Chapter six- Jumped!
Things didn't go well after Johnny's father almost caught us. First, Johnny about jumped at everything, even the blink of an eye. Second, Dally was in such a spitting rage that we almost had to cold-cock him just to get him to shut up. Third, Johnny wouldn't leave the house. And he wouldn't go to the lot, either. Fourth, Dallas and Tim Shepard got into a fight and Dallas broke a rib or two.
"You alright, Johnny?" I asked. Johnny didn't say anything; he just nodded.
"Come on, man, you gotta let it go. He can't hurt you here." I said.
"Yeah, Johnny, he even tries and he'll find himself out in Texas somewhere." Steve said and I had to laugh. Johnny didn't do anything. He just stared at the ceiling.
"Come on, Johnny, let's go do somethin'." I said, trying to get Johnny out of the house. Johnny didn't move.
"I-I'm scared, Pony." Johnny said in a quivering voice. I looked at Sodapop, who didn't say anything.
"I know you are, Johnny, but stayin' here ain't no way to live. Come on, let's go downtown to the movie house." I said. I was itching to get Johnny out again. His burns were healing pretty good. He could walk again. He didn't need to be afraid of his dad unless his dad was actually right there in his face.
"Alright. I guess I ain't gotta choice." Johnny said, sighing. He got up and we walked out of the house.
"Be careful!" We heard Soda call.
"We will!" We promised.
"Where we goin', Pone?" Johnny asked.
"Oh, I dunno. Downtown. I really don't wanna see a movie. What about you?" I asked.
"Naw, let's just walk around." Johnny said. I shrugged. We didn't have anything to do, so we just walked around, not really paying attention to where we were going. But we both stopped and stared when we realized where we were.
We were at the park. The park where Bob was killed. The park where our lives had changed forever.
"Gosh, this place doesn't exactly have good memories." Johnny said quietly and I looked at him. His eyes were huge with fear and remembering.
"I know." I said. And I was about to say that it was alright when a red mustang pulled up beside the park. Johnny yelped and I was getting a little nervous myself. Five Socs got out.
"Well, lookie here, boys." One of the Socs said. I gulped. Three of them were of the original five that jumped me and Johnny almost three months ago. "It's the little greasers that killed our good friend Bob." One snarled.
"Look, we don't want trouble…" I said, seeing how scared Johnny was.
"Shut up, kid! And it ain't you we're after; it's him." One said, pointing to Johnny. Johnny's eyes widened.
"Me?" He squeaked.
"Yeah, you, greaser." Another snapped and Johnny shut up, his eyes huger than I had ever seen him. He didn't even have his switchblade. It was still at home.
"Look, just leave us alone." I said. Johnny looked like he was about to faint from fear and I didn't feel to great myself.
"How 'bout no, greaser? Get 'im, Jim!" One said and the Soc twisted my arms behind me and held them there. I fought against him, but he was a lot bigger and older than me. I watched as the remaining four surrounded Johnny, ready to avenge Bob's death. I struggled against Jim's strength as they threw a punch at Johnny, knocking him into the fountain.
"No! Stop it!" I screamed. The Socs didn't listen. I went crazy.
"Darry! Soda! Steve! Two-Bit! Dallas!" I screamed. No one came.
"Shut up!" Jim said as he pushed me to the ground. I continued to scream as Johnny struggled to wade out of the fountain, but the Socs blocked his every path. They pushed him back into the fountain and when he got up, pushed him again. Suddenly, someone ran past me. It was Dallas! And boy was he mad. Someone hauled me to my feet and I turned to see Soda.
"Soda! We gotta help Johnny!" I said, but when I looked back at the fountain, the Socs were gone. Johnny stood up, and I could tell he was trembling.
"Johnny!" I said as I ran to him. He had a bruise on his cheek, but otherwise, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. "You alright, buddy?" Johnny nodded, but he was still shaking.
"Y-y-yeah." He said in a shaky voice. Great. Dang Socs! I thought. Dally was facing in the direction of which the Socs had run and he was cussing them good.
"Johnny, it's alright, buddy. They're gone now." Soda assured him and I was relieved when Johnny relaxed a little.
"T-t-t-they wanted revenge for me killing Bob." Johnny said. Dally had walked back to us by then.
"Don't worry, Johnny. They ain't ever gonna hurt you again, I promise." He said in a calming voice.
"Thanks, Dal. Thanks, Soda. How' you find us?" Johnny asked in a steadier voice.
"We heard Pony hollerin'." Soda said as he grinned at me. I didn't grin back and neither did Johnny or Dally, but Soda kept on smiling.
"Come on, Johnny, we gotta get that bruise checked out." Soda said and we walked back to our house in pure silence.
A/N- Exactly one year ago, I began to read the Outsiders for the first time in English class. I thought I'd just say that with my "anniversary" update!