The movie had ended and it had occurred to us that Cherry and Marcia don't have a way home. Two-Bit offered to walk them home since the west side of town was only 20 miles away- they'd have to call their parents to get home.

Ponyboy and I walked with Cherry while smoking a cigarette. She was talking with us while the two of us sorta remained quiet. "Tell me about your eldest brother. Neither of you don't seem to talk about him." she asked, interested in Darry.

There wasn't much to say about him other than he's a workaholic and he's very strict when it comes to his kid siblings. "What's to say? He's big and he roofs houses." Pony shrugged. "Yeah, not only that but he likes to play football as well." I add, taking a puff of my cigarette, letting it stick out of my forefinger and middle finger.

"I mean, what is he like? I feel like I know Soda from how you two talk about him; tell me about Darry." she asked, urging us, "He wild and reckless like Soda? Dreamy, like you, Ponyboy? Your toughness, Bex?"

Pony and I couldn't really think of what our eldest brother is like. But there wasn't much to say about him. "He's not like Sodapop and he sure ain't like me or Bex. He's hard as a rock and about as human." Pony bursted out bitterly.

"He shows that can't stand Pony and I. I swear that he wants to put Pony and I in a youth home but Soda won't let him." I scoff just as bitterly.

Two-Bit and Johnny were staring at Pony and I. "What are you two talking about?" Two-Bit said, dumbfounded. "Golly, I thought you guys got along with Darry." Johnny said softly.

"Well, we damn well don't." Pony snapped at him, sounding dumb. The one good thing that I can say about my eldest brother is that he doesn't get drunk, beat Pony and I, or run either of us out of the house. Besides, we not only had each other but Soda as well.

"So shut the hell up about that Johnnycake because you're not wanted at home either." I spat, feeling guilty for snapping at Johnny like that. His eyes grew big and he winced as if Pony and I had whooped him.

Two-Bit ends up smacking Pony and I across the back of our heads hard, "Shut your mouths, kids. You both know better than to talk to Johnny like that."

I rubbed the back of my neck and sigh in guilt. "Sorry about that. We were just mad, right Pone?" I say, shrugging my shoulders. "Yeah. We didn't mean it." Pony said, sounding just as miserable. Johnny was our buddy.

"Don't worry 'bout it. It's the truth but I don't care." Johnny bleakly said. Two-Bit didn't like hearing this from Johnny so he messed up Johnny's hair. "Stop talking like that. We couldn't get along without you." he said fiercely.

Then, the headlights of that blue Mustang appeared, coming towards us. "Marcia." Cherry said as she walked towards us. That car stopped beside us and two Soc's from the front seat got out of it.

One was wearing a white shirt with a madras jacket on, and the other had on a light yellow shirt and a wine colored sweater. Looking at their clothing made me realize that all Pony was wearing was a navy blue sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off of them and a pair of jeans.

Bexley's Outfit (Without the knife)

I was wearing a dark grey t-shirt, a black vest with front pockets and loose straps, some light blue jeans that were faded on the knees and my brown, laced boots that had small heels. Pony took a few steps ahead of me in order to protect me. I was about to protest against this but after we got jumped, I decided against that.

However, the socs were focused on Cherry and Marcia. "Cherry, Marcia! What're you doing?" the black haired soc started.

Johnny was looking very scared, his breathing was becoming faster. I then saw why; that soc was the one who had the rings on his fingers. Pony and I glanced at each other for a second, recalling that's the same mustang that had gotten a hold of Johnny.

"Just because we got a little drunk-" that soc started but Cherry cut him off, looking madder than ever. "A little?! You call reeling and passing out in the streets 'a little?' Bob, I told you a million times, I'm never going out with you when you're drunk and I mean it!" she scolded.

"Even if you are mad at us, it's no reason to hang around with these bums and that bitch over there." that soc said, referring to me as the bitch. I felt my breath hitch in my throat when he said that, causing Pony to grab my hand quickly.

Two-Bit didn't take kindly to this. He had a look of rage in his grey eyes. "Who you callin' bums? You callin' Bex a bitch?"

"Listen, greasers, we got four more in the backseat." that soc threatened. Two-Bit snatches an empty bottle off the ground, busts off the end, and gives it to Pony while he throws me a second switchblade. He took out his own blade, "Pity the backseat!"

"If you're looking for a fight..." Bob said. "I am looking for a fight! Let's go! C;mon, right now!" Two-Bit yelled, challenging this Soc.

Before a fight could ensue, Cherry got between the two of them. "alright, we'll go with you! Just wait a minute!" she cried, looking at Bob.

"Why? We ain't scared of these bastards!" Two-Bit demanded. "Look, I don't like fights! I can't stand them." Cherry shuddered. Pony and I take her off to the side.

"I couldn't use this. I couldn't cut anyone." Pony said, dropping the bottle. "Yeah, plus, I'm not the fightin' type anyway so I couldn't use this." I say, putting the knife in my back pocket. Pony and I weren't the types to use any weapons to cut anyone, it's just not in us.

It surely scared Cherry when Two-Bit pulled out his knife; I saw it in her eyes. "I know," she quietly said, "but we'd better go with them. Ponyboy... Bexley... if I see you guys in school and don't say hi, don't take it personal."

