A NEW RUN

Chapter one

"Pony, you got a visitor." Darry called to me from the front door.

I looked up from the book I had been reading and stood up. Walking into the main room I half froze when I saw who my 'visitor' was. It was Bryon Douglas. Bryon and I haven't exactly gotten along. I've never hated the guy, no, instead he had never thought the best of me. This was strange, I thought, 'cause I was good buds with Mark, Bryon's best friend.

"Hey, Ponyboy." Bryon said with a small grin as if to assure me he wasn't here to fight.

I relaxed a little, but was still suspicious. Bryon had good reason to want me dead. About six months ago he had broken up with his girlfriend, Cathy Carlson. Well, I tried not to admit to myself that I liked her, but I did. I asked her out not long afterwards and we're still going steady to this very day.

"How's the roof on that house of yours, Douglas?" Darry asked Bryon.

"It's doin' real well. That reminds me, Darry, my old lady says 'thanks'." Bryon replied.

"Just doin' my job, buddy." Darry smiled and then turned to me, "Pony, I'm goin' to meet up with Soda and Steve at the park. See you later." Darry walked out the door leaving me and Bryon all to ourselves.

"What's been goin' on, Ponyboy?" Bryon asked me after a few moments of silence.

"Same old stuff." I answered.

Bryon gave a small nod and stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. I knew he wanted to talk about something. I figured Bryon wasn't the kind of person who would just come over to talk. "What did you come over to talk about?" I asked.

"Have you gone to see Mark lately?"

"Yeah, I saw 'im last week. He was moved back to the reformatory." I said, "Mark told me that the state prison was real tough. He'd never seen hell like that before."

"I would have thought state prison would've been heaven for him. Mark's always been tough. I'm surprised he couldn't handle it." Bryon raised an eyebrow.

I was surprised by his remark, although I shouldn't have been. Mark had told me that he hated Bryon now. When I heard this news I was shocked. Was it possible for two 'brothers' to suddenly turn on eachother? There had to be more to this whole story…

"Mark wants to see you again." I said.

"Bryon gave me a puzzled look and half laughed, "You're kiddin' me, right?"

"He wants to see you," I repeated and then added, "That's what he told me. Bryon, he's changed. You should give him a chance." My face looked dead serious at this point. I think it was that fact that wiped the grin of Bryon's face. He sighed and sat down on the couch.

"Ponyboy, I believe you. It's just that I'm a bit scared. I keep thinkin' that one day Mark will be the death of me. Mark wants me dead for turnin' him in, I know that. Despite all that's happened, Pony, I still can't help but feel these brotherly feelings forward him. Ain't this all messed up?"

For a second I couldn't respond. Bryon was right. A similar problem had hit me about two or so years back. Then I had felt that Darry only really cared for Sodapop and not me. Yeah, I loved both my brothers then, but I couldn't help but notice that Darry treated me differently than Soda. I felt kinda stupid when I realized that wasn't true. Darry just really was concerned for me.

"Maybe you should go and see what he wants." I suggested, although I really didn't want to get in other people's business. Then again, Mark was my friend. "From the way he was speaking about you…. He didn't sound angry."

Bryon looked at me. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was thinking over my words. "I don't know, Ponyboy. I just can't believe that he's suddenly stopped hating me. I did such a bad thing to him, I regret it, but I thought it was the right thing at the time." Bryon sighed. "Would you mind going with me? Mark wouldn't try anything stupid around you. He really sees something in you, Ponyboy."

I nodded, "Sure, I'll come with you. And thanks." I grinned.

Bryon and I spent an hour or so just talking and joking around. He reminded me of Mark, but a bit more serious. Bryon wasn't as dumb as I thought he was. In fact, he was quite intelligent. I was very wrong in judging him before!