It seemed that Pony and Lovely were more alike than one could imagine. Pony walked with Lovely as they headed to their own neighborhood. Pony made sure to carry his blade as usual. He was more on edge since he was attacked multiple times. It was nice that Lovely didn't know about Pony's past. Pony and Lovely stopped at Lovely's place. She stood there while hearing yelling and dishes were being broken. Pony and Lovely stood still until the man came out of the house dragging Lovely back into the house. He was holding onto Lovely's arm so tight that Pony saw her flinch in pain. Pony waved at Lovely and Lovely waved back while being forced into the house. Pony entered his house to see Two-bit was sitting in front of the television watching Mickey. Darry wasn't home. Dally was drinking his beer while looking at Pony. Pony shook his head while entering his room. He stood while he saw Lovely being pushed around and he saw him slap her so hard that she fell to the floor. Ponyboy closed his blinds but his window and her window was opened. He heard the screams and the insults being thrown her way.

Dally entered the room while Ponyboy closed his window fully hoping his wouldn't have to hear his new friend scream in pain. He wanted to protect her. No one should ever lay their hands on a woman that's what Ponyboy was taught.

"So saw any Socs."

"Nope." Ponyboy grabbed his pack of cigarettes and lit a cigarette. Dally leaned against the wall while peaking out Pony's bedroom window. Dally saw the girl getting up from the floor and she wiped her face. Lovely was wiping the blood while closing her eyes slightly.

"Ponyboy."

"Her name is Lovely."

"Lovely really." Dally raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not one to judge when it comes to name." Ponyboy sassed Dally back with a slight smile. Dally messed with Ponyboy's hair. Dally walked back to the front and Ponyboy waved through the window.

"You okay?" He asked Lovely.

"It's nothing new." Lovely sighed while pushing her hair back and out of her eyes.

"Come to my house, my brother can fix you up when he's home." Ponyboy advised her and Lovely nodded. "He'll be home in a couple hours."

Ponyboy sighed while laying down in his bed before grabbing his journal and started writing. He heard a knock on the door and Darry entered Pony's room with an envelope. It was more mail.

"What you been doing?"

"Just hanging out."

Darry left the room before getting ready to start dinner. Ponyboy put down his journal before walking out of his bedroom and saw Steve was standing there while rubbing the back of his neck. Ever since Soda left, Steve was a shell of a person. Soda made Steve a more likeable person. Ponyboy gave Steve a look and Steve smiled back at him before a knock was heard from the front door. No one really knocked on the door so Ponyboy ran up to get the door to see Lovely standing there while giving a crooked smile. Ponyboy grasped while looking at her bruises. Ponyboy knew that greasers parents were often scums but Lovely wasn't a greaser technically but she was beaten more than Johnny ever was but then again, Johnny never showed how bad he got it at home but Lovely was showing how bad it was.

"Shit."

"He was really upset."

"About what."

"He's drunk, he always angry." Lovely shrugged. Ponyboy let Lovely through his house. Lovely was pretty skinny for her age and it caused concern. Everyone turned to stare at Lovely. Dally got up from his seat and stood in front of Lovely.

"hmm." he said. "Nasty bruise you got there."

"Yup." Lovely shrugged once again but she had a slight smile. Ponyboy noticed she flinched when she shrugged her shoulder.

"I'll get your brother." Dally went into the kitchen. Darry came out instantly. Darry stared at both Ponyboy and Lovely.

"Two-bit, Steve get off the couch. Steve grab the first aid kit." Darry commanded both of the guys. Steve grabbed the kit before handing it to Darry. Darry started wiping her face with alcohol to get past the cuts on her face. Darry touched her ribs and she bit her lip but she didn't scream in pain.

"Broken ribs, I say. You should probably head to the hospital."

"Nope I'm good." Lovely stood up before smiling at Ponyboy.

"Thank you guys." She said bye to everyone before walking back into her house. Lovely's house was now all dark which meant her father was no more and she could rest slightly.

Ponyboy looked back at the front door. Darry placed his hand on Pony's shoulder.

"Gosh, she's lucky but she should go to the hospital." Darry said.

"Is that serious Dar?"

"Yeah. I can only treat minor wounds and bruises but that looks far from it."

"She's tough." Dally finally said while blowing out a ring from his cigarette. "I like her."

Ponyboy couldn't help shake his head. Of course Dally liked her. Dally liked all girls but especially a tough girl but Lovely wasn't tough. She was vulnerable but she was good at acting tough so much like Johnny Cade.

Everyday, Lovely and Ponyboy would walk around town with one of the gang mostly it was Dally. Dally wanted to protect Ponyboy and everyone knew being seen with a black girl was a sin even for greasers. Dally promised Darry nothing would happen to Ponyboy and Dally meant it. Plus, he liked having Lovely around even though he would never admit it. Slowly Lovely became part of the gang. She would eat dinner with them, she would go to movies with them. She even played poker with Steve, Two-bit and Dally. Lovely was a good poker player no doubt but most of the time she hung out with Pony watching movies, watching the sunset and the sunrise together. Even when she went back to that hellhole, she still spoke to Pony through her window.

One day though, she could barely stand and she collapsed on the foot of the Curtis' place. Darry found her and he nursed Lovely back to health but there were serious injuries. Ponyboy hated having to hear her sobs and pleading telling her father to stop hurting her. He never did. Ponyboy said she could sleep at their house on the couch. It wouldn't be a problem.