Terror filled up inside me as I struggled frantically to get free and watched Johnny on the ground.

"Why were you going up into her room?!!" Rick roared into Johnny's horrified face.

Johnny covered his face with his arms, basically dying of fear. He was so jumpy ever since those Socs got him that one day and I didn't blame him.

"STOP IT!!" I screamed, starting to cry.

I ripped my foot out and jumped off the porch roof. Rick kicked Johnny in the side furiously and Johnny let out a small whimper and curled up. Anger erupted in my stomach and I threw myself at Rick and tore him away from Johnny.

"Leave him alone!!"

Rick turned to face me and smirked. "Ooh! Protective! Hey, girl, you lied to me when you said you didn't have a boyfriend!!"

I glared at him, tears streaming down my face.

"What, do you hate me now?"

"Are you kidding me?!" I cried. I pushed past him and helped Johnny up. "I'm so sorry!" Johnny was so scared he was trembling.

"He's such a wimp, River! He won't …" but he was interrupted by a furious,

"Rick Winter!!"

He spun around to see a car with a big man in it. He swore and started towards it.

"How many times do I need to tell you before you get it in your thick skull that if you miss anymore work I will kill you?!!" the man roared.

"I know! I'm sorry, sir!" He was like a puppy with its tail between its legs.

"Get in! And who's that?" He stared at me.

"My niece."

"Hey girl! Your uncle won't be home for two days!!"

"What?!" Rick spat.

"You really expect me to let you come home when you missed yesterday and the day before and so many other days?!!" the man snapped. "Now get in!!"

He moaned but obeyed, and they drove off. I helped Johnny into the wreck of a house and sat him down on a nearly broken wooden chair. I felt so horrible for him. Rick hadn't hurt him or anything but he totally scared him out of his mind. I went to the fridge and opened it. The only thing in it was beer. I closed it and turned on the tap but the water smelled like rotten eggs.

"There's nothing to drink in this flippin' house!!" I cried, frustrated.

"I-I'm fine really," Johnny stammered shakily, rummaging in his pocket. He was still white as a ghost and was quivering but didn't look like he was going to puke anymore. He pulled out a cigarette and matches and lit it.

I didn't like that he smoked but it helped calm his crazy nerves once in a while. It was just that every time I smelt cigarette smoke I thought of my dad hitting me. I frowned and sat on a different wooden chair.

"I don't like being in this house … even when he's not here," I muttered, looking around.

Johnny sighed and glanced at everything too. "Yeah! It's pretty … bad!"

"Where do you think he works?" I asked quietly.

"I'm guessing by how his boss was furious and still didn't fire him, how he threatened to kill him, how they both look, and by all the stuff in this house, I'd have to say the boss guy's a drug dealer and your uncle delivers stuff, just brings the drugs from place to place. Maybe even brings the drugs to the dealer guy."

"How …"

He shrugged. "I overhear my dad, I've walked along the streets before! Hard to forget that stuff you hear!"

Nodding, I got up and walked over to the counter. I saw a five dollar bill lying there. Starting to smile, I grabbed it.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat!"

---------

We ended up at the drugstore again with chips and Pepsis. We sat outside on the grass eating and drinking our junk when suddenly Soda, Steve, Pony, Two-Bit, and Dally showed up.

"Whoa! Look who's here!" Soda exclaimed, grinning widely. He was always so happy!

"What're you guys doin'?" Dally asked, patting Johnny's shoulder.

"Just eatin'," Johnny said softly.

Dally looked at him harder. "You're kinda pale buddy! What happened?"

"Aw, nothin' real big!"

Dally glanced over at me and I shrugged. If I told him he'd make a big deal about it, blame me, and then run off to threaten Rick … Then again, maybe I should tell him. But I decided against it. I didn't need Rick killing Dally. Poor Johnny would break!

"Fine!" he snapped, "I gotta go get some Kools!" He went into the store kind of angrily.

"Hey! Me, Pony, and Dally are gonna head on over to a movie soon, you guys wanna come?" Two-Bit asked abruptly.

"That's a stupid question," Pony joked, "Of course they'll come!"

Johnny and I both nodded and got up. It was a stupid question! They all knew we'd do anything but go home!

When Dally returned with two packages of smokes, he, Two-Bit, Pony, Johnny, and I left Soda and Steve, and walked to the Dingo, the roughest drive-in in town.

Sure enough when we reached it, there were two fights in progress. One between Tim Shepard and some hood, and the other between two greasers I didn't know. Dally and Two-Bit stopped to watch and cheer them on but Pony, Johnny, and I continued to the backrow seats, Johnny in the middle. I sighed and slumped down in the seat, waiting for the movie to start.

"Wonder what time it is," I muttered.

"Yeah," Johnny agreed.

"I think it's around three or four," Pony said calmly.

"Hey greasers! That's our spot!!" a raspy harsh voice said from behind our heads.


Poor poor people!! Yeah ... please review.