Chapter 3: Flashback

The week ended pretty fast and the weekend came. The next coming week would be the week of Danny's birthday. He couldn't wait. Over the weekend, Danny and co. went to a school basketball game. Houston met up with his girlfriend and sat with her the entire game. Mariah couldn't come because her family was having guests over. Steve also decided to take the kids to school every morning. At the basketball game, he and Jack were getting some snacks. Danny then asked Jack something that had been on his mind for months.

"Jack."

"Hm."

"Tell me detail by detail what had happened after I had got shot."

Jack stood there for a second. He sighed and started.

"Alright. After you took the bullet for Trix. He went right down into the ground beside you. Yelling for you to wake up. Me and everyone else were frozen. I looked at Matt and he was smiling. That was a stupid idea though. There were cops all around him. As they were arresting him. We all surrounded you and your dad. I swear cuz. You looked dead just lying there with blood on your shirt. Houston then broke away from the group and ran towards Matt. The cops blocked him and Ponyboy ran up to him and pulled him back. I swear. I had never seen him look that crazy. The ambulance came and rushed you to the hospital. We were all there in the waiting room. Rachel and Cathy were sitting next to each other crying. Houston cried himself to sleep in Ponyboy's lap. Soda, Uncle Darry, Two-Bit and Steve were just sitting there calming each other down. Man, you should have seen your dad. He looked like he was gonna kill someone. The doctor said you were critical at one point, but he came later on and said you'll be okay. Trix went up to the room and pretty soon he came back and told us you had woken up."

Danny sat there nodding his head. He had never had this much drama back in ATL. The game was over and Danny's school totaled the other team.

That Monday as he was waiting for Steve's car to show up, he thought how this birthday would be a lot more different. Back in Atlanta, he was poor, but could still get decent stuff for his birthday and Christmas. He usually only got two or three presents. Two would be from his mom and Alex, but the other would be a girlfriend if he were going out with someone at the time. But this year he was surrounded by family and friends. Plus, they all had some nice amount of money.

Steve's car showed up and Danny hopped in. They drove to the school and dropped them off.

When Danny was walking down the hall, he met up with Maria.

"I see you're a lot more excited about your birthday," she said smiling.

Danny smiled back.

"You know it."

Suddenly a crowd of kids started running down the hallway. Danny and Maria looked at each other. Something was going on. They both ran down the hallway and found a giant crowd around two people. Danny pushed his way through the crowd and saw Rachel. She was shouting with Addy Wilson.

"All right, break it up!" a teacher shouted and everyone calmed down. He escorted both Addy and Rachel to the office. Maria looked at Danny.

"What was all that about?" asked Maria. Danny shrugged.

"Not sure."

Keith then came up.

"Those two ladies have been going at it for about a week now."

Danny rolled his eyes.

"Great. First me, now Rachel has beef with some chick. Is she a soc?"

"Yup."

"Well that answers the question," said Maria. "I've got to get to class. See you guys later."

Danny and Keith walked to class. Their classes were right next to each other.

"Do you think there's gonna be another beef?" asked Danny.

"Hope not. I don't think Pony would like it if his only daughter took a bullet."

Danny laughed and walked inside his classroom.

That afternoon when he was in Two-Bit's car, he was the first one there. Houston came next.

"Where's your sister?" asked Danny.

"I'm not sure. I know Jack is walking with her. Making sure she doesn't get into any trouble."

"What happened?" asked Two-Bit turning around. Danny answered him.

"She was arguing with some chick this morning. Keith says they've been doing that lately."

A couple of minutes later, Jack and Rachel came walking up to them. As they got in Two-Bit asked,

"What's the punishment?"

"I have detention tomorrow," she said with no emotion.

"What were you guys arguing about?" asked Houston.

"She had the nerve to say I stink at sports when she didn't play because she was nervous about her nails!"

"Soc chicks," said Danny smiling and shaking his head.

Keith showed up finally and they drove off. Two-Bit was about to hit the gas but Rachel yelled,

"Don't even try it."

"Okay, okay. Don't spaz."

Danny went up to his house but then remembered something. He forgot to check his mail yesterday. He ran to the mailbox and checked it. There was none. He was hectic about the mail because he wanted to hear from Alex. Over time, he started calling him by his first name. He mom didn't know his last name so he had to say his first. He had just gotten used to it. Danny didn't sweat it though. He was probably gonna surprise him with something on his birthday.