Ponyboy and Soda and I went to the drive-in, and they both got out to wander about, and talk to others in the crowd.

Soda had said I could get out and mingle, too. I didn't see Rhonda around, but I did find a girl from my class at school

to talk to. I hadn't seen her since the end of the school year. We weren't exactly friends, but she was alright. And, besides, I was

just so glad to be away from the house, for the first time in over a week-I would have talked with just about anybody.

I was talking to her, (her name is Carrie James), and we were leaning against the hood of a car.

"You're restin' on my car," said a voice. I turned and saw that it was Two-Bit's cousin. The one I'd met when I was

with Rhonda at the drugstore that one day. I stood up immediately, and so did Carrie. Carrie's a little like Rhonda, in the fact

that she dates a lot already, even though she's only in the 8th grade.

"I know ya," the cousin of Two-Bit's said, looking at me. "You were with Rhonda-at the drugstore that day. Right?"

"Right," I said.

"Hi, Pete," Carrie said, smiling at him. Of course, she would know him.

"Hey, Carrie," Pete said.

He stood there and talked for the next few minutes. Mostly to Carrie, but he did talk to me, too. He seemed nice, and

for some reason, (I knew it was stupid), I felt safer around him. I mean, he was Two-Bit's cousin.

"I haven't seen ya with Rhonda since that day," he said to me.

"I haven't been out around much lately," I said, vaguely.

"Yeah?" He sat against the hood of his car, and lit up a cigarette. Holding the pack out, he offered us both one. Carrie told

him no, and I shook my head in refusal.

"So, what was your name again?" he asked me. I saw Carrie give me a surprised look. I figured she was getting a little upset

that Pete was talking to me, too, and not just her.

"My name's June," I told him.

"I'm Pete Mathews."

"You're Two-Bit's cousin," I said, and he raised his eyebrow.

"Yeah. That's right. How do ya know that?"

"I remember seein' ya with Two-Bit once. You came to our house."

"To your house?" he asked. "How come I don't remember that?"

I shrugged, and Carrie gave a huge sigh.

"Bye, June," she said. "Bye, Pete." She walked off and Pete watched her go, and then said, "I guess she didn't like me

talkin' to ya so much." He grinned at me, and I felt my face get hot.

"So-ya say I came to your house with Two-Bit?" he asked, returning to the previous topic. "When was this?"

"I don't remember exactly," I said.

"Who'd we come to see at your house?"

"One of my brothers," I said.

"Who're your brothers?" he asked.

"Darry and Soda Curtis," I said. "And Ponyboy."

Pete nearly choked on the drag of his cigarette. He coughed a minute, and said, "Darry and Sodapop Curtis are your brothers?"

"Yeah," I said, wondering why he looked so shocked. And wary.

"Holy shit," he muttered.

"What?" I asked, puzzled.

Pete shook his head, still looking stunned. "Not somethin' I expected to hear, when I just stopped in for a Coke." He gave a

look around. "Who're ya here with?"

"Pony and Soda," I said.

"Are ya serious?" he asked. He stood up. "Listen, I think I'm gonna shove off."

I was getting ready to tell him okay. I thought he was acting weird. Cagey.

I saw him straighten up to stand taller, as he looked past me. I turned to look and saw Soda

approaching us.

"Here comes Soda," I said.

"Yeah," Pete said, not sounding happy.

Soda didn't look any too happy, either, as he came our way.

There was a moment of tenseness and then Pete said, "Soda."

"Pete," Soda replied.

"What's goin' on?" Soda asked, gesturing between me and Pete.

"With us? Nothin', Soda," I said.

Soda's eyes were narrowed and glittering with fury.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"How d'ya know my little sister?" Soda demanded of Pete, ignoring my question.

Pete held up a hand, as if to warn Soda off. "Saw her at the drugstore, that's all-"

"Stay away from her," Soda said, in a voice so quiet, and steely that I felt a chill go down my back.

"We was just talkin', Soda, that's all," Pete said.

"Don't even talk to her," Soda said, taking another step or two closer to Pete.

"Soda, stop!" I pleaded, tugging on his arm.

"You go get into the truck," Soda ordered.

"Alright," I agreed, "But ya stop, okay?"

I headed to where the truck was parked, looking over my shoulder nearly the whole time as I walked, keeping an eye on

Soda and Pete.

"No fight, no fight, no fight," I muttered to myself.

I went to the truck, but I didn't get in. I stood at the side, trying to still see Soda. Finally, I saw Soda and Pony walking

thru the crowd of teenagers towards the truck.

"What was that about?" I demanded of Soda as he approached.

"Yeah, Junie. What was it about?" Soda demanded in return.

"Nothin'. It was about nothin'!"

