Dally's POV

"What?" I whipped out my switchblade, knowing damn well I wasn't going to be able to win against them.

"You disgusting greasers," Bob spit. "Stealing our girls."

"Nobody stole Cherry from you, Soc. She came to me," I said in a cocky tone. Bob yelled and all the Socs came running to me. I felt stings everywhere where steel hit skin. It hurt so bad and I defended myself by kicking but it was no use. I fell out unconscious.

Ponyboy's POV

We all froze when we heard screaming. The whole gang ran out of my house towards the noise and found Dally limp on the ground and Socs running. He was covered in gashes and he looked barely alive. I saw one redhead run towards us. It was Cherry.

"What happened?" She asked urgently.

"You stay away," Darry said sharply.

"Huh?" She said, stunned.

"Stay away! Your little Soc friends caused this mess! Go back to your side of town!" Darry yelled. Cherry looked hurt for a moment, then furious. She stepped up and slapped Darry across the cheek.

"I ain't a Soc no more." With that, she ran off to the east side. We all looked at Darry who looked calmer than I've ever seen him, surprisingly. He lifted Dally up roughly and began walking towards the house. The gang followed and Johnny joined my side.

"I've never seen someone stand up to Darry like that," Johnny whispered. I nodded.

"What do you think she meant when she said she ain't a Soc no more?" I asked. Johnny shrugged. We all arrived home and Darry went to the back to take care of Dally. Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda hung out in the kitchen and it was just me and Johnny talking in the living room. The door suddenly opened and Marcia came in. I stood up so fast, it made me dizzy.

"What do you think you're doing?" I demanded.

"Is Cherry Valance here?" She looked so afraid. Her eyes were darting across the room.

"No," I said.

"I'm right here." We all turned to the door and saw Cherry. She looked more determined than ever.

"You better leave before Darry comes out!" Johnny whispered.

"I'm not afraid of him." She began walking inside right when Darry walked out of the room. They just looked at each other for a moment and went their separate ways.

Cherry's POV

Oh poor Dally. He looked so vulnerable. I sat beside him on the bed and held his hand. He opened his eyes briefly and smiled.

"I'm sorry for getting you caught up in that mess," I scolded myself. He just shook his head. "And I, um, have a confession to make." He started to sit up, realizing it hurt to, and sank back down in the bed.

"I don't want to be a Soc anymore." Dally looked at me like I was crazy.

"What?" He said in a raspy voice.

"All they do is harass people one day, and get praised for something the next day! I can't take not feeling anything anymore!" I began to get angry at the fact I had been blinded by the Socs my whole life.

"Calm down," Dally said and touched my cheek.

"Okay." I took a breath. Dally removed his hand. "I wanna be a greaser."

Dally chuckled and shook his head. "You can't just be a greaser, kid."

I titled my head, confused. "I thought all they do is grease their hair back, wear leather jackets, jeans, t-shirt..." I went on until Dally shut me up.

"You gotta come from rough beginnings. Darry, Sodapop, and Ponyboy's parents died in a car wreck. Two-Bit's dad left him and so did Steve's. Johnny gets beat at home and his mother don't give a hang about him. And me...I'm just a hood. Like you said." He reached from behind me and got a cigarette.

"So what you're saying is that I'm always going to be a Soc?" I asked, lifting a brow. He nodded.

"Once a Soc, always a Soc," he said.

"Fine." I got up and walked out, despite Dally's demands. I walked passed Darry and didn't say a word. Just walked out. I wasn't going to go home. I wasn't a Soc anymore...

What am I?