Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing :) Pony's girlfriend thank you. I hope you like this chapter. You will have to keep guessing at the love interest. I don't think you will see it coming. ;) Please keep reading and reviewing my friends.

The Dingo

My brother went out after we got home. I knew that he went drinking with Randy. He told me he would be back tomorrow. I worried about him, but there was nothing I could do.

I couldn't stop thinking about Johnny and his friends. He helped me today. I knew they weren't all bad. I decided to sneak out. My parents were fighting and I didn't want to be there to listen.

I put some jeans on and a flannel shirt that was comfortable. I wanted to go and see Johnny. He said he and his friends would look out for me. I trusted him even though I was told not to. I was tired of doing what I was told.

I hurried through the Soc territory. I didn't want Bob or his friends to see me. My hair blew in the wind, as I walked. Sometimes I hated the blonde color of my hair. It seemed like a color only an angel would wear.

As I got into greaser territory I looked around cautiously. I was near The Dingo where Johnny and his friend hung out, but I knew Tim's gang went there too.

Johnny spotted me as I walked up. "Lizzie what are you doing here?"

"I….I just needed to get away."

I walked over to him and felt kind of awkward. Dally was there too. All the greasers looked at me and then back to Johnny Cade.

He nodded. "Guys this is Lizzie. She is the girl I told you about."

"Real nice," an older greaser said with a laugh. "What did Johnny do to get a pretty thing like you?"

"Two bit lay off." Johnny said. I could tell Two bit was drunk. "Sorry Liz, he has had a few beers."

I smiled and nodded. "It's okay."

"I'm Soda." Another greaser said. He stuck his hand out and I shook it. "This is little brother Ponyboy." I smiled and shook his hand too.

"Do you all have nicknames like that?"

Soda laughed. "No those are our real names. Our parents wanted them to be one of a kind. We have an older brother named Darry too."

I smile and laugh a little. "Those are very unique names. I like them."

Johnny smiled at me. "Well you already met Dally. This is Steve." I shook his hand too.

"So what are you doing hanging out here?" Steve asked me.

"I just wanted to be with a friend." I look over at Johnny. "Johnny said you guys wouldn't mind me coming around."

"Yeah, but I told you, you should stay where you belong." Dally said roughly.

"Come on Dal. Can't you see she isn't like them other Socies."

He scoffed. "They are all the same." It dawned on me then that he was the greaser who flipped me off the week before. I looked over at Soda. He was the one who stood up for me.

"She is different." Johnny said.

I looked at my shoes. "I can go if you want me to."

"Don't let Dally scare you off." Soda said. "He is just trying to look out for the group. You can stay and hang out with us."

I nodded and sat next to Johnny. Soda seemed like a nice guy. I could tell he was the peacemaker here.

"Yeah, whatever." Dally said. "Does anyone want anything to eat or drink? I'm buying."

Everyone shook their head.

"What about you Soc?" he asked me.

I looked up at him. "No thank you."

He nodded and walked to the counter inside.

"So where is your older brother Darry?" I looked over at Soda and Ponyboy.

"He is working. He should be off soon though," Ponyboy said. He looked kind of sad.

"Your brother didn't hurt you did he?" Johnny asked me.

I looked over at him. "No he didn't. He has never hurt me; well not physically anyway."

I look down at my hands. "He is just over protective. He has always lived by the Soc way. He wants me to do the same."

I look up again. "I guess I just don't understand why I am supposed to hate people that have never done anything to me. In fact you and Dally saved me today."

"We wouldn't have to save you if you weren't so stupid," Dally said walking up.

"Dally come on," Soda said.

"Come on what? What girl goes into gang territory alone? I know a stupid Soc girl."

"I have a name." I told him. "My name is Lizzie and yes it was a stupid thing to do, but thank you none the less for saving me."

The guys looked at me a little shocked. Dally nodded his head. "Just don't make it a habit. I really don't want to fight Tim over a girl."

I could tell that he softened a bit. I swear he was holding back a smile.

"I'll make sure I'm not that stupid in the future." I smile at him and he smiles back just a little.

He hands me a coke. "I thought you could use this after such a long walk."

I nod and take it. "Thank you." I drink some of it.

"So why haven't I seen you at school before this week?" Johnny asked me.

"I was away at boarding school." I drank some more coke. "This is my first year at a public school."

"So it was an all-girl school?" Two bit asked with a chuckle. "That sounds like a good time."

"Oh yeah stuck up girls with perfect lives. It was a blast." I said sarcastically.

"So you didn't like it?" Soda asked.

"No. My mother wanted me to go so I could be brain washed into being a perfect statue. She never wanted another kid let alone a girl who didn't want to dress up and play her part."

I drank some more.

"Sorry. I don't know why I am telling you all this."

"We all have problems with our families. That is life." Soda said.

I nod and drink some more.

"I guess I just don't want to be like them."

A man approached our table.

"Hey guys. What are you lot up to?" He looked at me. "Who is this?"

"This is Lizzie, Darry." Johnny said. "She is a friend from school." He nodded and shook my hand.

"Did you walk here?" He asked me. "That is a long walk and not a safe one."

I nodded. "I walked, but I took a safe route."

"Well one of us will walk you home. It gets more dangerous around here at night."

I could tell he was the older brother to them all. He was the leader born to protect them.

I nodded. "Yes Sir. Thank you." I smile at him. He smiled back.

"I don't think I have ever been called a Sir before."

I giggle and they all chuckled. We sat and talked for a few hours. I liked them and even though I was told they were bad, I felt safe with them.

They told me about themselves. I found out that Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy's parents passed away. Darry looked after them and became the parent. It felt like he was the parent for the whole group.

I yawned a few times before Darry made me get walked home. It turned out that Johnny was the one to walk me home. He looked my age, but I found out tonight that he was actually 16. I guess he just looked small.

I hugged him goodnight and snuck back into my house. I was happy that I had so much fun. They were greasers and I was a Soc, but they were my friends.