AN: I am going to start underlining POV's. Read on…

Ponyboy's POV

Darry had come home from work early, and joined in our game of football. We were all havin a real good time. Darry and I were on one team, and Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit were on the other. Of course, me and Darry were beating them badly. Darry the strong athlete he is and me, the fast runner I am. We played until the sun started to set, then gathered our things and started our short walk home.

We were almost there, when I saw someone familiar walking towards us. He was walking in a dangerous slouch, not the Tulsa kind, but the New York kind. It struck me hard and fast, as I looked at his face. It was snakes.

Everyone stopped when they noticed who was walking towards us. They new what snakes looked like, from the rumble we had in New York. Everyone tensed and slouched a bit more to make themselves look more tough. Snakes stopped about eight feet in front of us all. We met eyes and I knew he had come here for revenge. Revenge for killing one of his members. If looks could kill, snakes would be a serial killer by now.

"Snakes." I stated his name calmly.

"Runaway." he mimicked the tone of voice I had used.

"I see yer here in Tulsa." I looked him up and down.

"Yes. I am." he replied.

"Why? New York kicked ya out for bein ugly? Such a shame." I shook my head slowly, mocking him. Two-Bit snickered, and I could tell Sodapop was trying hard to contain his laughter.

Snakes was furious, but he went on calmly, "No. I came to finish some business."

I cocked my eyebrow. "Oh, really? And what would that be?" I started to get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong here. I couldn't tell what, though.

"Well, you remember Ricky, right? The one you murdered." he drawled.

I felt rage build up inside me. "I didn't murder him! He was tryin to murder me!" I yell.

Snakes stays calm. "Well, better you than him." he says.

Darry starts toward snakes, looking like he could beat the tar out of anything in his way. Sodapop and Steve lunge forward, pulling Darry back.

"Let me at him! I'm gonna beat the tar outta that bastard." Darry looks the maddest I have ever seen him.

"Dar, calm down." I tell him sternly. Darry relaxes a bit, and Steve and Sodapop let him go.

"Ya better beat it outta here before we beat it outta you." I threaten.

Snakes chuckles and shakes his head. "No. I have to finish this first." he says and pulls out a heater.

I back up a step as he points the gun at me. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." I say. "What are ya doin, man?" I ask, cautiously.

Everyone is as still as a stone. Darry and Sodapop look on the verge of a panic attack, and Steve and Two-Bit look about ready to jump at Snakes if needed. Snakes smiles evilly.

"Ricky was my cousin, ya son of a bitch." Snakes sneers.

I look at him shocked. "What! He was yer cousin?" how come I never heard that before? I asked myself.

"Yep. He was. And you killed him!" he roared.

I took another step back. "Snakes, don't do this." I say.

He laughed. "I will do as I please. Free country, remember?" Then, he pulled the trigger. The sound of gun shot echoed out into the distance.

I dropped to the ground. I didn't know where I got shot, but it hurt like hell. I was bleeding heavily. I could feel my blood pooling around me. My eyelids started to grow heavy. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Darry tackle Snakes and Steve and Two-Bit running to a near by phone booth. Sodapop dropped down beside me.

"Pony! Pony, stay awake okay? Yer gonna be alright." Tears were running down his face and he was frantically shaking me, trying to keep me from falling unconscious.

"Soda." I say weakly. It was real hard to keep my eyes open. My body was numbing at a fast pace, and I couldn't think clearly anymore.

"Pone, stay awake. Please pony, stay with me." Soda was bawling by now, pleading me to keep conscious.

"Soda, I'm sorry." I faintly whisper. It was hard to talk.

"What? Sorry for what? Pony, no. Don't close yer eyes. Please be okay. Please!" Soda pleaded.

I no longer felt any pain, as I slowly shut my eyes and gave into darkness.

AN: Haha. I love torturing you guys. Is pony dead? What will happen next? We'll see. Please review. I like to see what's going through yer guy's minds right now. ONLY ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO NOW! sorry, but it has to end sometime. Dont be sad. Review!