(Pony's POV)
(Thursday, September 24, 1965, 7:50 AM)
The next couple of days, I had to go back to school, despite my pleas to stay home. I was still a little woozy from having a fever. My body was healed physically, but mentally I wasn't okay. I was a mess...
Bex had to stay home an extra day because she was still sick, but she was able to come today. I didn't want to come to school without her. I sat in the back seat with her and Johnny with Steve sitting in the front passenger seat with his feet propped up on the dashboard.
I kept fidgeting in the back seat of Two-Bit's car uncontrollably. I couldn't help it since this was my first day back at school since... I was jumped. Sweat was beading on my forehead and on the back of my neck, even my heart was thumping loud against my ribcage.
As we pulled up in front of the school, my stomach was twisting horribly, screaming at me to run. But the problem was, I couldn't do it. I was trapped, forced to school whether I wanted to or not.
Bexley noticed this and her eyes shot towards me worriedly. "Everything okay, Pony?" she asked me, her eyebrows raised. I looked back at her, trying not to look as afraid as I felt. I didn't want her to worry about me.
"I-I'm fine, Bex. I'm fine." I assured, gulping as I leaned back against the seat. I was the opposite of okay; I was petrified of meeting eye contact with the Socs that did this to me. They couldn't touch any of us before the rumble, but what's to say that they won't listen to those rules?
(Thursday, September 24, 1965, 12:20 PM)
It was around lunch time. The whole morning, paranoia overtook reasoning while I was in class or walking in the hallways. I was constantly looking over my shoulders, afraid that I would be followed by those Socs. Luckily, Bexley was with me for about two of my classes and she sat right by me in both classes.
Despite me making it through the first half of the day, I felt as though my luck would soon run out, slipping in between the cracks. When I made it into the cafeteria, I spotted Bexley, Steve, and Two-Bit sitting at a table, seemingly goofing off. I knew that I was safe as long as they're around.
I ran over and took a seat next to my sister, my fists clenched tightly together to keep them from shaking. I didn't feel so alone anymore. "Hey there, Pony." Two-Bit said with a grin, but it faded when he got a good look at me, "You okay there? You're looking a little pale."
From my peripheral vision, I could see Bexley looking at me worriedly. "Pony? What's the matter?" she asked, her green eyes glinting in worry. When she tried to touch my forehead, I flinched away and stood back up quickly.
"I'm fine guys... I just need to get some fresh air." I replied, backing away from them. I turned around and ran out of the cafeteria, feeling their eyes on me.
I didn't want to be touched and I didn't feel like eating anyway. In fact, the change in my appetite didn't go unnoticed, food always made me sick.
I walked in the school gym and hid behind the bleachers so no one could see me. The gym was pretty big and had nothing in it besides the folded up bleachers.
Both of my legs felt like noodles, so they gave out on me until I was sitting on the floor.
I scooted back until my back connected with the cool metal of the bleachers.
My chest was starting to hurt as I felt A panic attack coming. Unlike Bex, who grabs her ears whenever she has a panic attack, I hugged my knees to my chest and started rocking back and forth.
Just when I finally managed to calm myself, the sound of shuffling feet as well as obnoxious chuckling filled my ears. I knew that the Socs were in here too, and I felt my entire world shrivel up and die.
"We know you're in there, kid. Come out to plaaay." the blonde haired soc taunted, his voice bouncing off of the walls. I could see their expensive shoes under the bottom of the bleachers; there were at least four of them. I knew that no greaser could afford fancy madra shoes like those.
"Aw, what's the matter, Ponyboy? Too much of a fraidy cat to face us? You shoulda stayed with that she-grease sister of yours and your friends. We're gonna get you good soon enough. Soon enough, we're gonna get her as well, do worse to her. Neither of you won't know when or where." that same soc taunted again.
From a crack in the bleachers, a shiny blade poked through and I thought I could see dried blood on it. After saying those words, the socs started using their fists to slam the hell out of the bleachers, making booming, echoing sounds.
That only made my panic attack even worse. I gripped my ears, trying to block out the sound but it didn't work. They kept relentlessly banging on the metal bleachers. After what seemed like forever, they stopped and they left the gym while cackling.
