Simply Perfection

Disclaimer: I own my ideas, the chatterbox teacher, and the girl who plays the piano.

Summary: What's gone is gone, and nothing will stay. But someone is there, willing to pay. The rain is falling, and upon my shoulders, it cries. The pain is calling, and within my heart, it dies.

Author's Note: Please, do not take my summary quote. Do not take any of my work, for though it might 'give you ideas', I was definately not pleased to find someone had 'written' a story exactly like mine, but with different names. You wouldn't want someone to do it to you, right? Well, don't do it to others.

Thank you, all. Now, please... Enjoy the story.

Chapter 1: Asphyxiation

A Greaser is a Greaser. A Soc is a Soc. No matter what kind of conversations they had together, if any, there was still a blood line between them. One of hate and loathing. One of pain. One of torment. And now, through my once-innocent eyes, one of death.

My best friend, Johnny Cade, was still in the hospital. That church had done a real number on him, and all of us had been real worried for a while. I myself remember many a night when I'd stay at the hospital because the principal himself insisted I wasn't ready to come back.

Something about the pain of loss.

Anyway, I wasn't the only one so affected by his hospitalization.

Everyone missed him of course, he was the gang's pet. We relied on him to keep us cool.

I figure though, that Dally was the most hurt of all. I mean, he'd always warned us not to do stupid shit. And, I also figure that Johnny killing that Soc was pretty stupid. And for a while there, I wondered where we sat with him.

Dallas was someone you should never guess about. You could get your ass kicked without meaning to nowadays just by mentioning the word Soc.

They'd been jumping us more, too, and Sodapop was mighty scared that there'd be a rumble before our scheduled one.

Well, our fears were realized on a cold, winter day where the snow frozen all our tempers, and they all went snap.

I was at school, finishing up one of my many projects for the writing club I'd joined upon my eventual return to school. Our sponsor, Mrs. Lyrac, my English teacher, said I was a natural. She also said my work would someday be published someday in the near future.

As I handed her the finished copy, she gave me another one of her infamous speeches on my becoming famous. I merely nodded, and as soon as she paused for breath, I darted out the open door.

The hallways were empty as I silently loped to my locker to grab my coat. It was, literally, right beside the music room. I sighed deeply as familiar music floated from the room.

It was called Moondance, a lyricless song by a metal group called Nightwish. And though played on a piano not made for such melodies, it was still unearthly beautiful.

I quietly shut my locker, coat thrown carelessly over my arm, hoping not to disturb the musician within. But due to a suddenly soft moment for which the melody called, I was heard.

The music stopped abruptly, a soft voice called from within, "You're out there every day, just come on in. It's much warmer than out there."

I blinked in curiosity before opening the door just enough to slip my slight body inside.

A girl of long, wavy black hair sat at the piano, eyes closed gently. Her fingers were poised delicately over the brilliant white and black keys, and I smiled.

"Hiya, ummm..." I didn't know her name and paused, biting my cheek.

"Cadence Noel, at your service."

I stepped forward, offering her my hand, "Nice to meet you, Candence. I'm Ponyboy Curtis. The music you play is mighty pretty."

She nodded gently, but did not take my hand. She opened her eyes, staring blankly in my direction. "Thank you, Ponyboy."

I barely stifled a gasp of horror. Her eyes were like an opposite of the hair upon here head. The pupils were milky blue, the color of pearls beneath the water.

She heard me anyway though, "Yes, rather shocking, isn't it?"

"S-sorry... It's just that, y'know-"

"Yeah, I know," she said with a bitter chuckle. "You don't see a blind kid playing a piano everyday. Gawk while you can, folks, the circus moves out tonight."

I stared at her until she grinned. "Not even a laugh? Wow, you are serious."

I snorted, "Naw... I'm the dreamer of my family."

"So? Doesn't mean nothin', Ponyboy."

I sighed and she chuckled once more. "In all honesty, I have a recital to finish getting ready for, and there's still a couple chords I need to work on in another of the songs. And since I'm sure you don't want to listen to my mistakes, it turn out for the best if you leave."

I grinned, "Yeah? Alright. See you later, Cadence."

"See you next Monday," and then she laughed at her own joke. As I stepped out the door, Ever Dream, another infamous song belonging to Nightwish filled the room.

Outside the room, I slipped his coat on and hurried outside. But suddenly, walking out of those doors never felt so chillingly dangerous in my whole life.

Something bad was about to happen. Someone was gonna be in unthinkable pain. And I didn't want it to be me. I took a few halting steps forward. That turned into a fast walk, then a jog, then flat out run. Oh, God, something bad was about to happen.

I was nearly home, dashing through the park, when the blue mustang cut him off.

I froze as the drunken voices reached him. "Hey! Look'it pretty boy o'er there." A loud cough interrupted his next sentence.

"L-look, you Socs, you're not in your territory."

But they ignored me. "Wonder if he's a girl, I mean, he sure looks like one, even with that short hair..."

Another appeared from nowhere, "I bet if we asked him, he'd tell us."

I backed away slowly, hoping they'd not notice me until it was too late.

Unfortunately, that was not going to be possible. "Hey! He thinks he can just slip away, eh? Look like we get to teach him a lesson, eh Greg?"

