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Disclaimer: I don't own "The Outsiders"

The dogs howled to our war cries as we lined up, facing each other. I stood across from Curly, Tim's little brother. Darry was beside me, right across from Tim Shepard himself. "Listen," He said, leaning in my ear, "Don't get too fired up. Holler if you need help. I think we're out-numbered."

I nodded and looked at Tim's gang. There were seven that he brought with him. I didn't need to count our side-there's only five-but I thought Darry could get rid of Tim for us. We'd probably win. We'd have to.

Tim stepped forward. "You know the deal. Whoever wins gets to decide what they want." He smiled, a ridiculous, cunning smile that makes you want to knock the stupid smirk off his face.

You mean who they want, I thought.

I looked towards Darry, still keeping a look on Curly from the corner of my eye. Darry nodded.

They stepped forward, facing each other closer now, but Tim seemed a little distracted. He was looking past Darry's shoulder ocasionally. Both of the gangs were grinning. Ours because we thought Tim was letting his gaurd down, they were happy because of the same thing.

That's when I realized what he was up to. His gaurd was stronger than ever. He was tense. He was ready to go. More than anything, he was ready to win. I looked around. Our gang was still ready. They were probably thinking of what an easy fight it'd be, but it wouldn't. I knew it.

Darry got ready to take a swing at Tim, but I couldn't let that happen. "Darry!" I shouted. "Don't! He'll-" But it was too late. Darry swung at Tim, and Tim pushed his arm back and twisted it around. It made a horrible cracking noise, and Darry suddenly fell to the ground in a stupor, afraid to touch his arm because of the pain. Tim's grin appeared again.

I looked at our gang, who were standing still and weak in disbelief. "What are you doing?" I shouted. "Go! Go!"

I started running to Curly, who was obviously fiercely ready for me. He immediately punched me in the eye, sending a sharp pain through my face, but I kept fighting him. I grabbed his hair and started punching him in the cheek. Not long after the second blow, Curly escaped my grasp and was fumbling desperately to knock me on the ground. We went at it for a while, me shoving him and Curly doing the same to me. Eventually, we were both on the ground, kicking each other and yelling curses.

I was finally able to sit on my knees, and he squated so that he could easily hit me. I didn't let him have it. I jumped up, ready to fight, but Curly swept my legs and I fell to the ground, a seemingly invisible rock hitting my head. He looked down at me, grinning, but I could see the look of sorrow and compassion in those brown eyes. I shook my head. He leaned toward me, slowly and frighteningly. I screamed. He punched me in the face one last time before the sound of running faded away into blackness.

I don't know how long I was out. Obviously not too long, because when I woke up, Soda was carrying me in his arms on the road back to our house. My heart beated in an un-even tone as my eyes slowly peeled open. He looked down at me and grinned.

I looked around weakly, because my neck and head were killing me. Two-Bit walked ahead of all of us, still drinking. I could see a small scratch on the back of his neck. Steve was beside me and Soda. He's walking proudly and unhurt. Darry was to the other side, clutching his right arm against his chest. He was limping.

I looked up at Soda again. "I can walk," I told him.

Soda laughed at me. "No you can't. Not with sprained ankle."

"Uh-huh," I mumbled.

"Nuh-uh," He fought back.

"Ya-huh!" Soda set me down on the ground and raced towards Two-Bit. I stumbled a little on the ground before getting up and walking oddly and slowly, more of stagger, towards Darry. "What happened?" I asked him.

He sighed. "It turned into one fight. Just you and Curly. Two-Bit and Steve tried to get it all together again, but Tim had already got me. He said that he wanted to see how the youngin's did. Guess we see how that turned out."

"It wasn't a fair fight, Darry! Curly had rings! He even used that same thing that Tim did!" I fumed.

Darry turned and looked at me. "The rules were no weapons. I agree that he shouldn't use rings, but you gotta understand that we lost, fair and square."

Steve looked up from the spot on the ground which he was previously interested in. "No, Curly wasn't supposed to have rings. I saw Tim get on to him. The fact that Tim still allowed his own win is wrong."

"Steve, we lost."

"But not fair and square!"

"Steve,"

"Forget it, man! I'm gone!" Steve turned and stormed off, a red tweak to his face as he griped his teeth and cursed to himself.

Soda and Two-Bit turned around. Soda cried, "Where you goin', man?"

Steve furiously shoved his finger towards Darry. "I'm leavin'! I'm with the Shepards' now!"

Thanks for reading; reviews are appreciated.

-Attia R.