Ale Curtis Carter. You know me better than that. Just like what FlaminSquirrelz said (see reviews). I like my information to be truthful, and that was a little trivia I ran into a while ago. But I understand what you're saying. Now, on with the story.

Chapter 6: New One

At gym, Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit to had to run. They were talking while they were doing it. Soda looked at Steve. He looked disgusted. He hated to run.

"What's wrong, Steve? Can't keep up?" teased Soda.

"You know just as well that I'm not slow," retaliated Steve.

"I can keep up," cut in Two-Bit. "Look."

Two-Bit turned around and attempted to run backwards, even though it was slowing him down a lot. He really slowed down when he ran into wall. Forgetting that there was a turn.

Sodapop and Steve laughed and ran to go help Two-Bit up.

"You okay?" asked Steve smiling.

Two-Bit looked up in a grin.

"I'm fine."

Sodapop and Steve liked this guy. The coach noticed Two-Bit's little crash and called him over to yell at him. Two-Bit ran over there smiling.

"Do you think we should take him to the rodeo too?" asked Steve.

Steve had to think about that question. He really wanted to be alone with Soda. He was his best friend for goodness sakes. Then he thought more. It really didn't matter. Darry and Ponyboy were going with them. The more the merrier, he guessed.

"If he wants to go, he can," he said.

Two-Bit jogged back over to Steve and Soda.

"Get in trouble?" asked Soda.

"He gave me a warning at first. But I've got detention for not holding in my laughter."

"Hey. Do you like rodeos?" asked Sodapop.

"Yeah. I've seen them once," answered Two-Bit. All three finished their runs and went to sit down on the floor next to the wall.

"We're going to one on Saturday. Wanta come?"

"Yeah. I'll ask my mom. I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Alright."

After school, they all were walking outside of the school.

"I gotta take my sister home," said Two-Bit pointing his thumb like a hitchhiker. "I'll see you two tomorrow."

"Yeah. I'm gonna go ahead home. See you Soda."

"Okay. Bye guys."

Soda watched his two friends walking off and Soda saw his ride approaching him. He climbed in. Darry was driving this time. He had only turned sixteen at the end of the summer. Ponyboy was sitting in the front this time.

"Steve's not coming over again?" asked Darry.

"No. He had to go home. Do you mind taking one extra person to the rodeo?"

"Who?" asked Darry.

"Me and Steve just met him. His name is Keith, but we call him Two-Bit."

"Two-Bit?" asked Ponyboy.

Soda smiled.

"You'll know why when you guys meet him."

"I guess so. Dad said I could take the truck."

Soda put his seatbelt on, with Darry's command.

Steve walked into his home. His dad had gotten home and greeted him when he walked through.

"Hey," said Steve quietly. His dad tried to make conversation.

"Doing anything this weekend?" he asked. Steve turned around.

"I'm going to a rodeo with friends."

"Okay. Um……Have fun."

Steve just walked into his room. His dad didn't really know any of his friends.

Saturday came quickly and they all met at the Curtis house. Steve and Two-Bit were waiting outside.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" asked Darry.

"Of course," said Mr. Curtis waving his hand around. "Your mother and I need some alone time," he said in a slow voice. Mrs. Curtis smiled and looked at her husband.

"Yes we do," she said in a formal type of voice. She then kissed in on his lips.

"Aw come on!" laughed Soda.

"What are they going to do?" asked Ponyboy looking at his brothers.

"Uhhh…We'll tell you when you're older," said Darry.

"You guys won't tell me anything until I'm older," said Ponyboy.

The three walked outside and met the two friends. Ponyboy and Darry had already met Two-Bit yesterday. On the way to the rodeo, a car pulled up next to the truck. The diver was signaling to roll his window down. Darry rolled his window down.

"Wanta drag race?" asked the driver.

"No," said Darry.

"C'mon," said the driver. "You're scared?"

"No."

"Then let's go."

"Fine."

They both looked at the light. The light then turned green and the other driver took off. Darry let him pass and turned the corner. There was no way in the world Darry was going to race that nut. Steve liked the way that car looked though. He was doing very well in auto-mechanics and he had never seen a drag race before. He wanted to try it sometime.

They all went to the rodeo. Darry got to know everyone pretty well. So did Ponyboy. He really liked Two-Bit. Two-Bit reminded him of Soda. Except Soda was more of a brother.

The rodeo went on, but ended a while early, because it started to rain. They all ran and got into the truck, dripping with rain.

"I hope mom doesn't make us clean this," pointed out Soda.

Everyone was going to relax at the Curtis house since it was still early. It was raining pretty hard. They reached the house and Darry walked in. He stopped a little while after getting in. He just about blocked everyone else's path. Soda leaned to the left and Steve leaned to the right. Mrs. Curtis was sitting on the couch with a boy. He had a towel wrapped around him.

"Who is this?" asked Darry.

"He was outside in the rain. In the vacant lot. Can you boys help me in the kitchen?"

They all walked into the kitchen, crowding the small room. Mrs. Curtis was wiping her hands.

"I don't know much about the boy. But he looked like he had been through a lot. I want you guys to talk to him."

"Okay," said Darry before anyone could respond. Soda wanted to speak to the kid. He noticed he had a black-eye. He felt sorry for him. Steve just hoped he wasn't another kid like Pony. They all walked in the den and sat around the kid. He looked at them like a hurt animal.

"Are you okay?" asked Darry.

The kid nodded. Everyone just about felt sorry for him then. He looked like he had just been jumped.

"So…What's your name?" asked Sodapop.

The kid was cold, he could barely answer the question.

"J-J-Jo- Johnny Cade."