Disclaimer: I own nothing except Meagan. She's mine.
Chapter 1
Darry and Meagan ran over to Ponyboy. Meagan got to him first and kneeled down without stopping fist and skid a couple of inches skinning her knee but she didn't care. "Pony?" She asked questioningly. He didn't answer her. Darry came over and pulled him up. He started shaking him.
"Ponyboy, are you all right, Ponyboy?"
"I'm okay. Quit shaking me, Darry, I'm okay." Meagan sighed in relief as she stood up.
Darry stopped instantly. "I'm sorry."
Darry is six- feet- two, broad shouldered and muscular. He has dark- brown hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back. He's got eyes that are like two pieces of pale- green ice. They've got a determined set to them, like the rest of him. He looks older than twenty- tough, cool, and smart. He would be real handsome if his eyes weren't so cold. He doesn't understand anything that is not plain hard fact. But he uses his head.
"Pony, you sure your okay?" Meagan looked really concerned.
"Yeah."
Meagan Randle was different from most greaser girls. She never wore makeup or weirdo clothes to get guys to notice her, they just did. She stood about five feet tall with smiling blue- green eyes. She has reddish- brown hair that she can sit on. Everyone likes Meagan, including Dally and Darry. It was hard not to. She was skinny, smart, and nice. She reminded Ponyboy of Sodapop. She was the only girl member of the gang and the only one not to smoke. She could get drunk off of anything so she doesn't touch anything. She understands everything.
Ponyboy sat down followed by Meagan.
Darry jammed his fists into his pockets. "They didn't hurt you too bad, did they?"
"I'm okay." Ponyboy didn't want to tell him about his sore back or his headache or that he was about to cry.
Sodapop came loping back. He dropped down beside Ponyboy, examining his head.
"You got cut up a little, huh, Ponyboy?"
Ponyboy looked at him blankly. "I did?"
Soda pulled out a handkerchief, wet the end of it with his tongue, and pressed it gently against the side of Pony's head. "Your bleedin' like a stuck pig."
"Look!" Soda showed Pony the handkerchief, reddened as if by magic. "Did they pull a blade on you?"
"Yeah."
Soda is handsomer than anyone else. Not like Darry- Soda's movie- star kind of handsome, the kind that people stop on the street and watch go by. He's not as tall as Darry, and he's a bit slimmer, but he has a finely drawn, sensitive face that somehow manages to be reckless and thoughtful at the same time. He's got dark- gold hair that he combs back- long and silky straight- and in the summer the sun bleaches it to a shining wheat- gold. His eyes are dark brown- lively, dancing, recklessly laughing eyes that can be gentle and sympathetic one moment and blazing with anger the next. He can get drunk off of anything and doesn't drink. And he understands everything. He and Meagan were just like each other.
Ponyboy was white and shaking like a leaf. Soda put a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Ponyboy. They ain't gonna hurt you no more."
"I know." Ponyboy started to cry. "I'm just a little spooked, that's all."
"You're an okay kid, Pony."
"Your crazy, Soda, out of your mind."
Darry looked as if he wanted to knock their heads together. "Your both nuts."
Meagan laughed but Soda merely cocked an eyebrow, a trick he'd picked up from Two- Bit. "It seems to run in this family." Soda and Meagan are the only two that can tease Darry.
The gang had chased the socs into their car and heaved rocks at them. They ran toward them now- four lean, hard guys. They were all tough as nails and looked it.
Steve Randle, Meagan's older brother, was seventeen, tall and lean, with thick greasy hair he kept combed in complicated swirls.He was cocky, smart, and Soda's best buddy since grade school. Steve's speciality was cars. He could lift a hubcap quicker and more quietly than anyone in the neighborhood, but he also knew cars upside- down and backward, and he could drive anything on wheels. He and Soda worked at the same gas station- Steve part time and Soda full time- and their station got more costumers than any other in town. Whether that was because Steve was so good at cars or whether Soda attracted girls like honey attracts flies, no one knew.
Two- Bit Mathews was the wisecracker of the bunch. He is about six feet tall, stocky in build, and very proud of his long rusty- colored sideburns. He has gray eyes and a wide grin, and he couldn't stop making funny remarks to save his life. You couldn't shut up that guy, he always had to get his two- bits in. Life was one big joke to Two- Bit. He was famous for shoplifting and his black- handled switchblade, and he was always smarting off to the cops. He likes fights, blondes, and for some unfathomable reason, school. He was stilla junior at eighteen and a halfand he never learns anything. He just goes for kicks.
