Chapter 54 – "I Hate You"

The boys gathered in Steve's dorm around noon the next day to discuss strategy for the upcoming rumble. Suddenly Evie came in looking like she was about to burst with laughter.

"Hey, baby. What's up?" asked Steve.

Evie giggled. "Just wait a few minutes."

And true enough, only a few minutes later they could hear screaming in the hallway as if someone had died.

They rushed to the door and looked outside. A very furious girl with very short blond hair came racing down the hallway toward them. Sodapop's jaw dropped when he realized that the girl was Sandy.

"EVIE! EVIE, YOU FUCKING EVIL BITCH!" she screamed. "YOU did this! I know you did!" She reached them and threw herself at Evie, her hands clenched into fists. "I HATE you! I HATE You!"

Steve stepped in front of Evie and pushed Sandy away just as she came flying. He had trouble not laughing when he spoke. "Can't be. Evie slept here." As much as he would love for his girlfriend to take the credit, it was probably best not to get her in trouble with the Head of House.

"Nice haircut!" grinned Two-Bit. "You going for the military look?"

Sandy suddenly realized that Sodapop was there as well. Tears of fury in her eyes, she rushed at him and started hammering her small fists into his chest.

"YOU! YOU PUT HER UP TO THIS! I KNOW IT!"

Soda grabbed her wrists and forced her backwards.

"Shut up, you evil cow!" he said as he let go of her with a rough push. "You deserve what you got and a lot more! Don't think I don't know you're the brain behind all this!"

He was staring at her with eyes so ablaze with anger that she just stood there shocked with her mouth open.

"Your hair is a small punishment for what you've done! And I better not hear about you doing anything to hurt Evie because you think you deserve revenge," he finished, giving her a threatening look.

Sandy sobbed and sent Evie with a last look of hate before running off. People stopped and stared after her as she ran down the hallway. Some even laughed.

Sodapop stood there for a moment looking after Sandy. Then he turned to Evie. "Nice one, Evie. Couldn't have thought of a better payback myself."

"Glad to help," Evie smiled. "I had considered burning her at the stake but it's a little outdated, I think..."

o0o0o

Dinner was a bit weird that night. Ponyboy and Sodapop were tense and excited about the fight that was only a few hours away. They couldn't talk about it over dinner because Johnny had not been informed. Soda wanted it that way. Johnny would worry himself sick if he knew they were going out to fight. Ponyboy hadn't told Cathy about it either. Truth be told, he was a little scared what she would think of him. Would she think she was dating a no good hood, after all?

Johnny sat at the dinner table pushing the food around on his plate. He had a strange feeling that something was up. Apart from that, he also feared what would happen when he returned to school on Monday. Darry had said he didn't need to go back but Johnny was afraid that having missed so many classes the past month he might be thrown out if he stayed away any longer.

"You okay?" Darry asked, snapping Johnny out of his thoughts.

"Ye-yeah," he said. "Just a bit tired."

He sent Sodapop and Ponyboy a look, wondering why they were so quiet this evening.

"It's gonna be okay, Johnnycake," smiled Soda. "Just you wait and see."

Darry wanted to wait asking Johnny about signing the emancipation documents until Lauren's father had talked to the judge and got the green light. He didn't what to get his hopes up in case the judge thought there was need for an investigation or something. Soda hoped it would happen soon. It was killing him not being able to tell Johnny the good news, especially since he knew he was scared about the uncertain future.

Darry sighed and studied his two brothers. He considered for a moment telling Ponyboy that he had changed his mind about letting him go. He was worried about the fight and wished he could go with them, both to protect them and give the Socs a piece of his mind.

Johnny went to bed at nine thirty but he didn't fall asleep, so Soda had to lie to him about where he was going.

"I'm just gonna go see Steve for a bit," he said and gave Johnny a kiss. "I'll be back soon, okay? Just go to sleep."

Johnny sent him a skeptical look. "O-okay... But hurry back, alright?"

Darry sat in the living room with Lauren and Ponyboy, waiting for Sodapop. He had not told Lauren yet about the rumble. He would explain it to her when his brothers had left.

o0o0o

As soon as they left the apartment Sodapop started jumping around throwing play-punches at Ponyboy. He was completely fired up and it had been hard hiding it from Johnny.

"Man, I can't wait to beat the tar outta them!"

