Steve's POV
Darry and I arrived at the vacant lot a few minutes before seven. Tim Shepherd's gang and the Brumly gang were already there waiting. We all greeted each other Then waited for the socs to arrive.
Darry pulled me aside. "Try to stick close to me Steve."
"Alright." I told him as Tim came up to us.
"So, where's the rest of the gang?" Tim asked.
Darry quickly explained what had happened. By the time he finished, the socs started to arrive, lining up across from where us greasers stood.
"Darry, I was going to ask you to start things off," Tim was saying "but if you want, I will."
"No, I'll start." Darry told him. "For Pony and Johnny, I'll get things going. These socs will pay for what they've done."
"Alright." Tim nodded as Darry stepped forward and stood under the light from the street lamp.
"I'll take on anyone." Darry said. It was then that I saw the anger in his eyes. He knew that it was because of the socs that Pony and Johnny ran away in the first place. Now, Darry wanted to get even. And as I thought about the past several months, I didn't blame him. I wanted to get even too.
Darry's POV
I stood in the circle of light, waiting for one of the socs to step forward. Fortunately, it didn't take long.
"Hello, Darrel." It was my old childhood friend, Paul.
"Hello Paul." I replied glaring at him. We may have been friends when we were younger, but not anymore.
"I'll take you." Paul told me.
I nodded and we started circling each other. At one point I made the mistake of glancing over at Steve and Paul punched me in the jaw. The rumble was on. Paul and I fought while Steve jumped on some other soc. Soon, we were all fighting anyone we could get our hands on. I don't know how long the rumble was but it seemed to end pretty quick. The adrenaline you get during a rumble makes time go by fast. And before I knew it, the socs were limping away to their cars. We had won. For once we had gotten even with the socs. Or as even as we could since nothing we could do would bring Ponyboy back.
After watching the socs leave, I looked around for Steve. I found him laying on the ground, doubled over in pain. As I went to check on him, I noticed Tim working one of his men over for using a pipe. The rumble was supposed to have no weapons. But I was more concerned about Steve.
"Steve?" I asked dropping down next to him. "Are you alright?"
"I think I cracked a few ribs." Steve admitted, wincing from the pain.
"Come on." I said, helping him up. "You can stay at our place tonight."
Steve leaned against me as we slowly walked back to the house. At one point he asked, "You really hate the socs, don't you?"
I sighed. "Well, if it weren't for them, Pony and Johnny would still be here. I hate it that they jump greasers for fun. I hate that I'll never see Pony again because they had to jump him and Johnny. And you've seen Soda today. If it weren't for the socs, Soda wouldn't be the mess that he is. So yeah Steve, I hate the socs."
Steve's POV
I understood what Darry meant when he explained why he hated the socs. And I felt the same way. Sure, Pony and I didn't always get along, but he was a good kid. He didn't deserve to be jumped. And he didn't deserve to die at such a young age. Neither did Johnny.
Soda and Two-Bit were waiting for us when we got back to the house. As soon as we were inside, I practically fell on the couch. Almost landing on Soda, but he moved out of the way just in time.
"So, how did it go?" Two-Bit asked.
"We won." Darry said as he came out of the bathroom with an ace bandage. "Here Steve, wrap this around yourself. Soda, you can help him."
"I cracked some ribs." I told Soda.
Soda just looked at me with a blank stare.
"He's been like that since you two left." Two-Bit said. "Only moved once to use the bathroom."
I finished wrapping the bandage around my chest and put my hand on Soda's shoulder. "Hey buddy, it'll be okay."
"No it won't. Sure, we won the rumble. But that won't bring Pony back. He should have been here. It was bad enough losing mom and dad. I don't want to lose Pony too. It's just not fair!" Soda cried.
Darry sat on Soda's other side and also put his hand on Soda's shoulder. "Come on little buddy. Pony wouldn't want you to be upset. He'd want you to be the happy go lucky Soda we all know and love. He'd want you to smile."
Soda started to sob after the last comment Darry made. "I know Pony would want that. But what about me? I don't want to say good-bye to Pony. I want him to be alive. I want him to come back!"
I looked helplessly at Two-Bit while Darry whispered, "Me too, little buddy, me too."