A/N: This, as you may know, is my 7th 'Outsiders' story. I don't know why, but I felt a need to announce it!

So, anyways… it's pretty self explanatory. I'll be making chapters separated according to how the chapters are separated in the book.

Time for my annual song per chapter! :D

Songs for this chapter: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know what song I should do for this chapter!! I PROMISE I'll have one next chapter!

We were all hanging out at the DX, just bein' guys. Most of the gang was there; Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, and Dally, who was surprisingly let outta jail early. Everybody was there except for Darry and Ponyboy, two of the three Curtis' in our group.

I stayed quiet, as usual, while I was being observant to the guys' behaviour. It was as if I was Jane Goodall studying the Chimps in the wild or something. Except I'm not British… or a girl.

I was busy watching Soda and Steve having some debate over engines and what kind was best and Two-Bit telling Dally one of his many humorous stories about everyday life that made Dally laugh his head off when Darry came walking by.

"Hey, y'all." He called. Everybody stopped what they were doing to turn in his direction and greet him loudly while I just waved. Then Darry joined in on the telling of Two-Bit's tale when we heard a scream from a distance…

"SODA! DARRY!" the voice called out, followed by more of our names. The voice sounded oddly familiar… then it came to me.

The voice was Ponyboy. And boy, he sounded like he was in some big trouble. Everybody bolted to the direction the voice was coming from. I didn't want him to get hurt like I did… all cut-up and scared… I remembered those rings. I shuddered at the thought that whoever was jumping him could be them.

I hadn't realised that we were there already until I heard the guys yelling frantically. I looked up and saw five Socs around Ponyboy, who was on the ground with one of the Socs sitting on him. They were shoving a handkerchief in his mouth to shut him up because of the yelling. But when they saw us, they leaped to their feet and ran to their Red Corvair with us on their tails. I ran as fast as I could when I had to jump over Ponyboy to not accidentally step on him and hurt him anymore; that guy sitting on him must've hurt. When I looked back, I noticed that Darry was staying behind to make sure that Ponyboy was okay. I looked forward again, nearly running into that Corvair… and nearly getting hit in the head by a rock that Dally was throwing. I came to a stop while they started to drive off, cussing at us on the way.

I could only stare for a minute until I was back in the real world. Soda had run back to help make sure Pony was okay. When I was walking back, I could hear Ponyboy, Darry, and Soda having one of those brother-to-brother-to-brother talks.

Soda was rubbing Pony's hair. "You're an okay kid, Ponyboy." He was saying as Ponyboy grinned.

"You're crazy, Soda, out of your mind." He told him.

Darry had one of those kinds of looks that say shut-up-or-I'll-knock-your-heads-together. "You're both nuts." He said.

Soda turned to him and cocked an eyebrow, one of the many things that make Two-Bit infamous. "It seems to run in the family." He joked.

Darry just glared at him for a second, then couldn't help but crack a grin. One of Soda's many talents; he can make anyone grin.

The gang and I were getting close by then. By the way Ponyboy was staring at us for a few seconds, I knew he was having one of those moments when he's trying to see how a scene would be described in a book or something.

I'm kinda jealous of him, to tell the truth. He's smart, he can read, his brother doesn't abuse him, and he doesn't have to carry a six-inch switchblade in his back pocket. He's got a good life. Sure, his parents died in a car wreck and everything, but I'd be glad if mine did. Don't take me wrong; I feel real bad for him. With his parents and everything, that is. But it's just that… well, I don't know. I don't wanna sound like one of those people who are all like My life's so hard! Why won't anybody help me? Those kinds of people have to realise that everybody's lives are hard. We have to help each other and stop complaining. Nobody seems to get it.

Ponyboy wiped his eyes. I guess he was crying or something and didn't want us to know. "Didya catch 'em?" he asked us.

It was then that I realised that I was having a daydream moment myself, and brought myself back to the real world instantly. I was just in time to listen Two-Bit call those Socs every name he could think of or make up cheerfully.

Dally cut in on Two-Bit's long line of names. "The kid's okay?"

"I'm okay." Ponyboy answered. "I didn't know you were out of the cooler yet, Dally."

"Good behaviour. Got off early." Dally explained as he lit a cigarette and gave it to me. I guessed he saw how out of it I was; I was still a little spooked at my thoughts of the guy with the rings earlier.

We all sat down and had a smoke to relax from the day and the surprise of Ponyboy getting jumped. I noticed that after a few seconds, Pony quit shaking and that his colour was back. He was calming down. That was good. The kid deserves a rest.