"We know. It's just how things are." I sigh, letting my thumbs hang out of my pockets. "We couldn't let our parents see us with you two. You're a nice boy and girl so..." Cherry said. "It's okay." Ponyboy said, wishing that he was buried somewhere.

"Listen, don't let me see Dally Winston again. I might end up falling in love with him." she said, walking away from us. She got in that blue mustang and drove off in it. Pony and I were left there in disbelief.

We had no other option but to get on home. None of us said a word for a while. Pony wanted to ask if those were the same Socs that beat him up but he didn't say a word about it. We never discussed it.

"Well, those were some good-lookin' girls if I ever saw any." Two-Bit yawned as we sat down at the curb to the lot. "And what am I, chopped liver?" I comment, raising my brow at him. "I'd say you are but I don't need your brothers takin' my head off for it." Two-Bit said, telling it true,
You're a little sister to me, Bex."

He then took out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and he tore it up. "What was that?" Pony asked. "Marcia's number. Probably a fake one. I must be out of my mind to ask for it." Two-Bit answered.

That meant he had been drunk while we were there. He was a smart guy and knew the score. "Y'all goin' home? he asked.

"Yeah." Pony answered. We arrive at Johnny's house. There was shouting coming from the inside, indicating that Johnny's parents were fighting again.

Suddenly, a stray hat flew passed us but Two-Bit was quick enough to catch it. "Whoa, lookie here! Got me a new hat!" Two-Bit said, putting the hat on his head.

I pulled out Two-Bit's blade and threw it back to him. "Man, I don't know why I threw you two those weapons. You'd never would've used it." Two-Bit said, standing back up.

"Yeah, we might've." Pony said. "You goin' somewhere?" I asked him. "Gonna play a little snooker and hunt up a poker game. Maybe get drunk again. See y'all tomorrow." he said as he took off down the street.

"I hate it when my folks fight. Let's go to the lot." Johnny said. "Yeah, besides, I'm in the mood for another smoke and watching the stars. You dig?" I say. Due to my negligence, I thought we had plenty of time to kill.

Johnny, Pony, and I laid against an old car and stargazed. I was laying next to Pony and felt him shivering. It was a cold night and all he had was a sleeveless sweatshirt on. As for me, I could tolerate it a bit more.

I took a drag of my cigarette and exhaled deeply. Johnny's cigarette was glowing in the darkness, shining like a burning ember. "It's because we're greasers." Johnny said, referring to Cherry, "We could've ruined her reputation."

"I reckon." Pony said, debating whether or not he should tell Dally about what Cherry said about him. I didn't say anything, just looked up while smoking. "Man, that was a tuff car huh?" Johnny said, cracking a smile, "Mustangs. They're tuff."

I pushed myself up to a sitting position, using my hands to hold me up. "Yeah, it was those damn big time Socs." I say, clearing my throat, "It'll never change." I envied the Socs because they had everything. It wasn't our fault we're greasers.

I felt something rise within my chest and threw a few rocks ahead of me. "Guys... I can't take much more of this. I'll... I'll kill myself or something." Johnny said, getting Pony and I to look at him in alarm.

"Johnny, don't say that ever again." I say seriously. "Yeah, you can't kill yourself." Pony agreed, sitting upwards. "I gotta do something." Johnny sobbed.

Pony and I lay back against the car. I let my head lean against my brother's shoulder, to which he wrapped his arm around me to help me stay warm. "It seems like there's gotta be some places without greasers or Soc's... just people. Plain ordinary people." Johnny said.

My eyelids began to feel heavy the longer I relaxed on Pony. I was awful tired and didn't realize it until this very moment. Ponyboy muttered something about the countryside and how it is away from the big towns. That's when I fell asleep.

The countryside was a big part of our childhood, one of our favorite places to be. Pony and I wanted to be out of those big towns and away from all the chaos that went with it. We wouldn't have to worry about getting jumped or carrying knives or ending up marrying some scatterbrained idiots.

The two of us would be inseparable, reading books, drawing. I dreamed of our parents too and our old yellow dog that we had a long time ago. I dreamed that Mom would let me help back some cookies and chocolate cakes. Dad would drive the pick up out early to feed the cows.

Darry would get great praise and was told that he'd be a great man and has told me that I'd be a beautiful woman when I hit adulthood. Dad and Darry were as close as Pony and I. Johnny could live with us too and the gang could hang out with us during the weekends.

I remember what my mother looked like, she was golden and beautiful. My dad was just like Darry, broad and muscular. That dream ended up the same way, mom and dad getting killed in that car accident.

"Ponyboy. Bexley. Guys, wake up." Johnny said, shaking the both of us. I awoke with a gasp, shivering at the sudden change in wind. Pony sat up as well, cringing from sleep.

I don't know how long we slept for, but I saw that the stars above us had changed. "God, what time is it?" Pony asked, stretching his body. "I don't know. I fell asleep too. You two better get home. I'll stay out here all night. Who'd care anyway?" Johnny said, laying back down on the ground.

