A/N: Ciao! I am officially back from Italia! Italy was one of the best experiences of my life. It was my first time in Europe and I was travelling with a bunch of friends, and that made the whole experience wonderful! I could go on and on about my trip, but this is not what it's about.

This chapter isn't the longest, but I gave it my best shot, since I wanted to update as quickly as possible! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read and thanks to those who take the time to review! Please feel free to do so, constructive criticism is always appreciated. Stay gold. x

XxX

May 16, 1966

*Steve's POV*

I was late for my first class of the day. Monday had rolled around too soon for my liking, and I suddenly felt a pang of jealousy, thinking about Soda flirting with girls while I have to sit in a classroom and learn about stuff I'll never use in my life.

I would've been on time for History, but Pony was real worked up about a test in second period and he practically begged me for a smoke before class to settle his nerves. I didn't like the kid, but he seemed real nervous and he left his pack of cigarettes at home and I kinda felt bad for him, to tell you the truth. Our classes were in different parts of the school, so I couldn't know whether he was late too or not.

I was walking slowly, not in a hurry at all to get to the third floor, where History class was. I didn't care too much about school, so being late didn't actually bother me. As I was climbing a set of stairs to the second floor, I thought about Mary.

She came back on Sunday. I used to think she was pretty stuck-up and kinda weird, and turns out she was a pretty sweet girl. She seemed shy, but she was slowly opening up, loosening up a bit around us, especially Ponyboy, probably since they're the same age and all. We were a pretty close gang, every member being like family, so to accept someone in our group was pretty much unthinkable, yet there she was, slowly becoming our friend. She wasn't really close to us, I mean, we just started talking to her, but she smiled at us when she saw us in the hallways now, and she wasn't scared to talk to us anymore. Before we met her, I didn't think it was possible to find a Soc who could be nice.

I was about to climb the stairwell up to the third floor when I saw a group of four Socs, Seniors, probably, going down the same staircase. They were talking to each other and something about their smile made me uneasy. I pretended like they weren't there, hoping they would just ignore me. I didn't get that lucky.

"Look what we got here," said one in a blue madras shirt, standing in front of me to block me from going further.

"What d'ya want?" I asked in my most threatening voice. It was useless though. They were four, I was on my own. I suddenly wished wildly for someone, anyone, from the gang to be here to have my back, even Ponyboy.

"No need to be so uncivilized," snorted another Soc, standing right behind me. "We just wanted to have a bit of fun, that's all."

They were circling me, I thought.

"Leave me the fuck alone," I growled, fists clenched.

"I don't think so, greaser," replied the one with the blue madras shirt. "Your filthy friends aren't around to back up your greasy ass, and we feel like having fun."

That part about my friends infuriated me. I swung at one on my side, but he was quicker than me and blocked the blow inches away from his nose. They all jumped at me at once. I tried to fight back, but I had no blade, no weapons, and I was outnumbered. I struggled to break free, and I almost did, but one of them kicked me in the stomach and knocked the wind out of me, forcing me to double over. Another took that opportunity to throw me on the ground, and before I knew it, I had kicks and punches coming from everywhere. I curled up on myself, but there was no way I could protect myself against all the blows. Suddenly, one of them threw a particularly hard kick to my head and darkness soon welcomed me.

XxX

*Pony's POV*

I was sweating something fierce. I was in English class, and Mr. Johnson was talking about rules of grammar, but I was too nervous about my Math test to even be able to pay attention. I had gotten a B- on my last test and Darry had gotten real mad. I dreaded his reaction if I didn't get an A on that one. I thought a smoke would've settled my nerves but apparently not.

Another thing, Mary wasn't here. She usually sat at a seat in the front of the class, yet she was nowhere in sight. I had seen her at her locker this morning and we chatted a bit before first period, so why wasn't she here? Maybe she got sick and was sent home or something.

A soft knock on the classroom door interrupted Mr. Johnson's monotone speech about the difference between lay and lie. He almost seemed outraged, like someone had the audacity to interrupt him in his truly boring class. He went to open the door and was met by Mary's petite figure. She smiled up at him (Mr. Johnson was six feet seven) and said in the most polite voice:

"Excuse me sir, could I borrow Ponyboy Curtis for a moment please?" she asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be in this class, Miss Evans?" Mr. Johnson snapped.

"I'm meeting with the principal since I didn't get to pick my classes for next year like the other students did earlier this year. He sent me up because he wanted to have a word with Ponyboy."

A series of Ooh's followed her statement, and a few people turned around to smirk at me. What had I done wrong? I was already so nervous, now the principal wanted to meet with me?

"Alright then," Mr. Johnson agreed.

I stood up, trying to ignore everyone whispering to each other, wondering just like them what I had done to get in trouble.

To my surprise, as I stepped out in the hallway, I was met by Johnny, Two-Bit and Dally, hiding on one side of the wall where the teacher couldn't see them. One thing I knew for sure. Whatever this was about, I was not in trouble with the principal. Mary smiled one last time at the teacher before closing the door. As soon as the door was closed, she grabbed my shirt sleeve and started pulling me towards one end of the hallway. She was running, and I was struggling to keep up with her.

"Mary, where the hell are you taking us?" I asked. "What's going on?"

"It's Steve." she simply answered.

My confusion shifted to worry. Steve and I weren't the best of friends, but he was part of the gang and he was Soda's best buddy. Whatever had happened to him seemed to be troubling Mary.

We kept running, following her through the hallways, only breaking for a walk in front of open classroom doors. She led us to a stairwell and there, kept hidden under the staircase, lay a motionless Steve, covered in newly formed bruises. He was jumped, clearly.

Dally reached him first, and dropped down next to Steve on the ground.

"Steve? Steve, can you hear me?" Dally called, close to Steve's ear.

After a few seconds, Steve stirred. As soon as he started to regain consciousness, he let out a pitiful moan. Dally quickly clamped his hand over Steve's mouth.

"Be quiet, someone could hear us," Dallas hissed. "Two-Bit, go get the car. Johnny, give me a hand will ya?"

Johnny didn't hesitate to help Dally. He knelt down on the other side of Steve, and both of them worked together on getting Steve to stand. Both Dally and Johnny threw one of Steve's arms across their shoulders for support, Steve being too big to be carried. They helped him through all the distance that separated them from the car. Steve was clearly in pain, slouching and moaning occasionally. Mary and I followed behind.

"Almost there, Steve," Dally encouraged, as we got out through the school's front doors.

We were lucky to not meet anyone. I could only imagine what could've happened if someone else other than Mary had found Steve.

"How did you find him?" I asked her as Dally and Johnny helped Steve into the back seat of Two-Bit's car.

"I was actually with the principal for my schedule for next year, I just invented that last part," she answered, grinning. "I was making my way to class and I found Steve, so I went to find you guys."

Out of unspoken agreement, Mary and I both hopped into the front seat of Two-Bit's car, and Johnny and Dally settled in the back.

"Didn't you have an exam, Ponyboy?" Two-Bit asked as we were driving towards my house.

My heart stopped in my chest. Two-Bit was right. In the turmoil of the events, I had forgotten all about my Math test.

"Yeah, but forget it," I shrugged. "I got one more night to study that way, anyway."

"That's the spirit, dear," commented Two-Bit with a huge grin.