Ok-extremely long chapter. So no talkie. Just readie.

And FYI I have been trying to update for a freakin' week. But it's at least working now.

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I'm on a sentimental journey

Into sight and sound

Of no return and no looking back or down

A consciences objector to the

War that's in my mind

Leaving in the lurch and I'm

Taking back what's mine

I'm on a mission

In the destination unknown

An expedition

In the desolation road

--Green Day

XXXX

Ponyboy's POV

"Congrats kid. Done with high school. Off to college. You must be pretty damn proud." Dallas Winston stood before me, cigarette in hand, the whitish smoke seeming to make a shaky halo around his head. I smiled solemnly. I was now nearly the same age as he had been. It was a tough combination to take: sad and freaky.

"I don't see you." I said covering my eyes with a pillow that suddenly appeared in my hands. I absolutely could not be having these dreams again.

"That may be the case," he swaggered, "but you can hear me. I have a present for you."

Curious, I lifted the pillow away from my face. Suddenly, it was gone. "What?"

Dally unveiled a glass bottle full of red liquid. "Catch." He tossed it to me and as my hands reached out for it, the passed through the glass, ghost-like, missing it. The bottle crashed to the floor, glass and liquid shooting everywhere.

"You made a mess," he told me bluntly, watching the red liquid drip down the floor.

"I made the mess?"

Then Dally looked at me hard, his eyes blazing. "Long time…"

…No see the unfinished words hung between us.

Resisting the urge to pace the ground, or whatever I was standing on, I raised an eyebrow in exasperation. "Shoot, I'm almost afraid to ask why you're here.. But wait, you wouldn't tell me anything anyways. So why bother."

"That's why I like you kid, you catch on fast." Then he reached behind him and pulled out a broken mirror. "Care to take a peek?" He held it up to my face.

I drew back hesitantly, and then began to peer into the reflecting glass. It wasn't me I saw staring back, but before my brain could unscramble the face I began to scream.

Snapping up in my room, I tried to jump out of bed, tangled in blankets and sweat. In my haste, I crashed to the floor, hitting my water glass off the nightstand. Silently, it spun to the floor and then shattered into tiny fragments, the crash reverberating around the room. I winced at the harsh noise, which seemed louder to me than it actually was.

I held my breath and waited. Waited for Darry or Soda to pop their heads into the room. But no one came.

I breathed a sigh of relief, happy that I wasn't disturbing anyone. Other than myself. Now that Soda and I no longer shared a room and I didn't wake screaming bloody murder into his ear, he could sleep through anything. And Darry…well Darry was probably at Dana's.

The dream was fading quickly. Perplexed, I sat on the floor for thirty minutes trying to remember who I had seen in that mirror. Having no luck, I began the tedious midnight task of picking up the broken glass.

XXXX

"Boys," Darry yelled through the screen door, "if those burgers go on the ground I swear I'm going to make you eat them."

From my place on the front stoop, I looked up from my book to watch the gang. Sodapop and Steve were the acting chefs, grilling burgers. However, they were flipping them 10 feet in the air and then catching them with the spatula. "A little dirt never hurt anyone," Soda laughed.

"Yeah, but Darry might," Two-Bit said with amusement, his eyes following the vertical leap the burgers were taking, and then drifted over to me. "What're you reading? I thought you were done with school for the summer. Stop being anti-social." He grabbed the book from my hands and tossed it to Soda who slapped it besided him on the grass.

I smiled; I'd never get it finished with these guys around.

A loud roar of an engine told me Shakes was quickly approaching. Figuring he'd whip around the corner I mischievously strode into the middle of the street, knowing he'd skid to a halt right in front of me. His Ford rounded the corner and he slammed on the breaks, stopping within a few inches of me. Banging on the hood, I jumped back and laughed. He stuck his head out the window. "We're getting this down to an art."

"Practice makes perfect," I agreed, shooting a quick glance behind me, hoping Darry hadn't been watching through the screen door. Shakes had used the technique back in Tennessee, and roped me into being the 'victim'. He said it was great to pick up girls or even get out of a fight by pretending to be hit by a car. I wasn't sure about either of his theories, but it was fun.

"Hey Pony, guess who wants to fight you?" Shakes asked getting out and slamming his door. His lopsided smile was serious.

"Are you kidding me? What's that guy's problem?" I asked with annoyance even though I knew good and well what kind of problem Trevor Gayles had with me.

"What's whose problem?" Soda asked from his place on the lawn. He wore an apron that said, "Natural Born Griller." However, from the looks of the burgers I had my doubts.

"A soc." I told him indifferently.

"An invitation to rumble," Shakes put in.

Soda's face darkened and I knew he was thinking of Trevor too. But he didn't say anything. Suddenly, Steve began cursing up a storm. Two-Bit uttered a wild whoop of laughter and pointed proudly at a fallen burger; Soda started clapping.

