Darry's POV:

"Hello?" I ask, picking up the phone.

"Darry? Darry, it's me!" The voice yells. It's Soda.

"Oh thank god! Sodapop, are you ok? Where are you?" I ask. The other end is silent.

"Soda?" I ask. For a minute I'm worried I lost him. What if that was his only quarter? (pay phone) What if something happened? What if he was kidnapped and they found out that he was on the phone?

"If I tell you where I am... You're not going to be happy," He says, sadly.

"Soda... Where are you?" I demand.

"..."

All I can hear is his breathing on the line. It's somewhat comforting, though. At least I know he's still there.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis. You better tell me where you are this instant so I can come get you if you don't want to be grounded until you're 25!" I yell into the phone. I feel Elizabeth put a hand on my shoulder, but I don't even look over at her.

"You can't come get me, Dar. I'm... too far away. And I can't get home, either. I'm outta cash," He says. I sigh.

"How far is far, Sodapop?" I ask.

"Oh, just a few states..." He whispers. I feel anger boiling inside me.

"What?" Is all I can say.

"So a few weeks ago... I kinda dropped outta school. It was only to help you. Like to get more money and help pay the bills and stuff. But then I was watchin' TV and I saw them advertising plane tickets and I thought 'Hey! Maybe I should take a ride to see my Sandy!' So I went and bought a plane ticket to Florida... But I don't have the money to get back," He says quietly, his voice wobbling. I don't even know how to respond. All I know is that I've already failed as a parent, and a brother. He dropped out of school without telling me?!? He's in another state with no way back?! I don't have the extra money to get him home. I realize that now's the time to step up as a parent.

"Soda? I don't know what the hell you want me to tell you, and this probably ain't it, but I can't help you get home. I gotta stay with Ponyboy tonight and go to work tomorrow. Find your own way back kid, and if you're not home I'm callin' the cops and they'll probably send ya to a Boys' Home, and that'll be on you." I didn't think about what I was saying until the words were already out there. I instantly regretted them. I had to do something, right? What would mom and dad would have done? Certainly not this....

"O-ok, Darry. I'll try my best," He says, then hangs up.

"What did I just do?" I ask, slamming the phone down. I'm an idiot...

I go sit on the couch, head in my hands. Elizabeth sits next to me and puts a comforting arm around my shoulder.

"I think you did the right thing. Sodapop has a thick scull. Maybe sometimes you gotta be harsh for him to understand," She whispers to me. I wish she was right. But she's not. Soda's a good kid. He listens the first time, and he's never done something like this before. What if he can't get back? I don't want him to go to a boys home, he's my little brother!

"Whatever. I'm goin' to bed," I say, getting up off the couch. I walk into my room and change into my pajamas, and as I'm falling asleep, all I can think of is what a cruel world it is that we live in. First my parents are taken away from me, and now maybe my brothers, too? And what if something to happens to Soda while he's in Florida? He's all alone... What if he gets hurt? What if I never see him again? Sooner or later, Elizabeth comes in and lays down next to me, resting her head on my chest. I put my arms around her, but don't say anything. I just think. That's when I realize: I don't think I've ever regretted anything more than the way I treated him over the phone.

Elizabeth's POV:

"Ponyboy, why don't you go to bed, too?" I suggest, watching Darry walk into our room.

"W-without Soda?" He stutters. I nod.

"Yeah, without Soda. He'll be home soon, though. Don't worry about him," I say. But I don't even believe myself. I was appalled with how Darry treated him, and I don't think yelling at the poor kid is going to get him home any quicker. We don't even have any way of contacting him! He didn't leave us with a number or anything! But on top of that, where is he staying? If he doesn't have any money left, he certainly can't be in a hotel. How does Darry honestly expect him to get home?

"What if I have a nightmare?" Ponyboy asks quietly. He's shaking. He must really love his big brother.

"You know what, Pony?" I ask, kneeling down to look him in the eye. "I'll be in the next room if you need me. If I hear you wake up, I'll come in to check on you, ok?" He just nods, and walks off. That's when I go into my room. I get in my pajamas, but don't fall asleep. I curl up in Darry's arms and just lay there, thinking.

"It'll be ok, baby. Don't worry," I whisper, kissing my husband's forehead as he starts to drift off. But I don't. I lay there thinking about Soda and how worried I am about him. What if it's not ok? Sooner or later I hear Ponyboy scream, so I immediately go into his room.

"Pony? Are you okay?" I whisper. He sits up, a look of pure terror on his face. I sit next to him on the bed, where he buries his head into me and cries. I rub his back.

"Shh, it's ok, honey. You're gonna be fine. It was just a dream," I try to calm him down.

He catches his breath before saying, "I miss Soda..." I frown.

"I know. I do too, baby. But he'll be home soon," I whisper. Finally, he looks up at me.

"Liz? Will you stay with me in here?" He asks. Suddenly, I'm taken aback. One of the only people that ever called me Liz was my little brother, Jack. I smile.

"Sure, little buddy."

A/N: Just because you guys wanted more Ponyboy... I hope that was good! But anyways, long chapter, yay! I've been planning that for like 3 months. It also took me about 4 hours to write, so I hope you enjoyed! Let me know! (-:

P.S: I just want to let you guys know now, there's only going to be about 7 more chapters in this story. I'm still deciding on if I'll write a sequel.