Okkaaay, the last chapter was pretty intense. By the way, Dr. Hayden is supposed to be the same nurse who was Dally's nurse in the movie. Also, the reason for rating this story T is because of violence, not for any swearing or that other stuff. There's no swearing :P

Chapter Fourteen: Pony vs Chase

Dr. Hayden lived in my neighbohood a few houses down. I ran as fast as I could. I knocked on the door, nearly out of breath. Finally Dr. Hayden came out.

"Ponyboy Curtis?" she said. "What are you doing out this late at night?"

"My friend," I said, panting. "She got stabbed. I need you to come and help her, please."

Dr. Hayden was silent for a moment, and I explained to her that Taylor ended up getting stabbed by a girl who was angry at her. Then Dr. Hayden grabbed her bag and jacket. I got into the backseat of her station wagon, and we quickly drove over to my house. Baby, Evie, Sylvia, Kathy, and Sandy were all outside, biting their fingernails and looking worried.

"Guys, where's Taylor and the others?" I asked, quickly getting out of the car.

"In Soda's room," Evie answered. "Wait, Pony—"

I didn't hear what else Evie said because I rushed into the house. Two-Bit, Steve, and Dally were standing outside Soda's room. Reesey's little head was hiding under Dally's arm.

"How is she?" I asked them.

They exchanged worried looks. "She's getting worse, kid," Dally finally told me.

My heart sank when I went into Soda's room. My brothers were standing over Taylor, Johnny was standing behind them. Taylor was paler than last time, her eyes closed and sweat dripping down her forehead. Her pink dress was now stained with blood.

"Taylor?" I said.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me. "Ponyboy."

"It's okay, Taylor. I'm here."

"Okay, everybody clear out, please." Dr. Hayden walked in and examined Taylor's wound. "Yes, dear, I know that hurts. We're gonna make that all better. Who's responsible for this young lady?"

"We are," Darry answered."

Soda cleared his throat. "Is...is she gonna be alright?"

Dr. Hayden didn't answer. That made my stomach drop. All she told us was to wait outside, but I didn't want to leave Taylor's side. I repeatedly told her no until Taylor said half-sleepily, "Ponyboy, I'll be okay. I promise."

I was about to object, but I saw the look on Taylor's face. I sighed. "Okay." Before leaving the room, I kissed Taylor on her forehead and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too, Pony."

I followed my brothers and Johnny out in the hall. Darry closed the door from behind. Suddenly I felt very angry—angry at Angela and Chase Alan. Taylor could die because of them! I began panting hard, sweat was dripping down my forehead, I felt like hitting someone or something. I punched the wall so hard a picture fell off the wall and shattered into pieces. Everyone looked at me a little worriedly.

"Ponyboy, are you okay?" Darry asked me.

"Do I look okay, Darry?!" I shouted. "Taylor's probably in there dying because of Chase and Angela! When I find that sicko, I'm gonna make him pay for what he did!"

"Ponyboy, calm down—"

"Don't you tell me to calm down, Darry!"

Darry looked at me a little shocked. I didn't mean to be yelling, but I was scared and upset. I fell on the couch and covered my face so they wouldn't see me cry, and I began to quietly pray. A hand landed on my shoulder and Dally's voice said, "Hang in there, kid. I'm sure she'll be alright."

Soda and Johnny were bawling like babies, as well. I was the most worried, crying my eyes out and praying repeatedly for Taylor. Just then the front door slammed open. Ms. Samson stormed in. "Okay, you no-good, rotten hoodlums, where is my niece?!" she demanded. Reesey poked her head out from Dally's arms and growled.

Darry looked at me, and I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Ms. Samson," Darry told her, "but Taylor's not here."

"What do you mean she's not here?!" Ms. Samson was yelling not. "A girl with short black hair came up to my house and told me she was here with you boys."

Angela! Dang, that girl!

"You let me see Taylor right now!" Ms. Samson continued. "I have a right to see her!" She looked over at me. "You little dirt-bag! I told you to stay away from my niece, you little scum. When I get my hands on that girl, I'm gonna—"

"No wonder she hates your guts!" Johnny suddenly shouted through his tears. "You don't even care about her!" We were surprised to see him this mad; we've never seen Johnny Cade this angry.

"Just get on outta here, lady," Dally demanded. I was afraid he was gonna threaten Ms. Samson with his blade, but he didn't even bother pulling his blade out. Thank God.

"Fine," Ms. Samson muttered. "But if Taylor's not back in a week, I'm calling the police on you hoodlums." She muttered something under her breath about us, but I didn't hear it because she already stormed out.

Steve scoffed. "Taylor has to live with that?" he asked me

"She seems like a real pain," Two-Bit added.

