Chapter 3- Prince Asinine

Kate watched the flames from an old plastic chair, held together by patches of duct tape. Behind her, a few greasers were pushing each other and having a petty fight. Something about a Soc? She wasn't sure; she'd never heard that term before. She sighed. The nerve of that punk, she thought to herself. Who was this 'Dally' to come right out and say that to a perfect stranger. What's worse is, she knew that Kelly wasn't too fond of her, but she thought maybe she'd stick up for her or see if she was okay. Instead, she heard her talking about her even as she walked away from the group.

She played with a strand of her hair, nervously picking at the ends. She wasn't timid whatsoever. But something about this group just made her have a loss for words completely. The younger boy, the nice one, came strolling up beside her. He stood next to her chair, and offered her one of the two beers he had in his hands.

"I picked ya up another since ya lost your last one," he said as she took it. She looked up at him, and tried to smile, but it sort of just looked like she had indigestion.

"Thanks, Ponyboy," she replied. She popped the top on the corner of the chair, chipping a plastic piece off; nobody would miss it.

"You can call me just Pony. Everyone else does." He sat down in the dirt beside her and crossed his legs, his knees up at his chest. "And, Kate, don't mind what Dally says."

She looked over, or rather down, at him with sudden interest. She was about to start rallying off about the guy, but figured if Pony had talked so decent about him, that maybe he wasn't a bad guy. But who was she kidding, he was quite a dog. There had to be something wrong with a boy to make him just come out and say such a thing.

"Why was he in jail?" she asked, all of a sudden.

Pony took a second to answer, seemingly trying to figure out a way to execute the story the correct way. He scratched his head beneath dark and greasy hair. "Well, we had this friend, Johnny. Me and Johnny got into some real trouble a few years back. Dally, well he was there to help us. But then Johnny got in an accident and Dal saved his life, but it was too late anyways and he died. That sort of did something to him, I reckon."

Kate listened, trying to decipher what kind of person Dallas Winston was. She couldn't decide right now. She looked back over at the group they'd left, and saw that Kelly and Pony's one brother had left. She wondered idly what had happened to them. Surely they hadn't left together; Sodapop didn't seem like that kind of guy. But Dallas was watching her back, probably knowing that he was the subject of their conversation. She rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Pony, who was finishing up his story.

"So once Johnnycakes died, Dal lost it and he went and robbed a corner store. Then the cops were chasin him and Dal just wanted to die. So he pretended to pull a gun, and the cops got 'im first." The last part seemed to sober Ponyboy, as if he were digging up some really terrible memories. Kate leaned over and touched his shoulder, giving a brief squeeze.

"I would've liked to meet your friend. Sounds like he was as nice as you," she reassured, not pressuring him to talk about it anymore. "So your other brother, Darrell? He's your guardian?" she asked, lifting a brow.

Pony nodded. "Yea, that's him. Big, ain't he? He don't let anyone mess with us. He's tuff. Hell, you shoulda seen him just last month, he took on 3 Socs by himself. They wouldn't quit on him about not goin to college and he warned em.."

"What's a 'Soc'?" Kate interjected. "I heard those boys behind me arguing over Soc, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was."

Pony laughed and toasted the poor, innocent girl. He threw his head back with a drink and smacked his lips. "They're people, if you wanna call em that. They're from the other side of the track. Ya know. They're rich, know it alls, with fancy cars and bad attitudes."

She nodded. She understood him. She once had a fancy car and material things. Never a bad attitude though. Kate was beginning to understand the social divide here in Tulsa. "So they're different from you guys, then? And you don't like them for it?"

"Naw, we're greasers. That's how we were born. We're no good liars, thieves, and fighters. We don't bother nobody. It's the Socs usually comin around that starts the trouble. Been that way for years," he said with a shrug. He threw his beer bottle into the fire, the crackle loud as it smashed with the heat.

"Well you don't seem like a liar or a thief or a fighter," she observed.

"Well I am."

Kate flipped her hair back over her shoulder again--something she did so often because of the length-- and turned in the plastic chair to face him. "Do you think I'm a Soc?" She asked, cocking a brow.

Ponyboy was taken by surprise. He stumbled over his words when he answered. "Uh… well you ain't a greaser. And I don't really know if you're a Soc. It's not somethin I can think you are. If you were one, you'd just be one. They ain't all bad. But uh… well… you're different. I don't really know what ya are. Do you?"

Kate thought on this a moment and shrugged. "I think I'm an individual. And I think everyone here is an individual."

Her companion looked confused. "Whatcha mean an individual?"

"Hmm, well I don't think I could fit into either group around here because I'm not from around here, am I? Things aren't like this back home. I guess that's why I had so many friends-- because I knew a little about what everyone was feeling. But you, Pony… I think you're like me. I think you're an individual too, and Soda and Darrell. And maybe even that friend of yours, Dallas. Perhaps not Two Bit; he reminds me of someone." She laughed a light hearted laugh and he followed, appreciating her kindness about it all. "I don't think you guys are as much of outsiders as you think you are. Seems like Kelly wants to be on the inside of whatever you have going on, anyway."

