(9 months later)

**Ponyboy's POV**

"Pony dinners ready." "Coming Darry." I finish writing the last sentence of my paragraph close my books and head out to the dining table. I looked around but Soda wasn't here...again. "Sodapop not here again tonight?" Darry looks at me and shakes his head. "No...and don't hold your breath for him to show up either." I nod and start eating. Darry had made lasagne and it was pretty good but I would be a lot happier if Sodapop was here.

We ate in silence and when we were finished I helped Darry with the dishes and then went back to doing homework. Ever since Rosalie and Dally had died things around here just weren't the same any more. No one was as happy or as close as we used to be after Rosalie had died Dianne left a few days after. We got letters from her for a time but slowly they stopped coming and after a while we just stopped expecting any. Johnny had run away months ago we tried looking for him for ages even put up posters and told the police but they refused to help and nobody ever saw Johnny again. I missed him a lot though and I wished he would come back he was my best friend. Two-bit drunk a lot more now and never came around as often but when he did he'd mostly watch TV and sleep. He was no longer the happy go lucky Two-Bit he once was. Steve didn't come around at all any more since his and Sodapop's big fall out. Steve just works at the DX all the time now with only him and some new guy working there all he can do is work.

Then there was Sodapop who had just spiralled since Dally's and Rose's death and Johnny's running away. Soda just couldn't handle it anymore he turned to drugs and alcohol and was now running around with the Shepard gang. He was barely home anymore and when he was he was only here for money or he would have a huge fight with Darry. Soda hit me a few months back when he was high Darry kicked him out for a week after that. We all tried to help him even Steve and that's what led to their falling out and Soda losing his job at the DX. I missed Sodapop so I kept myself busy with homework, helping Darry and hanging out with my girlfriend Cathy Carlson.

We had been dating for 3 months now and I really liked this girl maybe even love her. She was real pretty with short brown wavy hair, rich chocolate eyes and soft, pale skin. She was only a year older than I was I turned 15 a month back.

I sat down at my desk and tried to finish my essay on Jane Eyre but I couldn't. The book, although a good book, was a pain to try and write an essay on or try to analysis it. I shut my English books knowing I wouldn't be able to finish that tonight and opened my math book. I stared at the paper that showed numerous triangles, letter and numbers I tried to make sense of it all but I couldn't. Not tonight anyway my mind was elsewhere. I was focusing on Sodapop worrying about what he was doing whether he was in jail again. He had become a more reckless version of Dallas as if trying to take his place.

I shut my books and decided to stop doing homework for the night seeing as I just couldn't focus on it. I got into bed and picked up Jane Eyre thinking maybe if I read it again I could write my essay.

"Ponyboy wake up!" I opened my eyes to see Cathy standing above me looking real worried. I must have fallen asleep reading my book. "What are you doing here Cathy?" "It's Sodapop...he's in trouble."

I didn't even bother to let her explain anymore I threw on some jeans, a shirt and my shoes then climbed out the window after her. "What happened?" I ask as we start running. "He got beaten up by some Socs's. He's at the park I'll meet you there you go on ahead." She panted I stopped kissed her cheek and then kept running against the bitter wind. Tears started prickling at my eyes due to the wind I wiped them away with the heel of my hands and kept running towards Soda.

I got to the park and saw a slumped figure against the fountain. I raced over to it my legs burning but I ignored it. I crouched down next to Sodapop his shirt was soaked in blood, his lip was busted and one of his eyes was swollen shut. He tried to speak but he just coughed up blood, he had a cut on his left cheek like Johnny got from a Soc jump once. It hurt me seeing him like this but I bet he was in even more pain. "Come on Soda let's get you home." Again he tried to speak "No! don't you try speak let's just get you home Sodapop." I put his arm around my neck he had gotten lighter because of all the dope he had been smokin'. "Cathy come help me here." She ran up the poor thing out of breath and exhausted but I really needed to get Sodapop back home it was closer than the hospital was.

She got under the other arm and we started walking home. "Why do you gotta do this to yourself Sodapop? It's bullshit man! It's not tuff or anythin'" there was no reply but I didn't mind too much. We walked home in silence all you could hear was Soda's groan in pain and our uneven footsteps.

"Darry! Darry come 'ere" I yell as I walk through the door I lay Soda down on the couch. Moments later Darry comes running in. "What happened?" "Soda got beaten up by some Socs. I gathered we could take him to the hospital in your truck." "We don't have the money for the hospital little man. We're just gonna have to take care of him here." He said brushing the blood matted hair out of Soda's face.

I turn to Cathy take her hand and lead her out the front door. I lean in and kiss her we kiss for a few minutes but I pull away. "Thanks for everything babe but you should go I got to help Darry with Soda and I don't imagine it will be to pretty." She goes to argue but interrupt her "I don't want you seeing that Cathy." I kiss her forehead "I'll see you soon?" she asks before leaving I nod "As soon as I make sure Sodapop's ok I will come and find you. Maybe we can go see a movie or somethin'" She smiles at me and then let's go of my hand.

I watch her walk down the path and out the gate before she disappears out of my sight. I hurry back inside to help Darry. "What can I do Darry?" "I need you to apply this to all his cuts." I take the cotton pad and apply it to the many cuts that scattered his gaunt face and thin body. His rib cage was bruising badly turning many different colours. He squirmed and groaned when I applied the anti-septic to his cuts. "Hold still Soda!" Darry commanded as he started stitching his major cuts up but Soda just screamed in pain and thrashed around a lot. "Ponyboy hold him still." Darry yelled. I held down Sodapop's arms and I look at his face and briefly he opens his eyes. And for the brief moment I saw the brother I used to know the soft, kind and gentle Sodapop Curtis that used to be so happy and full of life but just as quickly as it appeared it disappeared as he fell unconscious.

After that stitching Sodapop up was the easy part it was making sure his fever didn't boil his brain that was the hard part. The door suddenly busted open I looked up to see Two-Bit and Steve standing there. It was the first time in months we had been all together. "What are you two doing here?" "We heard about Sodapop and wanted to make sure he was alright." Steve replied "But it looks like he's alright so I'll be going now." "Steve wait!" I called out but he didn't listen he just left. Two-Bit just stood there standing awkwardly taking sips from his beer. "What do you want Two-Bit?" Darry asked him Two looked at Darry. "What happened to us? We used to be the best of friends and then everything turned to shit! I miss how it used to be." He choked on the last sentence and stumbled out before we could see him cry or somethin'. It was sad to see the happiest of the gang was now just as broken as the rest of us.

The death of Rosalie and Dallas then Johnny running away really screwed us all up the gang would probably never be the same again. I wish this had all just never happened.