"Break Every Chain"

Chapter 1: Joseph

I was standing at the corner of Pickett and Sutton watching the cars go by when an unfamiliar black Challenger drove slowly by; it was slow enough that I could tell immediately that its occupants were looking for trouble. The flash of the sun through one of the open back windows highlighted a fine checkered shirt. I groaned. Socs.

What the heck were they doing back on our turf? It had been so quiet for the past couple years, especially since the rumble of That Night, that several of us greasers had become surprisingly lax in our own turf. I had welcomed the change, and I know my brothers Darry and Sodapop had too. The greasers and Socs feuding had cost too much.

The challenger passed me by without a pause but I could feel the Socs' eyes on me. I slouched more firmly against the pole behind me and let my cigarette dangle from my lips. I knew they recognized me. Even two years later I was still known among the Socs as the friend of the grease who had killed Bob Sheldon. They kept their distance.

And that was just fine with me.

Golly, that was a tuff car. The Challengers were brand new, a new design for Dodge, but I had already fallen in love with them. The deep black paint on this one made it sharp.

I watched as the car turned the corner, still on its prowl. I didn't know what they were hunting but it was nothing good, I was sure.

On a whim I flicked the ashy butt of my cigarette away and followed after them, hoping that nothing too terrible would happen—the last thing I either wanted or needed was Darry coming down on my back. I was too curious for my own good sometimes, though, and so I ambled along three or so blocks down along the east side of town. The Socs were heading into some pretty tough spots of the neighborhood—near Shepard's gang—and I decided that if they didn't turn off pretty soon I would go back the way I came. I may be near seventeen but I still ain't stupid enough to go into Shepard's part of town.

Then the Challenger paused for a moment, nearly stopped at the edge of the street—and then with a beautiful revving of its engine it was on its way again and I knew the Socs had found a target. I picked up my pace. It disappeared past a corner again and I heard door cars slam.

"Hey, darkie," I heard one Soc jeer, "we don't like seein' your darkie face on the streets!"

His companions laughed and tittered and I seethed quietly, remembering my own jumping a couple years ago. Over their laughter, however, I heard a surprisingly calm voice reply, "I don't want no trouble now. Let me go on my way."

"Listen to that, boys," the first Soc said, and I could imagine a large thin smile accompanying his words, "this darkie here thinks he can order us around. Think you'll learn to stay in your place after we finish with you—" He finished his sentence with a nasty word that my dad always said uttering aloud was talking white trash, and my blood about boiled over. I don't normally intercede in fights, especially when I don't know the guy getting jumped, but the Socs were way outta line. Before I could think it through I walked into view.

"Why don't you go back to your beer blasts?"

The Socs all turned as one—four of them, all big and expensively dressed. It was the plaid-shirt guy who was the leader. He scowled at me. "We'll deal with you soon, greaser," he assured me, "just as soon as we finish with this trash first."

"Don't," I warned; most times people would listen when I reach that tone. I've grown several inches over the past couple years and although I'll never reach the muscle capacity of Darry I'm still more than capable of handling my own now. Plus having Darry as the older brother/guardian had allowed me a lot of time to work on my 'warning' tone.

The Socs turned to me. "You're gonna get your ass kicked," Plaid Shirt said pleasantly. "We still haven't forgotten our own, you know."

Uh-oh. They were going to use Bob's death as leverage. They started to advance.

Then an empty beer bottle smashed across the back of one of the Socs, sprinkling pieces of glass everywhere—the guy swung in surprise and pain and a right hook to the jaw sent him staggering back and right into one of his buddies. Plaid Shirt rushed me but I was too quick for him, side-stepping out of his swing. He stumbled with a curse and turned hot eyes on me, wanting blood. We both landed a few good punches but then Plaid Shirt had his other buddy helping him and pretty soon I was being pushed against the wall. My right eye had taken a hit and I could already start feeling it swell, and my lip was dripping blood down my chin.

I probably would've gotten a decent beating then if it hadn't been for the guy I stopped the Socs from jumping. But he was a big guy even at his age, and his swings had a lot of power behind them. We managed to push the Socs back to their car and finally Plaid Shirt called it quits and peeled away in the Challenger. In a minute the only thing that said there had been a fight at all was our heavy breathing and the shattered beer bottle.

After I managed to catch my breath I turned. "Thanks."

He was a black kid, probably around my own age, with skin the color of cocoa. His smile was rueful as he met my gaze. "I think we're even. You stopped 'em."

"Maybe." I didn't feel like I had done much honestly but his smile was so thankful I didn't say that. "I just know how it feels to be jumped like that."

He was looking me up and down curiously, taking in my dirt-stained jeans and old shirt and hair. "Ain't never seen you here before," he remarked.

"I live a few blocks back," I said with a vague wave in the direction I'd come. "I saw the Socs coming and wanted to know why they were bothering us now."

"They don't normally?"

"Not for a couple of years."

He blinked; golly, I'd never seen the whites of someone's eyes stand out like his did. He reached out a hand. "I'm Joseph."

I took it, knowing it was his thanks. "Ponyboy Curtis."

And just like that, I knew I'd made a friend.

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A/N: It's been years since I've written anything about my favorite gang. This idea came out of the blue while I was at work of all places so I had to start writing it up. Hopefully this will be different from the other stories that are out there. Sorry about the short length of this chapter. Next chapter will definitely be longer.