Chapter 4… The Soc

" Daisy, wake up. It's time for school." Pony called from my doorway. I didn't want to get up. I knew the whole school would know about the accident from the newspaper. And I was in no mood to talk about it. But I got up anyway. I took a shower and brushed my teeth. I left my hair in it's natural curls and threw on a pair of jeans and a baby blue cotton shirt. The only shoes I could find were Pony's old converse, which were extremely large on my size five feet but I didn't feel like searching for my own shoes.

" Sleeping beauty awakes!" Two-bit teased me as I walked into the living room. The whole gang was there.

" Leave me alone Two-bit." I was NOT a morning person. Every once in a blue moon I would wake up in a good mood. But today was not one of those days.

" OOO feisty." Two-bit laughed.

" She's not feisty. She's just a brat." Steve sneered from his spot on the couch. That boy really needed to learn how to keep his mouth shut. I couldn't blame his dad for beating him senseless.

" You know what Steve. No one asked for your opinion." I shot back. The whole room went silent. I usually just let Steve's nonsense roll off my back. But I just couldn't help myself this time. The whole room went completely silent.

" Who do you think your talking to you little bitch." He shouted, standing up out of his seat. I took a step closer. He sure didn't scare me.

" Get the hell out of this house." I was shocked to see it was Soda who said it. He was always making excuses to defend Steve's behavior. I guess Stevie took it a little too far this time.

" What? Why?" Steve looked shocked. God he was so dumb.

" No one talks to my little sister like that!" Soda shouted. He looked furious.

" She started it!" Steve argued. Was he kidding me!

" No Steve, You did! Now apologize of get the fuck out of my house!" Soda shouted.

" Sorry." Steve grumbled through gritted teeth.

" Whatever." I rolled my eyes and walked into the kitchen to cut myself a piece of chocolate cake. That was a typical breakfast in the Curtis household. I could hear Darry laying into Steve.

" Don't you ever let me hear you talking to Daisy or anyone like that in this house again." He hissed. 'good' I thought. Steve needs to learn how to keep his attitude in check and his big mouth shut.

" You ok?" Pony appeared in the doorway.

" Yea. He's just a jerk." I was still pretty annoyed.

" Don't pay attention to him."

" I try." I sighed.

" Pony, Daisy It's time to go." Darry called. We walked out and hopped into Two-bit's car along with Johnny. Soda and Darry got into Darry's truck along with Steve. And Dally trailed off down the street.

" Why did Steve go with Soda and Darry?" I asked. He always got a ride to school with us. But I sure was relieved I didn't have to sit in a car with him.

" He's gonna be working at the DX too." I was gal I wouldn't have to see his ugly face in the halls anymore.

Two-bit pulled into a spot on the greasers side of the lot. Him and Pony went over to some guys leaning on the car next to his. I just continued into the school. I needed to get a few books from my locker before the bell rang.

" It's such a shame." I heard someone say from behind me. I turned to find a group of Socs in their khaki pants and madras. I just stared at them. " Such a pretty face on such a trashy girl." He sneered. I didn't say a word. " What's the matter baby? Cat got your tongue?"

" Leave me alone." I hissed.

"oo c'mon baby. Come over to the good side." He took a few steps forward, pinning me to my locker. I began to panic. There was no way out. I spit in his face hoping that would distract him and allow mw to escape. That was not the case. Before I knew it, he backhanded me across the face and I fell to the ground. I had never been hit so hard in my life. He then lifted me back up and pinned me to the locker again. " You little greaser slut." He punched me square in the eye. I was about to black out,I could feel my head spinning, when I heard someone yell and suddenly I was let go. I opened my eyes to see a few greaser guys beating on the socs. One of them looked over at me and I was shocked to be looking into the sparkling blue eyes of none other then Jesse.

" Are you ok?" he asked. Coming over to kneel beside socs had run off.

" I'm fine." I knew I had a black eye and I could feel blood leaking out of nose. But other then that I was ok. Spooked- but ok.

" Here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue bandana. " Lean back." He put the bandana up to my nose and squeezed. I was still shaking and I was mortified to find tears gliding down my bruised cheek.

