Pony's POV

I gripped the armrest with all my strength as Two-Bit sped away from my house. He drove like a maniac. I never should have trusted him to drive me to school.

I knew that Soda needed to work, and if there was chance he could be home early, I'd take it. I just hoped I wouldn't regret it now.

I was still shaken from the nightmare I had had last night. It seemed more real to all the others. I wanted to talk to Soda about it, but he had to work, so I'd have to wait.

Two-Bit pulled into a parking space at school. We had made it there in three minutes. It should have taken ten, and that's if we made the light. It wasn't a far way way. That's why Soda walked me to school. The DX was right in between our house and school, so it didn't cost him much extra time. Driving, though, it would take longer because there are two stop lights and lots of times we get stuck behind the school bus. With Two-Bit, that never mattered.

I waited for Two-Bit to take my wheelchair out for me. When he did, I got on and we went up to the front of the building.

I was the only student I knew who had to use the handicap entrance. Only kids who had broken their legs before had needed to use it. Sometimes people walk up the ramp, but they don't actually have a need to use it. They just are too lazy to go around.

I wheeled up the slope and Two-Bit opened the door for me.

"See you later, kid," Two-Bit said as he found some Greasers to talk to.

I felt alone. I wheeled down the hallway to my locker to get my books for first period.

People turned to stare as I walked by. I felt my cheeks redden. I hated their gaze on me. So I'm in a wheelchair, so what?

It shouldn't matter to me, but it did. People I considered my friends wouldn't talk to me. If someone did, they talked loudly, like I couldn't hear. I'm handicapped, not deaf. It had happened so many times that I actually started telling people that.

I wheeled myself to my classroom without saying a word to anyone, not that anyone said anything to me.

As the day went on, I got more and more aggravated with my classmates. They'd all make excuses to "help me out." I could help myself, thank you very much. I didn't need them to "push me to my next class." I didn't need them to "carry my books." I just wanted to be left alone. I could take care of myself.

Finally, the day ended. I knew I'd have to wait around for a few minutes. Soda walked me home, or to the DX after school, but he had to wait until he could get off to come get me. Also, he didn't couldn't waste time waiting in line to come get me.

I wheeled down to the track field. Just seeing it brought a lump to my throat. I felt bitter tears well in my eyes, but I forced them away.

The track team came out. People looked at me over their shoulders. They had once been my teammates, my second. Now they felt more like strangers to me. Strangers who gave me their pity. It was the last thing I wanted.

Angrily, I turned away and wheeled to toward the front of the school. Suddenly, something caught in my tire, making it stop, and I went flying out of my wheelchair.

My wheelchair lay farther away from me than I could reach. I doubted I would have been able to get in it without it sliding away anyway.

Then, I saw the reason for the accident. A Soc, along with two of his friends, held a long stick. I wondered how I had missed them.

The group of Socs moved toward me. I crawled, but I was too slow because of the extra weight of my still limp leg.

It was no use. One of the guys pinned me down by placing his foot on my back and stepping down hard. I whimpered in pain, but I tried not to let them notice.

"Where you think you're going, Greaser?" The one above me asked.

I froze in place.

One of the others came around and kicked me in the ribs. The breath was knocked out of me. I tried to double up, but the weight on my back prevented me to.

"I think this Greaser needs some help getting into his wheelchair."

A shiver ran up my spine.

Soda, please, come!

Soda's POV

I walked up to the school and looked around. I didn't see Pony anywhere. I figured he'd be over here soon.

I leaned on the brick wall in front of the school, waiting for Pony to show up.

"Hey, Sodapop," Two-Bit said as he came over to stand by me.

"Hey, Two-Bit. Have you seen Pony? He should be here by now."

"Not since lunch."

We waited around in silence. I noticed people moving toward the back of the building. I wondered what was going on.

"Let's go see what all the fuss is about," Two-Bit suggested. I reluctantly followed.

When we came around the corner, there was a circle of people around. I noticed that all but a few were Socs. This couldn't be good.

"Let me through!" I demanded as I pushed through the crowd.

My heart stopped when I got to the middle.

Three Socs were attacking Pony. Pony lay limp on the ground, his hands covering his face as one of the Socs punched him hard in the chest.

Rage blinded me. I dove in and attacked, knowing that Two-Bit was right behind me.

I landed on the Soc who was attacking Pony directly. He was shoved off Pony's limp form and I pounded my fist in his face. Never before had I been so mad.

Soon I could tell the crowd was breaking up, but I paid no attention.

"What is going on here?" A male voice demanded.

Suddenly, I was pulled off the Soc I was fighting, but not without fighting to remain attacking.

"That's enough!" The same voice said.

I looked up to see the principal of the school. He had come in time to break up the fight.

"What is going on?" He asked again.

"These damn guys were beating up my brother!" I spat.

"We weren't doing anything!" One of the Socs argued.

"Mr. Curtis, if my memory serves me correctly, you're no longer a student here. As for the rest of you, I want to see you in my office first thing in the morning."

When he was sure that there would be no more trouble, he left. The Socs followed behind, but not before one turned back, waving a single finger at me.

I glared at there retreating backs, then stooped down beside Pony.

"Pony? Pony, baby, are you all right?" I asked.

He lay face down, his shoulders shaking.

I grabbed him by the upper arms and pulled him to a sitting position.

"Damn Socs," Two-Bit muttered.

I looked into Pony's tear-streaked face. I knew he was scared and I felt the rage welling up inside me as I surveyed the damage the Socs had done.

"I want to go home," Pony said as he buried his face in the front of my shirt.

"Okay, okay, buddy. We'll go home."

I picked Pony up and walked toward the parking lot.

"Two-Bit, bring his wheelchair, would you?"

I searched the parking lot for Two-Bit's car. I found it and placed Pony in the back seat and settled in next to him.

Two-Bit folded Pony's wheelchair and placed it up front. Rather than speeding away recklessly, he actually drove the speed limit as he brought Pony and I home.

Pony sat shaking uncontrollably beside me. I kept my arm around him and every once in a while I'd squeeze his shoulder.

When we pulled up to our house, Two-BIt carried Pony's wheelchair inside, while I carried Pony.

When we got inside, I laid Pony on the couch.

"Two-Bit, would you mind going over to the DX and telling Steve I won't be back?"

"Sure. Take care of the kid."

"I will."

Two-Bit left and I returned to Pony's side.

I quickly treated his wounds. He had a bloody nose, a black eye, and I knew he'd have bruised ribs. When I cleaned up what I knew was hurt, I asked him if there was anything else.

He shook his head no, tears streaming down his face once more.

"It's okay, Pony. You're all right now," I comforted.

As Pony's eyes drooped with exhaustion, I got up and went to the kitchen. I grabbed the phone and called Darry.

"Hello?"

I was surprised to get Darry on the first ring. He usually wasn't inside enough to answer the phone. He must either be on break or be finishing up.

"Darry? It's me."

"Soda? What's going on? Is everything all right?"

"No. Pony got beat up. Is there anyway you can come home early?"

"I'm on my way. Just hold tight, little buddy."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Darry would make things better. He always did.

I'm so sorry it's taken so long to update! I have been so busy and lazy. I'll try to be better, though I do have another story I need to update a lot, too.