A/N: Well, I'd like to thank all of you who reviewed! I was sooo happy to see that I got 4 good ones on just the first chapter! That makes me really happy, you have no idea . But anyway, I won't keep you waiting. Here's chapter 2!

Julez: Thank you! It just came to me like the night before last, because I was soo sick of reading summaries about new girls moving to Tulsa and making the boys just fall head over heels for them (which I think is pretty unbelievable, no offense). So I came up with this, since hardly anyone writes about racial conflicts back then, which I know there were. But anywayz, Thanks for your review, I hope you keep reading!

Bambola: Wow, I'm really honored that you decided to review my story on the first chapter, even though it's something you don't normally do! I didn't think that I was portraying emotion, I just write what I see in my head, lol. But I am soo happy that you liked it! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to you! Teeheehee. I hope you keep reviewing and tell me immediately the moment you think that I've slipped or something. Because I'll gladly fix whatever doesn't please my readers.

TheUltimateOutsider: Thank you. I'm flattered that you like the way that I write and the plot. And I'll keep the lingo as non-modern as possible, lol.

Lintucuiel: I'm pleased to know that I sparked your interest! Lol, well I won't keep you waiting anymore!

Runnin' Barefoot

Chapter: Two

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I knew I looked like an idiot, but I had never needed someone more in my life. I needed her...to train me.

"Excuse me?" She said. She had a southern accent that weighed heavily on her voice.

'You heard what he said, Jimmie Lee?' One of the older boys said. 'Cracka' said he wan'ed to race you!' He said like he was in utter shock. I still pretended not to hear them.

"D'You know who I am?" She asked, she cocked one eyebrow, like Two-Bit did. Reminding myself to stay cool, I cracked a grin, chuckling a little.

"Sounds like someone's a little full of themselves." I said coolly. I was pushing it, I know. But I'm a greaser, remember? I can't just let my guard down and run away like a scared little puppy with it's tail between it's legs, even if I wanted to. Especially not when they were as fast as they were. Even if I had wanted to; I was too far in now. I had to race her.

"Who do you think you is challengin' me, white boy?" She was still looking at me as if I was the lowest thing on the Earth. Like I was making her sick just looking at me. They all were.

'I'll take care o' this honky.' One said, I turned around and saw an extremely tall, lanky black boy step up, grinding his fist into his hand, staring right at me. Slowly I pulled my hands from out of my pockets, and let the drop to my side. He walked closer to me and my heart started going crazy. I thought it would beat itself out of my chest. I balled my hands into fists as he started to move in closer. I lifted my head higher as he came closer to me, just to keep eye contact. I know my eyes were wider than a deer's in headlights. I had never been so scared in my life. He was finally close enough so that I could feel him breathing on me, and, shutting my eyes again, I prepared for the beating of a lifetime.

"Leave 'im be, Ray!" Jemima spoke up from behind me. but obviously he wasn't thoroughly convinced and he drew his fist back.

"Come on now, Ray, let it alone!" One of the girls behind him protested. "Momma don' told you 'bout gettin' into fights with them white boys!" She begged. He turned and looked at what I figured was his sister for a while, and turning back to me, he sighed and let his hand down. Even though he was still giving me eyes that would even make Dallas Winston fidgety.

"He say he wanna race?" Jemima said, I turned around to face her. "Ok, white boy. Ah'll race you." She hinted for me to follow her, and I did.

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We both stood at the very end of the field. And it didn't really occur to me how large it was until now. Even though we did track meets here all the time, for me all the screaming and tension took my mind of how long the distance was and set it on just winning. But now, nobody was around. There was no pressure there, and it was killing me. Yeah, it sounds weird; so sue me. The pressure was in the fact that I was racing against who I thought was probably one of the best sprinters in Tulsa. Maybe even in Oklahoma, I don't know. I didn't really think about it.

"To th'otha field go'." She said, pointing to the opposite field goal. Golly, her accent was thick. I imagined she was from somewhere like Alabama or something. I cracked my neck, still pretending like I was miraculously uninterested in anything, and half nodded. She looked at me, almost sneering, and knelt down. In ready position. I met her gaze and did the same. The whole time thinking, maybe if I didn't show that I was intimidated by her, then I would throw her off or something. I would soon come to realize that my hopes were wasted. Horribly.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Say the word." I answered coolly. She waited a few good seconds, just to make sure that I was tense. She was good.

"...Go." She finally said. She hadn't even finished the word before I took off. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, using all techniques I had learned in the past that I thought would be in my advantage.

In through the nose, out through the mouth. I told myself. Back straight, abs relaxed.

Wind was whistling in my ears and I looked beside me to see how far ahead she was, and I almost stopped when I realized she wasn't even there. I looked in front of me to see if she was up there, and again, there was no one. For a few seconds I was filled with the pathetic, false hope that I could actually beat her. But that was before I realized what was happening. She was doing the same thing she had done before in the girls' race. Giving me a head start just for giggles. So, knowing I was about to get smoked, I sped up as fast as I could, which was not much actually. I was now at the 50 yard line. And before I knew it, I heard rapid footsteps behind me, gaining fast. I begged my legs to accelerate, but they wasn't hearing any of it. Once she had caught up with me, for barely a second, she looked at me and laughed heartily and proceeded to leave me in her dust. She was more than 5 yards ahead of me when she reached the field goal.

