Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing with a special thanks to FrankElza and Pony'sgirlfriend for reviewing the last chapter. I hope you all continue to like this story. I may make things a little bit different from the book, but I still want it to have the same feel. I can't give away the love interest. You all will just have to keep reading. ;)

The Real Monsters

As I snuck back up to my room a light flipped on.

"Where have you been?" my mother asked in a dangerous tone.

"I just went out with some friends."

"Friends? Who?"

I looked at my feet. "Just, friends from school."

She hurried over to me in anger. "I saw that little greaser."

I looked up at her and she slapped me across the face. Tears weld up in my eyes.

"He is a friend."

"Not in my house!" I could tell that she had been drinking. "You are not to see them again."

She shook my shoulders. "Do you understand me!?"

I nodded and tried not to cry. She took my jaw in her hand and made me look at her. "I will not have that filth come near my family. You will not make us look bad. You will never wear these cloths again. You are to be proper."

I nodded again. I just wanted to go to my room.

"I wish I had never had you. All you are is a disappointment!" She slapped me again and then pushed me toward the stairs.

"Get out of my site!"

I ran up the stairs and into my room. I fell on my bed and started crying. I had no one. I was alone.

I cried myself to sleep.

The next day I didn't go down stairs. I stayed in my room. No one cared. I didn't even eat. I didn't want to eat. I wanted to go see Johnny. I wanted to be with friends. I was afraid what my parents may do to me if I did go and see them again. What if they hurt me worse?

Later that evening Bob burst through my door.

"You were with them again?" he yelled at me.

I looked away from him.

"They are not bad."

"When I find that little greaser, I am going to make him pay."

"No Bob!" I got up. "It was me. He didn't come to me. I came to him."

"They are not like us Elizabeth! You will not see them again." He left my room slamming the door.

Maybe I should have stayed away at the private school. Now Bob doesn't even want me.

I curled up in my bed and stayed there. I wished I could be part of the greaser family. I could tell how much they cared for each other. I wanted someone to care like that for me.

It hit me then. Maybe I could stay with them. Maybe I could run away. They already told me that I could come around anytime. Darry just asked that I be careful.

I got up and started packing. I just wanted to get out of here.

I looked in the mirror and saw a bruise on my cheek. It's where my mother hit me. I didn't belong here.

I got my stuff and snuck out again. I never wanted to come back here.

I wasn't sure where any of the boys lived, so I walked to the Dingo. Dally was standing near a table. He saw me and rushed over to me.

"What are you doing here? What happened to your face?"

I looked away.

"I needed to leave my house. I just don't belong there." Tears threatened to leave my eyes again.

Dally did something I didn't expect. He hugged me. "Hey. It's okay. Let's go to Darry's."

I nodded and he walked me to the Curtis house.

Johnny was there, and he came over to me. "Lizzie what's wrong? What happened? Did your brother do that?" I shook my head.

"My mom…..I don't want to talk about it." I looked at my shoes.

Darry walked over with an ice pack. "Put this on it."

I took it and did what he asked.

"Are you okay?" Darry asked.

I nodded. "I just don't want to be there anymore."

Johnny hugged me.

"You can stay here." Soda said. "We have this couch. Johnny stays here a lot too."

I nodded again and sat on the couch.

"If they knew I was here, I am afraid at what they would do."

Johnny sat next to me. "They can't hurt you here."

"Have you ate?" Soda asked me.

"I'm not hungry."

"That's not what I asked." Soda looked at me.

"No I haven't eaten and I don't want to."

Soda looked at Darry.

Darry nodded and went into the kitchen. He made me a sandwich and came back to hand it to me. "You need to eat."

I sighed but took it. I ate a small bite. "Thank you."

Ponyboy watched me with sad eyes. I could tell that he was sensitive. Not that that is a bad thing.

"You can stay here as long as you want." Darry said.

"I am afraid at what my brother may do. My parents are cowards. They only care about what people may say about them, but my brother…he will fight against you all."

"We aren't afraid of him." Soda said.

"Yeah. Let him come and start a fight." Dally said.

I ate a little more of the sandwich. "I don't like fights."

"Everything will be alright." Darry said. "You should rest. You are safe here."

I nod and put the rest of my sandwich on the coffee table in front of me.

Soda went into his room and got me a pillow and blanket.

"Thank you." I lay on the couch and covered up.

"Just, rest. It will be okay." Dally said without looking at me. I could tell he was still trying to be tough.

I nod and close my eyes. I fall asleep feeling safe.

` When I woke the next morning the whole gang was there. They were eating breakfast and talking.

"Well good morning sunshine." Two Bit teased.

I grumble.

"I guess she ain't a morning person." He chuckled.

I throw my pillow at his head and everyone laughed. He got the pillow and though it back at me.

I giggled.

"Get up and get some food before it gets cold." Darry said.

I smile and stretched before I got up and joined them.

I sat between Johnny and Dally.

"That bruise looks better today." Dally said. "I'm sure it will be gone soon."

I nodded and started eating a little. I still didn't feel hungry, but I knew Darry would make me eat even if I didn't want to.

Pony, Johnny and I went to see a movie after breakfast. I wanted to get my mind off things. Pony talked more when it was just the three of us. I found out that him and Darry weren't getting a long that great. When they lost their parents Darry had to be the parent. It has been a struggle for them all.

As we walked home from the movies I saw Randy's car come up behind us. Before I could respond my brother jumped out of the car. He was staggering from being drunk.

He walked up to Johnny and hit him hard.

"Pony go get help." I screamed as one of the Socies grabbed me to keep me from running.

Pony ran fast toward his house.

Bob started beating Johnny.

"Bob stop!" I tried to get away from the Soc that had me.

"I am going to teach this greaser a lesson."

The other Socies in the car, including Randy, came out and started kicking Johnny as my brother punched his face. Johnny started bleeding.

"Stop!" I started crying and the Soc pulled me into the car. He pinned me down so I couldn't get away.

They left him unconscious on the ground as they piled back into the car.

They took me with them. I couldn't get away.