Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, and in the case of this chapter, I don't own the majority of the text here. There are many portions here taken straight from Chapter 3, pages 49 and 50.

I sat up, shivering. The stars had moved. "Glory, what time is it?"

"I don't know. I went to sleep, too, listening to you rattle on and on. You'd better get home. I think I'll stay all night out here." Johnny's parents didn't care if he came home or not.

I gave Johnny a skeptical look as a hard shiver ran through me.

"Come on, Johnny, crash on our couch for the night. Besides, I'm sure Darry will want to dig into me when I get home, so maybe he'll go easy on me if you're there."

"Okay."

There was silence between us as we jogged lightly towards my house.

"But give Darry a break, Pone. He just worries about you." Johnny, too? I just sighed and pulled ahead slightly. When we reached the house, the porch light was on. I prayed silently that they'd be asleep and that Johnny and I could just slip in unnoticed, but one look at Darry's face through the window told me 'fat chance'. I jumped lightly up the porch steps, and pushed the door open slowly, ready for the fight. Darry jumped to his feet.

"Where the heck have you been? Do you know what time it is?" He was madder than I'd seen him in a long time. I shook my head wordlessly.

Darry's eyes flashed to Johnny, who sidled over towards Soda on the other side of the room, but then back to me.

"Well, it's two in the morning, kiddo. Another hour and I would have had the police out for you. Where were you, Ponyboy" – his voice was rising- "Where in the almightly universe were you?"

It sounded dumb, even to me, when I stammered, "I…went to sleep in the lot…"

"Johnny and I-" –his eyes flashed back to Johnny, who cringed- "were talking and we both dropped off…"

"I reckon it never occurred to you that your brothers might be worrying their heads off and afraid to call the police because something like that could get you two thrown into a boys' home so quick it'd make your head spin. And you were asleep in the lot? Ponyboy, what on earth is the matter with you? Can't you use your head? You haven't even got a coat on."

I felt hot tears of anger and frustration rising. "I said I didn't mean to.."

"I didn't mean to!" Darry shouted, and I almost shook. "I didn't think! I forgot! That's all I hear out of you! Can't you think of anything?"

"Darry…" Sodapop began, but Darry turned on him. I noticed Johnny had slipped into the kitchen, and despite my frustration, I felt a little guilty for bringing him here.

"You keep your trap shut! I'm sick and tired of hearin' you stick up for him," Darry continued.

He should never yell at Soda. Nobody should ever holler at my brother. I exploded. "You don't yell at him!" I shouted. Darry wheeled around and slapped me so hard that it knocked me against the door.

Suddenly it was deathly quiet. We had all frozen. I saw Johnny's head peeking around the corner, his eyes wide, but I couldn't focus on anything. It was as if my brain just stopped working in that moment.

"Ponyboy…"Darry started, looking down at his red hand.

I turned and ran out the door and down the street as fast as I could. I had no idea where I was going, but I had to get away. I had to find some room to breathe. My surroundings, just a black blur, started to come into focus as my feet slowed. My breath was ragged, and tears stung at my eyes. I was scared and cold and confused, and I dropped down on the nearest curb.

I don't know how long I sat there with head in my hands, but my breathing became light and only slightly hitched. A strange, watery calm settled over me, and I knew I had to go home. I stretched back, cracking my neck and sighing deeply. As I stood, I felt something brush the back of my head and an arm twisted around my neck.

"Ain't it a little past your bedtime?"

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