Jennifer's pov

The dizziness flew though me. My head was spinning like a hundred bees were circling around me. I ran as fast as I could but I was not fast but I still ran. I couldn't face anyone who found out my secret. Not again, not after what happened. Johnny was hot on my trail but he was slowing down. I tried to run even faster.

After a while I thought I lost him and surprisingly found an ally between two buildings. It was dark, normal sized but oddly narrow even for an ally. The strong sent of rotten food came tough the air and I saw some broken glass on the sidewalk middle. The pain inside me almost knocked me down in a hot sting. I sat down with my head in my knees, trying ignoring the swirl of dizziness and confusion. They said they were going to call the cops, now I was putting my friends in danger.

"Now what am I going to do." I thought. I had no clue where I was or how to get home. Now the new friends I met know my secret and that I had lied to them, now they will never trust me again and of course when I get home …. I'm dead. And it's all because I will never learn to be careful and keep my mouth shut.

Tears flew down my face. What was I going to do?

Why did this always happen?

At that moment I wondered what my life would be like if I lived with my mom and dad.

I liked my mom, but I didn't know what to think of my dad since my grandma always bad mouths him. My dad seemed like an ok guy.

He would draw me things and write me long letters that always made me smile. But there was another thing about him, he did get arrested once or twice but noting bad like being in a fight or anything bad. But he did get caught digging for money/lottery tickets in the garbage. I've always thought he was trying to get money or something to send to me.

Also when I visit my dad he and my family always end up arguing. So much so my uncle practically kicked him out in the middle of the road.

But out of all of the things my dad dose only one of them really concerns me.

My dad drinks …

All my life I've always been preached about how no one should ever drink and anyone who does is a sick duck and I've kind of developed a fear of people drinking alcohol, but when I noticed my dad was drinking in the restaurant were having dinner in and I mentioned to my grandmother that I was concerned that he was drinking she said he can drink if he wants too. So I gained my courage to share my concerns with my dad and he was really nice about it. He said that it's ok to be worried about alcohol and he had a tolerance to it and was not drinking that much. He reassured me that he would never do anything to hurt me and I was safe.

I don't understand why my grandma talks about my dad badly, he makes me feel safe.

Jonnys pov

Maybe I shouldn't have been the one to run after her I was still sore from my old man and I was in agony, but then I just saw Jennifer literally being repeatedly being picked up and thrown on the concrete I was more worried about socs finding her in that condition, they could really kill her. As socials love to bully the already beaten.

I had to stop for a moment to breath. I looked around and just realize I've lost her. I started to run around again looking for her, I couldn't be too far behind.

How could this happen? I saw the signs sure the bruising, always going home early, being extremely carful and nervous. But I never saw it coming. Now it all came together and made sense, but why would she run away. Dose she trust us? Is she afraid? What was going on?

For such a dreary day, the weather was good. The sun was out, but it was a bit dark. The once crowed street was now seamed vacant although I wasn't paying a lot of attention. The stores seemed to be empting by the minute.

I looked around and finally spotted Jennifer, she was turning in to an ally in the distance. I increased my speed trying to control my rapidly beating heartbeat.

I turned into the ally. Jennifer sat on the concrete her head in her lap sobbing.

"Hey Jennifer it's me, Johnny." I said softly

She looked up reluctantly her eyes pleading.

"Johnny you should leave, it's not safe" She exclaimed, her face struck with tears.

I looked at her stunned.

"What are you talking about? They can't hurt you anymore now, you're safe."

"Well I bumped in to my grandmother and her and my aunt said there going to call the fuzz because I" hit her".

"But you just bumped into her!"

She nodded.

"And now I'm sure they're going to go after you too."

Anger filled up inside me.

"But it's two against seven, and anyway I don't care, I'm not going to let some soc come and kill you over what they say!"

Dallas pov

We all walked around the mall, looking for Johnny and Jennifer, the anger still burring inside of me.

"Where do you think they could have run off to Darry?" I asked trying to calm down but just getting angrier.

"Well there's only one spot we haven't looked yet, the ally, its perfect for hiding"

"Are you sure they would go there?, it's dark and dingy." Pony questioned

"Well considering Jennifer doesn't know her way around yet, she probably just came across it while running" answered Soda.

The ally was surrounded by a dinner and a drug store. It was a place where many greacer hung out and smoked. But soc's also loved to hunt greasers hanging out there.

We walked in to the ally and saw the seriousness tense of the area.

"And now I'm sure they're going to go after you too."

"But it's two against seven, and anyway I don't care, I'm not going to let some soc come and kill you over what they say"

"Hey guys what's going on here?"

"Jennifer bumped in to her grandmother and she said she's going to call the fuzz because she" hit her".

"If they so much as try to blame this beating on her I swear ill ..!"

I punched the wall.

Jennifer's eyes lit up.

"It's bad enough they beat her, now they're going to blame her for it"

"Dallas calm down, your scaring the kid!" "I don't think she really meant it." Steve interrupted.

I ignored Steve. "How long has they been doing this? " I asked franticly

"I don't know!"

"How could you not know?" "Why didn't you tell us? "I asked my head shaking in disbelief. Why do these kids always want to protect these low lives? All the do is treat them like rotten garbage, a dummy, or punching bag. It made me sick that they put so much fear into her. And these kids always come crawling back thinking they will actually not be complete pricks which we all know is never going to happen in their little false reality.

"I ….I … I don't know I just couldn't" she said getting up her eyes fixed to the floor.

Johnny looked over at me, his eyes worried.

"Dally lay off man she may be uncomfortable talking about it."

I groaned. I couldn't upset Johnny, It's hard enough for him, plus he knows what he's talking about. As much as I hate it, she won't say anything until she's ready and I didn't want to force anything on her. Her parents probably did enough of that anyway.

I slowly put my hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok if you don't feel like taking now, but if you want to later feel free." I said

"Thanks' guys" she replied wiping her tears.

"You ok kid? You don't look so good." Steve asked

"Really?" "How do you think she feels Steve?" I thought to myself.

"I've been better" Jennifer answered smiling for a brief second.

"Why don't go back to my house and get you cleaned up." Darry said.

"Ok."

We all carefully walked back to the truck making sure not to further Jennifer's injuries. She had a cut on her head but she wasn't obsessively bleeding so I think she's ok. But I was still queasy and somewhat in denial.