As soon as the others noticed I was in the room things got even more tense. I had my suspicions about what was goin' on but you can't trust the guys half the time. Always saying shit to stop me from getting involved. When Dally looked away, I knew what was happenin'. "There gonna be fight today?" I asked nonchalantly.

"No. At least, we ain't heard a one." Soda answered. I shot him a look and then turned my gaze to Dally.

"Dally? There gonna be a fight?" Dally never lied to me before and I knew he never would. Me and him were really close, almost like me and Pony.

He blew out a puff of smoke before turning his gaze back to me. "Yea. At the lot, three o'clock."

Darry's shoulders grew visibly tense. Soda looked at him, asking in his own way if things were all right.

"Listen Carrot, we all know you can hold your own but it'd be better if you just stayed here."

I couldn't believe it. Soda was usually on my side!

"Yea Carrot, Soda's right. It's not the kind of thing you should get involved with." Steve chimed in.

"Piss off Steve!" I looked around the room at all of them and then turned to Dally, "Can you believe this! They don't want me to fight! Is that what you think Dally? Huh? You think I should stay here? You think I can't fight?"

He sighed and put his cigarette out. "I think you can fight just as good as anyone here. And that you should sit this one out."

I couldn't believe it. Dally not backing me up?

"What did you say to him? What did you say?" I yelled at Darry. I knew he was behind this.

"Calm down Carrot, Darry didn't do nothing." Two-Bit soothed. I wasn't havin' any of it. Darry did it. I could feel Ponyboy getting angry, on the porch. Not at Darry, not at me but mad because of the fighting.

"I'm fightin' today! There ain't nothin' you can do to stop it!" I yelled at Darry. I knew I shouldn't have been mad at him but he was taking away my whole existence. Ever since I could remember, I've been fighting. It's the only thing I'm really good at. And now they were taking that away too.

"You listen to me Caretta Curtis! You ain't fighting today and that's final! I'll lock you in if I have to!" Darry yelled.

"Fuck you!" I screamed back at him.

Everythin' got real quiet. Quiet like they were waiting for somethin' horrible. Ponyboy threw his notebook down.

"Why you guys always got to yell? Why?" He asked, not yelling but in a way to make you go quiet deep inside you. Than he ran down the steps and down the street.

"Ponyboy wait!" I called, grabbin' a jacket and running after him.

"Caretta! Get back here!" I heard Darry yell.

Ignoring him I tried to follow Ponyboy but he'd had a head start. Guessing that he was going to the lot I turned down a side street. I guess I was good at two things. Fighting and finding shortcuts.

I knew Ponyboy'd be upset. Hell he might even be cryin'. I didn't know whaqt I'd do then. I'm not too good when people start cryin;. It makes me uncomfortable. But I knew for sure that if he'd listen to anyone, it'd be me.

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