Thanks for the reviews. Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.

That morning once reaching the school I went straight to Coach Winters office.

"Hey there Pony."

"Hello you told me to come here for the rest of the week."

"Yes I did. Have a seat." I took the seat on the other side of his desk.

"So what did you think of practice?" should I tell him that it wasn't that bad or what?

"Good"

"Well you gave quite a surprise. I didn't know you could throw or kick like that."

"Thanks."

"I have been trying to figure out where it would be best to play you. I know one thing for sure." Why did he stop tell me what he was for sure about?

"What's that?"

"Your defiantly going to be field goal kicker and most likely the punter."

"That's good right?"

"Yea Pony really good and more good I think will be coming with you playing."

The rest of the time that I should have been in first block went by as normal.

Tuesday went by like normal, with practice in the afternoon. Practice was just like on Monday, and I performed even better than the day before, we didn't have to run through any tires. But today was Wednesday and the last practice before I would be playing. We had did our warm-ups and ran though a bunch of plays by the time we were done it was dark. Great I had a long work home in the dark. The coach was walking toward me as I gathered my stuff. The good thing was that tonight I didn't have a lot of homework on Wednesdays. All I wanted to do is go take a shower and go to sleep forget dinner.

"Hey Curtis." I turned around as most of the other players got in there cars and left since they were all junior and seniors.

"Yea"

"You're really getting a good at this. So are you ready for the game on Friday against Marshall High School."

"Yes sir."

"Well there one of the better teams that we have played this year and you know how those games went. See you tomorrow morning."

I started to walk home. When a car pulled up next to me and a five guys got out. Great there was no way I could run unless I drop my stuff and then the coach might get mad. So I tried to pick up the pace. But it was useless.

"Hey there grease." Who were these guys? I mean I know there socs but I never seen them before. I they surrounded me and three of them flicked out blades. Now what in the world can I do.

"Were going to have a little fun okay?" the medium blond told me. Then out of nowhere they tackled me and started throwing punches.

"That's the way see if we can knock him out and then we will give him a haircut." A dark brown headed guy told the rest. Haircut? No way they are not touching my hair. I started throwing punches at the two that were near my face punching me. I hit one of them in the face and I knew he had a bloody nose even though it was dark I could fell it on my hand. Somehow I manage to hit the other one in the eye. There was one sitting on me he would have to wait but there were two near my feet stepping or wait stomping would be better description. I started to kick and manage to kick one where the sun don't shine and he stopped stomping on me for sure and was now wincing with pain.

"What do you think you are doing grease? Did you hurt my friends you little brat. I will…." He went on talking and punching my stomach. I that one more to deal with before him and he was the other one stomping on my leg. I went and waited until he bent down and then I kicked him in the face. He was on the ground with the rest of his group. I quickly rolled over and he fell off of me and my stomach was aching but if I didn't get up then I was is some really trouble. I jumped on him and started to hit him anywhere I could land one and he was doing the same. I heard car stop and the soc took off. I turned to look and it was Rick.

"Pony you okay?"

"Yea. Rick what are you doing here?"

"Well I was going to go to your house and see if you had any questions about the game on Friday. When I went to knock on the door I heard someone I guess your brother asked someone if they knew how long practice was. so I figured that you didn't come home yet, so I figured I go look for you. Would you like a ride?" I guess he could give me a ride, what harm could it do and anyways I was really sore.

"Yea, thanks." His car was still running and I moved my hair out of my eyes and on my hand was sticky stuff and I looked in his headlights to see that my face was bleeding.

"Okay lets go." He picked up my football and put in the trunk of his car.

"Never mind Rick I will just walk." He had a hurt look on his face.

"Why?"

"I don't want to get blood on your seats." Then he looked at my face for the first time.

"Pony are you sure your okay and don't worry about the seats."

"Yea I'm fine I will walk okay Rick." I told him that it would take me about twice as long as usually did but Rick was a good guy and I didn't want to mess up his seats. He went back to his trunk to get my stuff out. Instead, he got a sheet out of the back and put in on the passenger seat. He then motioned for me to sit down.

"But…." Before I could finish he cut me off.

"Don't worry that sheet I just us to sit on after games and if I put my football stuff in the back seat. Come on let's good okay if I'm not home soon my mom is going to flip. I told her I would be home after practice and it is already ten if not ten-thirty by now." I didn't want to mess up his sheet or make him mad at me he was one of the better people on the team that actually talked to me. I got in the car and he went and shut the trunk and got in. I looked at his clock 10:42. Great Darry is not going to be happy.