Pony stood, waving his hand at her to follow. "Cmon, I'll introduce ya to Darry. You'll like him. Just ignore Dallas."

Kate stood and adjusted her denim shorts which were riding up under the dress of a t-shirt her cousin had provided her with. She walked beside him, drawing attention from the group they had previously left. The three boys who stood before them watched them approach, cautious eyes studying the pair.

When Pony reached Darry first, he spun to face Kate. "Darry, this is Kelly's cousin, Kate." Darrell held out his strong hand and shook her dainty one with a strong grip. Dallas smirked at her beside Two Bit, who was, yet again, transfixed on her, greedily letting his eyes wander.

"Hi, Darry. Good to meet you," she said respectfully. He offered her another drink, though she wasn't quite finished the one Pony had given her, but she took it.

"Likewise, Kate. I think Kelly and Soda headed back to the house if you wanna go find em? I could walk you. Or Ponyboy could, he's a good boy."

The blonde shook her head and held up her two beers. "I'm sure she's doing fine without me. And I've got drinks to finish," she replied.

They group migrated toward the other side of the lot slowly within the next twenty minutes. Kate stayed quiet for most of the time, sharing sideways looks with Dallas, who also didn't say too much. He just smoked cigarette after cigarette and nodded here or there to show he was acknowledging the conversation. They talked about what they all had been doing the past few years, updating Dallas, who looked like he could care less, though that seemed to just be his facade.

Darrell was 22 and trying to land a steady job in construction with Mr. Daton and the city, though times were tough and he was often laid off. Soda had still been working tireless hours and taking all sorts of girls out on dates, though they teased that he never got past second base because he was such a gentleman. Ponyboy was on his last year of high school and would finally graduate. Darrell scolded him a few times during the discussion trying to tell him he needed to apply for some colleges and scholarships and to stop wasting time. But Pony looked uncomfortable, and something told Kate that he had already applied, and most likely gotten into more than one college. Still he never spoke up about it.

Two Bit was the loudest. He said he'd been doing exactly the same thing for the past couple of years, but now he was getting more 'action' in the bedroom after the nasty rumor about him harassing a Soc girl for her number cleared up. Two Bit wasn't above going after a Soc, but if she dissed him once, he wouldn't try again. He had some self respect, it seemed. Though he would often start rumors about the girls and their sex lives, which caused them a whole mess of trouble in their world. Perhaps this was his karma. Quite a few times he mentioned his escapades with Kelly, which only made Kate feel uncomfortable. She wasn't shocked by what she was hearing, but it somewhat skeeved her out to hear about some of the things her cousin was willing to do with a boy.

But as the subject of their friend Johnny came up, a topic which made Dallas Winston display a look of grief on his face, there was a commotion at the end of the lot. A skinny kid was being enveloped in a circle of greasers, all who were beginning to get loud. A few fists were seen flying through the air. And soon, more were joining in. A rumble was breaking out, as per usual when drunk greasers hung around each other for too long.

"Hey! Ain't that Steve!" Pony yelled, pointing to a stumbling body among the crowd. The boy was covered in dirt, smiling joyfully beneath gushing blood dripping down his forehead. He lifted a hand to wave to the guys when we heard his name, but a beer bottle came crashing down across his face, causing him to falter. Kate was whisked in the wind as the boys around her dropped their beers and darted toward the crowd.

And for once, she had seen the difference that Ponyboy was talking about. She was the outsider now looking in, to a world she never knew existed. She watched poor little Pony get hit across the eye. For a minute, she wanted to join, but was snapped to reality. She would probably die or get beaten close to death if she tried to help out her new acquaintances. But there were girls rumbling to her surprise. And they hit everyone and anyone. The only couple guys who she saw hit them back included ones she didn't know and Two Bit. Her cousin's words came back into her head.

If you wanna keep that pretty face, pretty…

Kate watched anxiously as the fight continued on for what seemed like forever. Bodies began to hit the dirt and some people were knocked unconscious. Those around them just kept fighting, though they were careful not to trample on those who were out for the count.

But blue and red lights were approaching and a siren began singing loudly through the buildings. Some greasers began to run immediately, but others kept fighting, peeling off one by one as they realized and recognized the sound that was coming for them.

"Ponyboy!" Kate yelled nervously. "Ponyboy come on, let's go! Grab your friends!" The blonde began to panic. She wasn't from around here, she wouldn't know where to run. She was helpless without the boys or her cousin. She'd be caught at a rumble on her first day in town, and god forbid she get arrested. She would be in so much trouble once she got home. And then the underage drinking would give her mother a coronary.

