A.N. Another update for you guys. Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders in any shape or form.

Scout POV

"Guys, I've got great news. Well, for you guys at least."

"What is it", Pony practically bounced with excitement.

"You know that soc that Johnny killed. Welp, he's not dead."

What, how can he not be dead? I saw Johnny stab him didn't I? It was dark, so maybe Johnny missed, but he was laying there in a pool of blood. Was he breathing? Maybe his chest did rise and fall slightly. Now I can't remember clearly. I thought he was dead, he looked dead, right?

"Yeah, he was in some shock or whatever. Just a stab wound to the upper arm, no biggy. The cops are stilling looking for ya'll though. They're charging Johnny for assault and you two for helping him. Hey, have you guys been eating anything, you look kinda pale."

"Yeah, what gives you the idea we ain't", Johnny said rubbing his hand across his stomach as it growled.

"Come on, I got Buck's T-bird parked outside." We practically ran out the door and jumped into the car, Johnny in the front and Pony and me in the back. Dally sped 85 down the hill all the way to the middle of the town. The three of us went a little green around the gills.

A few minutes later we pulled into a Dairy Queen. Pony and Johnny gorged on barbeque burgers and banana splits. I just had a salad; those boys looked disgusting stuffing their faces. Dally and I shared a look and he made a face causing me to bite my lip so I wouldn't burst out laughing.

"The socs have been jumping us greasers more often. Apparently that Bob has a lot of friends. Two-bit was jumped yesterday in the lot. He came out ok though, just a little cut up. Oh hey, I forgot to tell you, we got a spy. That red head broad I tried to pick up at the movies, what's her name, Cherry something or other…"

"Cherry Valance, the soc", Pony, Johnny and I stared at Dally with our mouths gaped and eyes wide.

"Yeah, the broad is trying to help us out and keep us out of trouble. God, next time I want to pick up a girl I'll pick up my own kind." We left the Dairy Queen by then.

"We're turning ourselves", Johnny twiddled his thumbs glancing over at Dally.

"What, after all that trouble I went through, getting you a hideout and stuff."

"I have a good chance of being let off easy and it ain't fair for Darry and Soda to be worrying for Scout and Pony. I don't suppose my-my parents are asking about me."

"No. The boys are worried sick for ya. Two-bit was about to drive to Texas to look for ya!"

"What's that", I pointed to some smoke billowing up from behind some trees. We turned the corner and saw it. The church was on fire!

Ponyboy jumped out the car and started running towards the burning building. Shouldn't we be going the other direction away from a fiery death! Pony never uses his head!

Johnny and I jumped out and ran towards Pony to bring him back but we heard a noise that made us stop in our tracks. There were children in there! The three of us ran towards the building and started to rip the wooden boards off one of the windows. Johnny gave me a boost inside. A man from outside shouted for us to get out. We ignored him.

"Isn't he coming after us, too scared", Pony asked.

"Naw, too fat", despite the smoke I laughed at Johnny's comment. I immediately got a lung full of smoke and started hacking. Pony patted my back as we ran through the church. Man I wish I hadn't taken my sweatshirt off. Sparks were hitting my arms nipping at my skin.

I looked over at Johnny. He had a broad smile on his face despite the sweat that rained buckets all over us. He seemed to be having the time of his life. He didn't seem scared at the fact that we could all die in here, that we were getting burned and suffocated by the flames and smoke around us. He was alive.

The flaming boards crashed to the ground around us making us dodge them at every turn. Flames licked my bare legs almost setting fire to the frays at the end of my cut-offs and the laces of my converse. Every path seemed to be coated with fire as we rushed through searching the entire premises for the school children. Apparently, a school had a picnic here and a few kids got into the church. It must have been one of our matches, or maybe Johnny's lighter. The thought of this being our fault spurred me on faster.

We finally found the children in the back of the church. They couldn't wait in the front of the church where we could get them out easily. No, they had to hide in the back wasting precious time. I busted my foot through a boarded up window and Dally pulled the boards down on the other side.

We picked the kids up and shoved them through the window one by one. The roof started to crack and wood was falling all around.

"Come on, forget about the stupid kids, the building's about to collapse", Dally yelled at us. We handed the last kid over. Pony's arm caught fire and Dally pulled him through the window, screaming.

"Johnny watch out", I shoved him out of the way at the last second a piece of burning roof falling on my left leg. I screamed bloody murder. The pain was so intense I writhed on the ground sobbing trying desperately to shove the board off my leg without burning my hands. Dally was suddenly looming over me. Her picked up the burning piece of wood and picked me up in his arms.

Suddenly, the entire building collapsed around us. I heard a shrill scream and then everything went dark.

A.N. Ok, I have like 3 more chapters left to go in this story. I'm super excited but bummed that it will end soon.