"Did you really take out all those guys by yourself?"

"Yea."

"Wow you must be good."

"Thanks, I just didn't like what there were planning to do with my hair." I told him which was truth and I knew he understood.

"Yea of course it had to do with the hair." he was laughing now and I did two. We arrived at my house and we got out and stood by his car. I wanted to tell him that I really appreciated him for helping me not only with a ride but also with football stuff.

"Thanks Rick for everything."

"No problem Rookie." He said smiling. "If you need anything just let me know." Rookie was his nickname for me. Since I was the youngest in age, grade and that I never played on a real team but he didn't say it in a mean way like most.

"Thanks again. You better get home before you get in trouble."

"Yea I guess what 'bout you are goin' be in trouble."

"Most likely my brother will have a cow or two."

"What about your parents? What will they say?"

"There died." He gave me a sad face and I knew he wished he hadn't asked.

"Oh sorry." He looked down at the ground.

"It's okay I get to stay with my brothers Darry and Soda"

"That good."

"Yea I getter go."

"Yea, see ya' Rookie."

"Bye Rick." Rick waited until I got to the door before he waved and left. Then I opened the door and Darry jumped up from reading the paper. The whole gang was here, great.

"Where in the world…." He did finish because he saw my face. But he didn't say another word.

"Pony what happened to your face?" Soda asked and walked closer to examine it more closely.

"Some socs tried to jump me.," I was getting ready to finish. But there was I knock on the door and Johnny was the closest to the door so he opened it. I turned to see Rick standing there with my football bag.

"Hey Pony you left this." He looked around at the guys and then at me. I went over and took the bag.

"Thanks Rick. I forgot about it." Darry was staring at me along with the gang.

"Rick this is my brothers Darry and Soda and the rest of the gang Johnny, Steve, Dally and Two-Bit." I pointed them each out as I said there name.

"Hey." Rick said to them.

"So what part do you have in this whole mess?" Steve asked him, giving him a cold look.

"He didn't have nothing to do with it. He actual gave me a ride home. If not I would still be on the street now fight one of the Socs." They all looked at me and then Darry turned to Rick.

"Thanks for giving him a ride."

"No problem. It's not like I was the one who ended up beating all five of them." Dally and Two-Bit had a smile on their face at the last statement.

"Really? Pony anything else you have been holding out on us." Dally asked.

"Not that I know of."

"Well from now on I'll find a way to pick you up from practice."

"I could bring him here," Rick said and the gang turned to look at him. "I don't mind. We need him in one piece to play and if he get's jumped again then something might happen and he couldn't play."

"I'll be fine." I really didn't like the walk home but oh well.

"Thanks Rick I would really appreacited it if you would do it."

"I don't mind but I have to go."

"Bye Rick and thanks again." The was almost out the door.

"Again no problem Rookie." After the door shut behind him I went to take and shower. I had a bruise on the side of my face and several bruises on my stomach but it could be worse. By Friday I most likely wouldn't feel it. After my shower I went to the living room where they were talking.

"I'm goin' to bed. Night." I started to go back to the bedroom, when a firm hand was placed on my shoulder.

"Are you sure you're okay Pony."

"Yea I'm fine. Really all I have is a couple of bruises and nothing more."

"Good night. See ya'll tomorrow."

"Night Pony." The gang coursed

"See you in a few."

"Take your time Soda."

I went to bed and fell asleep only to be woken up by Soda when he came to bed.

"You asleep Pone?"

"Sorta."

"What happen?"

"Me and Rick told you everything. I was walking and the car with five of them got out and started to beat me up. I punched two of them in the face on in the eye and the other in the nose and they left me alone after that. The two on stomping my legs I kicked on in the face and the other in a place you don't want to be kicked. The fifth I rolled off of me and we started to punch each other and then Rick pulled up. Then he took me a here."

"So this Rick guy he calls you Rookie. He seems like an okay guy."

"Yea he calls me Rookie but not in a bad way. He is a okay guy he's one of the better guys on the team. You dig?"

"Yea. Night Pony."

"Night Soda." I barely got it out before sleep over came me.

I'm trying to figure out what position would be good for Pony to play. I think about letting him have more than one but I am almost clueless when it comes to football. I think I want him to do the field goal kicks and the punter. So any suggestions about what can happen or corrections for furthers chapter will be appreciated. I will try to update when I can and please review.