As always thank you for reviewing. :) Yes Pony'sgirlfriend, I left it at a cliffhanger, but I was kind enough to not make you wait to long lol Also this is the beating that Johnny gets four months before the book started. stephanieglee26 thank you. I hope you like the update. Emolichic1 you will have to see :) Please continue read and review my friends. I am always happy to hear what you guys have to say. :D

The Threat

I cried as we drove off. Bob turned around in the passenger seat and looked at me.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"Stop the car! Let me out!"

"You listen to me! That greaser got what he deserved! You are my sister; not some greaser trash."

I go for the door handle but it's locked.

"Stop that!" He pushed me back into the seat.

"I hate you!" I say. "I'm not one of you!"

Bob did something he has never done to me before. He back handed me hard across the face.

I look at him in shock and grab my face.

"You will never see them again and if you do I will do worse than what I did to that greaser."

I closed my eyes and cried silently. As we got to the house Bob turned to me again. "Get out of the car Elizabeth."

I got out and he got out with me. He pushed me to the house.

"You live on this side of town; the South side."

We walked in and I ran up to my room. "Just leave me alone."

I slammed my door and curled up on my bed. I was so scared for Johnny. This was the first time in my life I actually hated my brother. He has been the only one that cared about me in this family. I guess the hatred for the greasers is stronger than the love for a sister.

I wanted to be at Darry's again. I wanted him to tell me I was going to be okay. I wanted him to tell me that Johnny was going to be okay. I needed them.

I sat up and looked at my face in the mirror. The right side of my face was swollen and I had more bruising. My lip was split open now too. I hadn't stopped crying since Bob started beating Johnny. My eyes were red and tears were streaming down my face. I hated these Socies. I hated my family. I don't think I could ever forgive my brother for this.

I heard a car door slam and my brother's car start. He must be going back to his friends. My parents would either be up to yell and hit me or they would ignore me completely.

I lay back on my bed and wish that I could be on the other side of town.

A few hours later I hear a tap at my window. I look over and see Ponyboy on the tree branch right outside.

I rush over and open it. "What are you doing here Pony? It's dangerous."

He climbed in. "I had to check on you."

He looked at me. "Oh Lizzie." He touched my face gently. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Pony how is Johnny?"

Pony looked down. "He is pretty bad."

Tears weld up in my eyes. "This is all my fault. I should have just stayed at boarding school."

"Hey….Don't do that." Pony hugged me. "He will be okay. Come on let's get back to my house."

He started to pull me toward the window.

"Pony I can't leave….I just can't. If I leave Bob will come after more of you."

"You can't stay here Lizzie. He hit you didn't he?"

I nodded. "Yes, but look what he did to Johnny. I can't let that happen again."

"The gang will protect us Liz. We just have to stay together."

I sighed and looked at him. "I'm afraid he will do worse next time."

Pony hugged me again. "Darry will protect you Lizzie. We all will."

I nodded again.

"Come on Darry will be worried." He walked us to the window again.

"You didn't tell him you were coming."

"No….he told me not to, but I was worried."

"Pony. You are going to get in trouble."

"I couldn't leave you here alone. He was going to send Dally, but I couldn't wait."

I sighed and climbed down the tree with his help. We hurried to the other side of town.

When we got to his house I saw Darry and Dally standing outside.

"Ponyboy!" Darry was mad. "I told you not to go after her. I was going to send Dally."

Darry looked at me then. "Oh Lizzie…" He hugged me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "I'll be fine. How is Johnny? I tried to get away Darry….I really did. I couldn't help him."

I started crying again and Dally stroked my hair. "He will be okay kid."

Darry wiped my eyes. "Come on in. He is in my room resting."

I follow them into the house. "Does he hate me?"

"No Lizzie. It's not your fault." Dally said.

Soda got off the couch and hugged me. "Liz we were so worried. Are you okay….oh he hit you too?"

"I'll kill him." Two Bit said.

"I'm okay…..Johnny is the hurt one…"

"Come on. You can see him." Darry lead me to his room in the back.

I walked in and gasped. Johnny's face was black and blue and he had a gash on his cheek. His shirt was off and he was bandaged up. Tears ran down my face as I approached him. I sat next to the bed in a chair and gently held his hand. I could now see bruising on his sides.

Dally sat next to me in the floor. "I'm going to go after those Socies for this."

"It's my fault."

"Hey come on..don't say that."

"It is. Those weren't just some socies Dally. It was my brother and his friends…."

He looked up at me. "He the one who gave you a fat lip?"

I nodded but couldn't look at him. "He was mad that I ran off to you guys."

"Well don't you worry about us…we won't let this happen again."

"I have to go back. If I stay away from you guys maybe I can stop this."

Dally stood then and looked down at me. "That won't stop this Lizzie. That will just put you in danger and make your life miserable. The greasers and the socies fought long before you showed up."

I looked away again, but he gently pulled my chin up to look at him.

"You are to stay here. It's not safe for you to leave. We will protect you here."

"It's not me that I'm worried about."

"Well we are worried about you. " He let his guard down a little.

He let go of my chin. "You better stay here. Don't be stupid kid." He walked out of the room.

After a while Johnny woke up. He slowly started looking around.

"Lizzie?"

I got a little closer to him. "Yeah it's me."

"Lizzie he hit you." He looked sad.

"I'm okay Johnny. I was more worried about you."

"I've gotten beaten before. I'll be okay." He said back.

It was my turn to look sad. "Oh Johnny…I'm so sorry."

I started crying. He pulled me gently to lay next to him. "Don't be Liz. You didn't do this to me. It's going to be alright."