Hey Guys, here's a new chapter! Sorry it took so long, holidays have been busy on my side. This chapter has two swear words, so I though I should say something, even though one is a reference (as usual)
Anyways, happy reading
We are running again, and it's not my fault...or is it? I honestly can't remember. Nope, this one was Taylor, and now we are running from two police officers and a bunch of West Siders, or Socs as I've been told.
Taylor grabs my flannel shirt, "alleyway. We're almost back." The two of us turn sharply into an alley and duck behind some old garbage bins. Good thing Taylor and I are small, or else there would be nowhere to hide. I hold my nose, the garbage has been out for a while, but soon the Socs come into the alleyway. Taylor and I look at each other briefly, before watching them.
"You swear you saw 'em come down here?" The leader of the Soc gang asks another. He has short blond hair, and is wearing a varsity jacket.
"Swear I did, they're fast though, an' small." Another says, I can't see him through the others, he must be smaller.
I see Taylor pick up a stone and hands it to me. She subtly points to another row of metal cans higher up the alley to my right. "Throw it," she mouths to me "distraction."
"Why do I have to do it?" I mouth back, frustrated with her for getting us into this situation.
"You got the better aim, just do it when they ain't lookin."
I exhale through my nose; I look at the cans again. It's an easy throw, maybe around 10 feet away from where I'm crouched. The hardest part is not being seen. I don't feel like getting jumped again, my back is still sore from last time. I watch the Socs, hopefully they will turn away for two seconds. I get my wish, for they all form a tight circle around each other when the leader picks up the smaller one.
I stand up a little bit, and throw the rock, putting all my force behind it.
It hits the garbage can with a loud *bang*. I quickly duck down again.
The Socs run to the top of the alley, and quickly jump over the fence to try to chase the sound. I stand up, and drag Taylor out of the alley.
"We are so lucky I hit that." I say to Taylor as we begin jogging. Taylor laughs and pushes me slightly.
"Knew you would. I just figured out an easier way we could've gotten outta that," she replies to me.
"Hm?"
"We could've shape-shifted y'know."
"No we couldn't have," I reply, thinking about my powers.
"Sure we could've. You know I can and-" Taylor begins her rebuttal.
"Congratulations, you can shape-shift. I haven't done that since the 40's. Don't think I can do that anymore, plus I don't want to rely on that."
"You sound old Keegan," Taylor laughs at me.
I sigh and push her, "Jerk."
"Bitch," she replies as she tries to jump onto my shoulders, making me almost lose my balance.
We slow down to a walk as we approach a house. The exterior is a simple white, with a chain fence around the yard. Surrounding the house are some big, old trees.
"No one was up when we left, think they're up yet?" I ask as we approach the fence.
"Probably. Darry's got work, and you said you could help Pony with history. Because what a shocker to the world Keegan Howlett, famous war hero, seen 'em all...knows history." I laugh at the memory. After Alex and Micky split from us three weeks ago, we were jumped by some younger Soc boys. Taylor and I easily fought them off, but not without some help. A few boys who look around our physical age helped us out, and offered their home to us for a bit. We quickly learned their names were Ponyboy and Sodapop Curtis. Recently, Pony was doing history homework about the First World War, and asked me for help when I said that I was a "history nerd."
Taylor jumps the fence, "I see Two-Bit inside, they're up."
"They have a gate y'know." I say as I walk through the gate. Taylor ignores me, and we walk into the house together.
"We're back!" Taylor calls as we walk into the house.
"You were gone for a while," Soda says as we enter the living room. Him and Two-Bit were on the couch, Soda held a newspaper in his hands. They never said anything, but I think they figured out who we were, or Taylor at least.
"Got in a situation with the Fuzz and a few Soc," Taylor answers.
"It was her fault!" I chime in, I need to state that it was not me this time.
"Watcha do?" Two-Bit asks.
Taylor reaches into the pockets of her flannel, and pull out a wallet, some keys, a ring and a blue switchblade. "This." I sigh and rub my forehead.
"You stole all that?" Soda asks, Two-Bit is nodding in approval.
"Why not? Did that first off of a Soc. Keegan distracted 'em and I swiped, then took the switchblade from a store." Taylor answers, looking proud.
"Except we almost got caught and jumped again," I say.
