Chapter Ten- Revenge

We helped Johnny get to his feet and we started to make our way towards home. Johnny could hardly walk he was in so much pain. Darry finally had to carry him inside. He put him down carefully on the couch and Soda went to get some peroxide and rags to clean up Johnny's cuts.

"Randy Adderson? Randy?" I asked. Johnny nodded.

"Yeah, he and his friends showed up and said that it was revenge for killing Bob." Johnny said.

"Were they drunk?" Steve asked. Johnny shook his head.

"No." He said quietly. "They saw me walking by the lot and snuck up behind me and scared me. I ran across the lot, but Randy and his friends, the others who tried to drown you, Pony, grabbed me and one held me still while Randy cussed me out and threatened me. They said if they ever see my face again, they'll kill me and whoever's with me."

I and the others, even Dally, were quiet and waited for Johnny to go on.

"Anyway," Johnny continued, "Randy got Bob's rings. Bob's parents gave them to him after they buried him. He showed them to me and then he punched me. He did it hard, too. He said that he wanted to give me a scar to remember what I did. Like I don't have that already!" Johnny said and I knew he was referring to his burns.

"They beat me until one of them pulled a blade. They cut me up pretty bad." Johnny said, indicating the deep gashes on his sides. So that's why his shirt was dark with spots!

"They kicked me and punched me until I guess I passed out. The next thing I know, you guys are there." He put in quietly. Soda poured some of the peroxide onto a rag and pressed it gently to Johnny's scar on his face. Johnny hissed and cursed under his breath.

"Ow, Soda, that hurts!" He said. Suddenly, Dally began to curse up a storm and stomped out of the house in such a rage that I had never even seen before. I mean, I've seen Dallas mad, but never that mad.

"Dally!" I said as I ran out after him.

"What do you want, kid?" He growled.

"Where in God's name are you goin'?" I asked.

"Where do you think I'm goin', Pony?! I'm goin' to get revenge! And ain't you or anybody else in there gonna stop me!"

"I ain't stoppin' ya. I want revenge, too, but Dallas, you can't go out there and kill Randy, no matter how much you want to. You know you can't." I said.

"I don't care, Pony!" Dally screamed and I knew he meant it. He would kill Randy if he got a hold of him.

"Look, Dal, I want revenge, too, but you heard what Johnny said the night of the rumble. "Fightin's useless.' And there's somethin' else, Dally. You go out there and kill Randy and then him and Bob's friends will just be after Johnny more. They might come lookin' for him and kill him! Do you want that, Dally?" I nearly screamed the last sentence at him. He had nearly gotten himself killed because he thought Johnny had died. "Do you want them to kill Johnny?"

"No! An you're lucky I ain't beatin' the tar out of you right now!" Dally said and I knew that he was right. He was saving his anger for Randy.

"Look, all I'm gonna do it ruff him up a bit." Dally said.

"I know you, Dally, and that ain't all you're gonna do." I said. Dally's eyes flickered fire and he started to scream at me again.

"Why you little…" He said and I knew he was about to pound me.

"DALLY! COOL IT!" I turned to find Darry, Steve, and Two-Bit. "Pony's right, that ain't all you're gonna do. We ain't gonna let you go out there and get yourself jailed again, Dallas, so you might as well get your butt back in that house!" Dally glared at Darry, but he didn't start a fight like I thought he would. Darry was our unofficial leader and the oldest of the gang and Dally knew not to mess with him, though Darry knew not to mess with him.

"And what if I don't want to, Curtis?" Dally said and Darry stepped closer to him.

"We'll make you. Look, there's a kid in there who needs you, so you just get your butt in there." Dallas glared at him again, but he stomped back to the house.

"That was pretty stupid of you, kid." Two-Bit said and I knew he was right. Nobody, and I mean nobody, talked to Dallas Winston like that and got away with it.

"I didn't think." I said, shrugging.

"That's for sure." Darry said and I turned and we all walked back into the house. I understood how Dally was feeling. I wanted revenge against Randy, too. He had gone too far this time.

A/N- Boy, did Pony ever get lucky!

Please review!

-Robin