(A.N. I really hope you guys like the updated rewritten version! I know I do! Please review to tell me what you think!)

DISCLAMER: I do not own the Outsiders or any characters but Danielle!

Chapter 2 – Red Death

Danielle's POV

As soon as I got in that truck I knew I had made a big mistake in asking for a ride! They were all probably going to want to stay and watch e ride and then praise me on hoe good I was like I was some little kid, that was Dal's job, nobody elses. Angela did it once in a while but when she did I told her to shut the hell up, I mean it too!

"Alright, let's go!" Sodapop yelled as he smacked the door of the car. He started the engine and began to drive with such a jolt that I fell onto Ponyboy! I looked up at him with my jaw dropped and my eyes wide since I fell into his lap, I knew that by the look on his face I was probably redder than a tomato!

"And I thought I was a blusher! You should see you red your cheeks are!" Ponyboy's comment made me want to smack him in the face.

"Oh shut up Pony, it's not even like I meant it!" He chuckled as I lifted myself off of him. God he was such a jerk! For the rest of the ride I just sat there with my arms crossed like a bump on a log and I kept on feeling this really weird uncomfortable feeling. You know, that feeling you get when someone is watching you. I also looked over and caught Pony looking over at me now and again, it was really strange. I was used to guys staring at me but I didn't even want him to spit in my direction!

As soon as the truck slowed to a stop at the stables I basicly leaped out of the truck, I needed to get as far away from that kid as possible. I walked slowly over to an old falling apart, brown sided barn, that Dallas had been keeping Cracker Jack in, it was cheap to board here cause' the place was coming off of it's hinges. If I use the money from my job I'd probably be able to keep him. When I reached the old creaking double doors at the barn entrance, I took a second to breath, I felt like I was going to cry. The last time I had been there was the day Dallas was killed.

I fought the tears the whole way to Cracker Jack's stall and actually managed to keep them back. When I peered into the dark, little stall that served as Jack's home, I heard a nicker in reply and felt a small bump on my shoulder,

"Hey boy, I've missed you, did you miss me to?" I took another breath before saying, "You probably miss Dallas, I'll take you for a nice long ride in the arena? How's that sound to you boy?" I hadn't really been expecting an answer so I just took the rope from the stall door and clipped it to the bottom of his halter. I unbolted the door and led Jack outside and tied him to the pasture fence to be groomed. I turned back to the barn to go and get my brushes. Soda, Ponyboy, and Darrel must have gathered near Jack while I was in the barn, I rolled my eyes because they were all keeping a safe distance, Jack would never hurt a fly!

"You can pet him ya know, he ain't gonna' bite your fingers off!" I sorta laughed for a moment at my comment. I pulled one of the apples out of my pocket and tossed it to Soda, he seemed to be the one who was the least scared, if he was even scared at all!

"Give him that and he'll be your best friend for life!" As soon as Soda smiled back at me trustingly I knew I had actually found, maybe, a friend, yeah a friend.

"So this was Dal's horse huh? He could do worse," Soda Chuckled and stroked Jack on the nose while he gingerly fed him the apple,

"What did I say? Now your friends for life!" Sodapop mostly laughed at my comment,

"I don't think I'd mind it that much if we were!" I finally cracked a smile and fed Jack the other apple and started to brush all of the dust off of him. Soon enough even Darry and Pony joined in and we were all working on Jack, for a moment I felt like I might actually have found family in these three boys, but I quickly washed that idea clean from my head. I wouldn't be family with anyone but my real family, and they don't care about me anymore, no one except Dallas did.

I set my brush back down in the small blue bucket I kept them all in,

"I'll be right back, I have to go get Jack's gear." They all just nodded while I disappeared into the

barn. In a small corner of the old barn was used as the tack and feed room, even though it wasn't a room, just a stall that was too far destroyed to be used by a horse. I grabbed all of Dallas' gear, the saddle and saddle pad I held with both of my hands and the bridle was draped over my shoulder. I sort of did struggle a little bit when I was walking over to the fence, but what can I say, the saddle was pretty heavy.

"Do ya need any help tacking him up?" Sodapop questioned,

"Nah, I just need someone to hold him to make sure he won't bolt or do anything stupid as soon as I take his halter off!"

Soda stepped over to the fence and untied Jack and held him steady while I placed the saddle on his back and tightened the girth. Soda put the bridle onto his head.