Steve met up with them outside the school and they walked together to the football field. Dallas, Tim, Curly, and Two-Bit all stood waiting at the field but none of the Socs had arrived yet. Ponyboy got a little worried that maybe they were not going to show at all.

"Ready to kick some ass?" asked Sodapop.

"Fuck, yeah!" grinned Dallas and kicked one of the spectator seats so hard that it cracked. "Ready to knock some teeth out, man!"

Sodapop had never seen Dally in such a good mood. He guessed it made sense with someone who loved fighting so much.

Ponyboy studied Curly who was leaning against the rail smoking a Marlboro. Pony had seen him around but never really talked to him. He was fifteen like himself but a freshman (Pony having been moved up a grade). Curly looked a lot like his older brother and tougher than any fifteen-year-old Pony had seen since they moved away from Tulsa.

"I'm so ready!" Steve grinned and threw a few punches into the air as though fighting some invisible man.

They stood there for a while, working each other up, until Pony gave Soda's arm a nudge and nodded in the direction of the entrance of the football field where a number of shadows had appeared.

"Man, they are eight?" said Two-Bit when the Socs were close enough to count. "How low can you sink?"

"You're eight?" said Soda in a cold voice once the Socs had reached them. "The deal was seven."

"We are seven," grinned Bob. "Not our fault you can't count, you inbred piece of white trash."

"Whatever," said Sodapop. "We can take ya'll on anyway. We ain't cowards who feel the need to cheat."

"You would know everything about cheating," sneered David. "The way you treated Sandy. Used her and then tossed her away when you'd had your fun!"

"You really believe that lying cow?" said Ponyboy to David, feeling brave, standing next to his brother and friends, ready to fight.

"Watch your mouth, you little shit! That's my girl you're trashing!"

"Man, you're thick. You didn't get it yet? Sandy only hooked up with you so she could use you to try and make Soda jealous!"

David looked a little taken aback by Ponyboy's statement but then walked closer, pointing a threatening finger at Pony's face.

"Your stupid fag of a brother isn't that wonderful!"

"Keep telling yourself that!" yelled Ponyboy. "No girl would wanna settle with an ogre like you if they thought they had a chance with Sodapop!"

Sodapop took a step forward, ready to step in if David decided to have a go at his brother.

Then there was the sound of something hard hitting flesh and a grunt of pain. Dallas, who obviously thought this was enough foreplay, had punched an unsuspecting Kyle in stomach.

And the fight had started.

David threw a punch at Sodapop but Soda ducked and came back up planting a solid uppercut in David's jaw..

Bob saw his opportunity to jump at Soda but Steve was faster, running at him and tackling him to the ground.

"Stay close to me," Sodapop told Ponyboy as he got ready for David's comeback.

Harry was standing close by and Pony made a quick decision to take him on. He was only a year older than him, and although much bigger, he looked slow so Pony figurer he had a good chance with him. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Victor struggling with Curly and Dally fighting two Socs at the same time.

David spat some blood on the ground and sent Soda a glare of hate.

"You're dead, you fucking queer!" he hissed and went for Soda again.

Bob and Steve were rolling around on the ground punching and kicking. Steve was taken a little by surprised just how good a fighter Bob was.

All of a sudden there was a clasp of thunder and the rain started pouring down. Within a few minutes the ground had become muddy and several of them had mud all over their clothes.

Ponyboy was doing a good job with Harry, who looked rather shocked that he was getting his ass kicked by such a small guy, but suddenly Pony felt a sharp blow to his back and he went down. Someone else had attacked him from behind and was now kicking him. He rolled up in a ball, trying to protect his body. Then the person aimed a hard kick at his head. It sounded strangely hollow inside Pony's skull and the surroundings slipped out of focus.

Two-bit saw Victor attack Pony from behind but before he could intervene, Pony was already down and both Victor and Harry were kicking him. The Soc fighting Two-bit hit him in the chest, forcing Two-Bit to defend himself.

Steve had also noticed them going for the smaller teen and called out to Soda, who had just landed a lucky punch on David, making him take a few steps back to gain balance.

Eying an opportunity, Soda jumped forward and, with all the force he could muster, planted another punch right in David's face. David reeled another few steps back and then went down hard. Soda turned his head in the direction of Steve, who had just called out his name. The sight that met him made fury explode inside of him and with a roar he flung himself at Victor.

