Author's Note: HEY, it's me. Everyone who is still reading this, omg! I just got lazy and stopped for a while and people continued to review and I thought wow people still like this. I better give them something. Cause otherwise its just mean. So, please forgive me for the long pause. Hope you like. I've been real stumped and everything and I'm forcing this out for you guys. Tell me wut ya think. :D

Huge thanks goes out to the reviewers. YOU GUYS ROCK:

Oustider08: You were the last person to review and I think it was that last review that made me go 'well people want more so here it goes'. So thanks, for pushing me. And I hope this is a fast enough update.

FlipWise: LOL, you reviewed three times. I love it. Thanks for the wonderful comments they were real sweet and I hope this chappie is good. I miss the ol Two- bit too. :(

Two-Bitsgal: Lots of people don't seem to like my Keith. Lol. Well they like him but not really. Funny Two-bit sure beats Keith any day of the week tho. Keith is kinda like Dally, which is really scary cus I didn't want that but it happened. Thanks a lot for your review.

Mrs. Benji Madden: Hehe thanks for the review he he. I'm glad he he that you like the new two bit he he. Lol. I'm not making fun of you by going he he. I just hehe want to continue to the he he thing. You no, just so it doesn't he he stop. It's so he he weird and he he funny. He he. Enjoy the he he next chappie he he. Wow, after going he he so much it kinda makes your head all dizzy. He he.

Not-that-kinda-gurl: I no. Two-bit makes me sad now too. Stupid hot rusty hared greaser, bring down my story with his badass ways. Awe, who can be mad at him tho? He's so cute, for a fictional character tho. Lol.

Dreamer for lyf: ooooh, watch out. I'm gunna have the rest of the gang meet him soon. After you said that in your review, I was like hey I haven't had them meet him. So hes going to.

Jacky Higgins: Ohhh, I love that comment you said on the dialogue. That's so nice. I think its really hard to do dialogue and it never sounds good when someone forces the characters to say something they wouldn't. I'm glad im doing a good job and thanks for the review. Hope you like the next chapter.

Banana4422: Hey, thanks for reviewing. I cant believe its one of the best you've read. That makes me so happy. I no I didn't update soon either (lowers head in shame) but heres a chappie for you. By the by, for someone reason your name reminds me of ice cream. Just thought I should include that in here. Lol. Okay, enjoy.

WELL KIDS HERES ANOTHER CHAPTER. SORRY ONCE AGAIN FOR THE LONG WAIT.

Chapter 6:

The sun peeked through the dinning room curtains in the Curtis house. Darry was busying himself with breakfast, while his younger brothers awoke and showered. His back ached from the heavy loads he'd carried the day before and the stress of worrying about a close friend didn't help either. He raised a family, worked his ass off and now he had a friend a little bit more than confused wandering around Tulsa. Dallas had explained to all of them how bad Two-bit was acting and how he'd nearly taken Dally's leg off the other night with his car, but it just didn't make sense. He would have to see it for himself to actually believe that Two-bit was no longer the wisecrackin guy he always was.

"Pony! Have you seen my jeans?" Soda yelled from inside the shower. The water was still running but knowing the way he was, Sodapop had probably forgotten to turn off the taps.

"Hey, little buddy. You better turn them taps off in there or you can start paying the bills from now on."

"Sure thing Dar."

Sodapop emerged minutes later in nothing more than a towel. He leaned against the doorframe, eyes shut while the cool refreshing air caressed his face. Steam slipped past him and filled the kitchen, disappearing instantly. A puddle slowly began to form beneath his feet, while his hair continued to drip in long fat drops of water.

"What's up with him?" Pony snickered.

He'd been standing in front of his older brother for a while, watching as the greaser relaxed with eyes closed and still dripping water from head to toe.

"I'm napping" Soda mumbled.

"You just got up" Pony sighed opening the fridge door and pulling out a carton of chocolate milk.

The three Curtis brothers seated themselves comfortably around the house, each one occupied with their own morning routine. Unlocked as usual, the door shut with a resounding slam behind Dally and Steve as they made their way into the house. Steve headed immediately for the icebox, while Dallas flung himself across the old couch.

"Any of you see Two-bit the last couple a days?" He said, voice muffled beneath a cushion.

"Nope. Not since the hospital" Pony replied.

Dally could only nod. It was strange that he actually cared about Mathews. He never wondered where he was before. Shoot, Dallas Winston could care less whether or not Two-bit was lying in the middle of a street or asleep in his bed. Why did he worry now?

"Think maybe we should stop in at his house today?" Pony asked. He was sitting across from Dally, rocking back and fourth in an old wooden chair. Dallas shook his head, no, and replaced the pillow over his face. The others took that as a sign to leave Mr. Winston to his own devices for a while. And so they did.

Four blocks from the Curtis residence, dragging his feet across a stained sidewalk was Johnny. Long greasy bangs blocking out the bright rays from the sun, they did a better job than any sunglasses would. Good thing too because he couldn't afford them anyway. A crisp wind tickled his naked neck and snuck through the holes in his pale jeans. Worn down tennis shoes marked brown with blood; set off a series of crunches as they trampled across broken glass. The neighbor hood was quiet at the moment. No one seemed to be lurking in the alleys, save for the usual few people that were just recovering from an all night drink off.

