Author's Note/Disclaimer:
Contrary to popular belief I do not own the Outsiders. I just wish I did. Meanwhile, it all belongs to S.E. Hinton with exception of Scarlet Rose and Audrey.
Sorry this update is so short. I meant to make it longer, but it didn't stretch out that way. Now I know some of these next few chapters sound like Johnny/Scarlet, but it's not. They're best friends, although I think I may have a plot twist somewhere in the next chapter about… ha, and you thought I was going to give it away!
Ale Curtis-Carter- I'm updating. Oh, Dally already knew about Curly because that's who Sylvia was cheating on him with and all that good jazz. For now Steve knows nothing.

OTHlover04- That's why I love you.

Volleyballlover- I can't remember if I cliffied this story yet or not. I probably did and didn't realize it. However, I like writing cliffhangers and watching you writhe in pain. Just kidding. Update soon!

Stayingold88- I liked your cliffies too. You keep me on the edge of my seat and then I want to cry because I don't know what happens next. And I update therefore you must love, or something along those lines…

Duckie- Was this soon enough? Hope so!

HazleSilver- Reviewed your story and I really loff it. You'd better update as soon as you can keed. Also, let me know how the Whit thing goes.

Chapter Six

I opened my eyes, rolled over, and coughed up water. The air was freezing and it took me a minute to realize I was soaking wet.

"Pony?" I called meekly. "Johnny?"

I heard someone shaking next to me so I glanced over. It was Johnny, wide eyed and looking like he'd seen a ghost. His lip was trembling fiercely. I followed his gaze and shut my eyes quickly.

Bob was lying in a pool of blood and he wasn't moving at all.

"I killed 'im." Johnny whispered as Pony woke up. "I killed that boy."

"Oh Johnny." I breathed. I couldn't move. All at once I felt dizzy and sick and I wasn't the only one.

"Johnny," Pony groaned. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"'S'alright man. I ain't gonna look at you." Johnny assured him. I choked back the tears that were threatening to fall again.

"I'll be right back." The voice that came out didn't sound like my own and it scared me. It sounded like a robot or something.

I stood up and slowly made my over to the spider. Instead of picking up my bag I dropped to my knees and let myself be sick.

Walking back over my head began throbbing. I touched the back of it and winced. There was a small bump, probably from where I hit it. My knees and hands hurt pretty badly too, but I ignored those.

Johnny and Pony were sitting on the merry-go-round. I ignored the spot where Pony had been sick and sat down next to them, shivering.

"You really did kill him, huh Johnny?" Pony chattered. He was just as bad as I was, if not a little worse.

"I had to man. They were drowning you and they were beating me up. And I thought they had killed Scarlet when she stopped moving. Those other guys didn't stick around too long." Johnny sighed a little and wiped his blade on the grass.

"We have to go somewhere. I'll bet anything the fuzz is gonna show up around here soon." I said, surveying the scene in front of me. Funny to think that a little while ago my biggest problem was that my boyfriend was cheating on me.

"Get up Scarlet, we're going to Buck's place." Pony commanded gently, shaking me out of my thoughts. A kind of funny thought popped into my head. We were running away after all.

"Why Buck's? What's he gonna do?"

"Dally's bound to be there."

We walked quietly to Buck's place. None of us felt like talking and even if we did there was nothing we could say to reassure the others. When we finally got there I was relieved. Every passing car was a police officer, every moving shadow a Soc ready to finish the job.

Johnny knocked on the door and Buck answered. In the back I could hear Hank Williams playing and girls giggling. Buck was always having some kind of party. I didn't like him all that much because he tried to act tuff because he was a rodeo rider.

"What d'you want?" He demanded, in his hick accent. I shuddered a little.

"We need to talk to Dally!" Johnny exclaimed, trying not to act suspicious.

Buck stared at us for a minute and I thought about how funny we must look. He looked back into the party and then at us again.

"He's busy."

"Tell him it's Johnny, Scarlet, and Pony, man. He'll come."

Buck nodded and closed the door. Johnny and Pony went to press their faces against a dirty window while I leaned against the railing. I wished that Dally would hurry. It was freezing cold and I really wanted to go to sleep and forget all about this.

Finally the door swung open again and Dally stood there, staring at us.

"What do you guys want?"

"Johnny killed a Soc." Pony burst.

"Alright, good for you. Get in here."

"I figured if anyone could get us out, Dal it would be you. I'm sorry to get you away from this party and all, but I didn't know- know what to do." Johnny admitted.

"No, I was sleeping. I got in a fight with Tim Shepard tonight. Pony, Scarlet, are you wet?

"A little." I admitted, although I was soaked.

"C'mon Pony. You'll die of pneumonia 'fore the cops ever get to you." Dally yanked Ponyboy up the stairs.

We followed him to the bedroom he was using and sat on the bed.

"Got a weed?" Johnny asked. He wasn't shaking and nervous anymore. In fact, he seemed calmer than I've ever seen him in my life. Dally handed him one and he lit it up.

"Here Scarlet. They might be a little big on you, but they're dry." Dally said, handing me a pair of old jeans and a big shirt.

"I'm going over here. No one look." I warned, moving to the corner where I turned to face the wall and changed my shirt and then my skirt to jeans. I wished I had dry clothes to put on under those, but I would save those for wherever we were going.

"Alright, here's what you do," Dally instructed when I rejoined them. I caught Johnny tucking something into his pocket. "Take the 3:15 to Windrixville. There's an abandoned church on top of Jay Mountain. Get a week supply of food with the money I gave you, but after that don't so much as stick your nose out."

"You're not going to tell Steve are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"And get my head kicked in? No, I won't tell him." Dally said. I nodded, scared out of my mind.

"Thanks Dal. And uhm, sorry I didn't listen to you." I apologized. He nodded knowingly.

He led us out of the Buck's place and then we were on our own.

We snuck into the train yard and made sure the railway guards were a few cars down before we ran and eased our way into the car. When they passed by us and flashed their lights into the car I grabbed Johnny's hand and squeezed it hard. This was turning into one hell of a night.

As soon as the train started moving I sat down between Ponyboy and Johnny, resting my head on Pony's shoulder and falling asleep faster than I thought I would.