AN: most of what I write is from personal experience or research. I hope you like it. The story will get better after this chapter.

Ponyboy's POV

(5th month in NY)

Chris was right. Jail is not the place you want to be.

I've been in jail for a week now, and let me tell you one thing; you get bored. And I hate being bored. Well at least one thing in me has never changed; I can get lost in space.

I would sit on my jail bed and think all day. How I got here? Well maybe a quick flashback would answer that…

I was at the DX down the street (no not the one Soda works at. I'm in New York, remember?) looking at the bottle of Pepsi I was about to buy, when something in the corner of my vision caught my attention. It was a shiny metal lighter. But this lighter looked tuff, I just had to have it.

So you guessed it, I stashed it in my pocket. That and a couple packs of cigarettes. Little did I know that just then a cop walked in from behind me.

Turns out that the fuzz guy saw the whole thing. Gave me two weeks in jail. My first time in jail was over a stupid lighter. Wow. Ain't I gonna get a laugh out of the gang for this. Me and my stupid smoking habit.

Jail is rough. On my first day here I got beat up from this huge hood, all because I was in his way. Damn. I'm still smarting all over from that fight. And I feel like a real hood now. I feel bad, like Dallas. I guess I'm starting to get tough…

(8th month in NY)

So far, I've been to jail twice. I bet when I go back home, dar ain't gonna be too happy. But who cares what he thinks? Its my life anyways. God, I still miss them! But I'll be back someday… just maybe not anytime soon…

The second time I got arrested was for stealing a car…

There it was. That tuff black mustang. Damn, that car just got to be mine! I want it! I want it bad!

There was this black mustang parked in front of the store. The driver got out and walked in the store.

Time to make my move.

I always wanted to drive a car. I wasn't into cars like Sodapop or Steve, but I always wanted to learn how to drive. Well, time to learn on my own.

I walked over and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then I flipped the hood of the car open and started hot wiring the mustang. Soda taught me how to do it a while back. And I still remember it perfectly! I connected the two wires together, and closed the hood. It didn't take to long. I was always a fast learner.

I picked the lock to the drivers door, and hopped in. Oh boy, sometimes my wild side takes over completely. Call me crazy, and I wont blame you.

I got that great buzz feeling again. I love that feeling! Lets do this!

I started the car, and drove down the street. Wow. It was pretty easy, actually. Driving a car always took me for complicated. But this seemed to be coming to me naturally. Maybe I get it from Soda. I remember that his first driving test was passed with flying colors. Yeah. I bet anything its from my brother.

I was having a good time and was about five miles away, when sirens sounded behind me. Uh-oh.

I pulled the car over and waited. The cop calmly walked over and asked for my license. Oh, no…

Well, it didn't go too well. After showing the fuzz I ain't got a license, and on top that it's a stolen vehicle, I got two months in jail.

But the weird thing is, I didn't really mind too much. I guess I'm getting used to it or something. Maybe I'm just insane… yup. I'm insane. No sane person would think they are insane, so I got to be nuts.

Stealing that mustang was probably the most stupid and crazy thing I've ever done. But it was fun.

And I'm glad I did it! I can drive! At age fourteen! That's tuff! I cant wait to tell the boys back home this!

(two weeks later)

Tonight we had a rumble to get to. Danny ran into snakes, and got beat up badly. That made me pissed. Danny was just a kid! Younger than me! I called it on, and the rumble was in the abandoned parking lot, in about an hour.

So here we are. My whole gang, preparing for the mix. My gang versus their gang. Ponyboy's gang versus Snakes gang. Rivals against rivals.

Yup. Ricky is gonna be there too. Yeah. The same one that gave me this fricking scar on my face. The scar on my cheek is gonna be there for the rest of my fucking life! I got a bone to pick with Ricky. But Ricky ain't the one I'm after right now. Its snakes. I'm going after him.

"Come on guys, its time." I called.

Everybody got up and followed me outside. Chris was by my side, like always. The rest were behind me. All of us were really excited. We're crazy about rumbles. Especially against our rival gang. We were gonna fight and win.

Dean, Snatcher, Tony, Eric, Jay, Chris, Danny and I, hate snakes gang. They have been trying to take our turf for about two years now (So I've been told) and we are not gonna let them.

But snake has more members in his gang. He has a total of eleven. We have a total of eight. We could still take them, though, I'm sure. Besides, this rumble was skin on skin only.

We made it to the parking lot and found ourselves looking at the faces of our rivals. I walked up to the front where snakes was and faced him with my anger rising already.

"I see ya had no problems on the way here, huh Runaway?" Snakes smirked.

Runaway. That's my street name. A lot of leaders or well known gang members have a street name. Mine is Runaway. I think its pretty obvious why. Hell, even Chris calls me that. Sometimes it feels like everyone has forgotten my real name.

"Nope. No problems. Lets get this over with, Snakes. I have a date tonight." it was true. I did have a date to attend to.

Its pretty hard keeping a girl in this city. I used to not be interested in girls, but a couple months back, while I was getting buzzed in the bar, I hooked up with this chick. We were only at it for a couple days, but those days put me in heaven. Ever since then, I would hook up with a different girl every week. I guess Johnny was right. I did have good looks. I get the girls like Sodapop does.

"Make the first move, Runaway. I dare ya." Snakes drawled.

"My pleasure." I said before smashing my fist in his face.

And then all hell broke loose. Fists were flying, curses were cut short, and body's were tumbling.

Again, its strange being a young leader. Snakes was two years older then me, sixteen. And I was still fourteen. But I have grown a lot, and I do look at least a year older then my actual age. I guess New York does that to ya.

I kicked and dodged and swung and side stepped. I got a hit to the nose, a possible black eye, and, I'm not sure, but I think one of my ribs is gonna be bruised. I was pissed. I swung left and right. Snakes was getting slower and slower. When I get pissed, you do NOT want to be near me. I gave all my strength to a right hook, and he went down. Snakes passed out. I started feeling bad for him when I saw how badly I beat him. But a picture of Danny when snakes beat him popped In my mind and the guilt burned away.

I turned around when Dean gave a whoop of joy. Snakes gang was running. I watched as Ricky walked up to me with a bruised face and split lip. He gave me a dirty look before dragging his unconscious leader away.

I gave a whoop of victory and the rest of my gang did the same.

"Come on guys! Drinks on me!" I yelled and we headed over to the bar.

Later that night, I forgot about my date with Lisa. Me and my gang were celebrating our victory, and well, It kinda slipped my mind. I got one helluva yelling at in the morning. We were over. Yup. She dumped me. That's alright. She was a bratty bitch anyways. Back to being a single guy with no Deb.

AN: A Deb is a greaser slang word for a gang members girlfriend. Anyways, did ya like this chapter? Review!