"Thanks," I said quietly so that no one but Soda could hear, I didn't want anyone to think I was soft. I led Jack slowly over to the arena fence and opened the creaky old gate. I handed Jack over to pony for a minute and lowered the rails on the jumps so that they were only about a foot tall. I slowly strided back to where Ponyboy was waiting with him,

"Need a leg up? I don't see a mounting block anywhere."

"Yeah sure Pony," I responded, "Just hurry up or else I won't get any riding time."

I put my left foot in the stirrup, grabbed onto the pommel of the saddle and felt Pony's hands on my thigh as he helped lift me into the saddle. I looked down at him and he was smiling, I guess I was blushing again.

"You know you might want to wipe that grin off of your face!" he seemed not to even notice that he was smiling. I turned Jack around kicked him into a walk. I sat up straight and relaxed, allowing my mind to wander. Did Ponyboy like me? Did I like him? No, no, it's impossible, you hate each other remember? But than why do you keep blushing? Why does he keep blushing? God I hate not having Dal around to help with this. Johnny too. Johnny was the only person in Dal's gang that I actually talked to and was friends with. Nobody seems to understand that I lost everyone that I cared about, first my mom, then Johnny, then Dal, I don't give a rat's ass about my father, that old drunk can rot in hell for all I care, for what he did to me.

I sped Jack up and finally started to go over jumps, well actually, it was more like I was trying to get Jack to jump and he kept refusing, he never did it to Dallas so I just gave up for the day and dismounted and started walking over to the barn. I tried my best to keep the tears out of my eyes...

Ponyboy's POV

Me and Soda quickly walked over to help Danielle with Jack, and to compliment her on her riding skills. Soda will never admit it, but she's a way better rider than him, even if her horse wouldn't go over a single jump. I was the first to reach her,

"Where did you learn to ride like that? There is no way Dallas taught you to ride!" I asked her, remembering how Dallas always rode, he was so heavy in the saddle and yanked at the horse's mouth too much, but I seemed to be the only one who would say something to him about it, that earned me a black eye. It finally dawned on me that it might depend on what horse he rides, that's how Soda is and I wished I could stuff that comment about Dallas back down my throat.

"For your information Dally did teach me to ride, he taught me everything he knew." She looked pretty angry and like I said before, sometimes she looks pretty scary, so I just backed off.

"Sorry, I didn't know" I did feel pretty bad, considering Dal just died and I was insulting him.

She quickly tied Jack to the fence and was clearly doing her best to ignore me and not to have eye contact. Soon enough she turned away from the horse and started talking to Darry,

"Hey Darry, I have to get Jack settled for the night, you guys can head back, I'll be back by eight okay?" Danielle said quickly trying to end any conversation as fast as she possibly could, if you asked me she looked to be on the brink of tears.

"Sure, just make sure your back by eight, no later." I watched her roll her eyes at Darry as she walked away. She sure loved to roll those little blue eyes.

"Hey, Pepsi-Cola, pass me the keys, I think we've had enough of your crazy driving for one day little buddy!" Soda looked defeated as he handed Darry the keys. As soon as Darry turned around I caught Soda sticking his tongue out and making funny faces at him. I just started cracking up and when Darry turned around and asked us what was so funny, me and Soda started cracking up even more! Darry was just so oblivious sometimes. I hopped into the back of the truck and felt the engine start, this time we began to back out of the stable parking lot smoothly.

I looked over to the entrance of the barn where Danielle was standing. She was looking back at me with tears in her eyes...

Danielle's POV

I had led Jack over to the entrance of the barn and looked over to the truck, I saw the Curtis brother's laughing and joking around with each other, having a great time. It made me think of me and Dally. I quickly felt the tears coming and I couldn't hold back anymore, I just let them come. I looked up for a moment and saw Ponyboy in the back of the truck looking back at me, a look of sympathy covered his face.

I rushed into the barn, pulling Jack behind me. I put him into the cross-ties and began untacking him. I simply threw his saddle and bridle on the dirt floor before I buried myself in his mane,

"Your all I have left of him now boy, your all I have left," I continued to cry into his mane until I couldn't cry anymore. I set his tack inside of the little tack box that was built into the front of the stall that would be his. I pulled out a few grooming brushes and cleaned him off. I finished picking out his hooves and I finally caught a glimpse of the clock, it was nine-thirty! I was screwed! I quickly put Jack into his stall, made sure he had plenty of water and hay, and ran started to run back to the house as fast as I could but stopped on the curb of the barn. I turned hysterical and I couldn't help myself, I was feeling too much pain on the inside, maybe pain on the outside would fill the void I was feeling, I pulled up my sleeve and flipped out my switchblade...

