Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own 'The Outsiders' or Ponyboy Curtis. Sigh. The owner is the best author ever, S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories I write on this site.

A/N: I was watching Sprint's Stupid Rich commercial and I'm thinking, "Ha! That sounds like them Socs," and I got a good laugh out of that. :) Does anybody actually read my author's notes? :) I need to stop with so many smiley faces, but I'm in a really happy mood so, what the heck, let's go crazy! ;)

This chapter took longer than it should have. Sorry guys.

Lastly, what happens next will seem to come out of nowhere, but that is the point of suprise.

Sorry that that was so long.

Darry's POV

Cherry called me yesterday and told me that she was going to meet a few Socs that were good friends with Bob and see what they have to say about Ponyboy's kidnapping. I was glad she was willing to help because Pony was keeping his trap shut about the whole ordeal and that was what was worrying me a lot.

I was suppose to go back to the hospital soon, but I was stressing out and decided to read the newspaper. The words on the front cover made my blood run cold.

Teen Brutally Murdered on Oak Street. Body recovered.

At 10:15 a.m. The body of beloved daughter and friend Sherri Valace, affectionally called "Cherry" by her friends, was found bloody, beaten to death, and almost unidentifiable. Suspect list is short and leads are scarce. Anybody knowing details is requested to come forward and tell the police.

I felt like throwing up. It was all my fault that she was dead. I shouldn't have let her go by herself. I mean, she was nice and all, but not a good fighter against a group of boys. I knew I needed to go to the police station before I went to the hospital.

And so I did. I grabbed some clothes to change into for Ponyboy and hopped into my old beat-up Ford.

When I arrived at the police station ten miles away I talked to the same cops on Ponyboy's case. I told them everything; her overhearing the Socs bragging about killing Ponyboy and I told them about her plans to meet with Randy, David, and Jason. I also reminded them that Randy was Bob's best friend. They seemed to take me seriously, writing down every detail like it would save their lives. It probably would some day being that Mr. Valace was a surgeon at the nearby hospital.

Speaking of doctor, I needed to remind Soda he needed to take Ponyboy to the eye doctor's tomorrow. I had to work tomorrow, my boss only gave me time off work if someone in my family was in the hospital and Ponyboy was getting released today.

I pulled up to the hospital and climbed out. When I walked inside I threw the newspaper away in the bathroom trash can. Ponyboy did not need to see it in his mental state at the moment. I knew, that I did need to tell him before he went back to school because he would probably find out there.

I was so not looking forward to that conversation with him. He was going to be crushed.

I pulled Soda outside and told him. He looked shocked.

"Wait? She's just dead? You have got to be kidding me, Darry. I mean, Steve just saw her come into the DX yesterday and talk to him. She had all the information, she was our main testifier for court, if we ever got one. Oh my gosh. Ponyboy, " He ranted, running his hands through his long, golden-wheat locks. I knew that we were both thinking the same thing.

What were we going to tell Ponyboy?

A/N: Yeah, I'm sorry that that was so short. It should have been way more then 775 words for the time it took me to start on it. I only started on it this morning when I usually start right after before I post a new chapter.

Yes, Randy and the rest of his buddies will eventually have to go to court. Does anybody know the sentence would be to murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping? Would it be execution? I do know that the method is the electric chair, as it was the most popular and most "humane" way to execute people back then. Please help me. Thanks guys and girls.