AN: I finally introduced some other members of the gang. Yay! Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders. That honor goes to the incredible SE Hinton.

Present time, POV: Ponyboy

I shook off the memory and started running once more. I jogged until I came across a fork in the tracks. I turned left. After only about 15 minutes of following the tracks, I came across another station. Near the waiting bench, there was a sign. The sign told me that I had recently entered a town named Tulsa. Wow. I had traveled all the way to Oklahoma. I looked at the watch that sat on my wrist. I had found it during the summer after I had run away. Fortunately, it worked. The time was only a few minutes off. I kept it in case I ever needed money so desperately that I wouldn't survive otherwise and because not knowing the time is a lot worse than people think. It drove me crazy. Anyways, the watch read 12:37. I was pretty sure I had woken up at about 8:00 so I knew I had been running for quite a long time.

I figure now is as good a time as any to find some food or a place to sleep. Depending on the size of a town I can usually stay for about three to five days. There are some towns with gangs that refuse to leave me alone. In those kinds of towns, I have to scram quickly. As I walked into the town, away from the train station, I thought about how far I had traveled. Yeah, it had been 3 years, but during the winter it was near impossible for me to keep moving. More than once I had worried about how ill I was getting. When I got sick last winter I could barely move. I couldn't get up to get food and so I was hungry. As I got hungrier I also got sicker. It was a vicious cycle and it ended only when I physically forced myself to my feet to find food. That winter proved that no matter how hard it seemed, I could do just about anything to stay alive. Since then I have been sure to eat at least once every other day. It still wasn't enough for me, growing and all, but it was better than before. I hated stealing and you would never catch me eating out of the trash. I still have some dignity!

I mentally kicked myself for leaving the train station without looking at a map. I like to record how far I've traveled in the back of my sketchbook. If I wanted a map, the train station would have been the quickest way to find one. I was too busy thinking about food and sleep to remember to look. Even just the thought of food made my mouth water. I was due for a meal today. The last time I had eaten had been a Tuesday and today was a Thursday.

I began looking around for a place to eat. As I did that, my eyes stopped on a group of boys. They looked to be fighting somebody. It was odd though. They were all wearing nice jackets and fancy sweaters. If I had clothes as neat as that, I would never risk getting them dirty. I dragged my feet as I walked closer. I wanted to help whoever was being beaten to a pulp but I also really didn't want to have enemies after only being in this town for a couple of hours.

When I was only about 40 feet away one of the guys moved. I finally caught a glimpse of the poor fellow that was the subject of their punch fest. He looked terrible. He was covered in fist-sized red spots that would be ugly bruises tomorrow. His hair, which looked like it had once been styled to perfection with hair grease, was ruffled and there was blood running from his hairline. His nose also gushed blood, as did his lip but that didn't keep him from cursing up a storm at the people beating on him. He was wearing a blue short-sleeve button-up that had a patch on the front. At a closer glance, I noticed it read "DX". I had passed what looked to be a gas station about a block back called "DX". He probably worked there.

"Hey." I mumbled. I still wasn't sure if I should step in or not. The guy was big and looked like he could hold his own in a fair fight. But this wasn't a fair fight. And I wasn't sure how much good I would really do for him. I was a good fighter but I couldn't win against five guys. Maybe with the other guys' help, but I wasn't sure if he was capable of fighting at this point.

During my inner debate, the guy that had moved away had come back. But this time he was carrying something. I squinted at it. My stomach dropped when I realized what it was.

"Hey!" I screeched. Louder this time. I wanted their attention because if I had their attention then the other guy didn't. Maybe he could get away. But they didn't look at me. The boy just kept approaching holding his switch ready at his side. I took off at a sprint. Those boys could kill him. I couldn't let them. It didn't matter if he was a good fighter or not anymore. You couldn't fight against a blade.

I took the guy holding the blade down in a flying tackle. The other boys finally noticed me. When they got over their initial shock the punches started raining down. It had been a few months since I had been in a fight or jumped. I forgot how painful and scary it is. Luckily, when the guy hit the floor, he released his hold on his blade. I opened my eyes from their clenched state and saw it near my foot. I kicked it toward the DX guy. He looked utterly confused at the moment but when I shouted at him to grab it, he did.

I took a moment to familiarize myself with the position I was in. I was laying on my side. Punchers and kickers were in front of and behind me. I could already feel blood running down my face from my nose. My torso was killing me from being repeatedly kicked by the guy I had taken down. And I could see the other guy, the DX guy, in front of me. I saw his mouth move. Heard him shout something. He must have been threatening them because the next thing I know, I'm laying there, watching, as the guys scramble into a silver Corvair and drive off.