Tim, who had seemed to scare off his opponent instead of beating him up, spotted what was going on and came flying at another Socs who was about to attack Sodapop from behind.

"You're a real fucking coward you piece of shit!" Tim hissed and planted a fist in the boy's stomach, making him double over. He then took a hold on the his neck and kneed his face, hearing his nose break.

Soda didn't notice what was going on behind him with Tim; all he registered was Victor. Blind fury drove his hands that were now pummelling like a piston at the other boy - his face, his chest, and his stomach. Victor was in a purely defensive position now, holding up both arms to shield his face and trying to back away, but Soda would have none of it. His next punch sent Victor to the ground. Normally that would have made Soda back off - he didn't attack people lying down - but Victor had annulled that unwritten rule himself so Soda showed no mercy, continuously landing punch after punch and kick after kick at him.

"Soda!" Steve called out and pulled him off Victor. "Soda, take it easy or you're gonna kill him!"

Victor was lying on the ground, moaning in pain and he rolled onto his stomach, trying to crawl away.

Sodapop tried to shake himself free of Steve (he didn't feel that Victor had gotten quite enough punishment for kicking Pony in the head) but Steve didn't let go.

Dally had come to Steve's aid with Bob, whom he had his problems with but Bob took off, clearly not in the mood for another beating from Dallas Winston.

With a couple of Socs down and two already having run away, the remaining few decided to beat it as well. Harry and Kyle hesitantly approached Victor on the ground, glancing nervously at Sodapop to see if he was going to attack again or let them help Victor.

"Yeah - hurry up and take that bastard with you if you don't want me to kill him!" yelled Sodapop.

"Easy, Soda," Steve said. "They ain't worth killing and going to jail over."

Soda suddenly remembered Ponyboy and rushed over to where he was sitting on the ground, supported by Two-Bit.

"I don't think you got brain damage," Two-Bit said and rubbed Pony's head. "But we won't know for sure until you take your exam."

Sodapop dropped to his knees next to his brother. "Pony – Pony, are you okay?"

"I - I guess..." said Pony, his voice a little shaky.

He was feeling a bit dizzy and his head throbbed, but he thought he would be able to get up in a minute or so.

Soda ran gentle hands along his head and face, his eyes carefully scrutinizing him. All the anger from before had disappeared, giving way to worry.

"I'll be okay," said Ponyboy and forced a grin. "We showed 'em, huh?"

"Sure did, kiddo!" said Dallas.

"I don't think those dickheads will be bothering anyone anytime soon," Tim grinned and slung an arm around his kid brother who seemed irritated that it was already over. "Wasn't much fight in them though. Mine took off."

"Must be your face that scared him off," Steve said and for a minute hesitated to smile or do anything as Tim looked at him with a straight face.

Then Tim burst into a grin. "Yeah must be. If you had a mug like mine you wouldn't have had so much trouble with that that son of a bitch you were fighting.

"I was just saving a bit for Dally," Steve grinned. "I knew he would want a piece of him as well."

Calmer now that he had seen his little brother didn't look seriously hurt, Soda got back to his feet. As he stood up, he let out a surprised yelp as a sharp pain shot through his chest, and he doubled over for a moment, trying to breathe through the pain. He had been so worked up on adrenalin that he hadn't noticed it before, but now he remembered that David had gotten a couple of really hard punches in on his lower ribs.

"You okay?" Steve asked and placed a hand on Soda's shoulder.

"Yeah," gasped Soda. "Just... man, I think I cracked a rib or two."

"You just need a good night's sleep," said Dally. "And I think that David guy got it worse than you. He didn't look too good when he picked himself up off the ground. And the dude kicking your brother, even worse. Didn't know you had it in you, Curtis."

Sodapop took a look around at the others. Two-Bit had a busted lip and a cut on his forehead. Steve's cheek was cut up pretty badly, a result of the rings Bob always wore. Tim looked almost unharmed but his brother had a bloody nose and torn shirt.

Dallas lit a smoke and took a good drag on it before speaking again. "I'm gonna go get a beer. You guys can join if you want."

He looked completely unaffected by the large bruise he had on his jaw and the deep scratch marks on his neck.