Johnny was now shaking, covering his face. We could hear him breathing funny.

"You okay, Johnny?" I asked him.

"I don't know," Johnny sobbed. "I don't want her to die."

My eyes were getting watery. "I don't, either, Johnnycake. She'll be okay...I hope."

A half hour past. It was deathly quiet. The girls didn't want to go home until we were sure Taylor was going to be okay. Finally when Dr. Hayden walked out, I bolted up. "Well, is she gonna be okay?" I asked.

She nodded. "Taylor is going to be fine, but she's gonna have to stay in bed for a couple days and get plenty of rest. I just gave her a sleeping pill, but it'll take a while for it to kick in. And she wants to see you, Ponyboy."

"Okay. And thanks so much for this."

"Of course. Goodnight."

After Dr. Hayden left, I went into Soda's room with Johnny and Dally following from behind. Taylor was half-asleep. Her pink dress was still soaked with her blood, and there was a small hole on the side of Taylor's hip where she had been stabbed. Reesey jumped out of Dally's arms and got onto the bed with her owner.

"Hey, Reesey-girl," Taylor said.

"How're you feelin'?" I asked.

Taylor shrugged. "A little sick. Did I hear my aunt's voice a while ago?"

I nodded. "Yeah. She came by here, asking where you were. Angela told her you were with us."

Taylor's eyes shot open. "You guys didn't tell her I was here, did you?"

"No," Dally answered before I did, "but ol' Johnny ended up yelling at her. We've never seen him that angry."

"I know," Taylor said. "I heard him screaming at Aunt Ellen."

"I-I was scared," Johnny mumbled. "And she said if you weren't back in a week, she'd call the fuzz."

Taylor's face was now white than the pillow. "She can't do that. Aunt Ellen can't do that to us. You and your brothers could get put into a boys' home!"

"Apparently, she doesn't care," I said. "But we'll figure something out, Taylor."

"Then it's gonna have to take a lot of convincing."

After a while, the sleeping pill kicked in and Taylor fell asleep. I didn't want to leave her side, but Darry said I might end up in a hospital if I don't get any sleep myself. The gang and their dates had already went on home when me and my brothers went to bed. I tried going to sleep, but I was still a little rattled about what happened to Taylor.

Chase was still out there, waiting to kill me and get a hold of Taylor again. I wasn't going to let that happen again. I was gonna settle the score, one way or another.

Two hours after midnight, I quietly snuck out of bed and put on my jeans and my white t-shirt. Then I grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil.

Taylor:

I'm out looking for Chase to teach him a little lesson after what he's done to you.

I don't want you to worry about me; I'll be fine, but if something does happen to me,

I just want you to know that I love you. Tell my brothers I love them, too.

-Ponyboy

I went into Soda's room. Reesey had fallen asleep next to Taylor. I put the note next to Taylor's pillow, then grabbed Soda's baseball bat, and snuck out of the house. Thankfully, I didn't wake up my brothers. I headed over to the park, where a black Mustang began to slow down. I really was expecting it, and continued running over to the park, waiting for the Mustang to pull in.

I was smoking a cigarette and watched as the black Mustang did pull up in front of me. Chase and Angela got out, along with three other Socs. It was weird seeing a greaser with Socs, like they were best pals or something. Angela hated the Socs' guts, and it was weird seeing she was with them.

"Well, well, well," Chase said. "If it isn't the greaser who stole my girl. Huh, looks like he was smart enough to bring himself a weapon. What, you don't own a switch like a cool guy does?"

"Shut up, Chase," I muttered. "I've about had enough of this with both of you."

"Oh, so you want us to have ourselves a little rumble?" Chase threw out his cigarette butt. "Well where's your pack?"

"I don't need a pack. This is just a fight between you and me."

"Fine." Chase pulled out a switchblade. "C'mon, grease. Let's dance."

I was afraid of getting stabbed. He started for me, but I moved out of the way real quickly, then swung my bat. I hit Chase's back so hard he fell to the ground. Chase tried to get up, then ended slicing my ankle with the blade. It hurt like crap, man!

Chase tackled me to the ground. Angela pinned my arms down and sat on top of me. "I always wanted to do this," she whispered. Before I could stop her, Angela kissed me! She really wasn't a good kisser; for one, I could taste the alcohol in her breath. Finally she released me. She was smiling viciously. "You're a great kisser, Curtis."

"Get off of me!" I yelled.

"I don't think so, Curtis," Chase muttered. In his hand was my baseball bat. "Sweet dreams." Before I knew it, he hit me in the head. I was half-conscious when he and Angela started carrying me. "C'mon, get the kid in the car!" Chase was saying. The Socs threw me in the backseat of the Mustang, then everything went black.