Hey everyone, I have a few things to say before we get started, so first off this is a sequel to my story "On Thin Ice," I suggest you read that first before this because otherwise you will be confused. Second, since I messed up the year in the last story, this story is going to be taking place in the same year and same calendar that I used, so like last time please pretend the Outsiders took place in 1965 than 66 since that error was something that would take a while to fix, and time is always scarce. Third, the beginning might be a little bit confusing for you, I don't know but if it is it will clear up soon. And fourth, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the "Outsiders."


In Hot Water

Chapter One: "The Escape"

Friday May 20th, 1966

Shane Whitfield sat on his bed, while his cellmate, John Hodgins admirably looked at him. Hodgins' grin was mischievous, cunning, and yellow. He never met anyone like Shane who was so daring, and so determined. It was ridiculous what stunt his prison mate was about to pull, but Hodgins was jealous he never thought of it first.

"So ya doin' it tonight kid?" The man asked still smiling with his yellow teeth. "Or are ya gonna wait?"

"I ain't waiting any longer! I've been here long enough, and that kid is still out there alive. I'm not going to let him get away again, not for a third time. I gotta get him."

Hodgins shrugged. "Whatever you say. I'll be out of here in just two more weeks, if you end up needing my help, I wouldn't mind getting some blood on my hands. It's a good plan Whitfield, and you might actually get away with it this time."

"Well man, when you're stuck in this place for a long time it gives you plenty of time to think. You really think this will work?" Shane asked while he messed with the collar of his orange jumpsuit.

The thirty-five year old gave Shane another yellow grin. "Hell ya I do! But don't mess this plan up kid. I'm serious, one small mistake and your ass would wind up back here in jail. I mean it when I say to call me if you need help."

Shane nodded. "Thanks man." Shane looked down at the ground and looked at the hole in his shoe. "Hodgins, I've known you for a couple of months now, but you never told me, what were you hauled in for?"

Hodgins chuckled while he shook his head. "There's a reason I never have told ya that, maybe some day you'll figure it out, but I ain't gonna be the one to tell ya."

Shane rolled his eyes. Hodgins was an interesting guy; a semi good kind of guy but Shane knew that he wasn't all good. Hodgins of course did something, but Shane never really figured that out, and figured he'd probably never know, but that was alright. He didn't need to know.

"What's the kid's name anyway?" Hodgins wiped the smile off his face, looking very serious, which was a rare look for him to have. "Ya never mentioned."

"Ponyboy Curtis, you probably heard about him. Killed a kid my age a few months back, 'saved' some kids in a fire, and his parents died in a car accident about a year ago."

Shane's jailmate looked at the ground. "Ponyboy, how could ya ever forget a name like that, huh?"

oOoOo

Shane stuffed the pillow under the blanket on his bed. He knew it wouldn't fool the guards completely but it would work for a short while, hopefully at least until morning. He needed all the time he could get.

He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and stuck it inside the lock. Hodgins pickpocketed it from a guard a few weeks ago and had been hiding it under his pillow, Shane was lucky to have a him as a roommate, he'd probably never even be anywhere close to being successful in his new plan if he was paired up with any other inmate. If anyone else knew what he was doing, they'd either rat him out or make Shane take them with him.

Shane slowly and quickly opened the door, trying his best not to make it squeak and then slid his way out. He carefully shut it and relocked it with the knife, and then as quietly as he could, he took off. The guards that watched his hallway were always sleeping on the job at this hour, and he heard from some other inmate that most of the other guards do the same. If he could manage to only run into the sleeping guards, he'd make it out for sure.

And he did, Shane Whitfield walked through the doors of the prison without being noticed.

The eighteen year old walked about a mile before he had reached a pay phone. It was really late so hardly any cars had passed and the ones that had didn't pay enough attention to him to notice the orange outfit he was wearing. Shane inserted a few coins he found on his walk, dialed a number and waited a couple seconds for it to ring.

"Hello?"

Shane was relieved to hear the female's voice whisper on the other line. "Sharon it's me. Did you get the bag?"

"Yeah, I left it exactly where you told me to. I can't believe you actually did it."

Shane ignored her last sentence. "Sharon, you're with him right?"

"Yes, I am, you don't trust me or somethin'?"

"No I trust you, I just can't screw up this time, ya know? I gotta go, DON'T let him leave, you got that?"

