Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders

A/N Thanks for your reviews guys. They really mean a lot. Here is another chapter:) I actually like to write a few at a time. I don't like doing just one. But I never have the time. Actually, I don't know how you read one at a time. I can never do that. When I pick up a book I usually can't stop until I've read at least 5 chapters. So on here too I read stories that have at least like 5 or 6 chapters up so I can read at least 3 at a time:)

Whispers of a Fallen Angel 5 clubs? That's a lot, but if they are all interesting clubs then it's cool. Homework sucks though:( Well, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to read my story.

ItsallAboutPonyboy I'm glad you liked my little Darry against Matt fight. There's some more fighting coming up:)

DreamerandReckless More Pony and Maryann action coming right up:) This chapter and the next one too.

greasertwin don't worry 'bout Johnny - he'll be all right:)

iheartponyboy33 details, details:) They don't put you in a morgue naked. That would be a little perverted:) So, let's say he had his hospital gown on, and then he got some old dirty clothes from the homeless people at the station:) Thanks for pointing this out though. Makes me use my head a little more:)

Anyways, here we go

The next day I rushed to school determined to talk to Maryann and make her listen to me whether she wanted to or not, but when I walked into the classroom she wasn't there. I was hoping that she'd come in a little while, but it was 5 minutes before the bell and she still wasn't' there. Maybe she's just late - I didn't give up my hope. A few minutes later her best friend Lauren walked in. They usually came to school together. Shit, I thought remembering Matt's words - "she's been crying every evening." What if something's wrong, what if she's sick or something.

"Hey Lauren," I nearly screamed as she passed my desk on the way to her seat. She gave me a puzzled look, 'cause I never really spoke to her before.

"Hey is Maryann sick or something? Do you know?" I asked determined to go to Maryann's house immediately if I had to.

She hesitated for a second, then looked at me and said, "Ok, I'm not supposed to tell you , but she decided to skip English today, said it was getting too weird between the two of you. She's in the cafeteria." Lauren kind of rolled her eyes and went to her seat. I grabbed my backpack and ran out of the room. "Um, thanks Lauren," I yelled on my way. As I ran down the hallway, I almost ran into Mr. Syme, who was walking to class. He gave me a shocked, disappointed look, and said something, but I didn't really hear what it was he was saying, 'cause I was on the other end of the hallway by then.

I walked into the cafeteria. She was sitting all alone at one of the tables, reading a book. I tried to gather my thoughts before coming up to her. But someone came up to her before me. At first I couldn't see who it was, but then I saw the face- it was Jimmy Graham. "I don't think you have lunch this time," he stated somewhat obnoxiously, sitting down on the empty seat next to her.

"I don't," she replied calmly and somewhat annoyed, not even looking up from her book.

"No need to get rude," he said with a smirk. "Pretty girl like you, that's not nice," he added sarcastically. "Whattcha reading?" - he tried to pull the book from her hand, but she kept holding on to it. I froze. I didn't know if I should come up. I was afraid to make things worse, given that the last time I tried talking to her, she gave me the silent treatment. So, I kept watching from the side ready to jump in at any moment if things got carried too far. And they sure did.

He finally pulled the book away from Maryann's hands. Then he moved closer and put his arm around her shoulder. "That's better," he smirked. "No need to play hard to get. You greasy girls aren't hard to get are you?" She tried to shake his hand off in disgust.

In one leap I was next to them. "Hey Jimmy," I said, "you are in my seat."

He looked up,"Why don't you go seat somewhere else, don't you see we are having a conversation?"

Maryann looked at me quickly, then at Jimmy. "My friend is sitting here," she said to him firmly, still trying to shake his arm off her shoulder. "He just went to get food."

"You mean he was sitting here? 'Cause he ain't sitting here no more," he smirked not letting go of her. "Hey, where's the food?" he added then, turning to me, "I don't see no food. Why don't you go back and stand in line for a while, and be a good boy pick up a soda and some chips for me while you are at it."

"Hey, Jimmy," I said clearing my throat, "I don't want to make a scene here, why don't you just let her go and we forget it."

"Are you kidding me?" he laughed in my face. "Are you kidding me?" he repeated again, getting hysterical, "I'm twice your size, moron." He got up, spitting on the floor thru his teeth. Maryann's eyes widened. She was about to say something, but before she had a chance to, I felt a strong punch hit me in my left shoulder. I fell, but I got right back up.

