/My editor didn't really read over this, only half. So I'm sorry for the delay, and some of the grammar. Thank you for being patient the next chapter is written and I hope I get it up soon/

I turn, look behind me, and I see Pony chasing me. I remember getting up, and meeting Emily, but I can't really tell ya why I left.

"Wait up Johnny, I don't want to walk fast right now"

I start to slow down. Imagine, a track star chasing me and telling me to slow down. Well I guess I am walking pretty fast. When he catches up to me he stops running, and sighs. I don't stop walking, He is forced to keep up.

"What was that? All she did was asked if you wanted to come with us." He sounds a little mad.

"She was getting too close. It scared me." I look down, embarrassed. I shouldn't be afraid of girls, especially Dally's niece.

"Oh, well, anyway I told her you will come with us." He sounds gentler but still mean.

*Flashback*

"I told her yes." My little seven year old self was in for it this time.

"I don't care!" The boss's voice is deep and scary.

"Can I leave?" I say, scared.

"Get out of my sight." He sighs in disappointment, but there is still bitterness in his voice.

"No, c-can I leave t-the gang?" My lips are trembling.

"Ya hear that boys? He wants to leave the gang." He laughs.

I gulp. There is only one way out of the gang, and that's if you live. Because I got his baby doll in trouble, the beating is gonna come twice as hard. He is probably gonna be the first one to throw a punch. But I'm seven; can they really beat me twice as much? We're in the dark alley, where only his men go. It's in the poor side of town, so if I die, or come close, no one will save me.

"Sure boss, but do we really got to beat him that hard?" A boy, no older then sixteen, asks.

I should know that it's Emery. He and I got real close a while back. His wears his clothes two sizes too big. He's like my brother. We're both skinny, he more then I. He has dirty blond hair, and blue eyes. I don't think his hair is dirty because that's the color though. I think it's dirty because of the dirt he gets in it when he is on a "mission" or in a rumble.

"Well if he wants out, then he has to get the same punishment as anyone else. He already knows too much." It was Cole.

I hate looking at him, or talking to him, or thinking about him. All I could really say is his nickname is good for him. It matches his hair and personality well. I feel bad for him. To be 16 and have a heart as cold as steal, you had to go through drama.

"I told her yes! Do I still get beat bad?" I asked ready to beg.

"Yeah, he told her yes." Emery sounds hopeful.

"Shut up Emery." The boss threw something at him. He ducked, and it missed him. "Unless you want to take his beating, then just shut up."

Emery looks down as I look at him.

"If you love the boy so much, then you can take the first swing." The Boss threw a two by four at him, and he caught it. He stood there looking down.

"Well?" The boss was impatient "Fine I'll do it!" He grabbed the two by four and walked over to me. "I hope you rot in hell."

How come? I only did what he asked. If I live I swear I'll never talk to anyone about anything, even the gun. My mind raced a mile a minute. The thoughts were stopped by the feeling of something flat and hard on my face.

I could tell my cheek was red because it was on fire. It stung. My cheek vibrated making me bite my tongue. The taste of blood soon takes over my mouth, followed by another pound on my face, this time harder. I flung to the ground.

*End flashback*

Pony's right hand is on my shoulder, his left, waving back and forth in front of my face. "You here, man?"

I shake my head, trying to snap out of it or shake the memory, and continue walking.

"Why do you keep doing that to me?" Pony asks, as if I can control it. "It really scares me."

He walks beside me and I shrug."Where are you heading anyhow?"

I shove my hands in my jacket pockets and keep walking. "The DX, maybe"

"Maybe?" he sounds a little mad. "Johnny you can't get up like that and leave with no place to go. Come on man" He put his hand on my shoulder and stops me from walking.

I look around, not wanting to meet his eyes. He sounds too disappointed. "Here comes Dal." My eyes squint in the direction of the dinner where Dal is coming from.

"Let's finish this some other time." He nods at me and puts his hand down to his side. I stare at his hazel eyes and nod. There is something I want to ask him anyhow.

"Are we going back to the DX?" Emily asked perky

"I think so," Pony said looking at her, then at me. I nod and smile a little.

