Well I bet that you weren't expecting another chapter so soon. I wasn't expecting to get it done so quickly either. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and followed this story. I appreciate all the support and feedback.

Thanks!

Jem

I hung up the payphone. No answer at the Mathews' house.

Damn.

I'd asked Soda to drop me off at the library today even though it was Saturday, because Mrs. Haywood said she could use my help for a few hours. Since I'd only worked 3 days this week I was happy to pick up the extra shift. Though Darry was too stubborn to admit it, we needed all the money we could get.

"I can drive you Ponyboy," Soda said smiling. "But be sure to call Two-Bit to pick ya up cause I'm working at the DX til 9 tonight."

"Yeah yeah," I'd answered, brushing it off as no big deal. Now the library was closed and I was standing at this pay phone asking myself where Two-Bit had taken off to.

Should I call home? I wondered, biting my thumb nail. It was very possible that Two-Bit could be there hanging out with Darry. He'd been stopping by throughout the day to check on him. The problem was if he wasn't there then Darry might feel like he needed to come get me and he wasn't in any shape to do that.

I bounced on my heels, tapping my fingers against the glass of the booth. I'd have to risk it, Darry would go ballistic if I walked home when those socs might still be out there looking for me.

I picked up the phone again and put in my dime. My eyes roved up and down the street as I listened to it ring. I hadn't seen any sign of that corvette yet, but I was going to listen to my brothers and not let my guard down.

"Hello." Darry's voice was gruff and tired. I winced, I had woken him up.

"Hey Dar, is Two-Bit around?"

There was a pause as he got his bearings, he must have really been out. "Naw Pony, he's not here right now. Do you need a ride home?"

I rolled my eyes. Only Darry would think that he was able to drive right now. "Yeah but I'll just call Soda at the DX. He has the truck anyway..."

A flash of red caught my attention and I trailed off. I didn't catch what Darry said in reply. I turned my head to look up the street and saw a red corvette slowly turning towards me. I was too far to see if the windshield was cracked but I wasn't loving the idea of waiting around to see if it did.

"Pony?" Darry's voice broke through my rising panic. "Did you hear me, little buddy?"

"Sure thing, Darry. Listen I think I see Two-Bit's car, I'll see you soon." I hung up the receiver before he could answer and stepped out of the phone booth.

The corvette was still pretty far away. Maybe if I left quickly they wouldn't notice me.

I forced myself to walk calmly despite the fact that I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. Running would just draw attention. I wanted a cigarette real bad but I needed to keep my hands free if they caught up to me.

Patting my back pocket, I realized that I was missing my switchblade. I didn't like bringing it to the library, it made the place feel tainted. I was just going to have to run for it.

I kept my eyes focused on the next intersection, if I could just get there then I could turn right and hopefully lose them. After that it was just a few blocks until I was in my neighbourhood.

The pounding in my ears and the rumble of the corvette's engine coming nearer were the only sounds I could hear, but I couldn't look back to check how close.

A wave of relief hit me as I turned the corner quickly, using that moment to shoot a glance over my shoulder. I made eye contact with the passenger in the corvette and I heard him yell out.

In a snap that relief evaporated. I groaned and took off running. I'd only glanced but I'd seen the cracks glinting in the sunlight.

The engine revved to an angry growl and I pushed myself harder. Turning around the next corner my tennis shoes slipped on the gravel and I barely caught myself before I hit the dirt. If I fell they'd be on me in a second.

The socs were screaming and hooting at me. I checked behind me again, my heart falling into my stomach. Five voices taunted and echoed in my head as they got louder and louder.

I was only a few minutes from my house by now but I didn't know if I could make it. I suddenly felt the heat of the bumper against the back of my legs. It brushed them leaving a stinging pain but not with enough force to knock me down.

Those dirty socs were toying with me and a red hot rage filled me. They'd hit my brother and could have killed him but that still wasn't enough to end their twisted game.

