Chapter 9: Trouble and Surprises

The weekend went on by and the teenagers returned to school. While opening his locker, Danny noticed some socs following Houston around. Looks like it was time to play hero again. He put his books into his locker and ran up to Houston. The socs had confronted him.

"Don't you guys get tired of this?" said Danny walking up beside Houston.

"Not now grease. This is personal."

"What's so personal?" I said.

"This little greaser is going out with my sister. She deserves better."

"What is that supposed to mean? She chose to be with him!"

"She doesn't deserve a piece of trash like you guys!"

"Why don't you shut-up the trash you're talking and keep it moving. If she wants to be with my cousin, then don't worry about it!"

The soc was quiet and then he retaliated to Houston,

"You'll be sorry greaser! You better be lucky we're in school."

As the socs walked off, Danny tried to comfort the scared Houston,

"Everything will be fine. I'll be by your side."

Danny told Rachel, Jack and Keith about what happened and said to keep an eye on him. They did so. When school was over, Danny was talking to Maria about what happened.

"That's so unfair!" she protested. "If she like him, and he likes her, then there's nothing wrong with it."

"That's exactly what I told them. My cousins and friend are gonna keep an eye out on him. Rachel was real mad when I told her about it."

"Yeah. Before you came, she stood up for him. Espeacially since it was her ex. That was some luck too. I know Matt wouldn't have the decency to hit a woman."
"Who?"

"Matt. That's the guys name."

"Oh. So the date's Friday?"

"Yup. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

He ran up to Jack and Houston as they were getting into Two-Bit's car. He sat down beside Houston.

"You alright kid?"

Houston nodded his head. Rachel and Keith got in and Two-Bit started the car. By the time Rachel and Keith showed up there was one big empty space in the parking lot. Two-Bit then got an idea and drove towards the space. No one else was paying attention to what he was doing. He then did a donut and Keith screamed, Jack grabbed the door handle, Rachel grabbed her younger brother, Houston grabbed his sister and Danny clutched his seatbelt. Two-Bit stopped the car laughing and Rachel yelled out,

"Don't play like that!"

Danny, Houston and Keith stayed in the car when they reached the Curtis house. Danny was going over Two-Bit and Keith's house for a rematch in poker. Keith wanted his money back and Houston wanted to watch. It was 6:00 when they finally left. Keith lost even more money. On the way back, Houston kept looking behind him.

"What's up?" Danny asked.

"I've just got a feeling," answered Houston.

He was shaking by now. They were near the lot when Houston had jumped up and turned around again. But it was different this time. Danny had felt someone was there and turned around. There were four socs walking towards them. Danny knew they were coming for Houston.

"Houston! Go!" Danny yelled but Houston was frozen. The socs were a lot closer now.

"I said go!"

Houston snapped back into reality and ran towards the house. Danny picked up a wood plank near the wall and started swinging. He was holding off the socs pretty good. He knocked them all onto the ground and backed up a little. Suddenly he felt something hard hit the back of his head. He blacked out.

He awoke seconds later to see he was on a stretcher. He was still in the lot. Danny looked around and saw his family staring at him. Soda was in front, his eyes were wide. He then spoke.

"Stay with us Danny. You have to. We have a surprise for you."

Danny looked behind everyone and saw a figure looking at him. Before he could ask who he was, he passed out.

When he woke up again it was night. Danny felt something on his head. He reached up and felt a bandage on his head. The soc must have clocked him upside the head with something hard. And it hurt. He looked around and saw Ponyboy and Sodapop asleep in the armchairs. They looked beat, so Danny didn't bother to wake them up. He decided to just go back to sleep. He wanted to know what his surprise was.

When he woke up again, Soda and Pony were in the room watching television.

"Hey guys."

They turned around at the same time and smiled.

"Geez kid. You had everyone freaked," said Ponyboy. Danny answered back,

"Y'all shouldn't worry. I'm a Curtis ain't I?"

"That's the truth," said Ponyboy.

Danny then remembered something.

"Soda. What surprise were you talking about?"

"Oh yeah! Hold on."

Both Ponyboy and Soda walked out of the room. 'It must be big if it took both of them' thought Danny.

A few minutes later, the knob on the door turned and a man entered.

Danny froze for a minute. Then he remembered a picture his mother had given him and he instantly recognized the guy. Trix was standing at the door. His dad was back.