Chapter 18: Wrong

Louis, Johnny, and Two-Bit walked over to the Dingo. Two-Bit met Kathy over there and started to talk to her. While he was in his conversation, Johnny and Louis sat down by themselves. Kathy noticed Louis and asked Two-Bit.

"Two-Bit, whose that?"

Two-Bit turned around and then looked at his girlfriend.

"Who?"

"The kid sitting beside your friend, um… Johnny."

Two-Bit turned around again and saw that she was mentioning Louis.

"Oh. Him. That's Louis. Darry found him walking down the street a week ago. Darry said that he couldn't read, so his brother, Ponyboy is teaching him. It's weird though. He hasn't told anyone where he's from or anything about him. Well, he might have told Johnny. They hang around a lot."

Kathy looked at the guy. He looked so innocent. Kind of like Johnny. While Two-Bit and Kathy were talking, Johnny and Louis were doing the same.

"Hey Johnny?" asked Louis.

"Yeah."

"Well, Ponyboy didn't tell me much about everyone else in the gang. I don't know much about everyone else. I guess it's because me and you have become good friends. Do you think you can tell me more about the guys?"

"Uh. Sure. Let me think."

Johnny thought for a moment. What about the gang? He decided to start with Ponyboy.

"Well, Ponyboy likes to read a lot. I think it's because Darry makes him. He's pretty cool to hang out with. He can only do it on the weekends though. Darry wants to make sure he stays in school."

"How come you don't go to school?"

Johnny had saddened a little, but he didn't show it.

"I don't go, because the teaching is too fast. Well, that's what Ponyboy says. I didn't really care for the teachers. Some of them were nice but a lot of them got mad with me when I couldn't get the stuff right. It took me a while to get things."

Louis nodded.

"I never went to school. We didn't have the money."

'We'. That reminded Louis of his mom. The image of her lying on the floor bleeding flashed through his mind. Tears then started streaming down his face.

"Louis! Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine."

Louis wiped his eyes quickly. Johnny understood. He hated Louis' past also. He needed someone to actually be his friend. Dally was a good bodyguard too.

Right then, Two-Bit walked over to them.

"Hey. I'm about to leave. Y'all coming?"

Both Johnny and Louis got up and followed him outside. They realized how short the day had been. It was already dark outside. There were alleys around and Two-Bit said it would be safer walking down the middle of the street. There were no cars around anyway. While they were walking, Two-Bit was telling the two guys a joke. But right then in the middle of the joke, Louis stopped.

Two-Bit and Johnny almost left him. They both turned around to look at him. Louis was frozen and wide eyed.

"What's wrong kid?" asked Two-Bit. He had no idea what was going on. Louis just kept staring straight ahead. Not budging. Johnny turned back around and looked up the street and nearly froze himself.

The car that they saw the night him and Louis were sleeping in the lot, was right up the street. The engine still running. Two-Bit noticed Johnny frozen and looked up the street.

"What's wrong? All I see is a car."

Louis snapped back into reality and ran the opposite way. Two-Bit had no idea what was wrong as he called out Louis' name. Johnny was still facing the car. He reached into his back pocket and flipped out his switchblade. The car then started up and zoomed towards the two greasers.

"Whoa!" yelled Two-Bit as he yanked Johnny out of harms way. Johnny dropped his blade and the two hit the sidewalk. The car was still zooming down the street. Johnny jumped back up and grabbed his blade.

He then chased the car like a dog. Two-Bit jumped up also and chased after Johnny calling his name.

Louis was still running down the street. He turned a corner a while back. He turned his head and saw the car turning the corner. Fear rose throughout his body as he kept running.

Meanwhile, Dally was still looking for the Louis and Johnny. He had been searching all day. He was gonna give up and go to Buck's for the money. When he suddenly heard footsteps pounding the ground. He turned around to see Louis running towards him like the devil was after him.

"Louis?" he yelled.

Louis looked in his direction and saw Dally. He ran towards his bodyguard. He reached him breathing hard.

"What's wrong?" demanded Dally shaking Louis.

"Someone's after me in a car!"

Dally looked up and the car speeding towards the both of them. Dally pushed himself and Louis out of harms way. Dally hit the side and let go of his grip on Louis. Louis tumbled on the sidewalk. The car had hit the brakes while turning as it skidded to a stop.

Dally got up and ran towards the car. He yanked open the door and pulled the driver out. He slammed him onto the ground and started punching the daylights out of him. He stopped punching him and looked at the guy. He was a soc. He nose was bleeding badly.

Dally still had the guys collar in his grip. Louis got up and ran to the two teenagers. It wasn't Drake. It was someone else.

Before Louis could say anything, the sound of sirens rang throughout the area. Two police cars came rolling down the street. And four cops got out drawing their guns yelling

"Freeze!"

Dally then realized that the image looked like he was beating up the soc. Dally quickly let go of the collar as the cops neared him.