I could see my house now up the street. The tires screeched and the doors of the car slammed open. There was a scuffing sound of feet giving chase. A hand grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me back. I turned in its grasp and threw a punch. I was wide and my fist barely grazed him. He sneered at me.

Just then I heard a familiar yell and suddenly Soda was there, his fist having no problem making contact with the soc's face. The surprised soc dropped his grip on me and I fell over backwards onto the ground.

I looked up to see two socs run to the car and jump in. Soda chased after them reaching through the window to grab the passenger by the shirt and pull him back out through the window. I realized that Two-Bit was trying to do the same to the driver.

They shoved them off and the driver desperately tried to put the car in gear. The corvette was thrown in reverse forcing both Soda and Two-Bit to let go.

Our truck pulled up beside them and I saw that Steve was driving. Two-Bit and Soda wasted no time in jumping onto the bed. Soda turned to look at me as the truck peeled away.

"Go home Ponyboy! Wait for us there." His eyes were wild and dangerous, itching for a fight.

I dragged myself up to my feet and brushed off my legs. How did they get here so fast? How did they know to come? Soda was at work and I hadn't been able to find Two-Bit not five minutes ago.

I turned and started to pass the empty lot. Soda and Two-Bit had sure scared off those two…

Two socs.

Two socs got into the car, but hadn't there been more of them?

I started to move faster when I heard a sound right behind me. I wheeled around and came face to face with a laughing soc. He had light brown hair that was cut short and he was broad shouldered. I know I'd seen him around school, but he was in an older grade so I couldn't place the name.

"I knew the best way to get you was to get rid of your guards." He said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Now, we'll get to play."

I turned and almost ran straight into the two other socs who had snuck up behind me. They grabbed my arms and pulled me down to the ground.

The first soc leaned down to look at me, smirking with glee. I wriggled and writhed on the ground trying to pull out of their hold.

"This will teach you to throw rocks at cars that you'll never be able to afford, grease." His lip curled back and he bared his teeth at me.

The anger bubbled in my belly. Curly had thrown the damn rock and it was me and my family who were paying for it. These stupid socs didn't even care if they had the right greaser, they just needed a punching bag to get revenge on.

They'd almost killed Darry.

I spit right in his face.

I could almost see Darry rubbing his hand down his face saying "don't you ever use your head?" I was beyond caring though I just wanted to hurt them like they hurt him.

"Get him, Roger," said the soc on my left.

Roger wiped my spit off his face and glowered at me. Without another word, he reeled back and gave me a right hook to the face. My head snapped back and my ears were ringing, but before I could recoup he hit me again. He must have split my lip because I could taste blood.

I tried to wrench my arm out of their hold and for a moment I got one arm free. The air was forced out of my lungs in a whoosh as Roger hit me in the stomach sending me backwards to the ground. I tried to curl in on myself as he sent a kick into my side but the two holding my arms had me firm. I was hollering and yelling hoping that Soda and the guys would hear me as they returned.

Roger's hand grasped the front of my shirt and dragged my body towards him. "You're not getting away this time." A click rang through the air and though my eye was starting to swell I could see the shine of his knife.

I strained but I couldn't hear the familiar sound of the truck. They weren't going to make it back in time. My heart was up in my throat and I was panting with the effort from fighting, but I couldn't overpower them.

They were older and larger than me and three against one wasn't good odds even if we had been evenly matched to begin with.

I felt myself go ice cold as I stared at the knife and I wasn't sure if I was going to start laughing or bawling. It was just my luck if I was knifed two houses down from home.

Darry and Soda.

What would they do when the guys got back from chasing off the corvette to find me bleeding on the street? What would Darry do when he realized that he had been so close by?

Now, I was sure that I wanted to bawl but I kept trying to pull away. I wasn't going to go down without a fight. I kicked out at Roger, catching his hand and knocking the blade to the ground. He cursed and grabbed it before rounding on me. The sunlight was blinding off the metal's surface.

I squeezed my eyes shut and all I could see were Darry and Soda's faces.

I know.. another cliffhanger. :) I can't help myself.