Chapter 3 is here. Thank you all for the kind reviews and I hope you guys are living this story. I am loving the fact I can write more like I used to do. I hope you guys like this chapter, it's a long one. Also, I had a typo mistake last chapter, I accidentally wrote Two-Bit as an Alpha, he's a Beta. I apologize for the mistake and wish to clarify that he is a Beta and will make sure to double check my editing.

-Kylelover101

Chapter 3 Runaway Pup

Ponyboy was freezing by the end of the movie. His arms felt like a pop-sickle and he was kicking himself knowing Darry was gonna blow a gasket when he found out the pup had forgotten his coat...again. The Pup was angry with himself. He and Darry were always fighting; Ponyboy knew Darry was taking on a role of the leader of their little group and Alphas are naturally bossy and demanding; but ever since their parents died, Ponyboy found himself testing Darry's patience. He didn't know if it was because of that, or if he was about to present. All Pups did so just as they were about to present. It's was often a critical moment that could give hint before they present. Most Pups who presented as Alphas could often be bratty and arrogant, Betas could be bratty as well, but only time would tell. For Omegas, they were often very emotional, upset and weepy. Sensitive creatures they were.

Ponyboy felt a lump in his throat and tried to feel around for his lighter.

"Ponyboy? I asked you a question." Cherry spoke, startling the younger boy. Ponyboy blinked, "Oh, erm, sorry, what was it?"

Cherry smiled, taking Ponyboy's absentmindedness as being adorable than disrespect. "I asked you what about your other brother, Darry? You told me all about Sodapop but I don't know about Darry. Is he wild like Soda, or imaginative like you?"

At the mention of his oldest brother, Ponyboy felt upset. Darry was yelling more and always on his back. In Pony's opinion, Darry was a hypocrite. If Pony was playing football, then Darry would make it known that he should be studying; however, if Pony had his nose in a book, then Darry would yell he needs to be outside. Ponyboy couldn't keep up with the Alpha's demands and he stopped in his tracks, halting the group. "He ain't like me and he sure ain't Soda. He's big and roofs houses, that's all there is to him."

Two-bit narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Ya'll been fighting or somethin' Pony?" The beta asked.

Ponyboy didn't answer. Earlier when he was jumped wasn't as bad as it could get. Darry got into a habit of sending him to his room if he "talked back" or got a bad grade. Ponyboy often felt overwhelmed by the grading system. Even in subjects he didn't understand well, he was expected to get A's by Darry. The Pup often felt like pulling out his hair around the Alpha.

"He's always on my back and I'd bet he'd put me in a Puppy home if he had the chance." Granted, Darry never threatened to send Ponyboy to one, but he did warn him on occasion that if he didn't present himself as anything but perfect when the social workers arrived for check ups. Ponyboy knew Darry's life would be a lot easier than having a needy Pup around.

Johnny frowned, "I thought ya'll were getting along just fine, Pony."

"Well we're not. And you can shut your mouth Johnny, cause you ain't wanted at home, either."Ponyboy instantly regretted saying that. No one hurt Johnny, it's a simple rule in their tight knit gang. Johnny Cade got enough from his shit parents and Socs and didn't need any guff from the gang. Two-Bit pointed a finger at Ponyboy.

"Shut your mouth, Ponyboy Curtis! Now apologize to him."

Immediately Ponyboy did. He knew that was wrong. Johnny, in an unlike Alpha manner, accepted his apology immediately.

"Cherry!"

Two-Bit, Johnny, Ponyboy and Marcia jumped as Cherry turned to the voice that called her. Approaching the Alpha with a flask in his hand was another Alpha, a male with curly blonde hair. He was obviously a Soc with the way he was dressed, but Ponyboy could smell the musk from ten feet away.

"What are you doing?" The Soc asked, "We were just drinking a little-

Cherry rolled her eyes. "A little Bob? You were passed out in the street. I told you, I hate the smell of alcohol and I'm not going to be around you if you're drinking and I mean it!"

Johnny stood closer to Ponyboy and Ponyboy could see the fear on Johnny's eyes as he looked at Bob. Ponyboy frowned, "Johnny? What's wrong?" He whispered. He didn't get an answer as Two-Bit began shouting at another Alpha Soc with curly hair Ponyboy didn't see appear by Marcia.

"Who you callin' a Bum, pal?"

