A/N: This will probably be another short, stupid chapter. Blah. It's A Million To One, by Jimmy Charles and The Revelletts. I've been super busy lately, so again, I'll probably have at least ONE chapter posted each week. Thanks, and reviews are appreciated!

Ryder finally trusted Cassidy enough to let her drive his truck. It took some time for her to understand the basics again, but everything came to her quickly and soon she was begging to drive everywhere; from places like the grocery store to the Curtis home. Darry once yelled at her for letting Dally persuade into speeding up her normally collected pace, so she had to keep herself collected or she'd lose her freedom privileges.

After speaking to Steve and Sodapop, they helped her into getting a job at the DX for the remainder of the summer. She had weekends off, although the boys didn't. Still, she was driving there to see them since the whole gang usually gathered there on Saturday afternoons. Cassidy approached the DX slowly and pulled into one of the parking spaces, already spotting Two-bit prowling around in the open garage where Soda and Steve worked on cars. Cassidy wasn't that smart when it came to mechanics and technology, so she let them deal with that job.

"Oh, no," She heard Two-bit bark out, "Here comes the loudest and oldest truck known to human history. Check this out, guys."

"Leave the poor truck alone." Cassidy said, but they piled around it and insulted it anyways. Dally wasn't there, but he never did like being at the DX. He told Cass once that all they did was drink, which led up with Two-bit stumbling around and cursing at random people and created a fight, and then ended with the fuzz arriving. Dally may have liked trouble, but he wouldn't tolerate with drunken idiots.

"I think It's time ole'Dally lets you borrow Buck's Thunderbird," Steve said, placing his hands on his hips, "You'd look real tuff in that car, Cassie."

"I'm happy with Ryder's car for now." Cassidy said and chuckled. They retreated from the vehicle and returned to the garage, where the radio was blaring and a half empty cooler of Coca-Cola and beer sat in the corner of the building. Cassidy grabbed a Coke and sat against the hood of the car parked inside. Johnny pulled out a cigarette and offered one to everyone else.

"Want a weed, Cass?" Johnny asked and held out the packet. Cassidy shook her head quickly. Just the thought of smoking another cigarette made her want to gag. Johnny shrugged and stuffed the packet back into his pocket, continuing with the conversation that had begun between the six of them. They were well into a debate when a blue Mustang pulled in to the DX soundlessly. The greasers were too occupied to see.

"Hey, baby," A sudden sneering, twitting voice said behind them, "Haven't seen you in a while."

No. It couldn't be; it couldn't be him. Cassidy watched as the others jumped to their feet, tensing roughly in front of her. She turned around slowly and met the eyes of the Soc, the one who had attacked her in the alleyway. Bob was his name. She'd learned it from the others. Supposedly Bob had once scratched Johnny up real bad; so bad that they probably should have taken him to the hospital, but they were all too proud to do something like that.

"Maybe it's because you haven't spent one second away from these filthy greasers," Bob murmured, pausing to stare at each gang member threateningly. Four other Soc's followed close at his heels. They all wore madras shirts, khaki pants and bright sneakers. Cassidy would have laughed at them if they weren't in this type of situation, "But I'm surprised I haven't seen you around West Side. The… grocery store is on our side, remember?"

Cassidy shuddered and was pushed behind Soda, Steve and Two-bit, who were all fuming with their anger. Johnny was prowling a few feet away from them, too afraid to show his face to the man who'd almost kill him. Ponyboy was unsure what to do. Protect Cassidy or comfort Johnny? He decided to root for both, and watched Bob carefully from the corner of his eye while he slung an arm around Johnny's trembling shoulders. Sodapop retorted from his position in front of Cass, "You better watch yourself, Soc, I won't think twice-"

"Oh, you wouldn't do a damn thing. You couldn't hurt a butterfly."

"Want to rethink that, buddy?" Two-bit asked in a thick, demanding voice. He flipped his switchblade into his hand and pointed the razor-sharp tip at the five of them. Bob immediately stepped back and threw his hands up in defeat. He obviously wasn't looking for a good fight.

"Fine, fine, we'll leave," Bob suggested. They retreated back into the Mustang, "I'll see you later, sweetie." Bob yelled before pressing the peddle straight to the floor. The tires left black streaks on the road as they drove onward, calling yips and screams of mental triumph.

Cassidy was still shaken up, though, even after their car had disappeared from sight. She wished Dally had been there. Those Soc's would still be back at the DX, getting their faces kicked in by a few of Tim Shepard's gang.

"You alright, Cassidy?" Steve asked, "What about you, Johnny?"

"I'm okay." Cassidy and Johnny replied at the same moment. Feeling the need to be home, Cassidy hesitated but turned to the others.

"Do you guys want a ride home?" She asked. Ponyboy and Johnny nodded, and gathered there things and had already hopped into the trunk bed before she got a reply from Soda, Steve and Two-bit. They must have felt the same way she did. The others agreed too, and soon Cassidy was driving to the Curtis home with five greasers in her truck. Soda sat beside her in the passenger's seat.

"Those Soc's know better than to do something like that," Soda said after a long silence, "They've been acting up lately. Actually, just a month or two before you got here. I don't know what's up with them. Maybe it's something they ate."

"Of course," Cassidy said sarcastically, "Peas and carrots can do a thing or two your mental hormones."

Sodapop laughed at her joke. The boys stayed at the Curtis home while Cassidy returned to her own house. Ryder was sitting in the living room, asleep. She walked past him quietly and snuggled underneath her warm blankets, and was fast asleep in little than a minute's time.

A/N: Any ups or downs? Lefts or rights? Horizontals or- Yeah, okay, I'm done. REVIEW.