I was walking outside close to the store. I wanted to buy myself a treat because it's my birthday; it took me days to save up money just to buy myself a candy bar. I saw some teenage boys walking behind me, they were probably drunk or something cause they were walking all silly…I walked away from them only to have them catching up with me. I tried to run but they were too fast. I was screaming as they grabbed me and shoved me into a pile of mud. One guy lifted me up close to his face. "Hey what's your name kid?" I shook my head; I just wanted to get away. "Hey don't you know how to talk kid?" "Let me go! Please!" Another guy came up and laughed. "Kid, you should know, don't talk to strangers." That's all I heard before I blacked out. I finally came around to waking up. I picked myself off the street and staggered home. I opened the door only to hear the angry voices of my parents shouting. I was heading towards my room when my dad grabbed me. His breath smelled like alcohol and beer. "Hey…baby girl…we almost forgot…today's your birthday…" He took a broken beer bottle and lifted it up. "Consider this a gift from me and your mother…" I was scared out of my mind; he wouldn't let my arm go. "Happy birthday princess…" he slammed the broken beer bottle into my arm.

It was so cold. And hard, I thrashed around, I had to get away, it hurt so much.

"Please stop it! I didn't mean it!"

I felt someone thrashing my shoulders.

"Please dad stop hurting me I'll do anything!"

"Carlie wake up!"

I thrashed up. I glanced around. Reality clashed down at me, Johnny killed someone and we ran away.

Pony was next to me looking slightly frazzled. I hugged him hard while he stroked my hair.

"It was just a dream Carlie…"

I glanced around. "Where's Johnny?"

"He went to go get some supplies."

"Oh…"

I got up and walked around. It seemed to be we were in an old church of some kind.

I went back to Ponyboy and sat down on the floor. "Pony, what's going to happen to us?"

He seemed to be thinking the same thing because he had a faraway look in his eyes.

"I don't know Carlie, I just don't know."

I decided to stop with the questions because he looked really upset. Soon we heard a whistle. Pony went out to see what it was, he told me to stay in here just in case. About two minutes later he and Johnny came in with a big bag in their arms. They set it down on a table and started unloading the contents. I wasn't paying much attention until I heard Pony and Johnny arguing about something.

"What's going on?" Pony looked really upset.

"Johnny wants us to dye and cut our hair."

Oh, was that all…wait what am I talking about?! I love my hair just the way it is! I like it pale and blond; Soda says it makes me look unique. I also like it when Soda plays with my hair and braids it.

I pouted and started siding along with Pony, "I don't want to Johnny! Please don't make me do it!"

I was really starting to sound like a whiny little kid, but I didn't care. Johnny crouched down next to me.

" Hey kid, listen, remember what we told you in the park the other day?" I nodded.

"We told you to be a good girl and to listen to me and Pony right? Otherwise we will get in trouble, so please Carlie do it for me?"

Johnny looked really upset with his idea. I knew that he didn't want to cut his hair either, but we would get in trouble if he didn't.

I sighed and nodded. "Okay Johnny, I'll do it for you…"

He gave me a hug. "Good girl, now will you please try and convince Ponyboy?"

I walked over to Pony and sat on his lap.

"So I guess you have to go through with this too huh?" I nodded.

"Pony… It'll grow back…and ill like you no matter what you look like."

He looked up at me. "You mean that Carlie?"

I looked down. "Well yeah, you and Soda and Darry are the closest thing I've ever had to a family…"

He bent down and whispered in my ear. "I really like you kid like the little sister I've always wanted."

I glanced up at him; I hadn't expected him to say that.

"You've never told me that before."

"That's because I don't want Soda to be jealous."

I giggled. Johnny came over and sat down on one of the benches.

"So Pony you ready?" He glanced up wearily at him.

"Yeah, as ready as I'll ever be."

Pony scooted me off his lap. I picked myself up confused.

