The man was smoking a cigar under the old oak tree. The amber ash lit up and dimmed. The man wore a gray fedora and a gray trench coat. The sky was a dark blue with not a single star in the sky. The man was watching a young couple walking on a path. The man smiled.

"I guess this is my lucky night."

He put out his cigar and followed the couple.

He picked up his bloody knife and licked the blood. He looked at the woman on the ground with piercing green eyes and her vibrate red hair. Her husband on the ground bleeding. The woman couldn't move her knees looked on the ground.

"What did you do?"

"Isn't it obvious," the man stands, "I just killed your husband."

"Why?"

The man raised an eyebrow and gave the woman a smirk. He tsked at the woman and grabbed her chin, examining her face.

"Why did you kill my husband," the woman screeched. The man checked the woman's hair and body. He smiled.

"You will do."

He grabbed her and, as if a ghost, disappeared.

That was back in Jersey City on May 8th 1920.

This is now…

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School starts at 8:15 and I'm still at home. I woke up late with Sodapop and Steve wrestling in our room trying to find Soda's DX shirt. I leaped over their intertwined bodies and walked into the living room. Darry was assembling a lunch for himself and drinking coffee. Two-Bit was laying on the floor watching an episode of Mickey Mouse and smoking. Dally was on the couch with Johnny in his wheelchair. I smiled at Johnny. It just so happened that one of the soc's guilty families (I think his name was Dylan) gave enough money to put Johnny in a five star hospital in New York. The doctors operated on him and said in 6 to 12 months Johnny will be able to move with crutches and 12 to 18 just a brace and hopefully after that by himself.

I guess you can call it a blessing in disguise?

Anyway, I went to the bathroom and took a quick look at the mirror. I sighed, "Still no signs of facial hair." I still grabbed the whip cream and razor and shaved my chin. I messed with my hair. The blond was slowly coming out and the auburn returning. I got into the shower and prayed for warm water. I prefer hot water but I can take warm water. God must've answered my prayers because I got hot water.

I left the shower and opened the bathroom door. I couldn't hear boys grunting so I guessed Steve and Sodapop left for work. Oh I meant to mention that Steve quit school. I don't know why. I don't think anyone knows. Not even his girlfriend.

I heard the truck start up so Darry is just leaving for work. I looked at the clock on the wall in the hall. He's running late. I heard Two-Bit laughing at corny joke he made up. I heard Johnny chuckling and Dally groaning. I heard thud.

"Man why through a pillow at me?"

I rolled my eyes. So Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally are still here. I smiled. So I won't be late today.

Man was I wrong.

I went to my room and put on some underwear and some clothes off the floor. Darry won't be happy that I didn't iron my clothes but I'm running late so he can deal with it. I grabbed my backpack and walked in the hall but soon realized I haven't brushed my teeth and greased my hair. I returned to the bathroom to finish the task.

I heard the door close.

I stuck my head out the doorway.

"Two-Bit! You still there," I yelled. No answer.

I ran in the living room. Deserted. I sprinted outside. No cars in the drive way. I was left alone.

Any normal person would've been happy to miss school. But I've already missed many days of school and after my concussion from the rumble; I've been forgetting more things like homework and my shoes. I would have walked to school but it is a long walk.

But maybe being left behind is a good thing. I mean now I have an extra day to finish my assessments I was too tired to do. I shrugged and grabbed my backpack and walked to the park.

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I did most of my Algebra and Biology when I heard my stomach growl. I realized I didn't eat breakfast this morning. I was just lucky that I had my wallet in my backpack. I got up from the picnic table and walked over to The Dingo.

I ordered a cheeseburger with side of fries and chocolate milkshake. The waitress, Amy (one of Soda's ex-gals), eyed me up and down.

"Pony isn't you supposed to be in school right now?"

I nodded. I liked Amy, I couldn't lie to her, "Everybody left me."

"Oh. That's weird."

I nodded my head again. It really is weird. She took my order over to the cook and went behind the register listening to music.

The bell rang from the door. A man entered the room and sat in the booth in front of me, facing me. He had olive looking skin with a black buzz cut. He wore a black suit and placed a black fedora on the table. He had dark green eyes. He looked like he's in his early 20's with very little wrinkles around his eyes. He looked like a soc. Why is he out here?

He stared at me and couldn't stop staring at him. Amy came over to take his order and he said in a baritone Italian voice, "I'll have whatever the young boy is having."

Amy blushed and walked back to her station. The man looked back at me and got up from his booth and slide in my booth across from me.

"Sorry to intrude. The names Draco," he sticks his hand out.

"Ponyboy."

Draco chuckled and I felt my face heat up.

"That is quite a lovely name."

I looked over at Draco. His eyes seemed to put me in a trance. Like his eyes were sucking me in.

He asked me a question and I just nodded (I think it was like, "After this want to leave?"). He smiled. Amy walked over with our orders and we ate with me staring at him and him staring at me. He paid for both our foods. He got up and I hooked my arm into his and we walked out the restaurant. He took me to his black Chevrolet Camaro and opened the passenger side door for me.

"After you."

I giggled and sat down. Once I hit the seat, I fell asleep.