Chapter 38

I froze after Darry said that. We don't talk to Tim much, and we talk to guys in his gang even less. But the fact that one of his buddies might die, cause of a Soc, scared me. It shows that they can really hurt us. Maybe that's how the Socs felt when Bob died, but Johnny was just trying to save me. Not that Socs care.

I looked over at Matty. She had a look of shock on her face. "So, what's Tim gonna do?" She asked after a few secs. "We don't know yet, he'll probably declare a rumble against the Socs." Darry answered. A rumble? We haven't had a rumble since Bob got stabbed two years ago. Even hearing the word "rumble" got me tensed up. They tense up everyone, but it's gotten bad for me since then. Once Darry said rumble my palms began sweating and the hair on the back of my neck started to stand up.

"When are they gonna to have it?" Matty asked after a few moments of slience. "We dunno. Few weeks probably." Soda answered shurgging his shoulders. I still didn't saying anything. Darry finally noticed. "Don'y worry about it Ponyboy, you don't have to take part in the rumble if you don't wanna." He told me.

"I haven't decided yet." I said honestly. "Well, it's late you two should go to bed, and try to forget about the rumble." Laura told us. She didn't know that's easier said then done, but I didn't say anything. Matty and I started to walk down the hallway and Soda followed. Soda went into our room while I gave Matty her kiss and hug good night.

"I'm scared bout the rumble, I've lost a buddy in one that involved blades." She told me. "It's ok, our rumbles are usually no weapons, and I probably won't fight." I told her. "Ok, 'night." She said. "Night." I said and went into me and Soda's room.

Soda was already stripped down to his boxer shorts and undershirt which is all he wears to bed in the summer. "I know you're worried bout the rumble, but it's all gonna turn out ok." He said putting his hand on my shoulder. "Thanks, Soda." I said and unzipped my sweatshirt. Soda then got a confused look on his face.

"What's on your neck?" He asked. "What do ya mean?" I asked him. "You have some sorta bruise." He said and poked a spot on my neck. "Ow." I said inching away. Wait, he poked my neck where Matty was sucking on it in the lot. "Wait...is that a...hickey?" He asked me.

"I...I guess." I answered rubbing the "hickey". It felt weird, I've never gotten one before. "Did Matty give it to ya?" Soda asked. "Yeah, I dunno if she did on purpose." I told him. "Of course it was. A girl doesn't give ya a hickey by accident, trust me." Soda informed me. "Well, what should I do?" I asked. "Well, it's not too big, so you gotta hide it from Laura and Darry. They'd skin you and Matty if they knew. Just grease your hair a different way." He told me.

"Kay," I said and started to get ready for bed. At least now I had something to think about besides the rumble.

...

We found out a few days later Tim called saying his friend was eventually going to be ok. He had a ton of head injuries and was gonna be in the hospital for a few weeks. And the rumble was going be in two weeks, no weapons. So Darry approved of me being in it if I chose to, but I still couldn't decide.

Everyone I knew from Tim's gang was gonna fight, including Curly. He kept bragging bout how much stronger he's gotten in the past few years, and that he can take down any Soc that messes with 'im. Curly's all talk if ya ask me. Darry, Soda and Two-Bit were all gonna fight. Darry's one of the strongest greasers round, so we kinda need him to fight. I'm sure Steve would fight too if he was home. Ben was even planning on fighting, even though he hasn't been in town long. "You guys are my friends, I wanna help." He told me, he's a pretty loyal guy.

The day 'fore the rumble soon arrived, and I still didn't know if I was gonna fight. Matty was all worried about me fighting too, cause I was starting to consider it. "What if ya get hurt?" She asked me while we were watching the sunset. "I won't I promise." I said to her.

"What bout the last rumble, didn't ya get really hurt?" She asked. "Yeah, but I was outta shape from the week 'fore. And that was two years ago, I'm taller now, stronger too. Sides I always grab hold of a little one."

"I'm still scared for ya."

"Don't worry bout it, I might not even fight."

...

The rumble didn't start until Midnight. Two-Bit came over and we all tried to get pumped up. Darry did eighty pushups. But other then that he kept hugging and kissing Laura telling her he was gonna be ok. I tried doing the same to Matty, but she was still upset. She didn't really understand why I wanted to fight, I didn't really either.

