'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable

And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table

No one can find the rewind button, girl.

So cradle your head in your hands

And breathe... just breathe,

Oh breathe, just breathe

Leaving the movies that night the boys decided that we were going to walk the girls home. As we were leaving everyone was in a jovial mood, laughing and talking. We had barley walked 200 feet from the theater when a red Mustang pulled up behind us.

"Oh no." Marcia said.

"Just stay calm." Cherry replied.

"Cherry, what the hell!? What are you doing with them?!" Bob yelled.

"Bob, I told you I'm never going with you when you're drunk! I hate it!" Cherry yelled.

"Come on just get in the car!" Bob said.

"Hey!" Two-Bit yelled. "She said she wasn't going with you!"

"Quiet! We've got two more in the back seat."

"Pity the back seat!" Two-Bit responded as he broke a bottle and handed it to Pony, before taking out his own prized butterfly knife. I quietly slipped my own switchblade out from my back pocket and opened it behind my back. While I had no intention of fighting, there was no way I would be left defenseless.

"Stop!" Cherry yelled. "Stop it! I hate fights, I hate them. We'll go with you guys, just give me a minute ok?" Cherry took Pony aside for a moment and then her and Marcia headed towards the car.

"Alice, why don't you come with us?" Bob asked,

"Ya!" Cherry said, "Come and catch up with everyone, we're headed to a party over at Paul's...you haven't come to hang out in awhile."

I thought about it for a moment, she was right I hadn't connected with those friends much since the Curtis's parents had died, and their were a few people that I would have liked to see. Couldn't hurt right?

"Sure...I'll come by for a bit." I said as I headed towards the car, slipping my knife to Johnny as I walked by.

Two-Bit grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me aside. "Are you sure about this Ali? These guys have given you a lot of trouble over the years. Plus, I'm not sure Soda's gonna like this much."

"It's the girls I'm going to catch up with Two-Bit, I could care less about those boys. Besides, I'm Soda's girlfriend, not his daughter. I can do what I want. Let him know I'll come by before I go home ok? About midnight or so? Thanks Two-Bit" I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and jumped in the car with the others as we took off towards Paul's.

xxx

About two hours later Cherry dropped me off at the Curtis house, I had had a few beers while at the party and was feeling pretty good. The party had been nice, no one bothered me, and I got a chance to catch up with some girlfriends from before. Now however I was tired and buzzed, and had all intentions of sleeping it off on the Curtis's coach, no one would notice if I didn't make it home tonight anyways.

Looking ahead of me I was surprised to see that all the lights in the Curtis's house were on, and I could see Darry pacing by the door. I hurried inside to see what was the matter.

"Pony!? Oh...Alice, hi." Darry said looking distractedly out the window.

I went over to the coach where Soda was sitting looking on edge, "Hey Baby, what's wrong?"

Soda gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "Pony hasn't come home yet, we're not sure where he is..."

"Not home yet!? I left him and the boys at the movies like two hours ago!"

Soda sighed "Exactly, no one knows where he went after he and Johnny split off from Two-Bit."

"Have you called the cops yet?" Soda reached up and grabbed my wrist, pulling me down next to him on the couch.

"I can't call the cops." Darry said taking a seat in the armchair across from the coach. "If it looks like I can't keep tabs on him they'll put him and Soda into a boys home so fast..." He dropped his head into his hands, running his fingers through his hair.

"He'll turn up soon guys...I know he will."

"I hope your right baby." Soda said as he tucked me under his arm and slouched down on the coach.

A/N – The song is Breath (2am) by Anna Nalick. It's a bit of a short chapter but I feel like this was a good cutting point. Obviously we are now starting to mirror the events of the book for awhile and there is some blatant plagiarism happening.

I do not own the Outsiders and if I had Rob Lowe would have spent a lot more time shirtless in the movie. If you sue you'll get smelly trapeze grips, a bunch of athletics paperwork and 50 seniors to plan a trip for.

Please review and make a stressed out teacher smile. 10 reviews will get you an update tomorrow when I should be lesson planning!