It's a prank. It's gotta be just a prank. They wouldn't dare harass me here, there are too many greasers that would help me, I hope. Two Bit would help if he knew they were after me, so would Johnny, and I think Steve would so that Soda wouldn't get mad at him. But… But they don't know and I can't tell them. It's too late to tell anyone, I have to deal with this on my own. I can't go back and change what I've already done; I have to stick up for myself. They can't know, I won't let them, and if that means I have to face this on my own then that's what I have to do. I'm scared. Dammit I'm shaking again, but I can't back down now. Maybe I should claim I'm sick again and have Two Bit drive me home… No, Darry would just make me go to the doctor. So what am I going to do? I can't do this on my own, but I have to.

I looked at the letter again and shuddered. That first part, 'Looking forward to our next encounter little horse' that reminded me far too much of the phone call. I grimaced at the memory and suddenly realized that if this was a prank it would probably go farther than I hoped. My stomach is so knotted up right now and all I want to do is go home and crawl back under the covers. I know I can't though. If I start avoiding school the gang will definitely know something's up. Not that they're not suspicious as it is.

These thoughts plagued my mind as I crumpled the sheet of paper and put it into my pocket as I walked to class. I had kept the books I needed for that class out when I'd been at my locker so I just started walking on autopilot. I bumped into a few people in the hall accidentally while I was lost in thought. One of them I recognized mainly due to her hair, Cherry something. She ignored me as most girls do in this school, and the ones that don't I steer clear of on my own. I don't think I'm ready for girls, I'm only 14 after all, and that's one of the few things that Darry says I use my head about. Besides, Two Bit and Steve told me and Johnny a bunch of stories that scared us away from girls a year or two back. We actually ran the other way the first time we ran into a girl after those stories. Sylvia never did understand that encounter, though I thought she was scary enough before that.

I stepped into my math class hoping to forget everything that had happened and threw myself into school work. Those hopes were dashed half an hour later when a note with my name on it was passed to me from the boy in front of me. He was new, and someone I didn't remember seeing before. I opened the paper expecting it to be a request for work we'd covered in the class, but what I got was nearly enough to send me running. It was another note, similar to the first, in the same handwriting. It told me that they would see me at lunch. I panicked for a moment before I remembered that Two Bit was here and I always went out to lunch with him, Steve, and Johnny when he was here. I forced myself to calm down and act normally through the rest of class; but the way I was feeling, I might not have to act sick. When the bell rang I jumped out of my seat and walked as quickly as I could out of the class room and to my locker to get my next set of books. There was a card taped to my locker door but I just tossed it into the locker not bothering to read it. Why can't they just leave me alone? I thought, as I rested my head on the small metal door.

"Hey Pony what was that? A love letter? Don't tell me you weren't listening when I told you about girls." Two Bit said from behind me making me jump. No matter how drunk he gets he's always managing to sneak up on someone, mainly me and Johnny.

"It's not from a girl and it's definitely not a love letter." I replied quickly and absent mindedly earning myself concerned glances from all three of them.

Steve and Johnny have been standing behind Two Bit the whole time and I suddenly realized that Johnny didn't look to good. He was half leaning on Steve and looking real pale, more so than usual. I wonder if he has what I had the other day. Oh hell, I hope that didn't sound too suspicious… The way they're looking at me I think it did.

"Ok. You wanna explain that comment kid?" Steve asked though it sounded more like and order. After what I'd been through these last few days though, I wasn't in the mood to comply with anyone's commands.

"Not really. What's up guys?" I turned from them and began making my way to my English class. They trailed along behind me and I could hear them muttering as we walked. Just outside the door to my class Two Bit finally cleared his throat to regain my attention.

"Johnny's sick and Steve needs to go talk to his boss so I'm driving them. We probably won't be back till after lunch. We saw you on our way out and I figured I'd let you know so you didn't go lookin' for us later." My legs nearly gave out when I heard him say that. No, no, no! Take me with you, please. Don't leave me here when they're going to come after me! I wanted to tell them that I'd go with them; I knew Two Bit wouldn't object, but Darry would skin me if I skip class like that. I blanked my face and ducked into the room after telling Two Bit to make sure Johnny went to our house to rest.

Why? Why can't something go right for once? Why is this happening to me? I couldn't help but think of how much better things would be if mom and dad were still alive. I went through class as if I were an empty shell of myself. I sure felt that way. Detached and numb. I was sweating by the end of the lecture and I'd missed several questions that the teacher had asked me. He came up to me after and asked me if I was alright. I nearly lost my temper at that point because I'm really beginning to hate that question. The end of that period was the signal for lunch and I was beginning to feel like someone had just doused me with ice water. Shit what do I do? Where can I go? Run, run, run! I gotta escape. The notes said they'd be after me so I have to get out of here. But where? Hell, I don't care I just have to get away from here! Away from them. Anywhere. Someone, anyone, please help me!

"Curtis!" I didn't stop my mad rush even when I heard that familiar voice. I almost didn't register it and when I did I sped up thinking that it was one of them.

"Ponyboy!" no, that voice was too familiar, I knew who it belonged to now! I turned, half scared that I'd be wrong but I spotted the face I had finally connected to the voice. When I saw him I nearly melted in relief because I knew I could count on him for help, no questions asked.

Curly Shepherd was barging his way through the crowd towards me. If there's a greaser I can count on to watch my back, outside of the gang, it has to be Curly. This is mostly based on the facts that he loves to fight, and he loves to get revenge on Soc's who jump anyone he knows. Of course it helps that the latter always leads to the former in Curly's case. He caught up to me and we stopped at my locker to deposit my books before he demanded we "get out of this hell hole" as he called it.

"Hey, listen up Curtis. I got something to tell you. You gotta start watching your back more out here. Some guys tried to grab Angela the other day, they was tryin to rape her, but she was lucky and got away. We never did find those no good dirty rotten…" he went on cussing them for a minute or two and I was beginning to wonder why he was telling me this.

"Anyways, the other problem is that I hear the sick fucks aren't sticking to just girls. Rumor has it that they've gone after a guy or two as well."