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Chapter 3

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"Hi guys," Soda came in through the door and collapsed in a kitchen chair.

"Hey, So. We were just about to eat dinner," Darry said putting his plate down on his placemat. I was already seated.

"How was it today, So?" I asked.

"Good. Got my test results back. High level of potential. Honors basically. They said I could learn so fast I could get out in 3 semesters instead of four."

"See, Soda. Told you weren't dumb when you dropped outta high school."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks Darry." Soda didn't have the usual smile on his face.

"What's wrong, So?" He pushed the green beans around on his plate.

"Nothing. It's nothing," he said. He put his textbooks on the ground and wouldn't look up at us.

"Seriously, So, what's the matter?"

"Steve."

"What about him?" I asked.

"We got into a fight today. Said he didn't really want me being a doctor. I said why he says because he just doesn't because he's not gonna be here much longer. And I said why Steve why aint you gonna be here much longer and he said he wasn't gonna tell me. I thought he was gonna marry Evie and move away and he got nasty with me and said while I was out studying he and Evie got into a fight. He said he'd tell me pretty soon, once I had time to discuss it."

"Do you think he's been drafted?" I asked.

"Oh goddamn it Ponyboy don't say that with joy in your eyes! I don't know! I don't know! I thought you would know. Maybe he's moving. Maybe he's gonna kill himself. Maybe he's going to school. Maybe he's gonna take another job. Maybe he really is gonna marry Evie. I don't know!" He said.

He was catching his breath for a minute.

"I'm sorry... I'm just... I'm just worried. If Johnny said something like that to you you'd be worried too Ponyboy, and don't you even deny it."

I gulped. I was gonna have to find out.