The Outsiders: Before My Time | Sodapop

Bye Bye Bri

Ponyboy's POV

Johnny and I came home with Dally after my track meet this morning and Bri wasn't home. Well, at least her car wasn't. She is always where her car is, so I figured that she wasn't at home if her car wasn't in the driveway. Naturally. We had tried to find her before we left to see if she wanted to join us but we didn't get a chance to ask her in time so we went without her.

No one else came to the house all day. We got bored so we went over to the Nightly Double to catch that new Elvis picture that just came out and we walked back home together in the dark. Still, no cars were in the driveway. We walked inside and called out that we were home. Usually Bri is eating, watching the boob tube, or in the room she adopted from Soda. No answer.

"I bet she is getting dinner or something," I shrugged. Two-Bit and Steve said that they were grabbing lunch a few hours ago so maybe she ran into them and decided to join them for the rest of the day.

At that moment, the door opened and in stood Two-Bit and Steve. But no Bri.

"You boys ready for that rumble tonight?" Steve asked, excitedly pumping the air with his fist.

"It ain't for a few more hours," I pointed out and I shoved my fists into the pockets of my track sweatshirt.

"Gotta eat. I'm a growin' boy," Two joked.

"Then get something," I told him.

"Later." He waved me off.

"Have you seen California?" I asked when they were kicking their shoes off. Soda made the nickname California for her popular among us. I think she liked it.

"Yup, we saw her at Dairy Queen," Two stated and he plopped himself of the couch beside Dally.

"She didn't come home?" Steve asked with a tilt to his head.

"Well, she ain't here," Johnny replied with a bit of unintentional sass.

"Maybe she had work," Steve suggested.

"Maybe. She does like it there. Soda's working too," I said, but I didn't think that she worked on Friday's usually. We didn't have school today, students had it off for parent-teacher conferences.

"Soda got the night shift tonight?" Dally asked.

"No, Soda'll be home any second now. Bri oughta get here soon because she promised to cheer us on at the rumble," Steve said while looking down at his arms, flexing his muscles over and over.

"I'm gonna get some cake. Anyone want any?" Johnny asked as he walked to the ice box.

"I'll have a piece." Two-Bit called from the couch.

"Small piece for me, please," I said.

Dally didn't say anything and Steve asked for the biggest piece Johnny was willing to cut. I heard Johnny click the door open, then it was silent for a second. He grabbed the cake and put it on the counter but he looked at it confused.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Guys—" Johnny lifted a dark blue envelope that had chocolate frosting stuck to it. "It's a letter."

"A letter? From who?" Two-Bit came into the kitchen, following Steve and Dally. "There's a key on the counter."

I walked over to stand beside Johnny and I picked up the key. It took me a second to recognize it, but it was a house key. Our house key. I've never had to use it, so I was confused as to why it was on the counter so I peered over Johnny's shoulder to look at the letter.

"Yeah, it was stuck to the cake." Johnny already had the letter out of the envelope. He skimmed the words and said, "it's from Bri."

"It's the stationary Darry got for her," I pointed out.