I flung the front door open and trudged in from the cool October weather. Steve and Soda were hanging out in the living room. Soda seemed better, but he still looked weak. I guess he sensed something when I walked in, because when I didn't say hi he slowly got up and followed me.

"Hey, kid. What's going on?" He was trying to keep up with my long strides to our bedroom.

Without looking at him, I answered, "You should be lying down. You're going to hurt yourself."

"Ponyboy, turn around and look at me. I'll be fine. What's got you all uptight?"

I did as he requested. He did look alright, I guess. He still was struggling to stay upright.

"Nothing, I just had a long day." I turned back and walking into our bedroom, flopped onto my bed. Soda didn't follow me.

Hours later, I awoke to the normal sounds of our house. The music was blaring, someone was cooking dinner, the TV was on, and the general ruckus of laughter and swearing could be heard. I rolled off of my old bed, and it creaked and moaned at my movements. The sun had set already, and all the lights in the house were on. Two-bit, Steve, and Soda were playing cards, so I joined them.

I wasn't angry anymore. The sleep had taken off the sting, and I just forgot about the rest. Sarah was Sarah, and nothing would change that. I was sure of it.

"Dinner's ready, ya'll!" Darry was holding an empty skillet in his hand as he walked in the living room. "Hey, looks like the kid's up. Hi Pony."

"Hey Darry," I said, not bothering to look up.

The rest of the night was the normal kind of school night at the Curtis household. I did homework, Soda, Steve and Two-bit hung out, and Darry read the paper. Everything quieted down at around 10 o clock, and the three of us went to bed.

The next day I took it easy. Saturdays were always enjoyable, no matter what the week before had been like. After lunch, I decided to go out. Darry wouldn't be home for another 5 or so hours, and Steve would keep Sodapop company, so I could take my sweet time. Sprinting down Main Street, I felt the cool fall breeze on my face. It blew through my hair, and filled me with energy. Oklahoma wasn't the coldest state in the country, but we still got some cold fronts and chilly weather. My thin t-shirt didn't block any of the cold, so by the time I reached Sarah's house, I was a little chilly.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I got to their front walk. My worst nightmare was sitting there, calmly reading a book, on the front step. I seriously considered making a run for it, and pretending like I had been out for a jog, but his eyes lifted off the page before I could move a muscle. His eyebrows raised slightly, then changed to having one cocked up and the other down as he studied me. I prepared myself for the evil glare that always came after these expressions. I wasn't sure why this guy didn't like me, but I knew that if I wasn't careful, I'd end up in bad shape. So, I watched it when I was around him.

"Hello," Justin said, in an almost friendly manner.

Not wanting to offend him, I managed to get out a weak, "hey." I was thinking maybe he forgot who I was, and that boosted my confidence a little. "Is Sarah home?" I asked, praying that he didn't smash my face in. He scrutinized me for a minute before replying.

"No, Ponyboy Curtis, she's out with Brie." So much for him forgetting who I was.

"Oh," I turned to walk away, but he continued.

"I'm glad you stopped by, though," I thought I sensed a hint of evil in his voice. "I've wanted to talk to you." I froze. I felt myself break into a cold sweat. It dripped down my back, and my heart began racing.

"Uh, alright," I stuttered. "What do you want to talk about?" I stuck my thumbs in my pockets and slouched, hoping to look tougher than I felt. He closed his book and waved me over. Hesitating slightly, I walked over. I didn't sit on the step until he told me too. This close, he was even scarier than before. The thing that shocked me most was that, though I feared him like I would a soc, he didn't smell, dress, or look like one in the least bit. It was the middle of October and he was clad in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. There wasn't even a hint of tobacco or alcohol on him, which was a rarity in Tulsa.

"You and I have been briefly introduced, but nothing more, really." He spoke eloquently enough, but at the same time it was in a tone that made me want to listen. "So this is basically it: I want to know who you are, what you're about, and your feelings about my little sister."

"Your little sister?" I was puzzled.

"Sarah."

"But I thought you were her neighbor..."

He grinned crazily, and I thought I caught a look of almost approval, but there was also some malice. "This is true. We are neighbors. But I look out for her, and so she is my little sister. It's like an unwritten law. So, tell me, what are you about?"

I stayed silent for a moment. "Uh... I don't know what you mean."

"What do you do, Ponyboy? What are your grades in school?"

"They're average, mostly A's and B's. I run track, too. Brie and I are on the same team." I was hoping that would please him, but it didn't.

"And what about outside of school? What are your friends like? And your parents?"

His last question hit me like an ice block right in the chest. I felt the anger rise up inside me, but I fought to keep it down. The cold outside was nothing compared to the coldness I felt for the guy next to me at that moment.

