Chapter 21

Darry POV

I heard my brother say, "Darry."

I turned around in time to see him about to collapse. I caught him just before he hit the floor. I sighed, picked him up, and pt him on the couch.

Why couldn't he just get better?

I was about to get up when the front door opened.

Sodapop POV

Steve and I went through the front door. I found Ponyboy on the couch, and Darry standing in the living room, looking at us.

"What happened?" I asked, even though I had a feeling that he passed out.

Darry said he passed out. I was right.

When was he going to get better?

I really hoped that the socs would just leave him alone.

They hated him; that was something I couldn't change.

No matter how hard I tried.

Shane POV

I could tell that the kid was different. His head injury messed him up. He didn't even know who I was.

Maybe this could work, the head injury I mean. Maybe it'd be easier to get him.

If he wasn't as clever as he used to be, it'd be easier to trap him.

Mike doesn't know this, but I saw him talking nicely to Ponyboy. I'm not going to tell him, though. I have a plan.

My plan is that, next time they talk, and I see it, I'm going to catch him in the moment. I'm also going to use it for my own good.

I have to admit... It was a little surprising how Ponyboy didn't recognize me. I almost killed him, and he didn't recognize me now.

It almost made me laugh. I didn't think we hurt him that bad...

Although I wished that we hurt him worse.

Ponyboy didn't know me now, but he would know me soon enough. I'd make sure of that.

XXX

Steve POV

Darry started slightly shaking Ponyboy's shoulder in an attempt to wake him up. It didn't work.

The kid was out cold. He was pretty messed up when it came to the brain. I tried to pay him back for what he did for me so long ago...

He took the knife. I don't think I'll ever forget that. I don't think of him as annoying, as I used to think of him. Now, I just think of him as a friend.

He is a friend.

If something happens with the socs, I want to help him through it. Maybe it sounds weird coming from me, but I care about the kid.

Sorry its so short. I just really wanted to move to next chapter.