Chapter 2: More of Them.

The next day, Ponyboy was in class. He was thinking of the night before. When suddenly, his teacher broke into his thoughts.

"Class. We have a new student. His name is Ricky Thompson."

The teacher pointed to a boy in the corner. I feeling jolted through Ponyboy. The boy had the same style of clothing like the guys that tried to jump him. All during the class, he was nervous. He could barely listen to what the teacher was saying. Every once in a while he would bat his eye to the corner to look at the guy. Pony wasn't exactly scared, he just wanted to make sure he wouldn't get jumped again.

After class, he walked outside. School was over. He walked around to the parking lot but when he got there Ricky confronted him.

"You're that grease that my brother tried to rob yesterday."

Pony hated to be called that. He kept his cool though.

"So. What do you want?"

"I might have to take your money now." A voice cut in.

"I guess you'll need more money to get a neat shirt with those neat pants."

Ricky looked up and saw Two-Bit walking towards them smiling.

Ricky smiled then.

"Your boys won't always protect you."

He walked off.

Ponyboy got into Two-Bit's car.

"Thanks," he said as Two-Bit got in.

They decided to drive around. They went to the drug store, and Two-Bit stole a pack of ciggarettes. They were for himself only. Ponyboy stopped smoking. It brought back memories of the fire. When they were driving out of the store, Ponyboy noticed something in the rear-view mirror.

"Two-Bit, a car has been tailing us for a while."

Two-Bit looked back.

"I ain't a soc car. Let's just get you home."

Pony shook his head.

"No. If you drop me off at my house, whoever is after us will know where I live. I think it's that new gang."

Two-Bit looked at him.

"How do you know about the new gang?"

He possibly couldn't have heard him when they were asleep.

"Curly told me at school today."

Two-Bit decided to pull up near an alley.

"What are you stopping for?" asked Ponyboy.

"I'm not paying for extra gas. Plus, I'm gonna see what these people want."

They got out the car and stood next to the car. The car tailing them came to a halt. Three guys came out. Two were medium, one was Ricky.

"Get in the alley!" one of them yelled. "We're gonna show you not to mess with anyone whose a I.B.K."

"So that's what you guys are called," spoke Two-Bit walking into the alley. "I wonder what that would stand for."

One of the other guys smiled,

"You'll never find out."

They started to walk towards Pony and Two-Bit while they were in the alley. A fight started. Pony went for Ricky and they were trading punches. The other guy was about to walk towards Pony to jump him, but Two-Bit was beating the crap out of the other guy. He decided to help him out. But he didn't help him out by trying to jump him. Pony knocked Ricky onto his back. Then Pony heard Two-Bit yell,

"Aw, God!"

Pony turned around but before he could see what the heck happened, Ricky hit Pony in the back of the head. He fell onto the ground holding his head. He looked up and saw the three guys over him.

"Now let's get this one."

"Do that and see what happens," yelled someone.

Ponyboy recognized it as Darry's voice and was, for once, glad of his yelling voice.

The three guys ran and climbed up the alley wall and ran off. Ponyboy got up and Soda helped him.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Where's Two-Bit."

"Over there."

The walked over there and Two-Bit was doubled up clutching his side. He was still breathing. He put his hand out and it was covered with blood. Pony then realized what happened.

They stabbed Two-Bit. Real bad.