"Go Carlie, I don't want you to see this, why don't you go and play in another room?"

I didn't want to leave, but I did as I was told. I left and decided to explore the church. I didn't find much, so I decided to go outside to see if there was anything worth seeing. There weren't anything but I stayed just to see the scenery. You could see a lot here but then again I don't go out much. I could hear Pony calling my name so I went inside. When I got inside I had to look twice to make sure it was really him.

"Yeah, I know it's that bad, don't rub it in."

I walked over to him and patted his shoulder.

"No it just looks…different…besides you kinda look like me"

Johnny snorted. "Thanks anyway kid, but you wont be blond for long…Johnny's dying your hair red"

I blanked out for a second. I would be a redhead? I'm going from blonde to red? You have got to be kidding me…

"Carlie…Carlie you there?"

"R-r-red?"

Pony crouched down to my level. "Listen kid, did you make me dye my hair blond just so you could chicken out cause of a little color in your hair?"

I shook my head. "I didn't think so, besides your color isn't permanent like me."

"Oh"

He picked me up and put me on his lap. "You ready Carlie?"

"Y-yeah."

Pony signaled Johnny to come over. I sat still in his lap and tried not to move. I wasn't paying much attention to what Johnny was doing, rather the fact that very long strands of hair was falling on the ground. How much was he cutting off anyway? Pony saw that I was up set so he put his hands over my eyes and whispered "its okay, honey," over and over again in my ears. Johnny kept tugging at my head and it really hurt. I started crying and Pony hugged me tighter. With every cut I felt my head get lighter and lighter. Then my head felt very cold and sticky. Pony didn't uncover his hands from my eyes until the very end. He let go and I sat up.

Pony had his mouth open when he looked at me. Johnny was trying to stop his giggling. I sniffled. Pony studied me but was trying not to laugh.

"Well it d-doesn't look that bad…"

Tears were forming in my eyes. They were laughing at me? That is so mean! Well two can play at that game…

"I can say ten times worse things to you! Pony you look like a blonde headed monkey and Johnny you look like you had an encounter with a lawnmower!"

Pony and Johnny looked hurt. "Carlie, that's not nice…"

I was furious and tears were spilling down my cheeks like there was no tomorrow.

"It's also not nice to laugh at people when they didn't laugh at how ridiculous you jerks look!"

Pony came towards me and tried to wipe my tears away. I stepped back and pushed him away from me.

"Get away from me! I-I hate you Ponyboy Curtis!"

I ran away, I couldn't see where I was going but I still ran. I found some closet and shut myself in there. I could hear Pony's voice trying to find me. I was quiet except for my sniffling. I heard the door open but my face was hidden in my arms.

"G-go away," I managed to mumble.

"I don't think I will" It was Pony…

" Do you want to talk?"

"No" He sat down next to me anyway and rubbed my back.

"Listen honey, I'm sorry." I didn't raise my head.

"What for?" Even though I knew exactly what for.

"For laughing at you, you don't even look half bad, kinda like a little girl version of me except with blue eyes."

I lifted my head up. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

" Listen, I'm no Sodapop, but I'm trying my best to make you feel better and even though I know you're probably really mad at me right now, I just want to say I'm sorry."

"Pony……."

"Carlie listen, I'm just a kid, but Johnny killed someone and I now have to take responsibility, not just of myself but of you too, and I have no experience with kids…so please just cut me some slack."

Pony looked like he was trying really hard not to cry. He was only 14 after all. I walked over to him and gave him a hug.

"I forgive you." He pulled me and hugged me harder.

"Hey kid, I really am sorry but it means the world that you forgave me."

"Sorry I called you a monkey and a jerk."

"Hey, I'm sorry I laughed at you."

"S'okay…Blondie"

He threw me over his shoulder. "C'mon red lets go eat, I dunno about you but I'm starving."

I giggled. Same old Ponyboy, maybe things will be alright here.