Disclaimer: No, no, no. You've got it all wrong. S.E. Hinton? Yeah! She owns The Outsiders, yah dig?

"Ponyboy, what can I do for you?"

That's when I said "nothing" quietly and then left. There wasn't anything anyone could do for me. Dr. Pyke called back out to me as I left his office, and I started at a sprint. Oh, geeze. Where was I headed now?

I couldn't go back home. Steve was going to tell Darry and Soda just how messed up I was. I couldn't face that. They'd be so disappointed. They thought that I was all better, but I wasn't.

My stomach reeled and I had to slow my jog. My legs felt stiff from not running every day and I felt like I'd pass out. I pushed myself up against the side of a building and closed my eyes. Deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. Okay, I was okay. In. Out. In…

The next out wasn't just a breath, but sticky vomit, too. All over the sidewalk.

"Ew," said a girl, stepping off the sidewalk and around me. She tossed another look at me over her shoulder as she left. Boy, that felt hot. She musta thought I was some sort of drunken idiot or something, puking in the middle of the day, in the middle of the street like that.

"Hey Curtis," I heard someone say behind me, "How's it hangin'?"

"Hey Curly," I said with a nod, "Not too shabby. How's yourself?"

"You look awful pale," Curly said, handing me a smoke.

"Thanks," I said, inhaling the cigarette, "It probably has to do with the fact that I just spilt my guts out all over the street."

He grinned, "Nasty."

I smiled a little bit, "Yeah."

Curly looked a mess. His left eye was dark and swollen, a little bit of a slit to see through, but not much. His lip was fat and when he ruffled his hair up I could have sworn it was just to show off the bit of earlobe that had been cut off.

"What happened to you?" I asked, using a low whistle to appreciate his damage.

"Ain't nothing compared to what happened to the guys who jumped me. That'll teach 'em." He said, pumping his fists in front of him like a boxer.

I grinned wide as he started to retell his fantasy tale. About how there were at least five guys and he popped a bottle of their heads and they pulled out a blade and yadda yadda. Knowing his brother, Tim Shepard, I'd believe that Curly could fight. But when he started talking about how he cut their tongues out, I was pretty sure he was taking me for a ride. I didn't call him out on it though. It was almost like listening to one of Two-Bit's far-fetched stories. You know it's a fake, but your mind is riveted and wants more. But when Curly went on to talk about the dirty things he'd done to the Soc's girlfriends after they were beat, I just knew I was turning red. And Curly pounced on it.

"Just a plain old baby Curtis, huh?" He poked fun.

"Shuddup," I said, rolling my eyes, "I could get some if I wanted some."

I could just see a dusty light bulb go off in Curly's head when he snickered.

"Oh yeah? Prove it," he said.

I raised both my eyebrows, unable to raise just one, "What do you mean?"

"Party at Buck's tonight. Whoever can get a girl upstairs first wins. Savvy?"

I frowned. I wasn't allowed to set foot near Buck's place, and it was one of the only rules that I thought Darry had some sense in setting. And I didn't want to go there now more than ever. I think if I was up in one of the bedroom's I'd be sick to my stomach all over again. And I hated the way Buck smelled. Having to wear one of his shirts was enough of him for a lifetime.

"You know I ain't allowed to even think about heading over there," I said.

"So?" Curly said, "Don't tell Darry."

"I dunno if-"

"Look Curtis. Either you show up, or I win by default." I stared at him, wondering if he really thought that a challenge would make me change my mind, but he went on.

"I mean, listen Curtis. Some girls compare you to your brother Sodapop who gets more action than a cheap whore with big baboons," I flushed, not liking Curly talking about my brother that way, but before I could interject he was talking fast again, "But you're just little ol' Ponyboy Curtis. Even if you caught a girl on accident you wouldn't know what ta do with 'er."

"Would so!"

"Prove it!"

"Fine, I'll be there," I said, stomping on the cigarette butt I let flow to the ground.

Curly grinned, and my stomach sank as I realized what I had just said, "Seeya Curtis. Good luck."

He turned around and headed back down the alley which he had came from. I watched after him for a couple moments before deciding I'd head home. I guess I could face my brothers now. I didn't think I had a fever or nothing, and the paleness of my face from throwing up sure had a lot of color in it now, even if just from embarrassment.

A/N: Hey guyyyys. :] So uh, I was reading over the other chapters last night and I dunno if I'm just being self-critical or what, but do you guys think I should redo them? The content would basically be the same, just cleaned up a bit. I always think my writing's good when I first read it and then I read it again later and think it stinks.

Let me know what y'all think. Thanks for reading!