" What happened? What made them go after you?" He asked once the bleeding had stopped.

" I was just getting some books out of my locker and they came up to me." I chocked out.

" Daisy?" Two-bit called, making his way through the crowd that had formed in the hallway. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Socs." I mumbled.

" Your brothers are going to kill me." Without Soda in school. Darry had drafted Two-bit as my personal body guard. I knew he would be pretty upset that i got hurt under his watch. But it wasn't his fault. The socs thought they owned the world. And It was sad to say but it was the truth. They got away with anything. Even if a teacher witnessed them start a fight it was always blamed on the greaser. The teacher would never punish a soc because it would be social suicide for them. The Socs had money. And money equaled power. End of story.

" I better get to class before I'm late." I said. Pushing myself to me feet and heading down the hall.

The morning was pretty uneventful. Ponyboy was furious when he saw my face. He ranted about it on the way to every class. But I just tuned him out. I just wanted to go home. I walked into the Biology lab at fourth period and found Jesse already seated at our table.

" Hey." He smiled at me. " How's your face feeling?" he asked.

" It's still a little sore." I said honestly. I had went into the restroom to check it out and it didn't look as bad as it felt. I had a small bruise under my left eye but nothing else. The swelling had even gone down.

" Those bastards are gonna pay for hurting you." He was fuming.

" You don't have to do anything about it Jesse." I was a little worried that he would do something crazy and get in trouble.

" Yes I do. They can't keep thinking they can get away with everything. Daisy, you were just an innocent girl getting books from your locker. They had no reason to hurt you. It ain't right."

Jesse got up immediately after the bell rang. I found the boys waiting outside the classroom door and we all walked together to Two-bit's car. Johnny was pretty concerned when he saw my eye. But I assured him I was fine. Today we went to the DX to visit Soda. When we got there, Soda already had a sizable group of girls doing anything to get even an ounce of his attention.

" Soda!" I called as I got out of the car. He smiled at me and made his was over to us.

" Hey princess." He greeted me as he lifted me off the ground and spun me around. When he put me down he noticed my eye. " What happened?" he asked as he grabbed my chin and turned my face to examine my shiner.

" A pack of socs got her by her locker. That Jesse kid and a few of his buddy's chased them off. But they got a little damage done." Two-bit informed him.

" They just don't stop!" Soda said," Beating on a a little girl like that. Do you know who they were?"

" I heard it was Ryan Daniels and his friends." Johnny said timidly.

" Yea I heard that too." Pony added. " Curly Shepard and Jesse were going to take care of them."

"Jesse's going after the socs?" I asked. I know he said he wanted to. But I didn't think he would actually do it.

" Oh yea. He was real upset about it. I wouldn't want to be those socs when he gets ahold of them." Pony said, I was really worried about Jesse. I didn't want him getting hurt or in trouble all because of me.

" We ain't gonna take none of that daisy. They didn't have any reason to hurt you." I knew Soda was right. The socs had been coming into our neighborhood and harassing the guys for years. But they never messed without he girls. Not physically that is. Occasionally they would taunt them a little but they never laid there hands on them until now.

" I just don't want him getting in any trouble." I sighed.

" He won't Pony assured me.

" So how's work Soda?" I asked. Trying to switch to a better topic.

" Great! Come see the garage." He put his DX hat on my head and led us into the garage. It was great to see Soda so happy. He was never this happy in school. At twelve it was time to head back to the school. Jesse was standing on the steps when we pulled up.

" Hey." He greeted me as I walked up to him. I immediately spotted the gash above his right eyebrow.

" Oh my God are you ok?" I asked as I gently touched the area around his wound.

" I'm fine, It's just a little scratch." It was by no means little, nor a scratch. It was at least as long as my pinky finger and pretty deep.

" Why did you go after them? I told you that you didn't have to. "

" I know I didn't have to Daisy. I wanted to." The bell rang and we went to class. i just hoped that this was the end of all the Soc drama. Though, I knew it most likely wasn't.

A/N Thank you for your reviews! It means a lot to know that there are people reading and enjoying my story! Please keep reviewing and letting me know what you think. Enjoy!