Chapter 1

I walked down the street from school, walking as fast as I could. My legs were beginning to become sore and there was about three more blocks before I got home. I stopped to rest on the side of the dirt road that led home; I rubbed my legs to get the soreness out of them. I sighed and looked around to make sure no upper-class idiot would try and jump me, they wouldn't hold back just because I was a girl. I took my hair out of the ponytail I had fashioned it in, letting my hair fall onto my shoulders. I ruffled my bangs and knew I had to cut them shorter, they were starting to get in front of my eyes. I heard distance footsteps and I froze, not knowing who it was, my worn brown lace boots seem to blur from my vision as I stare not blinking at all. A hand placed itself firmly on my shoulder and turned quickly punching whoever it was in the face, I gasped in shock finally seeing who it was. I then starting laughing, seeing it was Ponyboy Curtis, I bent down and stopped my laughter.

"God, Pony you scared me to death." I exclaimed as he stood up, rubbing his nose.

"For a fourteen-year-old," Ponyboy said, "You have a hard punch."

I shrugged my shoulders and crossed my arms over my chest; Ponyboy then grabbed my arm and began to drag me home. I wasn't the pet in our little gang, if you want to call it that, but they everyone still treats like I'm ten-years-old again. He stopped dead in his tracks when I a few Socs pulled up in a white Buick, Pony pushed me behind him as four Socs climbed out the Buick. They were all slim like me, but they were about three years older than me. The driver had flaming red hair and the others had a mix of black and blonde hair, the red-headed one stepped out the group he had a sinister grin on his face. Ponyboy clenched his fists ready to if he needed, the Soc keep getting closer.

"Well, what do we have here?" He said, it wasn't necessarily a question, "Two greasers, this should be easy." He looked at me more closely. "What is a pretty girl like you hanging around with grease like him?"

I didn't answer to Soc and I didn't intend to, he started toward Ponyboy and I when I didn't answer. He tried to punch Pony, but he grabbed the Soc's wrist and punches him straight in the nose. Two of the other Soc's grabbed my biceps and tried to pin me to the side of a house, I kicked one in between the legs and he let go instantly. I swung my body around making the other Soc holding my other arm swing the other way, making him face plant into the side of the house. He let go of my arm then, I began trying to fight off the other Soc, I looked over at Ponyboy he had been pushed to the side of the house and was now fighting the Soc to get off him while he was pinned to ground. The Soc I was fighting grabbed my wrist and managed to throw me to the ground by Pony's kicking feet, I could hear him yelling for his brothers. I blacked out then, waking up to be carried. I looked to see who was carrying me, it was Sodapop. He was looking straight ahead and I blacked out again.

I opened my eyes again; I stared up at the ceiling of a familiar house. I turned my head; the house was blasting with the noise of a TV and what sound like Soda and Steve Randall playing cards in the kitchen. I sat up and realized I had been lying on the couch, I rubbed my head. I bet Ponyboy accidently kicked me in the head when I was throw. I thought, remembering that I hit the ground and someone pounding my head. I touched my cheek and it hurt somewhat, I guess there was a bruise there.

"You're awake." A voice said in my direction, I turned my head in the direction of the voice. Darry sat in the arm chair reading the newspaper, but it wasn't him who spoke. Ponyboy appeared behind him, a bruise had been place above his left eye. He smiled at me, knowing he was relieved I was okay.

"Yeah," I said, turning my body to where I was sitting on the couch. "H-How did I get here?" I asked, only remembering seeing Soda the last time I woke up. Ponyboy walked over and sat beside me.

"Soda carried you here," He explained, "You were out cold for four hours." He added. Soda came out the kitchen and noticed I was awake.

"Hey, look sleeping beauty is awake." He exclaimed, hurrying over and grabbing me into a bear hug.

I've known the Curtis Brother for as long as I could remember, I met Ponyboy after I got put up a grade in school and was transferred to the high school. This must be the third time they saved from being jumped; I could always count on them.