"He saw ya once at the drugstore and thinks that gives him a right?" Soda persisted.

"Soda!" I said. "I was just talkin' to him-"

Pony, who had been standing to the side, listening, and looking worried, said, "What's the matter, Soda?"

At Pony's question, Soda turned to look at him, and it seemed to settle him down some. He took a couple of steps

back, and then looked back at me. He sighed.

"I didn't do anything," I told him.

"I know ya didn't."

"How come you're so mad?" I asked.

"It's nothin'," he said, and gestured to the truck. "Come on. Let's go home."

We rode thru the city streets, with not even the radio on. The only sound for a few minutes was whenever Ponyboy took

a slurp from his Coke.

We reached home, and Soda parked in the street as usual. Pony gave us a look, but then he got out and left us

sitting there. Soda didn't make a move to get out yet, so I didn't, either. We sat in the quiet of the cab.

"Darry will wonder why we're sittin' out here," I said.

Soda was silent, and I said, "Are ya mad at me, Soda?"

"Naw, Junie, I'm not mad at ya."

"Okay. Good," I said. "Pete doesn't seem like a bad guy-"

Soda turned in the seat to face me, and said, sounding furious. "Junie, I don't want ya talkin' to him. Not at all. You gotta promise me."

I widened my eyes, shocked at Soda's reaction. "Okay," I said.

"Promise," he insisted.

"Okay, I promise. Gosh, Soda!"

Silence again.

"Thanks for gettin' me out of the house for awhile," I said. I figured he was probably sorry that he'd done it, with whatever

had happened with Pete.

"It's okay," he said, and got out, holding the door so that I could slide out after him.

When we went into the house, the television was on, turned down low, and Darry was stretched out on the

couch. We could hear Pony in the kitchen opening and closing cabinets.

"Pony's eatin' again," Soda said.

"How was the drive-in?" Darry asked, his voice sounding hoarse.

"Same as always," Soda said.

I wondered if Soda was gonna tell Darry about Pete-though I didn't think he would really say that I'd done

anything wrong. Because, I hadn't. But, it had unnerved me a little watching Soda get so mad at Pete, and acting as

though he was gonna fight him. I didn't figure Soda would tell Darry about that, either.

I went to bed and it was later I heard Darry coughing on the way to his own bedroom.

Outsiders

The next day was as boring as every other day that week had been. I obviously didn't go to the Wilson's. I figured that to

do so, was about fifty-fifty that I would get found out. Soda could call again, and if I didn't answer? I could only pull the 'being outside'

card once in a while. What if Mrs. Wilson didn't come home on time again? Then, I would for sure and certain be found out.

And then, if that happened, I figured Darry might keep his promise to skin me, even if it caused him to have a monumental coughing fit

while he was doing it. It wasn't worth it, not even for seven dollars.

I did the usual household stuff, and then I sat on the front porch, watching cars drive past. Boring. There was nothing

worse than this, I told myself. I swore that I wasn't gonna get grounded again. Not for a long time. Maybe sometime when

I needed a good long rest, then I wouldn't mind so much-but now? This was torture. And I still had another week of it!

A plan began to formulate in my head. Maybe, just maybe, if I did a little extra around the house today, and tomorrow, even,

and cooked up something really great for tonight, well- Maybe I could talk to Darry later, when he'd had a chance to eat, and

shower, and relax with a beer. Or two. He'd said they might get a bonus today, if they got the job done. That was bound to

put him into a good mood.

I could ask him-beg him, to let me off my grounding for the next week.

I went to the kitchen, to begin looking for ingredients for my 'ungrounding' supper.

Outsiders.

I never got the opportunity to talk to Darry that night. Not about being taken off grounding, anyway. Because, while I

was dipping chicken legs in flour to prepare to fry them, the phone began ringing. I went to answer it, wiping flour on

my shorts.

My 'hello' was followed up by a frantic-sounding Soda.

"Junie, listen to me," he said. "Pony's comin' home in a while with Two-Bit. They're comin' to the house to pick

ya up, so turn everything off and be ready to go, alright?"

"Why? What's happening?" I asked.

"Somethin' happened at the job site, and Darry's at the hospital, and we all need to get over

there-"

I felt my stomach drop and my heart pounding so loud it was like a roar in my ears. Darry? At the hospital?

"What happened?" I asked. "Is he hurt really bad?"

"It's not life-threatenin', Junie. That's what the lady said when they called from the hospital. So, we'll find out

what happened when we get over there. I don't know how bad it is."

"But, Soda-"

"Junie!" Soda said. "Just get ready and be waitin', okay? I'll see you and Pony down at the hospital."

The phone clicked in my ear. Soda had hung up.

Outsiders