A/n: Here is Chapter 4. I know where this story's going. I know exactly everything thing, even down to the details...Anyway. Here's chapter 4 and by the way, if you think you know what's going to happen, I wanna hear what you have to say!

CHAPTER 4: God Must Hate Me

Ponyboy's POV

"Lying in the pit of the sun, shoulder to shoulder, head to feet..." I read out of the book while we had lunch. "Were hundreds of wounded men lying in the tracks, the sidewalks stretched out in endless rows, under the car shed. Some lay stiff and still, but many withered in the hot sun. Everywhere swarms of flies hovered over the men crawling and buzzing in their faces."

"That's gross," Johnny said.

"Everywhere was blood, dirty bandages, groans screamed curses of pain," I read on.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

"That was sure pretty," Johnny said from behind me, making me jump. I was looking at the sunrise. I didn't notice it but Ronnie and Candi were standing there too, this time not laughing.

"Yeah," Candi agreed.

"The mist is what's pretty, all gold and silver," Johnny said, reading my thoughts.

"Too bad it can't stay like that all the time," Ronnie sighed.

"Nothing gold can stay," I stated.

"What?" the three of them questioned, turning to look at me.

"Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay," I recited.

"Where did you learn that? That's what I meant," Johnny asked.

"Robert Frost wrote it. I always remembered it 'cause I never quite knew what he meant by it," I explained.

"I never noticed colors, clouds and stuff until you kept reminding me about them. It's like they were never there before," Johnny stated.

"I don't think I could ever tell Steve or Two-Bit...or Darry about the clouds and sunset. Just you three, J.T, Toni and Sodapop. Maybe Cherry Valance," I said.

"I guess we're different," Ronnie stated.

"Maybe they are," I sighed.

"Maybe you're right," Johnny said and we all headed back into the church.

&

Ronnie's POV

I was sitting up one morning, the others were asleep. Just then, Dally walked in. I ran over to him and gave him a hug.

"Hey Ronnie. How ya doing?" Dally asked, returning my hug.

"Good. Bored," I stated. Dally walked over to the other and woke Ponyboy up. "Hey, blondie. Wake up."

"How've you been?" Ponyboy asked, sitting up.

"Johnny, rise and shine, man," Dally said, kicking the bench that Johnny was asleep on. Candi shot right up at the sound of Dally's voice. She's a real light sleeper.

"How's Soda doing? Is he upset?" Ponyboy asked.

"Are the fuzz after us?" Johnny asked.

"Wait. One thing at a time. Are you guys hungry? I'm starving," Dally said.

"You are? Try baloney for four days," Johnny sighed.

"Hey Johnny, Got a cancer stick? I got a special delivery for Ponyboy Curtis," Dally said, handing Ponyboy a note. "And a note for Johnny Cade." He handed Johnny a note.

"Who's this from?" Johnny and Ponyboy asked.

"Just read it," Dally stated.

Ponyboy's POV

I opened the note and read it.

I guess you got into some trouble. Darry's sorry he hit you. You know he didn't mean it. It scared us when Dallas was taken into the police station. I wish you'd come back and turn yourselves in. We miss you. Say hi to Johnny and Ronnie for us. And tell Candi I said hi. Sodapop Curtis

"What's going on with the cops? Did you hear anything?" Ronnie asked as Johnny finished up reading his note.

"How come you got hauled in?" I asked.

"Those boys at the station know me by now. While I was there, they beat it out of me that...Get this...that you guys were headed for Texas. They think you're in Texas. Texas! God! Look at this guy with his hair. I can't believe that. Blondie," Dally laughed.

"I know I look lousy, but don't rub it in," I snapped.

"Want to get something to eat?" Dally asked.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here," Ronnie replied. And we headed out to Buck's car.

"5 Bar-B-Que sandwiches and 5 Cokes," Dally ordered and we headed to an empty parking spot. "You guys really are hungry. That kid you killed had plenty of friends. It's all over town, "Soc against Grease." Look, I started carrying a heater."

