Disclaimer: I only own Bleu.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 10: The Novel Begins~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soda and Steve dove for the couch and spread themselves out as Pony went into the kitchen. "Hey!" I cried, putting my hands on my hips, "Move over!"

Steve outstretched his hands. "Come sit on my lap!" he grinned. I did, because I didn't wanna sit on the floor AGAIN.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. "So what's new, sister?"

"Not much, brother," I replied, grinning. Brother and sister are our new nicknames for each other. Actually, I'm everyone's sister. Except for Two-Bit and Dally; they both call me babe, which I don't mind. But of course, Johnny and I have the best bond.

Ponyboy came out of the kitchen. "Hey, Bleu, wanna go see Frankenstein now?"

Two-Bit slapped his forehead. "Damn! Pony, I can't come with you guys today; I promised my mom I would watch Carla while she goes out. Sorry."

I remembered Two-Bit's little sister. She looked so much like him, and shared the same type of humor. She's a cute kid.

"That sucks, Two-Bit. Maybe next time," I said. I quickly ran upstairs and put on my jeans and baggy white hockey T-shirt over my bathing suit. I came back downstairs to see Pony and Darry talking; it looked like they were having an argument.

"Darry," Ponyboy said, walking towards the door, "We're gonna go, ok?"

"Alright, Ponyboy."

When we got outside Pony muttered a curse and lit up a cigarette. I turned to him, surprised. "What was that for?" I asked.

"I just don't get it. Sometimes it seems like Darry can't stand me."

I couldn't figure out what he was saying. Darry seemed to like Ponyboy just fine. "Oh, Pony," I put my arm around his shoulder, "Darry loves you!"

"Sure as hell doesn't seem like it," Pony retorted, and leaned against my shoulder.

We talked some before sitting down in the theater seats. Since it was still pretty light out, not many people where there.

I got up and made my way to the end of the aisle. "Hey Pony, I'm gonna go get some popcorn, you want anything?"

"Yeah, can you get me some too?" He handed me a quarter. "Thanks."

"No sweat."

In the popcorn line were a lot of Socs. I got some stares, mostly because of my wet hair. I don't think they took me for a greaser, because they pretty much left me alone. I paid for our popcorns and walked back to Pony.

I handed him his popcorn. "Here ya go, Pony."

"Thanks Bleu."

We watched the movie in silence. I had a feeling Ponyboy really got into these movies. I do too, usually, if it has a good plot and idea behind it. I enjoyed Frankenstein more this time than I did last time because I actually got to watch it now; before Dally and I were just fooling around.

The movie was relatively long, maybe two hours at the most. On our way back home Ponyboy told me a little about his lifestyle. He didn't like to go to movies with his friends, mostly because he likes to get into them (like I thought) and it's sort of like someone reading a book over your shoulder. He told me that no one else really digs movies, except maybe Johnny.

Then Ponyboy started to look around a lot. "We should have asked Darry to come get us," he whispered, "There's a red Corvair trailing us!"

By the look of Pony's face I knew he was scared to death. But I thought he was a pretty tough kid, and I asked him why he was so scared. His answer sent chills up my spine and made my blood run cold. "Johnny was beaten up really bad by some Socs just before you came," he said in a deadly whisper, "He was cut up something awful."

I suddenly remembered the scar I had found on Johnny when I was on the train. "Oh, my God!" I murmured.

I didn't even notice the five Socs come out of the car. I was too busy enraging at the fact some people beat up my best buddy in the whole world.

When I finally did become aware of the five Socs, they were mocking Ponyboy. "Hey grease," one of them said in a blue madras shirt, "We're gonna do you a favor, greaser. We're gonna cut all of that long greasy hair off."

One of the other Socs laughed and started to rack on him some more. "Yeah, you good-for-nothing bastard! We don't like you damn greasers."

I broke. I was a greaser too; a greaser with way too much dignity. If someone ever insults me or gets on my case, I give them a piece of my mind.

"Hey, you piece of shit!" I yelled, "Go back where you came from! Crawl back to whatever hell-hole you originated from!"

Blue madras man gave me a really cold stare. I really didn't think anything of it, because no one can match Dally's eyes. They're colder than the South Pole, for heaven's sakes.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here, boys? A greaser girl. A damn fine one too, I might add."

I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you get the hell outta here and leave my friend and I alone, scumbag!"

I felt strong hands grab my arms. "Let go!" I screamed, and tried to break free.

"You need to watch your mouth, young lady. Sounds like you've been hanging around that bastard Dally Winston, eh?" Blue Madras flicked out his switchblade and held it underneath my chin. "How would you like a haircut too, starting right below the chin?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Pony slug a couple Socs. "Leave us alone! Get outta here!"

When another Soc flicked out a switchblade and held it under Pony's chin, Ponyboy went wild and started screaming for his brothers. Hell, so did I. I had a pretty loud voice too.

Just in the nick of time I saw Darry and Soda punch numerous Socs. The Socs started to retreat, and the rest of our gang hurled rocks at their car.