"You! Listen, Greaser, we got four more of us in the backseat-"

Two-Bit smashed his beer bottle, tossing it to Ponyboy who thankfully didn't cut his hand catching it, and flicked his blade at Bob. "Pity your backseat."

"You wanna fight me, Greaser?!" Bob snarled then laughed in his face, egging Two-Bit on. Bob was an Alpha, while not hard to determine by arrogance or statue, but Ponyboy had to look twice. Bob was shorter than Sodapop or Darry; then again, so was Johnny. Two-Bit was hollering and Ponyboy knew he was determined for some sort of fight. Like Dallas Winston and Steve Randle, it didn't matter if you were an Alpha or Beta, Two-Bit would take on anyone.

"I am looking for a fight!"

"Yeah?" Bob slurred, but balled up his fists.

"Right here, right now!"

"ENOUGH!" Cherry roared, halting the two newly rivals that were all but at each other's throats with their fangs showing. "Stop it, alright? I hate fights and I won't tolerate that behavior in front of a Pup, either!" Cherry was standing next to Ponyboy, making the boy blush. He hated it when Alphas treated him like a little kid and it wasn't helping the fact that Bob was snickering at him, taking his flask to his lips.

Cherry led Ponyboy towards the wall a few feet away to talk, having assured herself the fight was defused.

"Ponyboy, I'm so sorry, Pup. And. . . If I don't see you around, or talk to you in school, please don't take it personally." Cherry frowned, "You're a nice boy and all."

This wasn't the first time Ponyboy had heard this. It happens when you grow up, friends come and go and sometimes, they're only friends long enough for a decent conversation. Cherry had been that, a nice person to have a conversation with. Ponyboy had kicked himself for believing a Soc, no matter an Alpha, Beta or Omega, would be friends with a Greaser.

"It's okay." Ponyboy promised. It was. It really was.

Cherry smirked. "I hope I never see Dallas Winston again; he's an Alpha and that'll be a toxic relationship for us. If I see him again, I'll fall in love with him." She stated before rushing back to the car, Marcia following. The Greasers watched the Mustang drive away slowly, Two-Bit threatening them from afar.

The chilly air was still around after Two-Bit waved goodbye to Johnny and Ponyboy; the two friends not heading home anytime too, for Ponyboy it was only nine and Johnny had heard his parents fighting from down the street. Ponyboy had a lot on his mind. Greasers, Socs, Alpha, Betas, Omegas. Their social constructions and social etiquette not making any sense to him at all.

"Here, should keep us warm." Johnny spoke, having started a fire for warmth. Ponyboy was thankful and leaned in closer to keep warm.

Johnny sat next to him, timid and looking for a smoke before asking Ponyboy for one. "Thanks. Man, that car. Mustangs, they're tuff."

"They were big time Socs," Ponyboy muttered, "richer than all of us combined with just that car."

The Pup was harboring jealousy and resentment towards Socs. All Socs. Maybe not Cherry, but the Socs that jumped them, that dehumanized them, annoyed them and got away with it. Ponyboy often wished his family were rich. Not Socs, just rich. Rich enough where Soda could go back to school, or at least try night school; where Darry would work like an old man and come home with aches and pains; hell, he'd let Steve live with them maybe he wouldn't be so crabby around his strict dad. Johnny and Dallas would live with them too. Johnny wouldn't be so skittish anymore and maybe Dallas would let up about his feelings like he used to to their mom. Dallas did say how he could talk to her easily, thanks to her comforting and nurturing Omega charm.

Dallas could come talk to him, maybe. He'd have dinner on the table and the laundry finished and-

Ponyboy jerked up from where he was laying. What was he thinking?

Johnny blinked. "Something wrong?"

"No." Ponyboy lied. "I'm fine. Are you okay, Johnny?" Ponyboy asked, poking the fire with a stick. He was alarmed a few seconds later when Johnny whimpered, saying how he hated his life and wanted to kill himself. Instinctively, Ponyboy cuddled into Johnny's side trying to calm his friend down.

"Ponyboy this place has gotta' have somewhere that doesn't have Greasers or Socs." Johnny whimpered, "Just...people."

The Pup knew of a place like that. A place way out in the country far away in a distant time when his parents were alive. Darrel Sr. would drive the family out to the country. There Ponyboy and his brothers would run around much to the concern from their Omega mother to not run too far, and at night time they'd look at constellations in the sky. Ponyboy would be in between his brothers pointing at the sky as the summer breeze would brush upon them. All would be right in the world, Ponyboy would always know, as long as the five of them were there in the countryside.