"My parents are dead," I said dryly. "I live with my older brothers. They both work."

"Oh," he said, as if I had just said something about the weather. He allowed some silence, and then he continued. "How old are you, kid?" His tone had softened a little.

"15." He didn't pry about my parents or brothers anymore. Instead, he went straight to his climax.

"So why do you hang out with my sister?" It was a blunt question, one that caught me off guard.

"Uh, I-I," I stuttered, groping for words. "She's tuff in a different way. It's just... fun to be around her."

The look on his face told me he knew exactly what I meant, but he wasn't going to let me off easy.

"Fun to be around?" There went the eyebrow again. "What do you mean by that? Elaborate for me."

"Well..." I took a deep breath, not wanting to tell this guy a darn thing. "She's gold." That's all I said.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yes," he drawled slowly. There was a long pause as he sat there speculating me. I stared at the sidewalk, cursing myself for never wearing a jacket. My thoughts wandered, and a question presented itself to me. My brain will never stop amazing me on how persistent it gets.

"Aren't you cold?" It finally burst out of me, and I regretted asking right after. I must have sounded like a blasted pansy.

He laughed, long and almost evil. It was an amusing laugh, high pitched and low at the same time. "I don't get cold," he stated matter-of-factly, after the laughter subsided. At that moment, I couldn't place my feelings for this guy. I was afraid of him, sure, and part of me wanted to hate him. But there was another part of me that knew Sarah didn't call just anyone her big brother. There was a side to him, I could tell, that was interesting and hysterical. Besides, I could tell that he really did care about Sarah, in a brotherly way.

"Ever been out of Tulsa, Pony?" The question came out of nowhere, like he was trying to start an actual conversation.

"Yeah. My dad used to take me and my brothers hunting up in the country."

"That's tuff. What kind of gun did you use?"

I thought for a second. I had let myself forget about it, so the memories had been lying dormant. "It was a 20 gauge, I think."

"A 20 gauge? Tuff enough. I've never gone hunting."

"Oh." We sat in yet another silence. I was thinking it was time to go, but something kept me there. It was like an imaginary force was telling me to stay.

"Know much about God, Ponyboy?"

"A little. I've been to church a lot in my life. Not exactly every Sunday, but I'd go when I could."

"I see. I'm going to go ahead and tell you about God and relationships. You dig Sarah, don't lie and say you don't. I'll be honest; there are very few people in this town I'd trust with her. I've lived here a long time. Being in the middle class, I saw everything that went on without having to be in it. I know you're a greaser, and I know their reputations. But, you seem alright. But, just to be on the safe side, you're gonna sit here and listen to what I have to say. And, if I ever find out you've treated Sarah any less than she deserves, you'll have a lot to answer to. You dig?"

I gulped, "Yes."

"Alright, so, God and relationships..." He went on for a solid twenty minutes. I actually listened, and what he said was valid. He went over the creation of man and woman. He showed me in the gospel where Jesus said different things talking about how to treat your brothers and sisters in Christ. I was impressed with his knowledge, and actually didn't think he was asking too much.

The sun was almost below the horizon when I finally realized what time it was.

"Shoot! Darry'll beat the tar out of me if I'm late for supper again!" Justin gave me a look that seemed to be wondering what kind of brothers I had. I tried to calm down.

"Not literally. But I'll catch it for being late for supper. I do it too often."

The next thing he said was so strange and unexpected that I don't even believe it myself.

Looking as tough as he could, he asked, "Do you want me to give you a ride home?"

I was so shocked I swear my jaw dropped open. I didn't believe him. "No, I'll run. It's tuff."

He jingled his keys. "I'm heading your way anyway. Besides, I'm not going to be guilty of you getting beat. Let's go." I hesitated. "Now." I gave in. His tone was too commanding not to.

It wasn't a mustang or a corvette, but Justin's car was tuff. A red little Chevy with loud speakers and an engine that overheated now and again. I got in, and was glad to be getting a ride. I really hadn't felt like running all the way back. It was getting cold, and I was honestly kind of tired, though I would never have admitted it. When we got to my house, I thanked him and headed inside to a house full of the aromas of pizza from the little shop down town. Steve had ordered pizza. Sometimes I swear that's all he can do as far as food, order it, I mean. I took a deep breath, took off my shoes, and sat near Soda. Some people may have thought my house was too messy, or crazy, or poor. I didn't though. It was home to me, and I smiled in spite of myself

--I realized a few errors I had made as far as lining up with the events of last chapter, so I fixed them. This is the new and improved version of chapter 12--