I'm breathing heavily now. I roll onto my back and try to catch my breath. It hurts and I hear myself wheezing. Gosh, I hope they didn't break my ribs. The DX guy leans against the wall of the building next to the street. There's no one around. As I sit up, the guy extends a hand to me.

"I'm Steve. That was some stunt you pulled there kid. Why the hell would you jump into a fight like that for a guy you don't know? You stupid or something?" He sounded angry.

"Excuse me for trying to keep someone from being murdered!" I shot back. I had just taken a beating for this kid. Come on! "You could say 'thank you'!"

"Kid, people get jumped every day here. Not one of 'em has ever been murdered." Steve had an exasperated tone.

"Who were those guys? Did you know them?" I asked. When I was in a gang, you had to know the person you were fighting. They had to have wronged you in some way or you'd have their entire gang after ya. I was trying to change the subject. The last thing I needed was for this kid to realize I wasn't from around here and start asking questions. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say.

"Know 'em? Hell, who says socs have to know you to jump you? Honestly kid. Have you ever even been to Tulsa?" I stayed silent. What was I supposed to say to that? 'Yes', just for me to prove myself a liar later on? Or 'no' for him to kick me out or beat me up because I don't belong? No answer was answer enough for Steve. "So you ain't from around here? Huh. Been a few years since I've met an out-of-towner. I've got a friend from outta town. Dallas. He's from New York. You ever been to New York, kid?"

I was shocked. No one had ever taken to me so suddenly. Nah. His face must hurt too much for him to yell at me right now. Yeah, that must be it. We were both sporting bloody noses. His looked broken. But I'd be willing to bet that when that pain abates, he'll be all over me. I know from experience that people don't take too kindly to people they don't know. Especially not when they see them fight. Actually, I suppose that was less of a fight and more of an assault on my face and sides. But still.

"No, I've never been to New York. It's kinda out of the way don't you think?" I was cautious of this boy. I had a feeling I could trust him but that had never saved me before. Also, he was older than me. I guess he hadn't really been mean to me so far. But he also definitely hadn't been nice. You could tell he didn't like me. Probably thought I was a waste of time. His voice held a layer of uneasiness, impatience, and restlessness. He was clearly trying to have a conversation with me, but his eyes kept darting back and forth as if looking for somebody. He was probably looking out for those boys in case they came back. I was also keeping my eyes out, which is why I saw the red truck coming toward us.

"Steve. There's someone coming." I muttered, pointing to the truck with my chin as it slowed.

"Darry! You're about ten minutes late!" Steve had an annoyed voice but he was wearing a smile. He clearly knew this other guy. Darry. Must be a nickname or something. Shoot! Steve may have taken to me surprisingly well but there is no way I'd have that kind of luck twice. I jumped up just as the truck came to a stop in front of us. I had to get out of there before Steve rethought his earlier kindness to me.

"Uh, I gotta go. Bye, Steve!" I stammered out quickly just as 'Darry' got out of the truck. He was huge. Tall with hulking biceps. I turned tail and ran in the opposite direction from where I had come.

"Steve, are you alright? Who the hell is that?" I heard Darry saying. Golly, he had a deep voice.

"Hey! Wait, you never told me your name! Kid!" I heard Steve shout from behind me but I was already turning the corner. I had to find a place to hide. I ran for about ten minutes before I came across a dark alleyway. It was the only one that I had found that was even relatively dry. I looked left and right. Finding no one, I sat down at the very back of the alley. I set my bag down and lay on top of it, using it as a pillow. After all the running and fighting I had done today, I was completely and utterly exhausted. It was the very end of summer. The blistering heat was finally ebbing away into the refreshing cool of autumn. School should be starting in the next week or so. All too soon, winter would return for another bitterly cold few months. Of all the seasons, winter was definitely my least favorite. I used to like it. It used to be that I could stay in my room and read during the cold days of winter. Now I have pneumonia and frostbite to worry about. And all three books that I had brought, had been read all the way through during the first two months. Since then, I have read them all at least 4 more times. There's nothing to like about winter anymore.

I couldn't fight it anymore. I'll find food later was my last thought before I fell into a restful slumber.

AN: I couldn't find the description of Darry's truck anywhere so this will have to do. Enjoy!