"You kill people with heaters!" Candi exclaimed.

"Don't worry, it ain't loaded," Dally assured and he had to hide it when a little girl walked over. "Do you have 15 cents?"

"I don't have any money," Dally stated.

"Do you have a dime?" the girl asked.

"Go away. We're busy here. Go away! Get out of here!" Dally yelled and he sighed when the girl walked away. "That was a close call. Tim Shepard's gang and our gang are going to fight the Socs tomorrow night. I didn't tell you we got a spy."

"Who?" we all questioned at once.

"Remember that good-looking broad I tried to pick up the night you wasted that kid?

What's her name? Cherry something? The redhead?" Dally asked.

"Cherry Valance," I said with a mouth full of food.

"Cherry the Soc. Yeah," Johnny said, looking at Dally for him to go on with the story.

"We were at the vacant lot and she pulls up. I thought that took a lot of nerve," Dally went on.

"Ya," I answered.

"She said she'd...testify that the Socs were drunk and they were looking for the fight.

And you just fought back strictly on self-defense. So, it's cool. That little broad sure does hate me. I offered to take her for a Coke, and she told me to go to hell. So you think she might like me a little bit? I think she's kind of cute. What do they do for kicks around here?

Play checkers? This place is out of it. I've never been to the country before," he said.

Dally's POV

"We're gonna turn ourselves in," Johnny stated. I nearly choked on my Coke. "What?"

"I got a good chance of being let off easy," Johnny went on. "It was self-defense, like you said. Pony, Ronnie, Candi, and Cherry could testify. We won't say you helped us. I'll give you back that gun, so you won't get into any trouble."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked.

"It ain't fair for Darry and Soda to worry about Ponyboy. I guess my folks aren't worrying," Johnny sighed.

"The gang's worried. Two-Bit wanted to go to Texas to hunt for you. J.T. was gonna go with the, They were all packed and ready to go as soon as they talked to me," I snapped.

"I asked if my parents asked about me?" Johnny asked.

"No, they didn't. Do you think my old man gives a damn...if I'm dead in a car wreck

or in jail or something? He doesn't care. But that doesn't bother me none. Come on. You're not going anywhere. I get you a hideout, I get you a hangout, a hideout. And now you want to split. This is terrific," I stated. We were quiet until we headed back to the church. "You don't know what a few months in jail can do to you. You get mean. I just don't want to see it happen to you like it did to me." Johnny went to say something but shut up when we all saw the church on fire.

"What's going on?" Ponyboy questioned. "I wonder how that started?" He got out of the car and headed for the nearest teacher.

"Where are you going? Get over here!" I yelled as Ronnie, Johnny and Candi took off to Ponyboy.

Candi's POV

"Some of the children are missing. I'm sure of it!" a female teacher stated. We all took off towards the church. Johnny threw a bolder through the window that was boarded up by wood. We pulled off the remaining pieces of wood and climbed inside.

"Is that guy coming?" Ponyboy asked.

"No," I answered.

"How come? Too scared?" Ponyboy asked.

"No. Too fat," Johnny replied.

"We'll get you out of here," I said to the kids as we approached them.

"Help me! Over here!" Ponyboy called as we handed the last out the window. We headed to the next room and Dally broke the glass of the window near us.

"Hey, Dal, take this kid," I said, handing him a little kid.

"Get out of here, Johnny!" I heard Ronnie yell.

"Get them and get out!" Dally yelled. We handed out the last two kids. Ronnie pulled Ponyboy out the window because his sleeve was on fire. I saw Johnny stumble and I grabbed him and pulled him out of the way of a falling beam. We climbed out the window just as the roof collapsed.

"Thank god," I muttered before I passed out from smoke inhalation.

God must hate me

He cursed me for eternity

God must hate me

Maybe you should pray for me

I'm breaking down and

you can't save me

I'm stuck in hell and

I wanna go home

&

This story has about less than four more chapters. Then I'll be working on my Outsiders story and my Charmed/Outsiders story!