Pony continues, "Have you met everyone?"

"Everyone, except 'Mr. Macho'." Pony laughs when Emily uses air quotes around Mr. Macho.

"Well Darry is working, but the DX is fun. We go there when Dally needs cash. Right Dally?" Pony looked at Dally. He returned the look with a glare.

She looks at the glare Dal is giving, and with a big smile says, "The DX it is then!'' She skipped off in the direction of the DX.

"Boy Dally, you really out did yourself this time huh?" Pony teases when she is out of hearing range.

"Shut up kid!" yells Dally as walks ahead of us to catch up with Emily.

Dally starts to talk to Emily and that leaves me and Pony alone. Pony started talking about what he was doing later. I don't try to but, I tune him out. I start thinking about how mean I was back in the diner. My thoughts trail off, and I find myself thinking about Emily. For some reason, she is helping bring these memories back.

I quickly change the subject, not because I feel like it, but because the past scares me. I start to think about how nervous Pony was when Emily started to talk to him. That makes me wonder if he likes her. If he did, what would Dally say? What would the gang say?

"You know what I'm saying man?" His stare kinda scares me.

"Yeah, sorry man." That's all I need to say, because when he says something like 'You get it?' I know what he is talking about.

There is this faded green house, then next to it a crazy yellow house. I love walking this way to get to the DX, because before the cement lot that leads to it is a crazy yellow house. They always have decorations, and it looks like a fun place to be in (or at) all the time. When Emily and Dally got on the cement lot, Pony and I stop.

"I mean," He looks down and kicks the ground "Isn't it obvious?" He looks at me. I nod. He looks at Emily.

"I can see it, I don't know if anyone else can." I look at the ground.

"I really used to think girls were gross, no idea why." Pony sounds sad when he says it.

I smirk when he looks up at me, "Grew up kid."

"Glory Johnny, what if Darry finds out?" He looks worried.

"He was your age before." I say

"I guess." He grumbles.

I punch his shoulder lightly, and we walk the rest of the way to the DX neither one of us wanting to pull at the silence that's lurking around. When we step on the cement, we get a good view of the DX. Soda's leaning on the pump, until Emily tackles him. They fall over, and she is in his arms, smiling down at him.

"What if she likes Soda?" Pony asks.

"I don't know man," I say, unsure of what to say.

"What if she was really flirting with him?"

"That's her business." I say quickly.

I glance at Steve. He too, was leaning on the pump. He has jet black hair and green eyes. Pony hates him, and he hates Pony. Steve doesn't like people who tag along. He is a car expert, which is why he puts motor oil in his hair instead of grease. He has been Soda's best friend since grade school. There both real tuff.

Sodapop (soda) is movie star handsome…at least that's what Pony says. He has blond hair and brown eyes. He never uses grease in his hair though, and when he does, it's really light. He is turning 17 in a couple of months; Steve has been 17 since February. Soda is happy-go-lucky, so happy that you could think he is high or drunk, but he doesn't do that type of thing. He only picks up a cancer stick when he needs to look tough. I guess it's a good thing that soda is a good looker, because he likes the ladies more then he should.

"Hey Soda," Pony says as Soda gets up.

"What do you bums want?" Steve urges.

When Soda and Emily are both up, he picks her up by her waist, and puts her on the gas pump. She screams and grabs his arms.

"What's wrong? Lil' Em is scared of heights?" Dally teases.

"Shut up Dallas!" she blushes.

He gets a scowling look. "That's uncle to you" He stresses the uncle.

"Take her down Soda." Pony looks at Emily.

"I got her, don't worry lil' buddy." Soda laughs

Emily looks at soda "can I get down now?"

He holds out his arm for her. She grabs the edge of the pump and slides up a little. When she is on the Edge she looks down and grabs his arm. She glides off, almost falling on her face, when soda catches her.

"Whoa, soda the stud, cool down. Don't forget you got sandy waiting for you." Steve winks at soda.

Emily stands up, blushing, and walks over to dally, who is leaning on a car. Everyone else, including me, are laughing. When I stop laughing I look up at Soda. I guess he was blushing a little, cause he is still all red.

