Once again. I'm here to deliver another story. I decided to do one about Soda and Steve since lately I've been making a lot of fics about original characters (Dean, Louis, Trix, Danny). I'm going back to the roots. Now let's light this one up.

I don't own The Outsiders.

A Best Friend's Bond

Chapter 1: Hello

A school had children all piling in after the bell rang. A car is still sitting in the front of the school.

"You boys ready?" asked Mrs. Curtis. Looking at the passenger seat and then the back.

"I am!" yelled Sodapop yanking off the seat belt. Ponyboy was in the back shaking his head.

Sodapop was about to enter his third year of Elementary School. Ponyboy was entering his first.

"What's wrong, Ponyboy?" asked his mom looking back at him.

"Yeah, Pony. What's the matter?" asked Sodapop.

"I-I'm scared."

"Your brother will be there too."

"Yeah, Pony," said Soda reaching back and tapping Soda's arm. "I'll keep you company."

Ponyboy was still shaking his head. Sodapop knew what to do. He put on his grin. No one could help but smile when they saw this. And it worked very well on Ponyboy. Pony smiled and made his decision.

"Okay. I'll go."

They got out of the car. Both turned around to their mom.

"Do you two have your lunches?" asked Mrs. Curtis making sure.

The two boys held up their brown paper bags.

"Bye, mom," said Soda waving.

"See you two at home."

Mrs. Curtis drove off in her car and left the campus. As Sodapop and Ponyboy walked towards the door.

"Are you sure it's going to be okay, Soda?" asked Ponyboy looking up at his favorite brother.

"Sure," said Soda. "Better than Darry. He has no one to hang out with except Paul. He's going to a new school."

When they entered the school, Soda had to stop Ponyboy. Ponyboy looked at him when he stopped him.

"Wait. You have to go that way. And I'm going that way."

Soda was pointing in two different directions. Ponyboy then looked at him with worry in his face.

"I thought you were going to be with me," said Ponyboy.

"I can't. I have a different class than you. We'll see each other every once in a while."

Ponyboy gulped. But he was still nervous. He said goodbye to his brother in broken words. Then he walked in his direction. Soda walked on to his side of the school.

Soda walked into his classroom. The desks were paired. Soda looked for his name on the desk and found his. Sodapop Curtis. He sat down in his desk and put his book bag down. He wondered who his neighbor would be. He looked at the desk. Steve Randle. He wondered what this guy would look like. Faces of actors flashed through his mind. He really knew that Steve would not look like any of those people.

Soda looked at the doorway wondering who this 'Steve' guy would be. He looked at the students passing him getting to their desk. Then a kid came and sat next to him. This must be him.

"You're Steve?"

"Yeah."

"Hi. I'm Soda."

Steve looked confused.

"That's your nickname?"

"Uh-uh. It's my real name."

"Really. That's cool."

Right then, the teacher walked in.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning," replied the class.

"My name is Mrs. Scotts. Now it's time for me to learn yours."

She walked towards the desks. Replying everyone's name.

"Everyone. This is Brad."

When she reached Soda's desk…

"And this is…S-S-Sodapop?"

"That's me!" said Soda in a cheerful voice. The class started to snicker. The teacher even cracked a smile from Soda's grin. Told you it was useful.

That day during lunch, Sodapop went ahead and walked over to his table. While he was getting out his sandwich, Steve sat down beside him.

"Hi, Soda."

"Hi, Steve. W-Where's your lunch?"

"My dad forgot to give me money for it."

"You want my apple?"

Steve looked at Soda.

"Really?"

"Sure."

Soda pulled out his red apple and handed it to Steve.

"Thanks."

"Your welcome."

That night at the vacant lot…

"I got it. I got it."

Sodapop was about to run and catch the football, but Darry came out of no where and caught it right before Soda got to where it was falling.

"Aw, man."

Mr. Curtis ran up smiling at his three sons.

"Ponyboy. You almost caught up to your brother. You might have some competition, Darry."

Darry just smiled.

"C'mon. Your mother should be done with dinner by now."

They went home and had dinner. At the table, Mrs. Curtis asked,

"How were your first days?"

"It was fine," said Darry sticking a piece of broccoli in his mouth.

"What about you Ponyboy?" asked Mrs. Curtis. "Was it as bad as you thought it was going to be?"

"No."

"How was your Sodapop?" asked Mr. Curtis.

"I met a new friend."

"That's good," said Mrs. Curtis. "What's his name?"

"Steve. I think we might be best friends."