Sodapop shook his head. "No. We gotta get back. Darry and Johnny are waiting, no doubt worried sick."

Well, Johnny didn't know they were down fighting, of course, but Soda knew he was worried anyway, suspecting something wasn't right.

"Your loss," Dally said and wandered off, giving them a wave as he walked away. Tim followed along with Curly and Two-Bit.

o0o0o

When Soda and Pony stepped in through the door, Darry and Lauren jumped up from their seats. Lauren stared at the two boys in horror and then hurried to the bathroom to get water and bandages. Darry ordered them both to sit down and immediately started examining Pony's head.

They then heard the sound of a door opening and they looked up, seeing Johnny standing in the doorway to Soda's room, looking at them with wide eyes.

"W-what happened?" he stuttered.

Soda turned his face away and quickly tried to wipe off the blood that had run all the way down the side of his temple from his eyebrow, in the vain hope that Johnny hadn't seen how much blood there was.

"We're fine, baby. Just a few bruises. Don't worry. We beat the shit outta them. All of 'em. They ran away with their tails between their legs once they'd had enough."

"But… but I don't unders-s-stand" he stuttered, looking at Soda, clearly seeing the blood. "I... I thought you were at Steve's?"

Sodapop waved Johnny over and had him sit down next to him. Johnny placed a hand on each side of Soda's head, examining the cuts and bruises with a worried look on his face.

"It's okay, Johnny," smiled Soda. "And I feel real awesome, finally having given those bastards what they deserve. It ain't just that they got a good beating - it's more the humiliation. And you shoulda seen the look on David's face when Pony explained to him that his girlfriend was only using him to make me jealous. Obviously he hadn't made the connection before, the dumb idiot."

Lauren came back and handed Sodapop a wet cloth and Darry some ice for Ponyboy's head.

"Darry!" she exclaimed. "How could you give your brothers permission to go out and fight like this? They're just kids, for Christ's sake!"

"They... they're used to fighting, Lauren. We all are. That was the street life back in Tulsa. And had I said no they would have gone anyways."

"Ponyboy is used to fighting?" Lauren asked incredulously. Somehow it was a lot easier imagining Sodapop being used to it - being the wild teen that he was - but little, quiet Ponyboy... "He can't have been much more than thirteen when he came here!"

Darry sighed. He really wished he could explain it so Lauren would understand. "They're both used to fighting and I have faith in their skills."

Soda swallowed the five aspirins Darry would allow him to take. He didn't tell him how much his ribs hurt - he didn't want to risk him taking them to the emergency room. The only cure for cracked ribs, anyway, was rest.

"I think I'll hit the sack," said Sodapop, after having asked Pony for the third time if he was feeling nauseous and was finally convinced that he was speaking the truth when he said no he was fine and was sure he didn't have a concussion.

"We better all go to bed," Darry said. He would have a long day tomorrow. He had to see the principal to resign his job and discuss his brothers and Johnny. Hopefully they would come to some sort of agreement that the three boys would be able to take their exams. Also he hoped to hear more from Lauren's farther about Johnny.

"Want the shower first, Pony?" asked Sodapop.

"Yeah, alright," said Ponyboy and got up from his chair.

"Lauren -" Sodapop started. "Don't think bad of Darry. Otherwise, you'd just get beaten up, and the police didn't care about us poor people - as long as we only hurt each other, they couldn't be bothered, so we had to look out for ourselves."

Darry nodded. He vividly remembered his days back in Tulsa where he actually fought a lot.

"And it ain't like we walk around looking for fights," Sodapop continued. "This was just... Well, you know these guys deserved it and there was no other punishment for what they did. The schoolboard... Well, it's like back in Tulsa where the police didn't care about us."

Lauren reluctantly had to agree that Sodapop had a point. She could understand their frustration of the injustice. She thought about how sad it was that a couple of sweet boys like Ponyboy and Sodapop (and Darry, too, now she thought about it) had grown up somewhere they had to fight like that to survive.

Darry put an arm around Lauren and looked at her with a bit of shame in his eyes.

"Sorry I didn't tell you about this... I should have."

Johnny took Soda's hand in his and slipped his fingers between Soda's. He kept his head on his shoulder as he kept thinking about the punishment Pony and Soda would get for this. They would most likely be expelled. Then Darry would quit his job and they would move away. Johnny would lose Soda again.

