Chapter 25

Ponyboy POV

A few more days went by. I was happy. I was getting better. I could run, and I didn't sway as much when I walked.

Today was Saturday. I was home with just Darry, but he was working in the back yard. I wanted to go to the cemetery again.

I went to the back, and asked him. He said I could, but I had to be very careful.

I nodded and left. I walked there. I knew the way because I memorized it last time I came. I went to Johnny's grave.

I said, "Hey Johnny. I'm really sorry about everything that happened before you died. I kind of forgot, but I'm really sorry."

I was going to continue, when I heard a screech from a car tire. I turned around and saw a car circling the cemetery. I knew that car.

Shane I thought.

I quickly hopped up and started walking home. I kept an eye on the car. It was behind me, and my house wasn't that far. Maybe I could make it.

The car stopped, and four guys got out.

I recognized them. It was Shane's group, and Shane was in front. I started running. They were still aways behind me, but I was still worried.

Shane yelled, "Get back here!"

Was he stupid or something? Not a chance.

I wasn't even sprinting, but they were falling behind. I turned around, and saw them start running in the opposite direction.

I stopped running, until I noticed something.

They were running to their car!

I knew that I was a fast runner, but a car is just something that I couldn't beat.

I started sprinting towards my house. They were still backing their car up.

My house was just up the street. I didn't pay attention to the car until I finally got closer to my house.

I ran up the front steps as the car was coming down the street, heading towards my house.

I ran inside and locked the door. I crouched down and looked out the window. The car slowed in front of my house, than it kept going.

Darry was still in the back, so he didn't know I came home. I was relieved. Until I noticed something...

I just showed Shane where I lived!

XXX

Few days later

Darry POV

I was getting nervous. The rumble was planned for tonight.

When the time came, we all made up excuses to Ponyboy of a way to get out of the house. He didn't need to know there was a rumble. Not yet anyway.

We all made up excuses to leave, and it worked. Soda, Steve, Two-bit and I were on our way to the park, where the rumble was.

We got there. Tim's gang and a few other ones were there to help us.

The socs were there as well. Almost immediately I spotted Shane's group. They looked either mad, or they were smirking.

After a few minutes, the rumble finally started. I headed straight towards Shane's group right after I had pushed a socs over on the way.

I felt someone punch me, and turned around. It was a socs I didn't recognize. I punched him a few times, and he fell, curled into a ball.

I turned back, but Shane must have moved. I shrugged it off, for now. I went to help Tim's group, when I noticed that the socs were running.

I smirked when I saw that Shane's group was in the mix.

I met up with Soda, Steve, and Two-bit. They weren't beat up to bad. Just a few bruises here and there.

We drove home. We were pretty much silent. I was just happy that we won the rumble.

The thing was, that didn't mean my brother would be left alone.