Battle Scars

A little woozy and bit groggy Cassie managed to lift herself off the cold hard floor. As she did so she could hear her old man moving around in the next room.

"Probably listening for me," she whispered to herself.

As she tiptoed over to the window, which was still open she heard the footsteps coming closer, but this time she was already out of the window when he barreled into her room screaming. She ran down the street to the one place she figured she be safe, the Curtis' house.

She saw it and ran harder, she slowed down and opened the gate. She jogged up the steps and knocked on the door.

Inside

Darry had the day off and was working around the house when he heard a soft knock at the door. He knew it couldn't possibly be the State because it wasn't time yet, and he knew of only one other person who knocks on the door, Cassie.

He opened the door, and stood shocked to see Cassie with her brown hair tasseled and her dark eyes filled with tears.

"What happened?" he asked kneeling down because Cassie was such a small girl. She only reached the middle of chest. He looked into her eyes, "Tell me he truth,"

"I was at home and Steve and my dad were arguing so I decided to leave, but my dad found me and…" she started.

"Where was Steve?" Darry asked.

"He left already," she explained.

"Okay, that's enough. Come on I'll get you cleaned up," Darry said.

He looked her ver and noticed that she was lucky, it was only a bruised cheek and a sore head and back, this time. Everybody in the gang had a soft spot for the kid, hell, even Dally.

After he was finished Darry grabbed a blanket and pillow and laid it on the couch for her, she laid down thanking him and drifted off to sleep.

She felt a shaking in her arm and she opened her eyes to see Ponyboy.

"Hey, PB," she said yawning. She made that nickname up for him a long time ago.

"Hey, how are you?" he asked his big greenish gray eyes full of worry.

"I'm fine," she said sighing.

Soda and Steve walked in laughing but both stopped when they caught sight of her.

"What the hell happened!" Steve exclaimed rushing to her side.

"Nothin," she mumbled. She didn't like to talk about what happened at home.

"Tell me the damn truth, Cassandra Dee Randle," he ordered.

"Dad," she whispered.

"Dammit," Steve sighed getting up and starting to pace.

Soda on the other hand was curious and lifted her chin to see her black eye, "Shit, he got you good," he commented.

"Yeah, I guess," she muttered.

Well, just stay here okay, we're gonna stay here tonight," Steve said making himself comfy on the other end of the couch.

Well it a little longer. Please R&R! by the way for those of you who read Places You Shouldn't Go I'm starting the sequel next year!