When I was sure they were gone, I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed into my arms until I was sure I lost my voice. Sweat beaded my forehead, and I couldn't stop trembling from the fear that I was feeling.
If those Socs wanted to get to me, they would've gone around the bleachers to get to me. They were doing this to scare me, and it worked.
The only thing I could do was run; I couldn't stay here any longer. I got up and sprinted as fast as I could out of the gym, out of the school, until Bexley had caught me. "Pony, what's happened?" she asked, grabbing my arms.
In the heat of the moment, I ended up pushing her back and kept on running. "Pony! Wait!" Bex called in panic, but I didn't stop running. I wasn't ready for school; I just wasn't ready to go back.
I ran to the lot and collapsed in front of the tree with the old car seat in front of it. I was running so much that I ended up throwing up right there from the fear I was feeling. Darry was gonna skin me for leaving school so early, but I was scared of facing the Socs.
I just wish that I wasn't afraid of them... but I was. I started to sob uncontrollably with my knees pulled up to my chest, arms wrapped around them.
At this point, I've been beaten to the point of me being afraid of my own shadow.
I just want all of this to stop...
(Thursday, September 24, 1965, 1:50 PM)
(Bexley's POV)
I had no choice but to follow Pony after he took off like that. His outburst when he ran out scared me; I had to know what happened. Darry was gonna be pissed that we left school so early but I didn't care; Pony needed me.
Two-Bit, Johnny, and Steve didn't follow me, but I knew that they were worried about Pony too, so they let me go. I ran down to the lot, my eyes darting everywhere as I looked for my brother.
When I did find him, I saw that he was huddled by the tree, his head buried in his knees, his arms wrapped around them as his body trembled intensely. "Pony?" I said benignly, walking up to him, "Are you okay?"
He lifted his head to look at me, his eyes were puffy and red from crying, tear stains going from his eyes, down to his chin. I knelt down in front of him, my face creasing with concern.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice gentle. His head dropped, trying to keep the fresh tears hidden from me, his face paled. I sat down next to him and carefully wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Pony?" I said again, looking down at him, "C'mon. Tell me. It's okay..."
He grabbed onto my shirt, hiding his face in my shoulder. "I-It w-was... the Socs..." he stuttered, his voice breaking in fear.
I tensed up, my eyes widened in shock. Now they're bothering him in school? They're going too far... "They didn't touch you, did they?" I asked, my eyes widening fearfully.
"N-No... But I-I had a panic attack... A bad one..." he said, burying his face in my shoulder even more. Hearing that made tears sting my eyes from anger. They made him have a panic attack...? He didn't deserve any of this... none of it.
(Thursday, March 24, 1966, 2:20 PM)
(Darry's POV)
I had gotten a call from the school principal that Bexley and Ponyboy had left school early, and I couldn't be any more livid. "W-Wait, Darry, there has to be a reason why they left." Soda started but I didn't want to hear it.
"Why weren't any of you watching them?" I bellowed. "Ponyboy wasn't doin' too hot and Pony went to go find her." Two-Bit said, holding his hands up in surrender. I felt a growl make its way up my throat and was about to storm into their bedroom, until I heard the front door open.
I was about to start yelling until I saw just who walked through that front door.
It was Bexley with Ponyboy under her arm, shaking violently, his eyes puffy from crying. Bexley looked like he was crying too.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" I barked, a bit too harshly. "Hey, settle down, Darry. Something's not right." Soda said, his eyebrows knitting together in worry.
He knelt down in front of our twin baby brother and baby sister. "What happened guys?" I asked them, looking from Pony to Bex.
"D-Don't be mad at us..." Pony said, his voice raw, I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. The look on my face softened so I knelt down in front of them. "Why'd you leave school, you two?" I asked them, my voice calmer.
When neither of them answered, I brought them over to the couch with Soda sitting on Bexley's side and me on Pony's side. "Tell me what happened." I said more carefully, rubbing my baby brother's back.
Pony bit down on his bottom lip as he suppressed a sob. "It was the Socs. They went after her again. I went to find her and found her in the lot. They caused him to have a panic attack, worse than the ones I get." Bexley answered.
Pony started to cry again, clearly shaken up by what those socs did. All I did was hug my kid brothers and kid sister, shutting my eyes. All of this needed to stop... it had to.
