Chapter 1: Ponyboy

The first time I ran into her it was at school. I literally mean, ran into her. I was walking to class, I just transferred into advance English, had a huge book in my hand and looking at my new schedule trying to figure out where my class was. I wasn't paying attention, she was standing at her locker talking to her friends and I ran into her, knocking everything out of both our hands. In my defense, I was nervous about my new class and trying to figure out where I was going, so yes I was a little coarse with her.

"Watch it!" I yelled not even looking at her, as I got down picking up my things.

She sighed and half laughed. "Excuse me...you ran into me..."

"No, you weren't paying attention." I was grabbing my books quickly, needing to get to class quickly.

"You're the one who wasn't paying attention, you had your head in the clouds, don't accuse me of something I didn't do!"

"Look, fuck..." I looked up and paused. She was divine...wavy blonde hair, frosted blue eyes, light bronze skin that looked as smooth as ice, and although she wasn't smiling, I could tell that her light rosy lips could produce a smile brighter than the northern lights. I was left speechless and embarrassed for yelling at her for something I knew was my fault.

She looked at me confused, waiting for me to finish my sentence, when I didn't she scuffed at me, picked up her things, and got up, still looking at me strangely.

"Stupid Greasers..." mumbled a guy standing next to her. She glanced at him slightly disgusted and followed him as they walked off down the hall. That's when I knew I had no chance, she was middle class...too good for a Greaser like me.

That night I took a walk around 10, couldn't sleep and Darry didn't care as long as I stayed on our side of town. I walked around the park, not really thinking about anything in particular. After one lap around, I decided to go to Marlin's, a corner store right across the street from the park entrance. As I walked up, I noticed a girl sitting on the trash can outside the front door, looking the opposite way that I was coming. She was wearing tight blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a jean jacket. As I got closer, I realized it was the girl from the hallway. What was she doing on this side of town? Maybe she really wasn't middle class...

I walked up and stopped next to her. "Hey..." I said, trying to get her attention.

She turned her head, her eyes were pink and her cheeks were wet. "Hi..." She said, sounding timid.



I was quiet for a minute, unsure of what to say to her...I recognized her, but she didn't recognize me. "You ok?"

She looked away. "I'm fine." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, then threw the pack away.

"Last one?" I asked.

She looked back at me with an annoyed look. "Yes...why?"

"Want me to buy you one?" I was trying to be nice.

She shrugged. "Sure..." She reached into her pocket and handed me some money. I walked inside and bought her and myself a pack and a bottle of coke.

I walked back out and handed her the pack and coke, she looked at the coke. "I didn't ask for this..."

"My treat," I smiled and took a drink of my coke before opening my pack and lighting my own cigarette. We sat there quiet for awhile; she didn't seem interested in me or remember me. "Consider it a peace offering."

She turned, confused. "Peace offering?"

I laughed. "You don't remember me...I ran into you today at school..."

She thought a moment. "Oh yes, the jerk that said it was my fault."

"I'm sorry..." I looked down at my shoes and at that moment wish I had a new pair of shoes, I looked like a hood. "I was in a rush and not paying attention."

She shrugged. "No big...don't go losing sleep over it..." She paused a moment. "That ain't why you're walking around this late on this side of town is it?"

I was confused, I belonged on this side of town, didn't she see that? "I live two blocks away...And no I was walking around because I like to walk around. Usually if my brothers come, we race."

She gave me a half smile. "Sounds cool..."

"Yeah..." I replied, thinking a moment. "You live around here?"

She shook her head. "No, I live over on West Pointe."

"West Pointe? What are you doing over on this side of town?"

She shrugged, taking the last drag from her cigarette. "Walking around, decided to take a break."



"I better walk you back home, you could get jumped out here this late being from that side of town."

"No..." She replied, looking away from me. "I'm not going home."

"What?" I was confused, but then laughed it off. "You're crazy, come on." I grabbed her arm and pulled.

As I pulled, she screamed. It wasn't in fear; it was a scream of agony and torture. I let go quickly and backed away from her. I didn't think I was that strong. She sat there, cradling her arm in her other arm and chocking on tears.

I stared at her. "What the hell was that?"

"Nothing..." She said through sobs. "I'm fine...just go away!"

I walked up to her and pulled up the arm of her jacket as far as I could. There were black and blue bruises on her arms. My mouth dropped, "Who did this? Did you get mugged?"

"No!" She said, pushing me away with her good arm. "Get away from me!"

"I just wanna help! Jesus, you're a bitch!"

She didn't reply, she looked away, still holding her arm. Her tears had stopped, but she was still sniffling. I couldn't help, but feel sorry for her.

I walked up to her. "Who did this to you?"

She sighed. "My dad ok? That's why I ain't going home...he needs to cool off."

I was confused. "What about your mom?"

She laughed. "My mom's halfway to New York right now; she left him this morning...that's why he's mad." She looked at me. "May I ask why you care? You don't even know who I am."

I held out my hand. "Name's Ponyboy Curtice...and I just wanna help."

She looked at my hand, but didn't take it. "I'm Riley Adams...I just moved here." She half laughed. "And I'm not 100 sure where I am."

"You're on the wrong side of town to be hiding...let me walk you home, maybe your dad's asleep."

She thought a moment. "Ok...thanks..."

We walked in complete silence the whole way. She stopped cradling her arm and didn't look at me, just kept her head tilted down and eyes on the ground. It amazed me that someone could hurt someone like that. My friend Johnny had been abused by his step-father and I never understood that 

either, but he was in a better place now. Riley reminded me of him by the way she acted. Timid, weak, and afraid, it was a sad sight to see.

We got to her house and she looked around. "I don't see his car...he must have left..."

"You sure you're gonna be ok here?" I stuck my hands in my pocket.

She nodded. "I'll be fine...thanks..."

"I live on Chester, two blocks from that park...you ever need anything like a place to crash, don't hesitate to come in...Door's always open."

She smiled at me, I was right her smile light up the night. "Thanks..."