It seemed like hours later when I finally got to the finish mark. I couldn't help but look struck dumb as she stood there, breathing normally as if she hadn't just run halfway around a football field, and chuckling at me.

As if I wasn't already humiliated enough, her friends decided to come over. I looked at them. All I saw was a mass of sneers and grins and sly remarks that I was too tired and too dizzy to figure out. I put my fists on my hips, trying to keep my composure around them. But it was impossible. My calves were burning, my thighs were screaming, my lungs were on fire, begging for air, my chest was hurting. Everything on me throbbed and seared. Finally I couldn't help it and I bent over, placing my hands on my knees, coughing and panting heavily.

I looked up at them. Jemima looked at me like she was my disappointed mother or something. Her face clearly said 'Are you kidding me? You're pathetic.' She shook her head and looked off, rolling her big eyes.

"Come on now, Jimmie Lee, you know Madea said be home 'fo the sun get too low!" One of the younger girls said. She looked after him and nodded, silently telling him that she was coming, and looked back at me. The look on her face made her look like she wanted to spit in my face. And I wouldn't have been surprised at all if she had. I stood again as she walked away. For the brief second that she stopped and was standing next to me she gave me that same look as before. As if she was ashamed of me. But she didn't even know me. Why would she be disappointed? Was she expecting me to do better?

I was snatched from my thoughts just at the same time I was snatched up by my shirt collar. I turned around quickly only to see that my face was inches away from none other than Ray's. Normally in that kind of situation, I would have belted him a good one in the eye, but right now I was too tired and too scared to say anything. But I sure wasn't gonna show it.

"How's it feel, white boy? Huh?" He said. His voice was low and threatening. I didn't answer. He glared at me, and his eyes were hostile. I think he would have killed me right then if he could. "Don't feel good, do it..." He said. "To be beat by a nigga?" He finished. He glared at me for a while after that, to let it sink in before he shoved me violently away and walked away with the others.

I stared after him for a while. I never realized how disgusting that word really was. I mean, yeah I had said it before a couple of times. But now, I didn't even know. It seemed hard, and cruel. I had thought it was just a word before. But now the mere thought of that coming out of someone's mouth made me sick.

...Nigger...

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"Well Kid," Two-Bit said as we both made our way from the school yard to my house. "You did pretty good." He slung his arm on my shoulder again. I looked at him and laughed."

"Yeah? I must'a missed that part." I grinned. Two-Bit laughed.

"Yeah, you're right kid. She whipped you good!" He howled. I looked at him sourly.

"How much did she spot me?" I asked dead pan. He shrugged.

" 'Bout...ten seconds, I reckon." I groaned. Ten seconds. If that wasn't a self-esteem lower, I don't know what is. Ten whole seconds. Man, I felt lousy.

"Man, I gotta quit smokin'." Two-Bit hollered again.

"Sure, Ponyboy. You said that last year too, before track. You know good and well you can't ditch the weeds." He said.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Please. You smoke more than any of us combined. You'd be off you're rocker in less than a week." He said, fishing another Kool out of his pocket and lighting it.

"Shut yer trap and give me one." I said. He handed the the cigarette and lit me up. So what if I was proving his point. I needed a smoke. Especially after what I had been through in the past 45 minutes.

"Well Two-Bit," I said, letting the smoke flow out of my nostrils. "I tell you what; That's the last time I ever take advice from you."

"Yeah, well, you should'a known not to take it from me in the first place." He answered.

We had been walking for about 15 minutes and I sighed. The street lights were already on, and Darry was going to want to know where I had been all day. I'd just tell him the truth. Besides the race and everything. Darry knew I liked running so he would believe me.

"So when're you gonna ask her to help you train?" Two-Bit asked. I shrugged. That was a good question. I doubted she ever wanted to see my face again after what had happened today.

"Maybe tomorrow." I answered. "Yeah, tomorrow." I said again after thinking for a bit.

"Hey Two-Bit. Keep it shut about what went down today. We were just hangin' out after school, dig?" I said as we came up on our house. He nodded and we tossed our weeds as we made our we through the fence and up to the door.

I was glad to finally be in the house when Two-Bit closed the door behind him. And I was more than glad that I didn't have any homework. Because right now, all I planned on doing was taking a shower and getting to bed.

I kicked off my shoes, smiling from the relief of my feet finally being able to breathe and silently thought to myself.

Tomorrow was gonna be a real long day...

Thank you once again for reading! Please don't forget to review, I really appreciate it. You'll really bring a smile to my face. But if you wish to remain a silent reader that's fine with me. As long as you keep reading, I'll be happy!