A/N: I'm sorry it took me a week to get this up.

I promise this chapter will be longer than the last one. :)

(I don't own The Outsiders, just Kate 'Kittie' Cade)


(KPOV)

I walked all over town, going nowhere in particular. Taking in the city was harder than I thought it'd be. I was born, grew up, and now, would die in Tulsa. I don't care if it sounds melodramatic, I'm just gonna end it all. All the pain, suffering...heartbreak...I couldn't deal with it anymore. I'd probably kill my parents if they ever hit me again...not that it would be a bad thing, but still. I never learned how to swim, so I planned to throw myself in the Arkansas River. I'd finally meet the sunset of my life. I took my time walking by, but refused to let the finality hit me. I knew what I'd see if did.

Johnny. The whole gang. Ponyboy.

It started to rain, drenching my borrowed sweater. I cut through a parking lot, slowing down to appreciate the last raindrops of my life. Tulsa grew silent, its citizens clearing the street. It took longer for me to hear the footsteps through the rain. Before I knew it, the dark figures surrounded me entirely, making escape impossible. One smiled menacingly at me.

"Hey greasy," the familiar voice said. "Remember me?" When I shook my head, he continued.

"I was in the backseat of that car with you." I gasped. He chuckled a little, then his face grew eerily serious.

"Your little buddies killed my friend, but I'm sure you knew that. And since they're not here to protect you, we're collecting our debt. An eye for an eye." My hands started to shake, my knees wobbled uncontrollably, and I knew I was going to die. Just not like I planned.

"Why me?" I squeaked. Fear ran through me. I should've never done this. I'm only fourteen, and I'm going to die.

"Why not?" he replied. I took a second to compose myself.

"Can I at least know your name? Just so I know who's killing me?" The adrenaline from anticipation ran through my veins, making me feel brave.

Maybe they won't go after anyone else. Maybe they won't hurt the ones I love. It'll end with me. That thought made me peaceful. I'd die, and they wouldn't hurt my true family. I was almost happy.

"Daniel Johnson," he replied politely before punching me in the jaw. I felt the blood spilling in my mouth, yet made no move to stop any of the guys hitting me. It'd be useless to fight back now. They outnumbered me. The Socs continued to punch me until I fell over. They kicked me in the ribs, breaking a few of them. It was harder to breathe. Stabs of pain went through me everytime their feet connected with my body. I saw Daniel move over to my ankle before he twisted and broke it. I merely let out a gasp of pain, wanting to scream my head off, but not able to get enough air. One of them kicked me in the head, making my vision blurry. Another broke my arm with something metal. I hadn't noticed the baseball bat. Waves of pure, mind-splitting pain rolled through me as the rain continued to fall harder. The puddle I laid in was freezing cold.

Was this the end then?

Here I was, getting beaten up by Socs, face to face with my inevitable demise. No flashbacks of home. No memories of childhood. No fear. I was just blank. My vision was crystal clear, but I couldn't see.

"Get the fuck off of her!" A voice yelled. I looked over to see Dally's shoes running towards us. One of the Socs swung the bat at him, but Dallas caught it and pried it out of the Soc's hands. Dallas swung wildly, hitting every guy within a two-foot radius. I stared at him, and noticed three red slashes on his white shirt. Blood spread through the cotton, quickly staining it. I saw Daniel with a stained switch running away.

"Let's leave! She's not gonna live anyways!" Daniel shouted. The rest of his goons followed, jumping quickly into his blue Mustang. Dally kneeled down, picking me up. I shook from the cold surrounding me. He laid me in the passenger seat of his car, apologizing when he pressed on my ribs. He drove swiftly down the slick roads, accelerating as we got closer to the hospital.

"W-Why'd you save m-me?" I stuttered between sharp breaths. He smirked.

"If I told ya, you'd think I went soft." Dally cursed under his breath, clutching at his stained shirt.

"Tell me," I whispered. He looked over at me, eventually giving in.

"Well...I ain't got nobody... 'cept for the gang. Don't have any family...none that cares anyways. But you, you got Johnny and he got you. You got parents, but they don't care. Johnny's your only family that matters. He cares. If you're gone, Johnny don't have anything, and the other way around. It'd kill me everyday to see Johnnycake or you so helpless. I got nothing to lose, but the both of you do. I'd give myself up to keep ya both together." Dally parked the car outside the hospital. Tears fell out of my eyes. Dallas didn't care about a thing...except me and Johnny.

"Stop yer crying. Unless its about the pain." I felt so lightheaded all of a sudden. The world blurred.

"Kittie-Kat?" Dally asked. "Stay awake. Pony said he's sorry...don't pass out on me!" Without permission, my mind went black.


(JPOV)

I stared at the ceiling, hoping Kittie'd come back soon. Dally and her had been gone for a long time. Ponyboy sat on his couch beside me, head in his hands, sobbing. The look on his face after he read her note was so...broken. I'd let him cry and think it out. The rest of the gang sat in the kitchen, leaving the both of us alone. Pony still held Kate's switchblade, turning it over and over again in his hands.

"Johnny...why did I do that?" he asked me quietly. His voice was hoarse from crying.

"I don't know. Do you have...feelings...for Kittie?" It was a bit uncomfortable asking, but I needed to know.

"Yeah," he sniffed. "I just...freaked after I kissed her. I thought you'd me mad and wouldn't like us being together. And then, if we broke up...that would screw everything, the whole gang up. After all this time, I finally realize those protective feelings for Kate were...more. I promised myself not to hurt her, but I ended up doing it anyways." Pony looked up at me pleadingly. "I'm so sorry, Johnnycake. This is all my fault."

"Its fine, Pone. I don't-" I was cut off by the telephone ringing. Darry walked to it and answered.

"Curtis house...Yes, we know them...Who is this?" Ponyboy stared at his older brother, very confused. Darry's face went blank at whatever the person on the other end of the line was saying. "We'll be right over," he replied seriously, slamming the phone down.

"Guys, we gotta leave now!" He bellowed. Two-Bit, Steve and Sodapop came out of the kitchen, puzzled looks plastered on their faces.

"Darry, what's going on?" I demanded. His severeness was making me edgy.

"That was the hospital, Johnny. Dally and Kate are there." The rest of the guys were in action, almost ready to walk out of the door. But me and Ponyboy were still frozen on the couch, not quite absorbing Darry's words. Darry spotted us still sitting down, and leaned over.

"Pony, Johnny, we need to go now. I didn't wanna tell anyone else, but one of them...either Kate or Dally is"- He took a deep breath-"is dead."


A/N: Yet another cliff-hanging chapter. That's just my style.

I feel like a total bitch for hurting my own creation. X(

Well, review. They're just...awesome. :D