Chapter 2: The Changing Night

A small black-haired sixteen-year old was sitting on the porch of a house. Inside the window, there were shadows of a man and a woman yelling at each other. The sixteen-year old just covered his ears, hoping that the shouting would not get to him. But it didn't work. He finally stood up and walked away from the house. The shouting was getting quieter, but he could still hear the adult's words clearly.

Three of his friends were no where to be found at that time. The other three were still at work. Something the boy could never get. He thought himself as stupid and he used to think that he was unwanted. Until he met his six friends, who showed him things that his parents never thought of showing.

He sometimes wondered how he lived to be sixteen. When he was a baby, did his hateful mother treat him as bad? Was she happy at one point in her life? And what about his dad? Was he just as violent?

The boy continued to walk towards a hang out he and the local teenagers called the lot. He remembered when he played football with his friends. They usually left the ball in the lot in a secret hiding place. He really couldn't remember where the joker of the gang put it.

He reached the lot and started looking for the football. He was going to practice a couple of kicks to pass time by. At least until everyone got off work or showed up. As he was looking for the football, a blue mustang was pulling up near him. The kid just about froze. A rich car, nobody around, and he was by himself. That only meant one thing. Socs were about to jump a greaser. The mustang stopped and four luxurious looking teenagers stepped out of the car. They were walking towards him.

The boy didn't waste any time. He jolted off to save himself. He could hear the voice and stamping of feet behind him. He continued to run. He desperately wanted someone to come. Ponyboy, Darry, Sodapop, Steve, Two-Bit, Dallas, anyone! The Curtis house was very close to here. And they kept their door unlocked. He could run in there and hide.

Before he could carry out the plan, weight toppled onto him and he hit the ground. He felt the dirt rub against his chin as he slid on the ground.

The soc on top of him lifted him up by his jacket. And just about dragged him to the other three socs.

"What should we do with this one?"

"I don't know. He isn't dirty enough."

"You suggest we add a little red to his clothing."

With that the soc punched the boy across the face and blood slang from his mouth. The blood collided with his jacket and created stains.

The socs talked more, but the boy wasn't going to stick around for another slug. He slipped out of the jacket and ran again. But he failed again when a soc grabbed his collar and slung him onto the ground. Another then stomped his foot right onto the stomach. Knocking every inch of breath out of him.

The boy doubled breathing hard. He looked like he needed an inhaler. The socs stood over him.

"Let's continue. Shall we?"

The boy looked at the socs. They reached down to pick him up again. As their hands were reaching him, the boy's eyes widened.

……….

"Well. What did they do?"
The man seemed to look in the other direction. As if it was too bad to describe.

"Passed out," he said quietly.

……..

The boy just laid there on the grass. He had felt every bit of pain that the socs did to him. His face felt like it had been ripped to shreds. His white T-shirt was wet. He could tell he had splattered blood all over him. He then heard stamping feet running towards him.

'Oh no' he thought. 'They're coming back for more.'

Someone turned him over, and the boy didn't dare open his eyes. It would hurt to do that anyway. He was hoping that if he would play dead, they would leave him alone. He pretty much wished he was dead though. He really wished he would have passed a long time ago. Whoever it was gave him a slight shake and said softly,

"Johnny?"

Then the person lifted him and let him lay against his shoulder. He said once again.

"Hey, Johnnycake."

Johnny knew who that was, he recognized that voice. That soft, comforting voice. He barely got out of his hurt mouth,

"Soda?"

"Yeah, it's me. Don't talk. You're gonna be okay."

"There was a whole bunch of them, a blue mustang full. I got scared….."

Very soon, Johnny found himself being carried and put into a car. He heard Soda's voice again.

"It's gonna be fine Johnny. Dally's gonna sit in the back with you."

Johnny just laid there in the seat. He could feel someone sitting next to him.

"D-Dal'"

"Yeah."

"How bad off am I?"

"You looked pretty messed up kid."

Johnny then wished he had a mirror. He wanted to know what he looked like. He changed his mind quickly. If he looked as bad as he felt, then he wouldn't want to look at himself for a long time.