"But we didn't."
"You guys are amateurs at that." Two-Bit laughs and Taylor gives him an unamused look.
"Keegan, Pony's upstairs in his room still working on history. Can you still help him?" Soda asks, standing up and walking over to the kitchen to grab some cake.
"Get it Keegan!" Taylor whispers to me, causing me to go bright red, I scowl and flick her.
"Y-ya, which war is it again?" I ask, finally able to use my military knowledge for something. I took a glance at Pony's books on 1812, and resisted the urge to burn it. Wolfe died from his wounds because he was a wimp, and no one knows how long Plains of Abraham lasted because we weren't worried about time back then!
"The first one."
"Thanks."
Time skip (I am not a history person, so if anything is wrong, forgive me, and please let me know. Don't say you learn history from this story guys, go to school. Big thanks to my friends and family for the WWI notes)
"I can't thank you enough Keegan, this is really helpin' me out." Pony says again, putting a hand through his half brown half bleached hair.
"It ain't a problem Pony, I'm happy I can help. Not every day I use something from school."
Pony laughs nervously, then continues "Germany wanted to be superior even before the war, how did the unification even lead to the war?" Pony asks me. It is early evening now, and Ponyboy has a test on WWI coming up.
"Germany desired to become a superpower and a military power long before World War I. The unification of Germany was fuelled by the desire to become superior to France, Britain and Russia, and to be considered a world leader and a military power. Imperialistic competition was present between France, Britain and Germany affected the military, colonies, and politics. This led to conflict with Britain, Russia and especially France due to the desire to claim land and spread their nation.
In order to achieve this, German nations created the Trade union Zollverein, allowing members to trade among each other freely. This caused the rise of industrial Germany due to economic benefits and energy the Trade union gave the economy. 18 of the German states joined this Trade union by 1867. Austria-Hungary and General Otto von Bismarck refused to join because of the rivalry present between Austria-Hungary and Prussia. However, this trade union allowed Prussia to prepare the German states for confederacy. This caused German nationalism to rise within the states, which were based on Prussian authoritarianism and Prussia's reactionary, Anti-Catholic and Anti-Liberal political views. A huge cause of the Great War was the Imperialistic competition between the French, British, and Germans."
"How do you know all of this? I mean, you're so certain." Pony asks as he writes the key points from what I said down. I stop for a second.
"Oh you know I fought- I mean my uhh...grandfather fought? Yes! My grandfather fought in WWI and uhh...wrote letters home...he died in uh...1914."
"Are you ok Keegan?" Pony asks, looking up at me with concern on his face.
"Fine." I answer, looking at him. When we first met after being jumped, I was immediately more comfortable around Pony than any other Greaser. I don't know why that is, but we have grown to be good friends. It wasn't long before he told me what happened to a few of his friends a while ago. I feel bad for him.
"Alright, umm can you tell me anything about WWII before I start it in class?" He asks, I grin. Pony, as usual goes to me for a head start in history. I'm surprised he hasn't been kicked out of the class after my 1812 rant.
"It was all based on ultra nationalism. There's the basics. Propaganda so things like Captain America and that stuff."
"Richard Hamburg too?"
I cough a bit, "w-w-who?"
"The teacher said something about a Richard Hamburg when we do WWII."
I look down, and try to hide my flushing cheeks, "what about him?"
"His disappearance."
"You had better go to the teacher first on that one. I don't know a whole lot about him. I remember my father spoke about him once."
Pony looks at me confused, I can't blame him.
"Anyways, so you have any more questions about the Great War?"
"Hmm, no. I'm good, thanks Keegan."
"No problem."
"Can I ask you something Keegan?"
"Sure thing Pony."
"Did you drop out of school?"
Shit. "Uhh no, I was uhh..."
"Are you alright?" Pony asks me again, sitting down beside me on his bed, "you're really pale."
"I-I'm fine, thanks though. I was uhh...pushed ahead a few grades. Graduated really early."
"Really?"
"Ya." I answer, hoping that can actually happen.
Before Pony can say anything else, Soda calls the both of us downstairs. Pony thanks me again before he heads downstairs. I let him go first, saying I need to do something quickly.
After he goes down, I place my head in my hands.
I might've just given myself away.