Now was when I finally recognized them. Beneath their drunken states, those Socs were from my writing class.

I turned and ran. And they? They chased.

A minute later, they'd tackled me to the ground, and a very sharp looking switch blade was being brandished in front of my face. I inhaled sharply and screamed, flailing whatever body parts I could.

They sensed the danger and kicked me viciously in the sides, and though my voice cracked multiple times in pain, the cry kept coming. Finally, one of them wrapped long fingers tightly around my throat, and my air supply ran dry.

"Thank the Lord, yeah, Riley?" laughed one.

"Yeah," agreed the young, more timid, blonde softly, his eyes locked with mine.

I, myself, was running low on oxygen, and I knew I risked asphyxiation if they didn't let me go... But did they?

Comets flashed before my eyes, growing steadily larger. I mean, I probably looked real bad, because one of them, Riley, I think was making odd faces as I clawed desperately at the hands on my throat.

"H-hey, Greg... Is he supposed to be turnin' that color? I mean... He's gotta breathe!"

"Naw, he don't. Riley, stop being such a puss! Greasers don't die. They're like cockroaches; they could live through a nuclear war. Can't ya, cockroach? This is nothing to a nuclear war."

I struggled harder, but my arms suddenly started feeling real tired-like, and before I knew it, they wouldn't move from the ground beside my head. I wheezed for air once more before the bloody red comets stole my vision.

Riley's voice rose dimly from behind all that crimson color. "Greg! You're killing him! He really can't breathe!"

There was a minor scuffle, the hand disappeared, and I could breathe... But I couldn't... The air just wouldn't come in.

Someone picked me up by my collar and began dragging me somewhere. By now, I could honestly swear that I was gonna die. I mean, I couldn't breathe and my body hurt so bad.

There was a brittle cracking sound, then freezing water poured onto my head. "Hey, kid. Please, wake up!" Another sound of a scuffle.

My sight began to clear, the water had done it's work of awakening my senses. Greg stood before me, smirking evilly. "Why, Riley... I do believe that is the best idea ever... Hey Greaser... Ya want a bath?" Riley himself was behind him, being shoved roughly in the direction of the mustang.

Well... Crap. There went my hero.

I tried valiantly to struggle to my feet, but Greg knocked me backwards, my head crashing relentlessly into the fountain's smooth stone.

Oh, Golly... How familiar was this? I mean, it was like Bob Sheldon all over again... But Johnny wasn't here, and the gang was either still at work or out being idiots...

This time... I would die...

Strong hands closed onto my shoulders, and my head was smashed backwards into the icy water. I opened my mouth automatically to scream, but water entered instead. I was briefly brought up out of the water, but I was quickly shoved back down, choking desperately as once more I clawed at his hands.

Greg was laughing manically, and I could hear it even through the water's muffling manner. The black comets came shooting back as air one again strayed too far from my grasp. Moments after that, the red comets attacked my vision.

Asphyxiation... That was absolutely not how I wanted to die. I wanted to die with my friends and family in a rumble, or somewhere all together. Somewhere together where we could comfort each other in our death throes... Not under the water, watching my vision readily disintegrate... Not at the hands of a drunk Soc, probably jacking off at my readily weakening form.

Anywhere else... But not here...

But, I supposed those who die should have no complains, else their condition worsens, such as mine.

As I shut my eyes for the final time, liquid finally settling deep into my lungs, a wet, dripping, freezing hand pulled on the top of my jeans.

And then, the world disappeared into a hazy figure of nothingness...

My final thought was for my brothers. Sodapop's gonna cry, ain't he... Him and Darry... Lordy, what have I done...?

Silver: See:O I said that I'd update!!
Ponyboy: -:sobbing:- You're letting them kill me!
Sodapop: -:shames Silver and hugs Ponyboy:- Shhh, it'll be okay.
Silver: Errm... Yeah, whatever.
Darry: -:takes a swing at Silver:-
Silver: -:being so totally awsome, she uses ballet and ninja skills to dodge:-
Dally: -:takes a swing as well:-
Silver: -:once again dodges nimbly:- Ah, ah ah! I wouldn't do that. Remember, I hold that punk's life in my evil, twisted hands.
All: -:moans:- He's doomed!!
Cadence: -:blinks and sighs:- Idiots.
Sodapop: Eh? Who's she?
Silver: She's the blind chick that plays piano.
Cadence: Duh. -:motions to her milky-blue eyes:-
Silver: AND, she'll be returning next chapter. So you all better thank her, or else!!
All: ... No.
Silver: Never mind, you'll all just have to be sorry... -:cries dramatically:- Fare thee well, Ponyboy!
All: WAIT!
Silver: Too late! It's already mentally written... I can't change it now.
Ponyboy: Nyooooo!!!!! -:asphyxiates:-
Wow, poor Pony... Eh, sorta, anyway... xD Reviews are loved!! So are compliments!! Flames are laughed at, then ignored!

I plan on updating tonight, so keep in touch.

OH!! I'm also unsure what reviews to try, seeing as this is my first fic for the catagory... In your review, leave some pairings you'd like to see, and I'll try some of them. .

P.S.- Tell me who said this line and I'll mention you later in the fic. First person right though!
"Pity the backseat!"