"Ponyboy!"

The Pup was startled. The fire was out and the wind began to blow. Had he fallen asleep?

"What time is it?"

"I don't know, I fell asleep too. You better get home, it's dangerous for a Pup to be out this late." Johnny spoke, trying to sound authoritative. Ponyboy blushed. He'd let Johnny have this one and nodded. "Yes, Alpha." He shot with a small smile hoping that boosted Johnny's confidence in himself. Granted the Alpha was stunted. Stunted Alphas never really recover. Ponyboy hadn't time to stop and think about Johnny as he began sprinting home glancing up at the moon and the streetlights. It couldn't have been that late, he hoped. Perhaps he was only an hour or so late.

His optimism was cut short when he saw his house and he could see Darry sitting in the armchair in the window. The Alpha looked to be reading the paper, but Ponyboy knew by the angered expression in his face that reading was the last thing the Alpha was doing. He could see the fingernails sharpening and his upper lip twitching. A sign he wasn't trying to growl.

The Pup growled. He was done for.

Slowly, the Pup opened the door though immediately Darry was on his feet.

"And where the hell have you been?! Do you know what time it is?!" Darry's voice rose, the deep commanding tone had Ponyboy shivering as he shook his head. "It's two o'clock in the morning, pup. One more hour and I'd have to call the cops find you!"

Sodapop, who was laying on the sofa and woken from slumber had a worried glance on his face and spoke softer, "Ponyboy, where have you been pup? We were worried."

Ponyboy knew his answer would be stupid. Though, it would be dumber to lie. Darry always knew when he was lying.

"I uh...Fell asleep in the lot."

The look on Darry's face was a cross of someone flipping him the bird and running into a pole. "You WHAT?!"

The Pup tried to exit the room as quick as he could, maybe if he left then Darry would be too dumbfounded to follow him. It was a dumb idea but it was the best he had. He explained how he was talking to Johnny but fell asleep though the eldest Alpha wasn't having it.

"You know what, Pup. I can't even call the damn cops on you cause they'll throw you into a Puppy Litter so fast it'll make your head spin." Darry growled. Ponyboy gulped. He had heard of those. Puppy Litters, Boys homes, whatever you wanna call it. It was a place where unwanted or uncared for Pups went to live cause they didn't have anyone. Ponyboy didn't want to end up there, he wanted his brothers. The thought of being sent to one frightened him and he began to cry.

"I-I said I'm sorry." He hiccuped.

"You're always sorry, Ponyboy. Sorry you didn't do your homework, sorry you didn't do your chores, sorry you were daydreaming, sorry you fell asleep in the lot and came home at two in the morning not caring that your brothers were worried sick about you!"

Darry was getting angrier by the second and Sodapop could smell it. He frowned.

"Darry, he's home now let's forget about-"

The Oldest Alpha turned to face his second younger brother. Darry had a bone to pick with Sodapop always interfering with his reprimanding of Ponyboy. It was annoying and he was fed up.

"I am sick of you standing up for him when he's clearly in the wrong Shut your trap!"

Ponyboy's eyes widened. No one spoke to Soda that way. He didn't like it.

"Don't talk to him like that!" Ponyboy screamed. He wasn't prepared for the backhanded slap that came his way and was so forceful it caused him to almost fly into the air and his back landed against the front door in a loud thud. The house was dead silent. Sodapop starring at Ponyboy with wide eyes of shock and Darry starring down at his palm. Ponyboy felt the sting on his cheek and the tear that dripped down it.

"P-Ponyboy-I didn't mean to-" Darry tried to frantically apologize but the Pup was having none of it and immediately flung the door open and went racing down the street, ignoring Darry and Sodapop calling for him. It was dark and since he hadn't presented yet, he had the advantage of not being tracked down by a scent. He'd get one when he presented, but for now, he focused on zig zagging through the neighborhood till he found Johnny sleeping in the Lot and landed on top of him, alarming the Alpha.

"What the?" Johnny asked, confused. "Pony?"

"Get up, Johnny. We're running away." Ponyboy spoke without thinking.

The Alpha and Pup scrambled to their feet and took off down the dark ally-ways. Unknowing of the danger they were about to get themselves into and cause.

Leave a review if you liked it. Remember, Two-Bit is a Beta the last chapter I wrote him as an Alpha was a mistake.

-Kylelover101