We left at 11:55, Matty and Laura stayed behind to wait up for us. Before going I gave Matty a big kiss and hug. As we walked, Two-Bit and Soda rooted and joked around, Two-Bit was a beer. Along the way we met up with Ben. "Hey Pony," He greeted me. "Hey," I said. "You ready?" He asked. "Not really." I admitted. "Me either, but I don't think anyone ever is ready for a rumble."

When we got there, all the other greasers were there waiting. There was bout 25 of us there. Tim was standing the middle. Darry talked to him for a little bit. Then, all the Socs showed up. There was at 23 to 26 of 'em, so we were pretty even. I couldn't help but wonder if Nick would be one of them.

"I know you're older now Pony, but still stay near me or Soda." Darry whispered in my ear. I nodded. Tim walked up to one of the Socs. "You the guy who beat up my buddy?" He asked. The Soc shurgged. "Dunno, might've been." He answered. One of his buddies walked up behind him. "But it could've been me."

"But it was probably me." Another big guy said. Then Tim got mad and punched the third guy in the face. The rumble began.

Everyone went running towards one another. Knowing if I didn't hit somebody I'd end up getting punched I scrimaged for a small Soc. I found one that was bout 13, he had a vodka bottle in his hand, easy target. I ran towards him and jumped on top of him. He fell to the ground. He turned and face towards, so I slapped him. Then again, and again. After a minute of two I saw blood coming out of his nose.

I didn't like hurting him, or anybody. So i let 'im try to get a swing at me. He was so buzzed he missed. After that I didn't hit him as hard, then finally let him up. He walked away very un-steady, then got pushed down by another hood. I remember when I was the little guy everyone beat up. I felt guilty for beating him up. Since I couldn't find anyone else that wouldn't hit me harder, I ran towards Soda. He was fighting with a guy his size, and they were gonna at each other pretty good. I figured I could back 'im up.

I jumped on top of him and hit him in the head with a piece of wood I found on the ground. Soda then kicked him in the leg and he ran off. "Nice job Pony," Soda said. I then looked around for someone else. But then, I felt a sharp, hard pain on the back of my head and I fell to the ground. I heard Soda calling my name as everything went black.

...

Next thing I heard was Matty saying my name, and she sounded scared. "Ponyboy! What happened to him!" She cried. I tried opening my eyes, I was too weak to even do that. I knew I was being carried by two different people, I felt someone holding my legs, and someone elese holding me by the armpits.

"Some Soc hit him in the head with a rock." I could hear Darry say. "I knew he never should've gone to the god damn rumble! I knew he would get hurt!" I heard Matty say, I could tell by how she sounded she was about to cry. "I know, but there's nothing we can do." Laura said. "We should take him to the hospital!" Matty shouted.

"Already did. He just had a small bump, so they said we can bring him home and let him get some rest." Soda explained. I really wanted to open my eyes and tell everyone I was gonna be ok, but I still felt tired. All I could do was let out a weak grunt. "We should get him into bed." Laura said. I could then fell Darry and Soda walking, careful they didn't bump me into anything.

"Can I sleep with Pony tonight?" Matty asked. Darry sighed, "Just this once." He told her. I could then feel them lower me onto the bed. Once I was on it, they let me go, someone began to slip my shoes off. "What time is it?" Soda asked yawning. "3 AM." Laura answered. "Who even won?" Asked Matty. "We left fore it was over to bring Ponyboy to the hospital. But his buddy Ben told we were pretty close to loosing but the Socs were pretty drunk so they were sloppy and we won." Darry answered.

"Well, we should all get to bed." Laura said and I could hear everyone but Matty leave the room. She slowly got onto the bed next to me, and warp her arms around me. She kissed my cheek, got some of her wet tears on me. Since I could open my eyes and talk to her, I fell asleep.

When I woke up the sun was almost blinding. But at least I was able to open my eyes again. I looked over at Matty. She was an angel sleeping. All her clothes from the other say were still on. I could see tried up tears on her face.

She woke up a little while after me. "Thank God you're awake." She said hugging. I quickly scarmbled for words to say. "Matty, I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you, I shouldn't have fought in that stupid rumble, it wasn't even worth it. I won't fight in one again, I promise."

She shushed me. "It's ok, Ponyboy." She said to me. "So you forgive me?" I asked her. "Of course." She said then kissed me.

Hope everyone liked this chapter. I had the idea of a rumble for awhile so I figured I would do it now. Poor Pony. Chapter 39 will be out soon, please review!