Johnny sighed, feeling the uncomfortable loneliness starting to get to him. Walking around Tulsa, even in broad daylight was dangerous for any greaser. Heck, it didn't bother him much, to be by his lonesome but the way Two-bit had been acting lately was starting to get to him. His folks at home weren't helping much either, course they never helped with anything. Johnny tugged his jacket closer and picked his pace up a bit. The stillness of the streets, the eerie squeak of an empty swing moving back and fourth in the light breeze, it wasn't making him feel very confident. He should have gone with Dallas and Steve to Pony's instead of running out and getting his ol man some cigarettes.

"Hey, you."

Johnny tore his eyes from their spot on the ground and looked up. He could feel his legs buckling and he had to hook his fingers in the pocket of his jeans to stop his hands from shaking. Two brumly boys were stumbling around on cement path in front of him. Obviously still a bit drunk from the night before. Shaggy hair caressed their pasty faces from the trickling sweat.

"Hey, you."

The one with the lazy eye stepped away from his friend. Advancing slowly on the shorter greaser, he smiled, arms raised in an attacking position. 'oh, jeez,' was all Johnny could think of. Although his hands were dug firmly in place, pressed against the material of his pants, they still seemed to shake. They moved about, hitting the cool steal of his knife every so often. His knife.

"You better not try nothing"Johnny's voice came out in a non threatening whisper. The boy stopped, only a few feet from his prey and laughed. Golden strands of blonde fell away from his face, wet at the tips from where the sweat had been. Once the hair was removed, Johnny caught sight of the deep imprints of slashes across his cheeks. Memories of past fights lay imbedded within his skin. The sight of them sent ripples of fear through Johnny.

"Let me have it then" the boy antagonized. He cleared his throat, spitting on the ground in front of him. Johnny's fingers, clammy as they were tried to latch onto the handle of his switchblade. It eased out of his pocket barely within his grip as he did a swinging motion he'd often seen Two-bit use when pulling out his blade. Of course he wasn't Two-bit. Looking like an idiot, the blade emerged from his pocket and as Johnny's arm flailed about in an attempt to copy Two-bit the knife ended up on the ground. The clattering of steal rang out against the quiet backdrop.

"You see what he just did?" The second brumly boy, turned into hysterics behind his silent friend.

"You were gunna pull a blade on me?" Johnny looked from the blade, to the boy. It was too far to reach in time. The knife was closer to his opponent than it was to him.

"I wasn't gonna really mess you up. You being Dallas Winston's boy and allbut now after you pull your blade out. No way am I lettin that slide kiddo."

Johnny looked back to the blade. Before thinking, he dove to the cement. Hands out, he reached in mid air as his body began to descend. It didn't take much for even a brumly boy to realize what Johnny was doing. With a small jerk, the blonde hared boy thrust his foot forward. The tip of it collided with Johnny's chin and part of his neck. The greaser fell backwards. Heaving, he tried desperately to breathe while something hit harshly against his left cheek.

"Stupid punk" the boy cursed. Johnny could feel the two hoods looming over him, their shadows casting him into a frightening darkness. He tried to block out their hoarse voices and the sickening sound as their fists met with his face, but it was almost impossible to do. The pain wriggled through his body in waves of pain. It lasted for only a minute or so but to him it could have been an eternity. Only the shrill screeching of tires broke Johnny from his agony. Feet hit asphalt and someone's rough voice threatened the brumly boys from nearly across the street, and all Johnny could think was 'thank god Dallas showed up when he did.'

The two hoods took a minute to reflect, or gather their wits about them, and then take off with their tails between their legs. Johnny relaxed on the cement, waiting for Dallas' rough yet protecting hands to pull him to his feet, but they never came. Instead, embers from a lit cigarette fell on his open palm and then the cigarette itself, becoming crushed underneath a leather boot. A cowboy boot.

"Two-bit?" Johnny eased himself off the sidewalk and with a little discomfort brought himself to his feet. The rusty hared greaser stood in front of him. Black leather jacket hanging open, with the same bloodied t-shirt from the night he'd been jumped still clinging to his chest. It wasn't the most flattering ensemble. "Are those the same clothes from a couple nights ago?"

"What did I say before? It's Keith. And what if they are the same clothes?"

"Nothin" Johnny mumbled. Two-bit nodded and looked back to where his car was, parked diagonally across the streetjust waiting to start an accident.The redhead picked up the fallen blade, jerked it closed and tossed it to the still shaken up Johnny.

"I'd keep that close by next time." Johnny could only nod."You ain't to bright huh?"

"What?" he whispered.

"Well, you don't pick fights you sure as hell ain't gonna win. Fuck kid, are you stupid or something?" Two-bit motioned for Johnny to follow, and together they made their way to the car. Johnny trailed behind his friend, still unsure whether getting into a car with the new Matthews would be the wisest decision he ever made. Of course, the guy had save him from a beating he didn't need and getting into it with him now wasn't something he wanted.

The two of them drove in silence to the Curtis home. It was the weekend so of course they would all be inside relaxing, except maybe for Soda and Steve, if they had to work right then. Johnny hoped they did, he didn't want them to have to meet Two-bit like this, not just yet; Sodapop especially. Sodawas just too nice and caring, if he met Keith he'd probably get torn to shreds.

"Looks like the gangs all here" Two-bit drawled sarcastically while climbing out of the car.

Johnny made his way behind the older greaser and waited on the porch steps a moment or so, listening for Two-bit to make his grand entrance. The rusty hared boy, threw open the front door, letting it slam in Johnny's face before shouting in a sadistic voice that scared even Dallas Winston.

"Honey, I'm home."