Steve looks at pony and stops laughing "hey kid, you like anyone yet?"

"Even if I did, it's none of your business." Ponyboy looks mad.

Everyone got silent. You're not supposed to talk to Steve like that unless he is in a good mood. We all turn to Steve as he stands up. My heart starts pounding. Is Steve gonna punch his face in?

"Your right…" He steps toward pony "Its Two-bits."

He and Soda start laughing. I guess he is in a good mood today. Soon everyone except me, Pony, and Emily are laughing. I too scared to move.

Emily questions "Who's Two-bit?"

"Not anyone a doll like you should meet." Steve looks at her.

"Watch it!" Dally snaps

It was weird how Emily just came into our lives and has already started to become one of the guys. It's a rare thing to happen with us. I'm starting to think it's because she is Dally's niece. I don't know what it is but, I like it.

"How about a nickname?" Sodapop gleams at Emily.

"Only if I can give you one." She responds almost immediately.

I didn't like this. I know this trick. Soda does it with ever doll that comes strollin' into the DX gas station. It's his was of flirting, How much closer did he need to be to her?

"Seems fair." Soda looks at her and thinks for a minute. "How about Em?"

At least it wasn't something like doll face. Then it would be obvious he is flirting. That's like taking a stroll down death road when dal is right here.

"For you…" She put her arm across her chest and rests her elbow on her hand. Then puts her chin on her other hand. "Pepsi-cola?"

We all burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Em asks confused

Pony chuckles "That's what we've been calling him forever."

"Mom gave it to me." He glows

"Oh, well I can come up with another one, if you'd like." She says

"Only if you want." He replies.

"You to also sound like a couple." Steve says

Both their faces lit up.

"I wasn't trying to flirt-"Steve cuts Soda off "This time"

Emily Squeezes between me and soda and walks over to pony. She stares him up and down then grabs his hand.

"What if I like Pony?" She asks and Pony's face turns beat red.

"Nuh-huh, no way, not a chance!" Steve belts out, shaking his head.

"And why not?" She asks with confidence.

"Cause, every girl round here likes soda" Steve was getting cocky.

"is it a rule?" She asks.

"Well, no, but-" She cuts him off

"Then I don't have to like him!" She argues

"That's why you were hangin' on him?" He asks.

"Well I sure as hell don't like you!" We all had something small to say like 'ouch' at her remark.

"And just cause I don't like him doesn't mean he's not cute" She squeezes back between me and Soda.

She grabs his shoulder between her hands and puts her head on her hands.

"Enough Emily!" Dally shouts at her angrily.

"But uncle…" She pouts "I'm just getting started." She plays with his hair and he gets all red.

"Emily, I would stop if I were you." Pony suggests

"Yeah" We here two-bits voice "looks like he's getting mad at his old lady."

Two-bit (Keith) and Darry both use a normal amount of grease. Two- bit is the go to guy when you wanna know the latest story. He is the kind that likes to stick in his two-cent everywhere and put in his two-bits, or his piece of mind, into the story. He is a good thief. He is known for taking this black switch blade. , he calls it his 'lucky blade'. He couldn't live without flirting with a blond haired chick. He still has something in him that makes you want to be his friend though.

"Whatever!" Dally yells before storming off.

No one talks until he is out of ear shot. "So ya'll aint datin'?" Two-bit cocks a brow, something else he is known for.

Soda smiled and grabs her waist "she wouldn't date her uncle."

Emily blushes and pushes away from soda, bumping into me.

Two-bits moth is dropped when he grabs her hand "excuse me madam, But dally never told us of a doll like you." He gently kisses her hand.

THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT! I wanna scream it, but something is telling me not too.

She yanks her hand away "Emily, but you can call me Em." Her and soda exchange smiles.

"Keith, But you can call me two-bit" He winks at her smiling dangerously.

"Don't get any idea's two-bit" Pony glares at him.

"And why not?" Two-bit sounds cocky looking back at pony "did you call her?"

"No…" he blushed "Soda did.