...the next day, day four of the runaway…

"It feels like forever since our last rumble," Two-Bit smiled.

"I still don't see the point in this whole rumble… what's it gonna prove?" I asked and all eyes fell on my like I was nuts.

"Ok, I get where you're comin' from, being a girl and all," Steve started, earning an annoyed look from me, "But these are a big deal. In this one, we get to have our way with the Socs and nothing can prevent it."

"That sill doesn't answer my question."

Darry spoke up, "For this one, if we win, Socs can't step foot here on the East Side. In town, that's a different story, but over here, we're free."

"Shepard's gang'll be there," Soda said, "It's gonna be pretty crazy."

"Just how I like 'em," Dallas chuckled.

The rest of them kept fantasizing about the rumble. Even with what they had been telling me or what I had been hearing from them, I still couldn't understand the enjoyment and excitement they seemed to be getting or even have for these things. Maybe Steve was right, maybe I didn't understand cause I was a girl… geez, I never thought I'd be thinking Steve was right.

"You can't fight in it though," Darry said, looking at me.

I gave a confused look, "Why not?"

"Girls ain't allowed at 'em, "Two-Bit answered, "It's better that way. Lots of these guys fight real rough, more than Shepard's. It gets pretty dangerous."

"The only good reason for fighting is that it's good for blowin' off steam," Darry admitted with a shrug.

"Well, either way, there's talk that it's gonna be skin versus skin, no weapons allowed," Soda said.

"Well that instills confidence," I mumbled so low only I could hear. "So while y'all are at the rumble, what am I supposed to be doing?"

"You're staying here. For anyone who won't be there, mostly girls, it won't be safe to be out until everyone goes home cause there the possibility that someone'll be waiting for a girl to walk out form the other side and… hurt them." Darry's voice started out stern and strict, then kinda nervous as he trailed off a bit.

"And when y'all get back?"

"We take it from there," Steve shrugged.

We all just sat around talking till it got dark, but most of the conversation between the five about the rumble.

No matter what they said or told me about it throughout the night, or even past rumbles, I still didn't get the point or excitement. The only excitement I got from it is that there was gonna be no weapons and the only weapon would be a fist, and maybe your foot to kick someone. There would be no heaters, blades, glass bottles, anything- at least from what we all knew and what the rumors about the upcoming one was. Thankfully, that really did instill some confidence that they'd all be fine, but still made me nervous cause they'd still be fighting, and believe it or not- I didn't like fights.

By the time it was dark out, none of us were completely tired. Dallas stood up and nodded at me, then looked back to the rest, "I'm headin' out… probably go to Buck's."

"Don't get into trouble," Darry called out to him as he headed out the door.

I stood up too. "I gotta go too, I made plans with Angela Shepard again," I said and walked out. Before anyone could protest, I was out the door and following not too far behind Dallas out the house. "Ok," I started once we were around the block, "How're we getting there? Neither of us have money for train tickets."

"Relax, I'll drive us there. Buck lets me use his car," he answered and we walked.

I raised my eyebrows. "You're gonna drive?"

He nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Ok… no offense, Dal- but I've been in a car with you and it never ends well."

"Well that's cause I see you as a friend, Rain."

I rolled my eyes and whacked him in the back of the head, but all while trying to hold back a slight smile from his joke. "You're disgusting."

He smirked, "Thank you."

We went over to Buck's- unfortunately during one of his parties- and asked if we could borrow his car. When he asked us why, Dallas whispered something to him and he nodded then walked off. Dallas went inside and told me to follow him, saying we'd go inside while we waited and hang out till he got back with the keys. I agreed hesitantly, considering I hated just getting within one-hundred feet of the place.

When we got in, the lights had a red tint in the front room. People were dancing and yelling over the music playing throughout the whole place, so loud that I could barely hear myself think. In the side room to the right by the stair case, there was a crowd of people around the pool table watching the current two players, one aligning the queball.

While we waited for Buck, I saw Dallas start to talk up some girl at the bar. "That's not why we're here," I thought and rolled my eyes. I figured that while I waited, considering Dallas was there while he waited, I would just go outside till they both decided to show.

I made my way toward the door but stopped when I felt a hand wrap around my arm. I turned quickly and saw the other competitor from the horse race a few months back who had been riding Desperado, Jake Williams. He wasn't standing very straight and stable and he looked like he was gonna fall over from being drunk any moment. "I never said good job for the race," he slurred, "So, good job."

I just nodded and gave a small smile, then shook his hand off of my arm and went outside. I somehow managed to get through the crowd of people and out the front door. A few minutes later, Dallas came from inside the building and shook the car keys in front of my face. He stopped when I swat his hand away from my face. He smirked and started toward Buck's car.

"Why are you so snappy today?" he asked, started the car and drove off.

"Let's see… the other two youngest other than me are away at who-knows-where, waiting for you to come and see how they're doin'. Meanwhile, you've got everyone except Soda convinced that they ran off to Texas, but you won't even tell Soda where they are. And the only way I even got you to tell me was cause I threatened you. That's why," I snapped at him.

He shook his head. "Well just so you know, I wasn't scared or threatened by you, I just never saw you so mad."

"I was mad cause I'm scared for Ponyboy and Johnny."

"Look, they're fine, alright? So calm down."

"How do you know they're alright? How the hell can you be so sure?"

"Cause they're scared."

I looked at him weird, knowing full well he couldn't see my face cause it was dark out. I tried to figure out what he meant by that, just like when he said the day before that he said that fear keeps you alert.

I'm not one-hundred percent satisfied with this chapter, but like I said last author's note, you guys are the reader not me.

Anyway, so apparently, either tomorrow or Wednesday, a laptop is coming in the mail for me! :D I've never had my own laptop oh my gahd! I mean this one right now, I'm sharing with my mom, but it's basically the laptop that both me and my parents use, but I'm getting my own! So, question, is there a way I can save a whole folder of stuff on this laptop to a flash stick to put onto the other laptop? Is that possible? If you know, please answer :/ :)

Ok, hope you liked the chapter, peace from all the hippies of the world! =^-^=