Dallas Winston, Dally, had an elfish face, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears like a lynx. His hair was almost white it was so blonde, and he didn't like haircuts, or hair oil either. His eyes were blue, blazing ice, cold with hatred of the whole world. Meagan is the only one he loves enough to protect.
Johnny Cade was not like the rest of the gang. He was practically scared of his own shadow since the socs jumped him. It didn't help that his dad beat him and his mom ignored him. He was the gang's pet, everyone's kid- brother.
The whole gang had accepted Meagan as another pet. She was also beaten by her dad and was usually found sleeping on the Curtis' couch or armchair in the morning. Steve hated the way his little sister was treated but was powerless ot help her.
Ponyboy wiped his tears. "Didya catch 'em?"
"Nup. They got away this time, the dirty..." Two- Bit started calling the socs a few chosen words.
"The kid's okay?"
"I'm okay." Ponyboy was starting to get irritated with everyone asking that. "I didn't know you were out of the cooler yet, Dally."
"Good behavior, got off early." Everyone but Meagan lit a cigarette and sat down.
"Nice lookin' bruise you got there, kid."
"Really?"
Two- Bit nodded. "Nice cut, too. Makes you look tough."
"What were you doin' walkin' by your lonesome?" steve inquired.
"I was walking home from the movies. I didn't think..."
"You don't ever think," darry interrupted, "not at hom, or anywhere when it counts." Darry went on yelling at Ponyboy. Meagan leaned against Steve's arm and closed her eyes. She hadn't slept well last night because of her dad.
Meagan heard her name and opened her eyes. Dally was asking who wanted to go to the movies.
"I can't, I'm riding in the rodeo." Everyone looked at her. "What?"
"Meagan, I don't think your in any condition to be barrel racing. Afte the way you came to our house last night. Soda was genuinely worried.
Meagan had limped into the curtis' living room at 11:30 at night. She had marks on her back and stomach and had sprained her ankle running away from her dad. The entire gang except Johnny had been there. They had to restrain Steve and Dally from going and beating her dad to a bloody pulp.
"I agree with Soda. Your in no condition."
"But..."
"Meagan, no."
"Fine."
"What happened?" Johnny was really confused. He had been in the lot sleeping at the time.
"Meagan got hurt. That's it." Suddenly, Johnny understood.
"Oohh, I'm sorry Meagan."
"It's okay Johnny." Meagan swiped at some tears as she closed her eyes again.
Chapter 1
Darry and Meagan ran over to Ponyboy. Meagan got to him first and kneeled down without stopping fist and skid a couple of inches skinning her knee but she didn't care. "Pony?" She asked questioningly. He didn't answer her. Darry came over and pulled him up. He started shaking him.
"Ponyboy, are you all right, Ponyboy?"
"I'm okay. Quit shaking me, Darry, I'm okay." Meagan sighed in relief as she stood up.
Darry stopped instantly. "I'm sorry."
Darry is six- feet- two, broad shouldered and muscular. He has dark- brown hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back. He's got eyes that are like two pieces of pale- green ice. They've got a determined set to them, like the rest of him. He looks older than twenty- tough, cool, and smart. He would be real handsome if his eyes weren't so cold. He doesn't understand anything that is not plain hard fact. But he uses his head.
"Pony, you sure your okay?" Meagan looked really concerned.
"Yeah."
Meagan Randle was different from most greaser girls. She never wore makeup or weirdo clothes to get guys to notice her, they just did. She stood about five feet tall with smiling blue- green eyes. She has reddish- brown hair that she can sit on. Everyone likes Meagan, including Dally and Darry. It was hard not to. She was skinny, smart, and nice. She reminded Ponyboy of Sodapop. She was the only girl member of the gang and the only one not to smoke. She could get drunk off of anything so she doesn't touch anything. She understands everything.
Ponyboy sat down followed by Meagan.
Darry jammed his fists into his pockets. "They didn't hurt you too bad, did they?"
"I'm okay." Ponyboy didn't want to tell him about his sore back or his headache or that he was about to cry.
Sodapop came loping back. He dropped down beside Ponyboy, examining his head.
"You got cut up a little, huh, Ponyboy?"
Ponyboy looked at him blankly. "I did?"
Soda pulled out a handkerchief, wet the end of it with his tongue, and pressed it gently against the side of Pony's head. "Your bleedin' like a stuck pig."
"Look!" Soda showed Pony the handkerchief, reddened as if by magic. "Did they pull a blade on you?"
"Yeah."