"Wanna stay for dinner?" I asked Shakes.

"It does look tempting," he said making a face at the grass-covered burger. "But I just came by to be the bearer of bad news." He pulled out his keys. "See you tonight?"

"Yeah, nine o'clock."

Darry, pushing the screen door open, came out grinning. He bent over and picked up the burger, holding it out to Sodapop and Steve. "So. Who's gonna eat this?"

XXXX

Shakes and I left the movie theatre at about eleven. Shakes was the only one of my friends who wanted to go to a movie and could actually sit still through the whole thing. Previews included.

To me, it was a miracle.

"Want to get a Pepsi before we get back?" he asked as we strolled down McClaren Avenue.

"Sure." We went to Dolly's Diner and grabbed a booth.

"I'll buy," he offered, plunking down some coins for the waitress. "Two Pepsi's please." After she took took the order, he looked at me. "My dad sent my mom some extra money this week. I'm just rollin' in the dough," he added generously. "Besides I still owe you for those drinks Tommy never charged me for." I still worked at Tommy's bar. After getting up the nerve to tell Darry, he had been extremely pissed and resistant to the idea. However, after pointing out the fact that I did need a car for college, unless he wanted me to hitchhike everywhere, he eventually caved.

A disgusted look came over Shakes face.

"What?" I craned around, following his eyes.

Sitting a few tables back was Trevor Gayles with a few friends. Shakes shot me a knowing glance. "Gee. Surprise, surprise."

"Think someone put out a flyer we'd be here?" I joked dryly. This was our turf; the only reason they'd be over here would be to start trouble with me. Unfazed, I pulled out a smoke as the waitress set down our sodas.

Ten minutes later, three chairs scraped back and Trevor and his pals strutted up to our table. Shakes and I stared at each other for a quick second and then I looked up into Trevor's face.

Trevor sneered, "What're you looking at Grease?"

I raised an eyebrow Two-Bit style and replied disdainfully, "Not much." Shakes snickered and flicked his cigarette in the ashtray.

I felt pretty proud about that comeback until Trevor's hand darted out, grabbed my Pepsi bottle and cracked me across the head with it. Slivers of glass and drops of Pepsi flew everywhere.

"Maybe next time you'll think before opening that dumb trap of yours," he smirked. "Now, that's twice."

My mouth formed a silent 'O' and in my painful daze all I heard was Trevor's harsh chuckle and the slamming of the diner door as he left. I sat there, confused, until a warm trickle of blood, mixed with cold Pepsi began streaming down the side of my head.

"Here. Shit. Christ Ponyboy, take this," Shakes blathered pushing a napkin into my hand. Ignoring him and the shocked stares of the customers, I booked it out of the diner after Trevor. I was so angry I couldn't see straight.

I caught Trevor on the corner of Southerly and Lewis. His friends were gone so I saw this as an even fight. Tapping him on the shoulder, I pulled my right hand into a fist.

When in Rome...

Surprised, he turned around and I popped him a quick, fast one in the face. He staggered back, fell off the curb and landed on his ass. I smirked at him. "My turn."

"Not smart, Grease," Trevor warned, jumping back up. Before I could advance Shakes was there, pulling me away.

"Knock it off. D'you want the fuzz called?" He grabbed the back of my t-shirt and stuck an arm in front of me.

Trevor's face twisted into a gruesome smile. "I'd listen to your friend. The last thing you need is another murder rap." Distastefully, he wiped the blood from his nose onto his yellow sweater.

"And I'd shut the hell up buddy," Shakes informed. "I'm this close to whuppin' your scrawny ass myself."

Trevor considered this and then grinned maliciously at me. "See you around."

"You'd better believe it," I retorted furiously. After he had gone, I shouted at Shakes, "Can you believe that bastard?"

"Calm down." Shake's face was wary, his hands out trying to steady me as I paced the sidewalk.

A shout came from across the street. From the beers stuffed in the pockets of his jeans and the sideburns I judged it to be Two-Bit. "Hey, I thought I saw a couple of greasy JD's loitering over here…" He did a double take at seeing me. "Oh, shee-it kiddo…"

Frowning, I remembered my head. I touched my scalp, my hand coming away red. "Yup. That hurts," I muttered bitterly to Shakes.

"Serves you right rushin' out of there like that." Shakes scrunched his face up and poked his hands into my hair, prodding through the blood and glass. I winced but let him do it.

Two-Bit stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. "Would uh, someone mind telling me what uh, exactly you two got into tonight?"

"Oh those socs," I replied sarcastically, "You know they just can't resist a Pepsi bottle and a greasers head." Two-Bit winced and sucked air through his teeth painfully.

My head began to throb and I swayed unsteadily.

Shakes shook my shoulder. "C'mon," he said snapping a finger in front of my face. "Look alive Ponyboy."