I was able to grab his arm and twist it behind his back. Then I pushed him and was able to get him on the floor. I don't even like fights that much, especially after what happened to Johnny and Dally, but this? This was too much. He crossed the line. He really does think he owns everyone, and everyone is supposed to do whatever he says. I kept pounding on him. Everywhere - his shoulders, stomach, legs. My hand was starting to hurt I was punching so hard. I was punching him everywhere. Everywhere, but his face. That would be too much.

Finally, he was able to free his arm and punched me right in my face. I guess he didn't think that was too much. He punched my nose, my eyes, and then my lips. I felt blood streaming down my face, and I felt blinded for a second. He got back on his feet. Then he grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me back up. As he held me with one hand, he punched me in the shoulder with his other hand. He looked mad. Disgusting and mad. Like a bull, that was running to kill his matador. I fell after he punched me, but was back up right away. I felt dizzy, and that didn't help matters, because I couldn't stand steady on my feet. I started to fall again, and I briefly saw Maryann's shocked face as I was falling. "Stop it immediately," she finally yelled, hitting Jimmy from behind, with her backpack. "Stop it, you arrogant, nasty jerk." He froze for a second insulted, then spit through his teeth, and pushed her away so she made a few steps back. "I'll deal with you later," he yelled.

In the meantime I got back up on my feet and started punching him again. He was twice as mad now as he was before.

There was a huge crowed around us by then. Mostly socs. I felt hopeless. I knew that even if I took care of Jimmy, any of them would jump in any second to help him out. They didn't believe in fighting one on one. Actually, most of the time they'd make sure they outnumbered us before they'd get into a fight. Suddenly I felt someone pull me away from behind, separating me from Jimmy's tight "embrace." " It's all right Ponyboy, it's all right." - It was Jesse. Two of Jimmy's friends stepped forward then, prepared to attack Jesse or me. Then the crowed suddenly went "Ah," and all of us turned around instantly - the dean was walking in our direction. He looked superpissed. Before you could turn around Jimmy and his friends were gone.

"Get outta here," Jesse whispered, "get out quick I'll deal with him." I wasn't sure, "c'mon," he pushed me forward slightly. I quickly grabbed my and Maryann's backpacks in one hand, and grabbed Maryann's hand with my other hand and ran out to the back exit.

The back exit led right outside, to the school yard. That's how those who wanted to cut classes usually got out. We stopped outside to catch our breathes. Maryann didn't take her hand out of mine, which I hoped was a good sign. We walked out of the school yard in silence. I felt a little more relaxed then. "So, do you cut classes often?" I finally asked with a smile.

"Sometimes," she answered, trying to hold back a smile, but unsuccessfully.

I wiped my face off, there was still some blood on it.

"I am really sorry," she added in a few minutes. I gave her a puzzled look. "About Matt the other day," she continued. "I swear I didn't know. I never gave him the idea... I couldn't believe him, when he told me yesterday when he got home."

"It's Ok," I shrugged. "Don't worry about it." I didn't care about Matt anymore. I was just so happy that she was talking to me again.

"This Graham jerk is disgusting," she changed the subject. "Thanks so much, and sorry for putting you on the spot. Thank God your friend got there. I thought the two of you were going to kill each other."

My body was sore and my shoulder hurt badly where he'd punched me, but I tried not to show it. "It's fine," I said, "he didn't get me too bad."

"I can't go home yet," she said. "Matt is home and he'll know that I skipped school."

"You want to go to the park?" I asked eagerly - there was my chance to talk to her and explain everything. But then I changed my mind. I decided not to do any explaining for now, and not to tell her about Johnny. Now that she was talking to me again I didn't want to give her another chance to doubt me, to think that I'm weird or crazy.

"Sure," she said, "we can go to the park."

"You are going to shine tomorrow," she said smiling.

"Really?" I glanced at my reflection in the window of a building we were passing by. She was right. I saw a huge mark right where my cheekbone is. That would definitely turn bright blue, black and red by tomorrow.

"Really," she replied, and then before I could say anything I felt... her soft, warm lips on mine. It was ... heaven. I didn't want to let go, but I did. Just for a second. Then I leaned against the wall of the building, pulled her towards me, closed my eyes and gave her a really long kiss. It was so nice to feel her arms around my neck, and feel her soft, silky hair touch my face. I've been wanting this for so long. When I finally let go, she looked at me playfully and started to walk ahead of me. I caught up with her, and put my arm around her shoulder. She didn't remove it. I pulled her much closer and we kept walking.