She paused and yelled something into the other room. "I won't, now I gotta go Shane, he's coming back in the room. Good luck, and be careful! I don't want to end up arrested for helping you out."

Shane rolled his eyes and hung up the phone. Not only did Hodgins help him out, but one of his cousins named Sharon was helping him out too. He wished his old friends were this loyal to him, but they weren't; they betrayed him and because of that, Shane ended up going to prison. He wasn't going to be betrayed this time. Not this time, not ever again.

oOoOo

Ponyboy sat on the couch reading a book. It was two in the morning, and Darry was already in bed, but for some reason Pony didn't want to go the bed at all. Soda wasn't home. He got a new girlfriend last month and he usually stays out late with her on weekends. It was the best thing Soda had since Sandy left and Pony feared that this one would break his heart just like Sandy did, but Pony never voiced his opinion.

But that wasn't the reason Pony didn't want to go to bed. Sure the bed might be empty because Soda wasn't here, but he had this strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, and staying up late to read didn't bother him at all. Darry couldn't say anything because it was Friday night and plus he was let out for summer vacation earlier that day. He could stay up as late as he wanted to because now he didn't have to wake up early for class every morning.

But after he finished the chapter he was on, he decided it was time to go to bed. He dogeared the book on the last page he read before he closed it and headed towards his bedroom. He didn't even bother to change clothes to sleep in since he was already wearing sweats and a T-shirt.

He went to put his book back on the shelf when he noticed the window was wide opened. That was odd. It might have been May, but Pony never recalled opening his window that day and if he had opened it, he would've only cracked it. Maybe Soda opened it and he didn't notice that until now.

That, however was not the case, and everything snapped together in Pony's head when someone grabbed him from behind. Someone was in his room and before he could call out to Darry who was a door down, a white rag was put over his mouth and nose. Pony held his breath and struggled to get the person who was behind him off of him, but that didn't work. He tried to make enough noise to wake up Darry, but that didn't happen either.

"Quit moving and no one will get hurt," a familiar voice whispered in Pony's ear. He knew that voice. It was Shane Whitfield, the kid who tried everything he could do to murder Pony and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. How did he get out?

"Good boy," Shane whispered when Pony stopped struggling. "Now breath in before your brother comes in here. I got a gun in my pocket and you already know that I'm not afraid to use it."

Pony inhaled the poison and before he knew it, everything went black.

oOoOo

Darry hated it when Soda went out very late. He hated it more when Soda would come home loud. He had woke up from hearing soft thuds coming from the other room. Soda knew Darry had work in the morning, so why he was coming home making so much ruckus was what made Darry mad. Once it stopped, he went back to sleep.

It wasn't until an hour later when he was woken up by the sound of the front door slamming. Darry looked over at the clock, it was now three thirty. Why did the front door just close? Darry didn't know. He rolled out of bed and walked into the livingroom where he saw Soda taking off his shoes.

"You're just now getting home?"

"Yeah, sorry if I woke ya."

Darry shook his head. "Nah, I just thought you were already back and wanted to know why the door closed. Good night Soda."

Darry headed towards his bedroom and Soda did the same and headed towards his and Pony's.

"Uh Darry?" Darry turned around to see Soda stopped in the doorway. "Where's Ponyboy?"

Darry tilted his head. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"He's not in here!"

Darry walked towards his younger brother and peeked inside the bedroom and flicked on the lights. The bed hadn't even been slept in and the window was wide open. Darry walked in and picked up a white cloth that lied on the floor and looked at Soda.

"You don't think…" Soda's voice trailed off when Darry gave him a look.

"He's in jail Sodapop!"

Soda rolled his eyes. He heard the stories Dally told him about jail. He knew there were ways for prisoners to sneak out if they really used their heads. Soda knew it was him. It couldn't be anyone else. That moment, Soda thought he'd never see his younger brother again.


So I hope this was a good start to the story. I hope to update next week. I already have the first few chapters already written to get a start and such, so a the moments updates should be regular. Thanks for reading and please review! I'm sorry for grammar/typos, and also I know the way SHane escaped was kind of um... what's the word? Lame? I don't know, but I saw this TV show a few years ago and a this guy literally walked out of jail in board daylight without being noticed, so if he can do it in the day, then Shane Whitfield can do it at night.

Please review!

-Michelle Loves Chocolate 99