We ate in silence, each of us down hearted about Two Bit's loss, and none wanting to talk about it. We were Greasers. Greasers didn't cry. And we each knew that if we talked about all Two Bit collections of stuff being burnt to ashes we'd probably start feeling pretty upset for our old friend.
The next few weeks passed uneventfully- Two Bit moved in with the Curtis' for a while- just until he could find a job- and I continued going to the university down the road.
It was a Thursday when the problems started- when I got back from University at around 4pm I noticed a gang of Socs wandering about- I didn't recognise them, and so I stayed in the shadows of the buildings I passed. Just before I reached my house I saw them surround someone's car- were they going to go joyriding? They seemed to be fiddling with the door or something, since the alarm suddenly went off, startling them. Most of them ran off- just two remained, one of whom was carrying a tin can of something, which he poured through the window, then the other set it alight with his lighter- I watched them in shock- they were burning things now? This wasn't good.
I swiftly opened my front door and went in, pulling it shut firmly behind me.
"Darry! Darry- there're some Socs out there setting fire to someone's car- should we phone the police?"
I knew we should phone the police, but I also knew that a few Greasers in the area were trying to lay low from the cops at the moment, so it might not be the best idea to go inviting them round to ask questions.
"Where's it parked?" Darry asked worriedly.
"Not quite on the pavement, over the road" I replied confidently.
"Fine, we'll leave it. If anyone asks, we knew nothing about it- got it?"
I nodded uneasily- I knew it was wrong to let someone's stuff burn, but it would be worse if half of my friends got taken off to jail just because I decided to report a single burning car. Glancing nervously out the window I retreated to the kitchen- I hated fire. I had the beginnings of a phobia since Johnny's death. It was funny, I thought, the way I hadn't been scared of the fire when I'd been walking through the glowing madness of the church, and yet now even getting close to any fire bigger than a candle flame spooked me. I put it down to the situation- at the church there'd been lives to save, but now there wasn't anything worth risking my life for on the line.
On Saturday Soda woke up to hear a crackling sound from the front of the house and me screaming
"Everybody up! The house is on fire! We've got to get out!" while running frantically around the room grabbing the most important belongings- wallet, phone, keys and lastly my University research books.
Soda rushed out through the back door, with me on his heels. As we exited into the garden we heard the telltale cracking of beams in the hallway.
"DARRY! Get out of there! Get out!" I screamed, trying to leap back through the door, only to get caught on the check by a piece of splintered glass as the window exploded- it seemed the fire had spread very quickly through the bedroom.
A loud bang followed by a thud caught our attention- I instantly tried to force my way through the doorway, as did Soda, but the hallway in front of us collapsed.
Vaulting over the back yard fence we ran around to the front of the house, to see a bunch of Socs being driven off by Two Bit and some other Greasers. His face stricken, Soda ran over to Two Bit.
"Has Darry come out? Where's Darry! He couldn't get out through the back- it collapsed!" He yelled, getting almost hysterical now.
Two Bit shook Soda slightly,
"Darry's in there? Oh man!"