Darry lifted Ponyboy up by his armpits and Johnny put his arm around my shoulder. Darry was shaking Pony something awful. "Are you ok?" he kept saying.

"Darry, I'm ok. Quit shaking me, I'm ok."

He stopped and apologized. Pony sat down and rubbed his bruised cheek. I guess in all of the scuffling one of the Socs slugged Ponyboy pretty good. I noticed he had a cut on the side of his head.

"Did they hurt you bad?" Darry asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Ponyboy looked like he was gonna let Niagara Falls loose, but he replied, "No, I'm ok."

Sodapop came running towards Pony and started to clean the side of his head with a handkerchief. "Whatta doin?" Pony asked.

"They cut you with a switchblade, Pony."

"They did?"

Soda showed him the handkerchief that had turned red. "Yup, see for yourself."

Niagara Falls was coming, and Soda must have seen it too because he put an arm around his little brother. "Easy, Ponyboy, they ain't gonna hurt you no more. You're an OK kid." Soda rubbed Pony's hair.

The rest of the gang was coming now. They all looked madder than hell. I guess every greaser does when dealing with Socs.

"Did you catch the Socs?" Pony asked, wiping his eyes.

"Naw, the bastards got away. Man, those Socs…" Two-Bit went on and called the Socs every cuss word he could think of. When he was done, he turned to Pony. "You ok, kid?"

"Yeah, I'm ok."

"That's a nice lookin' bruise, Ponyboy," Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yup. Tough cut too."

That seemed to lift Pony's spirit. But then everything came crashing down when Steve commented, "How come y'all were walking by yourselves?"

"We didn't think…"

"You don't ever think, do you Ponyboy?" Darry interrupted, "You don't think anywhere! How do you get those grades from school if you never use your head? You use your head about schoolwork, but never about common sense! When are you gonna start carrying a blade with ya?"

Pony just stared at his shoes, not saying a word. Soda stuck up for him by saying, "Hey, Darry, leave the kid alone! Him and Bleu didn't ask to get beat up by the damn Socs! If he had been carrying a blade, that would've been a good excuse to cut them both to ribbons!"

Darry looked impatient, but dropped it. Dally changed the subject by asking, "Hey, anyone wanna go over to the Nightly Double tomorrow and hunt some action?"

Steve shook his head. "Me and Soda are taking out Evie and Sandy tomorrow, so count the two of us out." I noticed that Steve gave Ponyboy a look when he said that. Pony just continued to stare at his shoes.

Darry sighed. "I'm working tomorrow night."

Dally looked at the rest of us and Pony said, "Yeah, me and Johnny'll come."

I declined. "I've seen two movies in two days. I'm gonna sit this one out."

Two-Bit also refused. "I was thinking of partyin' tomorrow night, but I might come around. Or keep Bleu company." He grinned and ruffled my hair.

We all walked back to the Curtis residence. Soda was beginning to give Darry a backrub, and Pony went upstairs. Darry asked if I wanted to spend the night again, and I agreed. After a while Johnny, Steve, Two-Bit and Dally went home.

          I was laying out the sheets when I overheard Pony and Darry talking upstairs. "You better go upstairs and finish your homework, Ponyboy. Spring break is over soon and you gotta go to school in a couple days."

          I nearly choked on my own spit. I totally forgot about school! Soda heard me gagging and rushed to my side.

          "Yo, Bleu, what's wrong?"

          "I forgot about school! What am I gonna do?"

          "Well, the school year is almost over, so you can sit this year out and go back next year."

          I sighed in relief. "Ok, that sounds good. I can call my grandfather tomorrow to get the money my parents left me." A dreadful chill ran down my spine and I bit my lip. I saw Soda open his mouth, but I cut him off. "I'm gonna go take a walk to the park and back, ok? I'll be back in like ten minutes."

          Soda closed his mouth and nodded. He ruffled my hair and started to finish making the bed on the couch for me. I kissed him on the cheek and headed out the door.

          It wasn't too chilly, so I got away with my short sleeve shirt and jeans. The park wasn't too far away, and when I got there I sat on top of the jungle gym.

          When you don't have anything better to do, your mind wanders and you start to think of things you thought you'd forgotten. I remembered how I had first gotten the nickname Bleu; there was this one period in my life when I was obsessed with the color blue. I painted my room that color, and I would only wear blue clothes. Johnny started to call me Blue at first, but I'm awful picky and I wanted to be different. I wrote out 'blue' and 'bleu' on a sheet of paper and circled 'bleu' ninety billion times before Johnny got the picture. I remembered visiting him and his friends for the first time and Johnny told his friends beforehand to call me Bleu.

          I chuckled to myself. I was a pretty wild kid back then; hell I still am now.

          I heard a bush rustling behind me and dropped to the ground. The jungle gym was shaped like a half circle, so I was inside of it. Who stepped out just then was the last person I'd ever expect.

Wow, are these chapters getting longer and longer or is it just me? Please Review!