Thanks for all the reviews. Thanksgiving was Fantastic!

Warning: They do swear in this chapter

Chapter 11

Ponyboy sat in one of the Curtis's spare bed room starring blankly at the neatly made bed in front of him. Never before had he touched one let alone laid on one. Sure his seen plenty of people put mattresses on top of their cars, but had never laid on one before. Pony was excited and wanted to lay on the bed this instant, but something held him back. He had fantasy for sleeping on a bed and all of the anticipation of waiting and wondering what it would be like... Pony didn't want the mattress to not be as good as he thought. He contemplated this as he stared down at his wrinkled hands, noticing the traces of Two-bit's blood for the first time and grimaced at how it got there.

~ 2 hours ago ~

Things turned into a blur when Two-bit had fallen on the floor. Ponyboy had quickly gotten up off the couch and moved to the farthest corner of the room, while Dally and Darry picked Two-bit up and placed him right were Pony was sitting before. Darry yelled for Soda to grab the first-aid kit while he ripped off Two-Bit's shirt. Bruises covered his entire chest and stomach, blood dripped down his nose while his right eye was swelling shut. His arms where covered in scrapes and scratches, the most prominent one was from a blade that had sliced his armed. He would need stitches.

Soda handed over the first aid kit to Darry, then bent down to Two-bit's level while Darry was working on his chest.

"What happened Two-bit?" Soda questioned, moving Two-bit's head to inspect the damage

"Those dam soc's" he whispered, trying unsuccessfully to open both of his eyes.

Dally swore, grabbing onto Johnny's arm and dragging him out of the house. " Will go get those little shit heads" he grunted "Right Johnny?"

Johnny mutely nodded. Everyone knew that Dally was itching to beat someone up and now he had a reason to. He asked Johnny to come along because even if Dally wouldn't admit it, he was fond of him.

Two-bit started telling them that the Soc's got him behind the grocery store, there were six of them against one. He said he pulled out his switch blade but by then the biggest soc took him to the ground forcing it out of his hand. Two-bit exclaimed that everything glazed over and by then he couldn't recall one fact from the next. Steve had walked into the kitchen coming right back out with an ice-pack, placing it on Two-bits swelling eye.

Pony didn't know what to do. Should he try to help or stay back and let everyone else do the work. He was frightened, this reminded him of his own beating less then a year ago...

Fists punched the living daylights out of him and feet kicked his gut. He could hear boys voices laughing and cruel words being thrown his way. He didn't know why these boys where picking on him, one minute he sat on the curb waiting for someone to accidentally drop some change and the next minute he was on the floor getting the stuffing beaten out of him.

The boys had quieted down and one of them suggested that "we should give him something to remember us by." And they did.

He had scars running up and down his chest and his stomach was covered with words. Some included greaser and others contained swears.

He was scared but he had to do something, Two-bit was Ponyboy's friend or at least Pony thought he was. He wanted to help Two-bit and show him that he cared.

Pony walked closer to the couch and stood by Two-bits head. Soda and Darry had gone into the kitchen; Darry finishing up dinner while Soda dialed Mrs. Mathew's and explained what happened to her son. Steve went searching for Johnny and Dally so Pony didn't have to worry about anyone watching.

He sat on the ground, just looking over the damage when he noticed blood seeping into the couch cushions. He got on his knees and expected closer when he figured out it was coming from Two-bit's head. He put his fingers right where he thought it was coming from, as he pulled them back they where covered in blood.

"Soda!" Pony exclaimed

"Yeah" he replied coming out of the kitchen, Pony silently showed him his fingers.

"Oh... Darry!" Darry came into the room stopping in his tracks at what he saw.

"Where's the blood coming from?" he asked walking over to where Pony was sitting. Pony pointed to Two-bit's head. Darry nodded and went to the bathroom to get a roll of gauze.

The night went on and by 11 o'clock everyone went to bed. Pony didn't know where to go, he figured out he couldn't go sleeping on the couch 'cause Two-bit was on it. Soda showed him to an old bed room and said "We were gonna save this, for when we we asked you if you wanted to stay at are house for the time being..."

Pony nodded and hurriedly agreed

~ / ~

Pony scrubbed his hands roughly against his shirt and reluctantly got into bed. As his head hit the pillow he felt like he was going to sleep on a cloud. This was better then he had ever imagined and he could only thank the Curtis's for having that chance.

PLEASE REVIEW. :), Comments, or Complaints? If you review I'll give you a preview for next chapter. And that's when Pony learns how to fight.