In the rush of things, I hadn't realized how bad my head was hurting. But once I had time to breathe, man it hurt like something else.

Two-Bit threw an arm around my shoulders. "It's a good thing you have a hard head, kid. Let's get you home. Doctor you up. Scare the crap out of your brothers. You know, the usual Friday night excitement."

XXXX

"Shakes, I swear to god, if you try to stick me with that thing…"

Shakes grinned and held up a sewing needle. "I think you need stitches."

I shook my head, annoyed at his hi-jinks, yet knowing he was only trying to get my mind off of what had happened. "I think I don't," I snapped, rubbing my temples and glaring at Two-Bit who was lounging in the hallway. "A little help here?"

He held up his hands, shrugging lazily. "I think you two got it covered."

Shakes raised the needle mockingly, laughed and then tossed it in the sink. "Here," he said, reaching behind him and grabbing some gauze. "I'll put this on, instead." Steve had been the last one to use it after getting so upset at Evie he put his hand through the wall.

"Thanks," I mumbled as Shakes unsteadily wound the white strips around my head. Instantly, the gauze turned bright red.

"Hmm," Two-Bit said, raising an eyebrow at that. "Maybe you do need stitches."

I stuck my long legs out from my makeshift chair on the toilet lid and sighed. "No. I'm fine. What I need to do is get that guy. Hard."

"Now I'm all for a good rumble, kid," Two-Bit spoke cautiously, scratching the back of his head, "But I have a sneaking suspicion, just from looking at you, that he doesn't exactly fight fair."

"Well, he'd better learn how," I bit out harshly. But at the moment, I didn't exactly feel like fighting fair myself.

A deep cough made us all turn our heads. Darry, Sodapop and Steve stood watching us, their eyes full of questions. "What the hell happened?" Darry said loudly, scanning the messy and bloody bathroom.

"Nothing a few aspirins can't cure," I reassured, not wanting to worry them.

At Darry's flummoxed and annoyed expression, Two-Bit spoke up. "Some soc took a swipe at him with a bottle." Darry blanched and Two-Bit reassured him hastily, "No thanks to your brother's big mouth."

Despite my throbbing head, I grinned and pointed at Two-Bit. "Hey, I learned from the best. Blame him," I told Darry.

"Oh no, you're not pinning this on me," Two-Bit laughed good-naturedly. "What comes out of your mouth is your own problem."

Sodapop, who would have been in the bathroom instantly had it not been overly crowded, knitted his eyebrows together. "Should we call Dana?"

I knew I paled. But it wasn't from the head wound. Lord, I would rather be cracked across the skull a dozen more times than have Dana cooing and fussing over me. My eyes widened as I glanced with panic at Shakes; he read my mind.

Shakes laughed softly. "No, he'll be fine, Sodapop." That earned him a nice glare from both my brothers.

Steve's jaw was tight as he growled, "Yeah, I'd like to crack you across the head with a glass bottle and have you tell me you're 'fine', you little pipsqueak."

"Move," Darry ordered Shakes rudely, pushing him out of the bathroom, as if Shakes had caused this problem. And in fact, knowing Darry, he probably was thinking that. I shot my friend an apologetic glance but he just shrugged. Darry knelt down and inspected the damage.

"Glory Darry! Ow! Don't be so rough." I shoved his hands away.

He spoke in a tone that was usually reserved for five year olds. "I barely touched you." Then examining it one last time, he nodded and said grudgingly, "You're right. It's not that deep." Justified, I hopped off my seat a little too quickly. I gasped and clutched the sink.

Darry stood and thumped my chest with his knuckle. "Take it easy."

"Darry," I begged, "Can I have some aspirin?" After my last nightmare he had stuck them somewhere in the house. It would figure that when I really needed them I couldn't find them."Please?" I moaned at his doubtful expression. "My head really does hurt this time."

"Hey I can always go back to my place and get some of my mom's painkillers." Shakes grinned, baiting Darry. "They'd knock you out like that."

"Fine," Darry grumbled, walking into the kitchen. Eagerly, I trotted after him, followed by Two-Bit and Sodapop. Shakes and Steve were left to antagonize each other.

Darry opened one of the canisters we never used for flour and pulled out the bottle of aspirin. I held out my hand.

"Aw shucks Darry, take pity on the kid," Two-Bit laughed as Darry hesitantly doled out two aspirin.

Darry sighed and then slapped three more into my palm. "That's all." Darry waited for me to gulp them down and then asked, "So. Are you going to tell me who did this?"

No.

Soda answered for me, ignoring my warning glance. I definitely didn't want to involve anyone, especially Darry. Soda, looking as if he wanted to join in on beat down right then and there said, "I think I have a pretty good idea."

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Questions, inane banter, bounteous reviews are mucho appreciated. Hope you all enjoyed the extremely long chapter…and you weren't bored to tears. ;)

Peace&Love