I knew I was going to get screamed at as soon as I stepped onto the porch steps. All three of them were in the living room waiting for me to get home, I don't even get why they bothered to. I simply opened the door and tried to walk upstairs to put away my blade since it was poking out of the pocket in my jeans. I quickly ran past Darry in his chair hoping I would go unnoticed, but I wasn't very smooth and I felt Darry's hand on my arm as soon as I reached the first step on the stairs. Man it sure hurt, but it didn't hurt enough. He pulled me over to the couch and sat me down in-between Soda and Pony.

"I gave you a time to be back here, I know Dally probably didn't care when you came home late Danielle, but I do and you either come home on time or don't come back at all" I felt all three sets of eyes burning into me, Darry's were the most menacing. I looked at Darry and noticed his eyes flash to my pocket.

"What's this?" Darry asked as pulled my switchblade from my pocket. I didn't want him to see it because I hadn't cleaned it off since the last time I used it, about five minutes ago. He looked at me and continued to flip it open. The blood still covered the sharp part of the blade, Pony looked like he was going to puke right then and there, he just wasn't one for blood I guess, Soda just looked shocked.

"Show me your wrists," Darry commanded,

"No" I said stubbornly, even though I knew I was turning as white as a ghost.

"You better do it or I will" Darry said, the anger in his voice rising.

"Have fun trying then," I said trying to use the fake toughness I have from Dal, it usually works.

"Ponyboy, Sodapop, hold her down." As soon as he said this my eyes went wide. I felt the blood dripping down my wrists, as Pony reached out to touch me, drops of blood fell onto his hand and arm. His green eyes stared at me with a pleading look in them, he wanted me to listen to Darry. Before Soda grabbed my left arm, I pulled the sleeve up, everyone went quiet. Pony ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I heard him twist the deadbolt lock

"Why Danielle, just why?" Darry asked, his voice was shaking. I had over twenty cuts on each arm, starting by my wrists and going all the way to my elbows. I knew I had cut too deep, and I had tried to. I didn't want life anymore, not without him...

Ponyboy's POV

I got heaved my head into the toilet, expelling whatever was inside of my stomach, it was horrible. How could anyone mutilate themselves like that? How? After I was silently sick for a minute, I focused on scrubbing Danielle's blood off of my hand and arm. I noticed some on my shirt and I knew that all of my efforts would be futile.

I unlatched the door on the bathroom to find Danielle with only a bra and underwear on. At first I was confused until I saw her legs and her hips. And how thin she was. I felt like I was going to pass out. Small spots of blood had collected around where she rested her hands on the couch. She was losing too much blood. Darry was shaking like a leaf and I knew he couldn't think straight and Soda was just plain staring at the blood forming on the couch. I ran into the bathroom emerging with a first aid kit and a roll of paper towels.

"Soda, call an ambulance, NOW!" I saw Danielle staring at me, she looked whiter than snow and I knew she was going to pass out in a second, and if she did, she wouldn't wake up again. I padded both of her arms with large mats of paper towel before wrapping them with gauze to stop the bleeding, hopefully. Soda was at the phone dialing 911 in the kitchen. Darry had run into his room and locked himself in there, I knew he was breaking down.

I did my best to cover the cuts covering her hips and legs even though they weren't bleeding anymore. I looked at her face, her eyes were closed, I shook her until she opened them again. I heard Soda nervously talking on the phone, he started to cry and rushed back in.

"They can't get here for another two hours, it started to blizzard..." Soda gestured his arm toward the window and reminded me it was getting cold.

"Get some blankets, she'll freeze to death if you don't." As if on cue she started to shiver. I moved her body so that she was lying down and her head was in my lap. I stroked her face and looked at her, I started to sing a lullaby to her that our mother used to sing to us when we were too scared to fall asleep. Soda sat down on the floor next to us and began to sing it as well.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby. When you wake, you shall have, All the pretty little ponies. Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Go to sleepy you little baby, Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby. Daddy's boy Mama's joy Go to Slumberland my baby When you wake, you shall have, All the pretty little ponies. Hush your cries Close your eyes Dream of pretty little ponies Hush a bye don't you cry Go to sleep my little baby Darkness falls and man calls Go to sleep my little baby When you wake, you shall have, All the pretty little ponies. Up and down round and round Dream of pretty little horses Hush a bye don't you cry Go to sleep my little baby Go to sleep my little baby.

The power went out, me and Soda were both aware of how cold it was going to get but tried our hardest to ignore it. We sang the lullaby until we went to sleep, only to be woken up by the sirens of an ambulance...