Soda is handsomer than anyone else. Not like Darry- Soda's movie- star kind of handsome, the kind that people stop on the street and watch go by. He's not as tall as Darry, and he's a bit slimmer, but he has a finely drawn, sensitive face that somehow manages to be reckless and thoughtful at the same time. He's got dark- gold hair that he combs back- long and silky straight- and in the summer the sun bleaches it to a shining wheat- gold. His eyes are dark brown- lively, dancing, recklessly laughing eyes that can be gentle and sympathetic one moment and blazing with anger the next. He can get drunk off of anything and doesn't drink. And he understands everything. He and Meagan were just like each other.
Ponyboy was white and shaking like a leaf. Soda put a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Ponyboy. They ain't gonna hurt you no more."
"I know." Ponyboy started to cry. "I'm just a little spooked, that's all."
"You're an okay kid, Pony."
"Your crazy, Soda, out of your mind."
Darry looked as if he wanted to knock their heads together. "Your both nuts."
Meagan laughed but Soda merely cocked an eyebrow, a trick he'd picked up from Two- Bit. "It seems to run in this family." Soda and Meagan are the only two that can tease Darry.
The gang had chased the socs into their car and heaved rocks at them. They ran toward them now- four lean, hard guys. They were all tough as nails and looked it.
Steve Randle, Meagan's older brother, was seventeen, tall and lean, with thick greasy hair he kept combed in complicated swirls.He was cocky, smart, and Soda's best buddy since grade school. Steve's speciality was cars. He could lift a hubcap quicker and more quietly than anyone in the neighborhood, but he also knew cars upside- down and backward, and he could drive anything on wheels. He and Soda worked at the same gas station- Steve part time and Soda full time- and their station got more costumers than any other in town. Whether that was because Steve was so good at cars or whether Soda attracted girls like honey attracts flies, no one knew.
Two- Bit Mathews was the wisecracker of the bunch. He is about six feet tall, stocky in build, and very proud of his long rusty- colored sideburns. He has gray eyes and a wide grin, and he couldn't stop making funny remarks to save his life. You couldn't shut up that guy, he always had to get his two- bits in. Life was one big joke to Two- Bit. He was famous for shoplifting and his black- handled switchblade, and he was always smarting off to the cops. He likes fights, blondes, and for some unfathomable reason, school. He was stilla junior at eighteen and a halfand he never learns anything. He just goes for kicks.
Dallas Winston, Dally, had an elfish face, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears like a lynx. His hair was almost white it was so blonde, and he didn't like haircuts, or hair oil either. His eyes were blue, blazing ice, cold with hatred of the whole world. Meagan is the only one he loves enough to protect.
Johnny Cade was not like the rest of the gang. He was practically scared of his own shadow since the socs jumped him. It didn't help that his dad beat him and his mom ignored him. He was the gang's pet, everyone's kid- brother.
The whole gang had accepted Meagan as another pet. She was also beaten by her dad and was usually found sleeping on the Curtis' couch or armchair in the morning. Steve hated the way his little sister was treated but was powerless ot help her.
Ponyboy wiped his tears. "Didya catch 'em?"
"Nup. They got away this time, the dirty..." Two- Bit started calling the socs a few chosen words.
"The kid's okay?"
"I'm okay." Ponyboy was starting to get irritated with everyone asking that. "I didn't know you were out of the cooler yet, Dally."
"Good behavior, got off early." Everyone but Meagan lit a cigarette and sat down.
"Nice lookin' bruise you got there, kid."
"Really?"
Two- Bit nodded. "Nice cut, too. Makes you look tough."
"What were you doin' walkin' by your lonesome?" steve inquired.
"I was walking home from the movies. I didn't think..."
"You don't ever think," darry interrupted, "not at hom, or anywhere when it counts." Darry went on yelling at Ponyboy. Meagan leaned against Steve's arm and closed her eyes. She hadn't slept well last night because of her dad.
Meagan heard her name and opened her eyes. Dally was asking who wanted to go to the movies.
"I can't, I'm riding in the rodeo." Everyone looked at her. "What?"
"Meagan, I don't think your in any condition to be barrel racing. Afte the way you came to our house last night. Soda was genuinely worried.
Meagan had limped into the curtis' living room at 11:30 at night. She had marks on her back and stomach and had sprained her ankle running away from her dad. The entire gang except Johnny had been there. They had to restrain Steve and Dally from going and beating her dad to a bloody pulp.
"I agree with Soda. Your in no condition."
"But..."
"Meagan, no."
"Fine."
"What happened?" Johnny was really confused. He had been in the lot sleeping at the time.
"Meagan got hurt. That's it." Suddenly, Johnny understood.
"Oohh, I'm sorry Meagan."
"It's okay Johnny." Meagan swiped at some tears as she closed her eyes again.