Disclaimer: I don't own the outsiders. I do own Matt. As much as I need cash, I am making no money off of this.

Chapter Nine
PARTY!

Nate started work at the DX the following day. He was really grateful to receive that job. It seems that none of his job interviews had worked out.

I went to school the next day. As always, I was still wary of the socs, but I felt a little better knowing that I could at least defend myself in a fair fight. But, I had to keep reminding myself, the socs almost never fought fair. So I dared not get too bold.

The days came and went, just as they always did, and I was finally feeling like things were getting back to normal. But I was always relieved when the bell rang to go home.

I met Ponyboy on the front steps of the school. "Come on," I told him. "We're going to do our homework at my house. I don't think that I'd be able to do another assignment with Pomegranate Man." I reached into my school bag and pulled out my psychology assignment. A D-. Nate was gonna kill me.

Ponyboy stifled a laugh.

"I'd like to see what Darry'd do to you if you made a grade like this," I said coldly.

Pony dropped the subject, then said, "So where do you live, anyway?" he asked. "Not too far I hope. Darry's gonna kill me if I go too far away from home and come back after curfew." He shuddered at the mere thought.

"No, I just live down the street from you guys."

"Really?" asked Pony. "I don't remember any of those houses bein' up for sale."

"Hm." I said. "Nate said that we got it real cheap."

"Oh."

"Here," I said. "It's right around the corner."

Pony and I approached my house. I could have sworn I heard him gasp.

"Somethin' wrong?" I asked confused.

"No," he said hastily. "No. Everything's fine. It's just… this house… it has a kinda… unpleasant past. A… friend of mine used to live here."

"Oh." I really didn't know what to say to that. So I just took the key out of my pocket and proceeded to unlock the door.

We sat at the table and did our homework for a while. But then the worst thing that could ever happen happened.

Two-bit came in.

"Oh no," I moaned. There was no way I was EVER going to get any of this work done.

But this time, he was not alone. Steve and Sodapop followed.

"Hey guys," said Pony, unconcerned. "What are you doin' here."

"Shift's over," said Steve.

"Took the day off," said Soda. "Nate was doin' enough work for the both of us anyway."

I nodded. That sounded just like Nate.

"And when we found the house empty, we figured that you were over at Matt's. We knew where it was, 'cause there was only one house up for sale that they could have bought," continued Soda.

"Now," said Two-bit, "There's only one thing left to do."

Oh no. Here it comes, I thought.

"We gotta throw you a WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY!"

And before another second passed, Two-bit had cranked up the radio and had raided the kitchen for every morsel of food we had.

Nate was going to ground me for life.

And by this time, even Pony was goin' crazy, dancin' to Elvis and the guys were wrestling with each other.

Then Steve took me off to one side to talk. He looked at me sternly. "Look kid," he said, cold eyes glaring at me. "I know what you did."

I nearly jumped out of my skin. He couldn't possibly know… "Know what?" I asked, trying my best to seem innocent.

"Cut it kid," he said. "I know it was you. Nate told me at work today. It's your fault Johnny and Dally died. It's your fault two of our best friends are dead. DEAD, Matt. Don't you understand that!"

"I lost a friend there too you know!" I yelled. "I lost all of mine."

"Well it was your own damn fault!" Steve yelled, and I was surprised that the rest of the gang couldn't hear him over the blarin' Elvis music. "You killed them man. You killed them all. You ever hurt us like that again, man, you're gonna die too. I'll see to it personally…"

"Please," I whispered, voice quaking. "Don't tell the others. Y'all are all I have left now."

Steve nodded. "But you put one toe out of line, you're dead."

Cautiously, I stepped back into the den, where the greasers were partying like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't believe that they could party this hard without booze.

But I was shaken up by Steve's talk, and it took a while before I was finally able to enjoy myself.

Nate came home a couple hours later. Seeing the mess, he yelled, "Jesus Christ, what the hell happened!"

"My friends came over," I said simply, and I passed out on the couch.

- - - - -

Hey y'all. I'd just like to thank my THREE, count 'em, only THREE reviewers. Thank y'all for bein' so faithful to me. But if you read the story please please please please review. Remember, flames accepted, just as long as they contain constructive critisism.

Hahukum Konn- Yep, Matt was actin' really dumb. But he's learned his lesson.

Darkdestiny2000- yep, you were right. Steve's gonna be keepin' a real close eye on Matt from now on.

Sodapop CurtisDX- I woulda run farther than Texas…. I'd have run to Alaska. Lol. Anyway, I think I'd die if I heard another Annie song…. Ugh.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!

Bookworm

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