Ponyboy."

His face hardened.

"Yeah, I can't believe the state took him. Maybe we can get him back now that..."

"He can't go back."

He looked surprised. I sighed.

"Come with me."

I took him to Pony's bedroom and opened the door. He looked around confused until he saw Johnny's copy of Gone With The Wind on the desk, along with a picture of him and Pony.

"Pony's here?"

"Yeah..."

"But... I don't..."

He was cut off by the sound of the door opening and laughter. He ran to the living room I ran after him. Pony and Two-bit just stood there for a second.

"Soda!"

I braced myself behind Soda, ready for the impact. Soda fell back on me and I helped them stand up straight. When Pony pulled back, he had tears in his eyes. The kid had been tough, I hadn't seen him cry since I'd got back.

"You're back! You're really back!"

Soda did that signature grin.

"I'm back, kiddo."

We all four caught up with each other, then Pony yawned. It was getting late.

"Kid, you should go to bed."

"Why? I ain't got school for almost a week."

"I know, but you've been doing stuff for college all day."

He looked at Soda. I smirked n

"Don't worry, he'll be here tomorrow. He ain't going anywhere."

"Alright. I'll go..."

He hugged Soda and went to his room. Soda looked shocked by our exchange.

"Ponyboy taking orders from Steve? What universe have I stepped into?"

Two-bit laughed.

"Things've changed, Sodapop."

"Why's he here? What happened? Laura said it was some sort of misunderstanding..."

Soda POV

I noticed Two-bit's expression harden.

"Misunderstanding my ass..."

Steve looked troubled.

"I wanna tell you, I'm just afraid you won't believe us."

I was thinking about Pony when I realized something.

"What happened to his eye?"

Steve looked even more uncomfortable.

"Steve..."

"Darry did it..."

My eyes got wide.

"No... That... That can't be true."

Two-bit looked me square in the eyes.

"It is, Sodapop. He's been doing it since you went MIA..."

I walked to the bedroom door and put my hand on it.

"The state let me be his foster parent. I went to them... I had to, Soda... Laura was doing it, too... I just..."

Steve thought I was mad at him for that?

"I understand, Steve. You did what was best for Ponyboy."

I sat on the couch and put my head in my good hand.

"Why would he do that? Why would he hit him?"

"I don't know, buddy... I don't know..."

"I can't stay there..."

"You're welcome to stay here. What's one more Curtis?"

"You sure?"

"I was hoping you would, anyway. It would be good for Ponyboy..."

I looked at my friend for a long time.

"It changed you, didn't it?"

He nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, you?"

"Yeah... Cause I wouldn't have believed you before... There's no way..."

I went back to the house and they were waiting up for me. Laura looked pissed.

"Where've you been? I cooked a big meal since you came home, and you show up at 1:00 in the morning?"

I glared at her.

"You wanna tell me why you've been hitting my kid brother?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Grow up! He needed discipline, and..."

"Don't you tell me anything about Ponyboy!"

I turned to Darry.

"Well?"

"I..."

"Really? That's all you've got to say?"

"Don't talk to him that way!"

"Stay out of this! I'm talking to my brother, It doesn't concern you!"

Darry looked from me to her, before finally pointing to her.

"Get out. We're done. For good."

She rolled her eyes and disappeared. She came back with some bags and smirked.

"You'll want me back. Just like last time."

She walked out the door. I turned my attention back to Darry.

"You're a lowdown son of a bitch, you know that?"

He nodded.

"I just... I got lost..."

"What's that mean?"

"When we got the letter, I told him you were dead. That nothing mattered anymore, and when he argued with me... I lost it... I hit him, and it made me feel... Better... Like I had control over something. When the guilt caught up with me, Laura made me think it was okay..."

I shook my head.

"That's the sorriest excuse I've ever heard of..."

"Soda, listen..."

"No. I'm getting my stuff."

I started packing and he came and helped me. You can't do much with one arm. When I went to the door, I looked over at him.

"Get yourself right, Dar... Get it right, or you can forget about either of us coming back..."

When I got back to Steve's, I snuck into Pony's room, which I guess was our room now. I fell down on the bed and was out. I woke up to a scream.

"Ponyboy. Ponyboy, it's okay..."

I talked to him in a low voice and he calmed down and looked at me.

"You're really here?"

"I'm here."

I turned on the light and sat by him. He looked so much older, but I could still see that kid inside. I grabbed his face and assessed his eye.

"I'm fine, Sodapop. It's doing good."

I shook my head.

"It's not fine. Darry should've never touched you..."

He scrunched his face up. He looked... Guilty.

"Maybe I deserved it."

That broke me as tears filled my eyes. I put my arm around my brother and pulled him close.

"You didn't deserve it, kiddo. You hear me? I love you so much and wouldn't hit you... I might would knock some sense into you, but never hit you."

He let out a choked chuckle. I turned the light off and laid down and put my arm around my brother. As long as I was around, no one was ever gonna touch him again. Darry needed to get right, but I knew he would eventually... Until then, I had Pony, and that was enough...

Author's note: There will probably be a sequel to this, but for now it's done. Hope you guys like it!