We got to the park pretty soon. The park where the socs attacked us that night. I felt uneasy, but only for a second. Especially now that I knew Johnny is alive, I was able to get a hold of myself quickly. We sat down by the fountain.

"Listen Maryann," I said, "about the other night. I'm really really sorry. It's just..."

She looked somewhat uneasy. Probably was afraid that I was going to have another "episode."

"I don't want to know." She said quickly. "I don't care. It's ok."

"I have a really good reason, I swear," I continued. "I just can't tell you right now. Not yet."

"I don't care," she repeated.

"I wonder if Jesse is going to get detention now. Instead of me," I said to change the subject.

"It was really nice of him to do that," she said.

"Yeah, well he's a senior, and he got accepted to college already so he doesn't' really care what goes on his record. And besides he's cool like that."

"Is your brother going to be mad?" she asked.

"He ain't gonna be mad, 'cause I ain't gonna tell him."

"So, what you are just gonna tell him you fell of the stairs or something?" she laughed..

" I'll think of something."

"He really cares about you doesn't he? Matt said he was ready to beat the crap out of him for you."

"I guess he does, he just takes things way too seriously if you ask me."

"I'm really sorry about Matt," she said again. "He isn't really like that. It's just..." She paused trying to find the right words.

"It's ok. Don't worry about it." I said softly. She looked so beautiful at that moment. Even though she had a sad look on her face she still looked beautiful. The weather was nice and the rays of light were playing in her chestnut hair. I wished I had a camera or something so I could take pictures of her. That would look really awesome. Or that I had my painting stuff with me so I could paint her portrait. I took her in my arms and kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around my neck. Feeling her in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body was ... I just can't describe it. I wished this day would never end. I wished this kiss would never end.

"Well, it's time to go," she said when it was around 2.

"I'll walk you."

"Sure."

I put my arm around her shoulder again, and we walked to her house. "Um, Maryann..."

"What?"

"Do you want to go out tomorrow night? To make up for the last time. No weird stuff this time. I promise."

"Sure," she said playfully, "but better not run off on me this time."

As we approached her house, I took my hand of her shoulder just in case Matt decided to show up.

"I'll tell Matt to give you a ride home. I don't want you walking by yourself after what happened," Maryann said.

"Um, I don't think that would be such a great idea."

"C'mon, I was really mad at him yesterday when he told me. Even told him I'd never speak to him again. So now he's kind of ashamed and I can boss him around a little." She smiled.

So, I was not the only one she was giving the silent treatment to, I thought. I was still hesitant though. God knows what her brother is up to. I'd get into his car, and who knows, where it is that he'll give me a ride to. Then again he did give Darry a hand and helped him up last night after he realized he was wrong. Before I could give her an answer, the door opened and Matt came out. He was still trying to tune his guitar that he had over his shoulder on a strap. He obviously didn't expect to see me. He thought it was just his sister. We stared at each other in silence for a moment.

"Matt, I need you to give Ponyboy a ride home," Maryann said in somewhat bossy tone of voice. He glanced at her, then at me - "Sure"

He gave his guitar to Maryann to take it back in, and went to the garage to get the car. I was still silent.

"C'omon. It's ok," Maryann said playfully. "I'll see you tomorrow." She went inside.

"Hop in," Matt said, lighting a cigarette, and I noticed that he didn't smell like dope this time.

"Listen dude," he said as we were driving, "I was kind of messed up yesterday, got the wrong idea. You understand right?" (A/N Did they say dude in the 60's? I don't really know:))

"Sure," I shrugged.

"So, your brother is really mad at me huh," he stated.

"I think he's mad at me and not at you."

Matt didn't say anything, just chewed on his cigarette for a while.

"So what happened to you?" he said next, pointing to my face.

"Nothing, I fell during track practice,"I said defensively.

"I'm sure you did," he replied not even trying to pretend that he believed me. We were silent for a few minutes.

"Well, I think you are on the next block," - he pulled over. "You can walk one block right? I don't need to run into your brother just now."

"He ain't home, but I can walk anyway," I said getting out of the car. "Thanks for the ride."