Chapter Ten

Scar POV

"Come on..."

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

"For what? What'd you do?"

"I'm sorry... I couldn't help you. I tried so hard. I didn't..."

"Come on, you're dreaming. Wake up."

"I..."

I opened my eyes to see Keegan and Sodapop. I touched my face, it was wet from crying. I sat up and wiped the tears away.

"What time is it?"

"3:37. I guess you fell asleep while reading."

I nodded. Soda gave me a soft smile.

"Come on, we're all going over to Two-bit's."

I rolled out of bed. Keegan left.

"You remember it?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You wanna talk about it?"

I'd been here for almost four months, and I liked it. I really did, but I didn't wanna do this.

"No. I'm okay."

"You know, you can talk to me. Any of us. We're all here."

"I know, Uncle Soda. I'm okay, really."

Most of the gang, minus Jason and Cam, were at the Matthew's house. They did this once a week. It was usually at our house, but Two-bit wanted it here.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"You look like you've been ran over by a truck."

He sat beside me. I rolled my eyes.

"How about I run over you with my truck and we'll see who looks worse."

"Feisty. You okay?"

I rubbed my tired eyes.

"I'm fine, Danny. I really wish people'd stop asking me that."

"We have to. You seem to have Ponyboy's luck."

I smirked. I'd heard all the stories about him. In my dad's words, he was a stubborn ass kid who always found himself in trouble.

"I'm not that bad."

He raised an eyebrow and started laughing.

"I'm okay. Really. These nightmares are just kicking my ass."

"It'll get better, Scar."

Cam POV

"It's getting worse."

Jason was pacing his room.

"Dude, you gotta calm down, you're making me dizzy."

"It's happened, Cam. It's happened."

"What's happened? Come on, you've been beating around the bush since I got here. Spit it out."

"They threatened us."

The blood drained from my face.

"My dad keeps telling them that Darry's dead, but they ain't buying it. They told him to watch out."

"Is it a serious threat?"

"From these guys? Hell yeah."

"Who are they?"

He finally sat down.

"Let's just say, we'd better watch our backs."

"What would they do?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out. We don't know what they'd do, we just know it wouldn't be pretty..."

"Jason..."

"Yeah?"

"Will they... If they're out to get Darry..."

"Don't... Don't say it."

Soda POV

"Are you kidding me?"

I was sitting in Tim's bar while he drained his drink. He was sporting a black eye.

"I ain't. He's out now, and he's looking for revenge."

"On what, a ghost?"

"They don't believe me. They think I'm... We're trying to hide him."

I groaned.

"So, what's this mean?"

"No idea. Just told me to watch out and gave me this as a reminder."

He pointed to his eye.

"Figured you should know."

"Thanks, man."

He sighed.

"Soda, I never thought this kind of shit would happen again. I mean, greasers and Socs don't even exist anymore! It's the damn 90s!"

"I know..."

I called Pony and told him. He cursed through the phone.

"I thought this stuff was done with. We didn't have anything to do with it. Hell, Dar didn't even have anything to do with it!"

"That's not the way they see it, apparently."

He sighed.

"This is nuts, I'm coming home."

"No, this is the biggest thing that's ever happened for you. I'm not letting you blow your career for nothing."

"A threat ain't nothing!"

"It could be an empty threat. I'll let Steve and Two-bit know. We'll be fine, you stay there."

"How're James and Nicky?"

"Getting into trouble like always. I've get them. You stay."

Scar POV

I was driving home one day. It was a rare day that I was alone. Keegan had practice and James was hanging out with the guys. I had a couple of stops to make. By the third and final stop, I noticed the same van that I'd seen at every place.

As I neared my truck, a man jumped out of it blocking my door. He was looking at a photograph.

"I wanna talk to you."

He reached out to grab me.

"You touch me, and I'll scream. Look around, there's plenty of witnesses."

The parking lot was full. A couple of people were even looking at us. He nodded.

"Let me talk and I'll leave you alone."

"Go to hell."

I turned to run.

"Cute kid. It'd be a shame if something happened to him.

I stopped and turned halfway around.

"What're you talking about?"

When he turned the photo around, my heart dropped. I nodded.

"Alright, you've got my attention. What do you want?"

"Tell your dad that we need to have a chat."

I was confused.

"My dad? But..."

I felt the tears coming. He scowled.

"Look you little shit, tell your dad that Kenny needs to talk!"

He threw they photo on the ground, got in the van and it sped away. I picked it up and held it to my chest. It was a picture of Nicky playing at his school.

Jason POV

"Shit..."

James looked pissed.

"What're we gonna do? They're threatening Nicky, man!"

I called my dad, who called Soda. The next thing I knew, my living room was filled with everybody. My dad retold the story. Steve swore, Sodapop paled, and Two-bit drank.

"You guys knew? Everyone here knew and didn't tell me?"

Scar was pissed. Great... Just what we need. I spoke up.

"We weren't sure if we were in danger of not."

"So, who are they? What do they want?"

Soda spoke up.

"That's not important right now. What's important is keeping you kids safe. Don't go anywhere alone."

My dad finished for him.

"Any of you."