"Alright. If you get cold or something, come over to our house." Pony said with a yawn. "Okay." Johnny said, going back to sleep. "What's Darry gonna say?" I asking, dreading on facing Darry.

Pony and I made our way back home, trembling from the cold wind. The porch light was on. "Pony, see if they're asleep." I say, hugging myself while my teeth chattered.

He nodded and went to peek in the window. "Soda's asleep on the couch and Darry's in the armchair under the lamp, reading a newspaper." he replied, looking just as cold as me. "Oh boy..." I shudder, going up the steps.

Ponyboy opened the front door and we stepped inside. A lump formed into my throat. Darry looked up at us and shot up to his feet in a second, throwing his paper to the floor.

"Where the hell have you two been?! Do you two have any idea what time it is?" Darry scolded, looking madder than either one of us had seen in a while. I rubbed my cold, bare arms and sighed. Pony shook his head wordlessly.

"Well, it's 2 in the morning, kiddos. Another hour and I would've had the cops looking out for the both of you! Where were you, Ponyboy and Bexley?" he yelled, his voice raising.

Ponyboy trembled at his voice. "We fell asleep in the lot. We didn't mean to." Pony said, walking passed Darry to the bathroom. I followed him.

"You two did what?" he shouted, waking up Soda. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Hey Pony and Bex, where ya guys been?" he said tiredly.

"Look, we were hanging out with Johnny in the lot and we fell asleep, okay?" I answer, pleading with Darry. "Yeah?! Well, I bet you two didn't think that your brothers were up half of the night worrying their heads off! I can't even call the cops because you three would be thrown in a youth home so fast it'd make your heads spin! Ponyboy, what on earth is the matter with you?! Bexley, I can't believe that you would even think about being out this late! Hell, neither one of you don't have a coat on." Darry continued to yell at us.

I shook again, hugging my arms. Tears of anger blurred my vision but I blinked them away. "Look, he said that we didn't mean to..." I said, sticking up for him. "Oh, we didn't mean to! The problem is that you two don't ever think! That is all I hear from you! Are you two dumb or something?" Darry shouted, making me and Pony shake.

"C'mon, Darry..." Soda said but Darry turned on him. "You shut up! I'm tired of you sticking up for them all the time! You hear me?!" I froze in shock and anger.

He yelled at Soda. Nobody should ever yell at my brother. I exploded, "Don't you yell at him!" Darry whirled around and slapped me across the face, causing me to double over from the stinging pain.

"Darry! Why'd you do that?!" Pony came at Darry, only to get grabbed and thrown down to the floor by Darry in the heat of the moment, making him trip over the coffee table. Suddenly, everything in the room had gone deadly silent.

Everyone had frozen. Darry just hit me and Pony... He actually hit me and my brother. Tears welled up in my eyes from both the pain and anger.

I saw that Soda's eyes bulged out and Darry looked down at his palm. It had turned red from hitting Pony and I. His eyes were huge as well.

"Oh God... Ponyboy... Bexley..." he started. Pony grabbed my hand and we both bolted out of the front door. We ran as fast as we could.

"Pony, Bex! I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!" Darry called, but we were halfway down the street already. Tears were falling from my eyes. Pony and I were going to run away from here.

It was obvious that Darry didn't give a damn about Pony and I. We weren't going back there. He was never going to hurt us again.

We make it down to the lot and back to where Johnny was. He was still asleep but Pony woke him up. "C'mon, Johnny. We're running away." Pony said.

Johnny didn't question that. We all ran down many blocks until our lungs begged us for air. When we stopped, I was crying. Pony was too.

He plopped down on the curb, burying his face in his arms. I sat down beside him and hugged him, my arms around his waist, just letting the tears come. Johnny took a seat next to us.

"Take it easy, guys. We'll be okay." he said softly. After a couple of minutes, I let my brother go and wiped my eyes. Pony's breaths were quivering sobs. "Johnny, you got any cigarettes on you? We're scared to death." I sob, feeling my heart beating erratically.

He gave us each a cigarette and I instantly light it. I light Ponyboy's cigarette too. "Don't be. You two are scaring me. What happened?" Johnny asked, never seeing us bawl like this.

"Darry hit us, Johnny. He first hit Bex before hitting me after I tried defending her." Pony answered, taking a drag on his cigarette. "We su\\used to get along before mom and dad died. Now he can't stand us." I say, taking a long drag of my cigarette and exhaling shakily.

"I think I like it when the old man's hitting me. At least he knows that I'm there." Johnny sighed. I felt myself starting to relax thanks to my cigarette. Pony was starting to as well.

Both of us ran out of the house without grabbing our coats, resulting in us freezing half to death. I closed my eyes and thought of being in our bed, safe and sound with Soda's arm around us.

What Pony said about running away doesn't seem like a good idea now that I think about it. We would ignore Darry when we returned home. It was our house as much as his and he wouldn't stop us from living there.

"C'mon, let's go to the park and back. Maybe we'll be cooled enough to go home." Pony suggested, his arm around my shoulders. "Yeah... I don't want to see Darry right now. It'd be good for us to walk." I agreed.

And with that, we make our way down to the park. For a moment, I thought things would get better. However, I was wrong.