She quickly pulled back her hair and took off running toward the crowd of fighters. She dodged in between guys throwing punches and airborne beer bottles that would crash at her feet as they missed her. The boys seemed to be within a labyrinth of fists and blood and dirt. But she saw them, all close together, fighting side by side and covering one another's backs. "Ponyboy!" She yelled again, sidestepping away from another boy falling unconscious to the ground. He heard her and looked her way, but was stricken with fear as he saw the blue and red lights behind her.

Two cop cars began pulling into the lot. "Darry! Two Bit! Dal! The fuzz, cmon!" He warned. The remaining fighters all seemed to come to, and began to scatter, many of them pushing Kate roughly to get away.

"Pony!" She hollered once more, reaching out to show her position. But she was seized by the arm harshly, and she tugged away instinctively. But when her arm was grabbed again, she looked to see Dallas Winston beside her.

"Meet us at the house kid! Go! I got the broad!" He shouted to Ponyboy, who looked nervous to leave her with Dally. But he did, and they took off running.

Kate tried to keep up, being dragged along. She could swear his fingers were leaving bruises where they gripped. They left the lot and turned right down an alley. When they emerged from the opposite end, they hung a left and kept running down the sidewalk, keeping close to dimly lit buildings and away from street lamps. You could see other greasers taking different routes down the road as well, evading the police.

They ran for over 15 minutes, in what seemed like circles, until both of them couldn't run any longer. They stopped at a closed down gas station, both keeling over from exhaustion. Kate stood leaning over with her hands on her knees, sweat dropping from her forehead. Dally had both of his hands on top of his head and was walking in dizzy circles, trying to steady his breath.

Kate breathed heavy and tried to talk. "Where are we? How far is Ponyboy's house? How long… of… a walk… do ya think?"

"Would you…. shut up…." Dallas replied, in between breaths. Kate shot him daggers and forced herself to stand upright.

"Used to silence in prison, huh?" She asked him sarcastically, her face wretched with anger.

He laughed and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. He put one in his mouth and lit it. "Yea,"he replied. "I'd go back if it meant you wouldn't be flappin your gums anymore.."

Again, she sneered. Her hands set hard on her hips. "You're really gonna light up right now? After--"

But blue lights caught their eyes again. Dallas held his finger up to his mouth and pushed her toward the side of one of the gas tanks. He took her shoulders and shoved her down so she was sitting with her back to it. He hurriedly crouched beside another one, and put out his cigarette on the ground. Search lights illuminated the place, but they stayed hidden behind the gas tanks, their shadows morphing and camouflaging with the layout of the station.

The lights lingered for a few minutes, but left almost on cue as Dallas re-lit his cigarette. He stood and Kate did the same. He pointed down the road and they began to walk in silence astride each other. She tried to be grateful for his help, but he made it very difficult for her, being to asinine.

But it was only a few more minutes before they arrived at the Curtis household, where everyone sat on the front porch, including their bloody friend who they must've lifted from the lot. Kelly sat straddling the porch railing, eyeing up the pair that walked onto the lawn. Ponyboy and Darrel bounded up to them, Darrell snaking Dallas by the neck and pulling him toward the house with laughter. Pony reached Kate and awkwardly put a comforting hand on her back, leading her up the porch behind everyone else who was retreating inside.

"Man, Kate, I really thought you was gonna get decked out there! You some sort of boxer or somethin with all that dodging?" He asked lightheartedly.

She shook her head "I think I was in fight or flight," she joked. "And at that moment, I wanted to fly away." Before they reached the front door, Kelly hopped off the railing and stood in front of them.

"How'd you end up with Dally?" She questioned coldly, her arms crossing defensively across her chest.

Kate gave her cousin a look of disbelief. "I don't know Kel, I just did. Don't worry, I didn't show him my underwear…" she said, rolling her eyes and moving around her.

Kelly followed them inside and headed toward the record player, something sorta old that Darrell couldn't bring himself to throw away because if belonged to his parents. Kelly selected a record and put it on the table, and an upbeat country tune radiated through the house. Everyone sat all over the living room, sparking up cigarettes and popping more beers. Kelly sat across Soda's lap, keeping her eye on Kate, who was standing awkwardly against the wall. She was holding a glass of water. Lightweight.

The broken and beaten friend who they called Steve stood up with his drink and held it out, slurring every bit of his words. "To the first rumble since Dally's been home! Hey, by the way buddy," he said, obviously a little drunk. "To the blonde girl over there who I don't know! Does anybody know how she got here?" The room shook their heads simultaneously and held their beers high. "And, to Johnnycakes! He would've been the happiest to see you home, Dal!" He said. Kelly and Dallas both stiffened.

The greasers all took a moment of silence before crashing their drinks together in salute and then chugging.

"To Johnny!" They all repeated, paying respect to their friend. Kate raised her glass of water and looked to Dallas, who had been watching her the whole time. She drank her water with eyes on him. He was asinine. But Dallas Winston may just be a bit more than that; an individual.