Sodapop turned his head to look at Johnny and put a hand under his chin. "What's the matter, baby? It ain't like we're seriously hurt. You're taking it very hard."

Johnny looked back at Soda with his big black eyes, worry written all over his face.

"What if you get k-kicked out a-and you gotta m-move... I don't wanna lose you again."

Darry looked at the two. He had not wanted to tell Johnny about their emancipation plan before they knew if it was working out, but seeing how scared and worried Johnny was now made him change his mind.

"Johnny…" Darry said. "We ain't gonna leave without you."

"What?" asked Johnny.

"Me and Lauren's dad, who's a lawyer, are working on getting you emancipated. It means your parents give up custody and you become responsible for yourself."

Johnny still looked confused but with a mixture of surprise and hope. "W... what? They... how... R-really?"

"We're going to find another school and another place to live," Darry said. "And we want you to come with us."

"It isn't a hundred percent sure yet," Lauren broke in. "The judge hasn't approved yet. That's why we haven't told you before, honey. But Dad says he's sure it will work out."

"Do... do I need to do anything?" Johnny asked. "Do... do I need to talk to them? My p-parents?"

Johnny's voice broke as he started to ask about his parents. He feared how they would react to all of this.

"No, they already signed the documents." You don't ever need to see or talk to them again if this works out."

Johnny leaned in against Soda again, trying to let all the information sink in. He felt relieved and happy although it hurt a little that they had signed without hesitation.

"I'm just gonna take that shower," said Soda and hurried off to the bathroom the second Ponyboy exited. He wasn't keen on taking Johnny with him, letting him get a good look at his bruises.

"If the judge approves you need to come with us to see him in a couple of days," Lauren told Johnny. "So you can assure him that this is what you want and sign the papers."

Johnny nodded. Was this really happening? Was he going to get away from his parents and move in with Soda?

"What... what about rent? I don't wanna live off ya'll. I wanna pitch in." He wasn't sure how he was going to both stay in school and make money.

"Don't worry too much," Darry said. "We'll figure something out. You have savings account I'm sure, but you should use most of that on yourself and your education. And if you don't have one, we will figure that out too."

o0o0o

Sodapop dried up and slipped into a T-shirt, clenching his teeth to not moan in pain. Then he went into his room where Johnny was waiting in the bed.

"Hey, baby," he said and slipped under the covers.

Johnny's eyes fall on his T-shirt. Soda always slept shirtless. There had to be a reason he was wearing a top now. Very softly Johnny let a hand run down Soda's chest.

Sodapop stiffened and stopped Johnny's wrist before it reached the lower ribs.

"Not... Not tonight, Johnnycake, if that's okay. I'm real tired."

Johnny looked at him in surprise. Soda had never said no to sex, and now he barely wanted to be touched.

"Soda?" he started nervously. "How... how bad are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit sore. Well, it ain't a proper fight if ya don't come back with a few injuries."

Before Soda could stop him, Johnny had snatched the bottom of the shirt and lifted it up, revealing the large already dark purple - nearly black - bruise covering most of Sodapop's rib cage.

Johnny stared at the bruise in horror. It was clear that they were either broken or close to. Johnny knew what broken ribs looked like.

"You... you're really hurt," Johnny said in a low voice. He sent Soda a pleading look. "Please see a doctor. Or at least let Darry look at it."

"Yeah, that idiot David really throws a good punch," grinned Sodapop, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Johnny. Ain't no use seeing a doctor. They can't do nothing about cracked ribs. They just need a bit of time to heal. And it ain't that bad, really."

"I can barely touch you..." Johnny said, not taking his eyes off the bruise.

Sodapop took Johnny's hand and gently pried his fingers open, loosening his grip on the T-shirt while leaning in to give him a kiss.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll let you touch me somewhere else," he said and gave Johnny a wink. "When I've had a good night's sleep."

"O-okay. But you tell me if it gets worse," Johnny said and lay back down next to Soda, cuddling close to him but careful not to touch his ribs.

Soda wrapped an arm around Johnny's shoulder and closed his eyes.

"Everything's gonna work out fine, Johnnycake. You ain't ever going back to that stupid dorm or you folks. You're gonna live with me, and I ain't ever gonna let you move out."

A/N: Remember to check out the illustration for the chapter (link on my profile).

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