After staring at Ponyboy for a while, Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow, his signature move. "Nice lookin' bruise you got there, kid." He told him.

"Really?" Ponyboy asked while he touched his cheek with great care.

Two-Bit nodded. "Nice cut, too. Makes you look tough." Pony grinned. That smile disappeared, though, when Steve started talking.

"What were you doin', walkin' by your lonesome?" he asked. Ponyboy looked like he would want to beat the crap out of him. He then calmed down as he answered Steve's question.

"I was comin' home from the movies. I didn't think…"

"You don't ever think," Darry interrupted, "not at home or anywhere when it counts. You must think at school, with all those good grades you bring home, and you've always got your nose in a book, but do you ever use your head for common sense? No sirree, bub. And if you did have to go by yourself, you should have carried a blade."

Pony stared at the hole in his tennis shoe that I had been staring at for a while. Whenever Darry yelled at him, he was strong and took it. You have to respect him for that. But it just doesn't seem right when Darry yells at him like that… but he only does it because he loves him. I hoped that he knew that.

When I looked up, Soda was glaring at Darry. I could tell what was about to happen, because he always takes up for Ponyboy.

"Leave my kid brother alone, you hear? It ain't his fault he likes to go to the movies, and it ain't his fault the Socs like to jump us, and if he had been carrying a blade it would have been a good excuse to gut him to ribbons." Soda stood up for Ponyboy. That's the only weakness I've leaned from keeping your mouth shut when you're being hollered at; to everybody else, you seem to be weak, so it seems everybody has to stand up for you.

"When I want my kid brother to tell me what to do with my other kid brother, I'll ask you- kid brother." Darry said impatiently. At least he laid off of Ponyboy.

"Next time get one of us to go with you, Ponyboy," Two-Bit suggested, taking a note on the negative energy. "Any of us will."

"Speakin' of movies" - Dally yawned as he tossed his cigarette butt - "I'm walkin' over to the Nightly Double tomorrow night. Anybody want to come and hunt some action?"

"Me and Soda are pickin' up Evie and Sandy for the game." Steve said as he shook his head. He gave Ponyboy one of those dirty looks he doesn't need to give him.

Darry sighed. "I'm working tomorrow night." He explained. I feel bad for him; he missed out on collage and now he has to work 24/7.

Dally looked at Two-Bit, Pony, and I, searching for volunteers. "How about y'all? Two-Bit? Johnnycake, you and Pony wanna come?" I didn't open my mouth, because I knew Ponyboy was gonna give an answer.

"Me and Johnny'll come," he said. He turned to Darry. "Okay, Darry?"

"Yeah, since it ain't a school night." Darry answered.

"I was plannin' on getting boozed up tomorrow night," Two-Bit announced. "If I don't, I'll walk over and find y'all."

I thought about how Two-Bit always likes to get boozed up. He doesn't need to announce it all the time, but we all know he does anyway.

I noticed Steve was staring at Dally's hand. His ring, the one that he got when he rolled a drunk senior, was on his finger. "You break up with Sylvia again?"

"Yeah, and this time's for good. That little broad was two-timin' me again when I was in jail."

Ponyboy was deep in thought when everybody turned the conversation from movies to girls. I stayed quiet because I was suddenly remembering that lecture about girls I got from Steve when Sylvia sweet-talking me when Dally was in reform school. I shuddered at the memories.

"What's wrong, Johnny?" Ponyboy asked suddenly.

I stayed quiet, because it was embarrassing that I was scared of Dallas' girlfriend.

"Tell me." Pony urged. It was then that I realised that we were alone; I could hear the others having a fight in the Curtis' house. "We're alone."

"I was thinking of Sylvia when Dally was in reform school." I sighed.

"You're still spooked about that?" he asked, knowing he wouldn't get a verbal response. I nodded. "Just don't think of her, okay? She's not worth it." He told me. I nodded, again. Then, I heard footsteps coming to the front door of the Curtis' house.

"Ponyboy, you've got homework." Darry said.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Pony answered. "Comin' in, Johnny?" he turned to me.

"Naw. I"ll see y'all later." I told him. He shrugged and walked off. I got up and started walking, and since I wasn't in the mood to get jumped, I walked over to my house... which is stupider than walking by myself.

A/N: Okay, so credit for that goes to S.E. Hinton for the dialoge in the conversation in this chapter. S.E. HINTON ROCKS!!

Please remember to R&R, but please no flames and review on my story and not historical mistakes/spelling errors I've made. Thx!