SORRY! But I had to take care of my more popular stories first! If I get a strong response to this, I'll update more frequently.

Two-Bit's POV

The gang spent all day Saturday and Sunday hovering around Johnny and Ponyboy. There was no way in hell we were allowing the two youngest members of our group to get hurt again.

So when Monday rolled around, Darry had very specific instructions for everyone.

"Pony, Johnny, stick together with Steve and Two-Bit. Don't let yourselves be alone at any point, then come straight home after school, or I'll skin you two."

Both boys nodded sharply, but I noticed that they both looked frightened. I walked up and put an arm around each of them, "Hey, chill, you guys. Stevie here and me got your backs, savvy?"

"We know", Pony smiled warily.

Darry then turned to me and Steve, saying, "You better. You two better watch Pony and Johnnycakes, or I'll do worse than skin you."

We nodded nervously, and Soda walked into the room. He saw our expressions and chuckled, "Chill, guys. Just watch our youngest brothers, and you'll both live."

Soda walked up to Pony and ruffled his hair, "See you later, kid. Watch yourself, you hear?"

Darry nodded and patted Pony's shoulder, "Yeah, keep outta trouble, you dig, little buddy?"

Pony smirked, "Yeah, see ya, guys." He then stood up and followed Johnny, Steve, and me to my car to drive to school.

What I didn't tell anyone was that I had a bad feeling about today…

I regret that now.

Johnny's POV

I knew that Pony was as nervous about school as I was. We both kept glancing at each other with anxious expressions.

Wouldn't anyone be afraid in our shoes? We had almost died. Only Soda and Darry had stopped that from happening, and neither of them were here now.

Two-Bit and Steve tried calming us down.

"Seriously, will you two relax?" Steve rolled his eyes, "I know school sucks, but it ain't that terrifying."

Pony glared, "That ain't what we're worried about, and you know it."

Two-Bit placed a hand on Pony's shoulder, "Ignore him. Pon, Johnnycakes, we got your backs. And it would be hard for the Socs to attack you with us around, not to mention the school's other greasers."

We just nodded and headed off to our classes. Before we split, I said to Pony, "Be careful, man."

Pony nodded, "You too, Johnny."

With that we separated.

To be honest, the first six periods of the day were pretty peaceful. I had 2nd and 5th with Steve, and 3rd and 4th with Two-Bit. I only had lunch with Pony cuz he's so smart and I'm so dumb.

But when lunch rolled around, I couldn't find him.

Two-Bit and I grazed the cafeteria, but found nothing. Not that we eat in the café, but we had already checked his locker and the classrooms.

I looked worriedly at Two-Bit, "Where is he, man? He's never late like this."

Two-Bit and I walked outside to see if he was waiting for us, and found a fight going on.

Steve had three Socs down and was taking out the last one. He looked enraged, his nostrils flaring.

I looked at his feet, and saw why.

Pony was unconscious and bleeding.

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