A/N: This was based on 'Nobody' by Mitski

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'Crap.' Were Ponyboy's first thoughts after walking out of school.

After a long day of school, including a pop quiz in chemistry and English, and a tiring track practice, he was finally able to go home. To top it all off, he had hardly gotten any sleep the night before. He had gone to sleep late because of the piles of homework he was assigned and woke up early before either of his brothers because of a bad nightmare.

Or maybe not. Because Two-Bit was supposed to pick him up, but either he forgot or left school early because Pony couldn't see his beat-up car anywhere in the parking lot.

Groaning loudly, he kicked a rock off the sidewalk in frustration and rolled his eyes. His legs were already sore from that exhausting track practice and he seriously did not want to walk home.

For a moment, he contemplated calling home to test his luck and see if someone was there to pick him up. But he only had one dime, so if nobody were there then he would be screwed either way, so he decided against it.

Hiking his bag up higher on his shoulders, beginning the strenuous trek home.

It was a nice day at the very least. It was a Thursday and pretty warm for April, with the trees beginning the blossom and color coming back into nature after a long winter season. The skies were clear and some others were out taking walks as well. He was grateful that the one day he didn't have a ride home was a pleasant one.

That was until he heard the rumbling of a stark red corvair coming up behind him.

Glancing over his shoulder, Pony realized with dread that whoever it was in that godforsaken car was probably looking for him. It was trailing him slowly yet maliciously, like a predator stalking its prey. Although he didn't catch how many were in the car, he could hear all their jeering and laughter even through the closed windows. With this he quickened his pace, not yet running but putting an effort into getting out of there quicker. He was only a block and a half away from home, after all.

But suddenly, the car sped up as well and caught up to him so that he and the driver were next to each other. Pony inched away from the edge of the sidewalk and continued his stride, standing up taller and keeping his head up.

"Hey, grease, we couldn't help but notice that you were walking all alone. We would give you a ride but you would probably stink up the whole car." The driver mocked while belittling laughter could be heard from the rest of them in the car.

'Are they serious right now? They're acting like middle school girls.'

"Yeah, you need some new clothes? I could buy you a whole new wardrobe if you need it!" Another one taunted.

'Oh ok, daddy's money.' Pony thought while rolling his eyes. It took him a lot to not say that out loud. All he wanted to do was to scream in their faces. Who gave them the right to even act like this?!

Fuming, all he did was give the driver a nasty side-eye.

He did not take kindly to this.

Suddenly, the car sped up and swerved around the corner, blocking the way across the street and making Ponyboy stumble away from the curb. The socs flooded out, the scent of faint alcohol following them from inside the car. The stench of aftershave overcame his senses, even from a good few feet away, making him all the more anxious to get away. With the way the socs were looking at him, hostile and malevolent, he knew this was not going to end well. There were a total of five of them, three from the back and two from the front. They were stocky in build and all taller than him, probably older, too. Just by looking at their faces, Pony thinks he remembers seeing a couple of them briefly in school, although only in the hallway. Though he does know the one who stepped out of the passenger side, what was it, Danny? Denny? Something like that. He didn't really care to know. He just needed to get away.

Staring at him with true hatred, the driver said, "You know, you should respond when someone talks to you." His voice was laced with venom and his eyes were narrowed.

Pony stared back with a look that he hoped rivaled their own.

"I don't need to respond to you." His voice shook slightly when he said that and he felt pathetic. The group of socs in front of him looked at each other and smirked.

"Y'hear that, boys? This dog thinks he can treat us like this. I think we need to train him in manners." The guy spat, looking at Pony like he was the gum he found on the bottom of his shoe. The others began to take out their blades from their pockets, smiling savagely. Feeling at his back pockets, Ponyboy cursed internally upon realizing he didn't have a blade on him.

He didn't realize what he was doing before he actually found himself doing it.

He spun around on his heel and began to run. The last thing he wanted to do. His brothers could come face to face with any sort of danger and not bat an eye. But a couple of rich nobodies threaten him and he just sprints away? No wonder everyone treats him as the runt of the litter.

But suddenly, a hand grabbed at his backpack strapped and yanked, hard. Pony was thrown off balance and his backpack was pulled off his shoulders harshly and probably thrown astray carelessly. A different set of hands grabbed his arms and he was forced to the ground. One of them climbed on top of him, though everything was happening too fast for him to tell which one it was. He tried to escape their unforgiving grasp, kicking his legs and trying to wrench his hands out of their grip. But they held strong and someone held his legs down as well.

The one on top of him was looking down on him, matched with an evil smile and evil glint of the switchblade clutched in his hand.

"Whaddya say we start our lesson with a tough love?" He hissed, pressing his blade dangerously close to the corner of my eye.

Suddenly, he went frantic, dodging his head away from the knife all while renewing his struggles. He began to scream for his brothers and the gang, seriously regretting not giving that phone call a shot. But instead, one of them knelt in front of him and held his head between his knees, while pressing his hands down onto his mouth to filter his screams. He stopped after a second, stubbornly, and breathed through his nose, nostrils flaring. His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest and he was about to lose his lunch. Although, maybe that would be the solution to getting himself out of here.

"See, know this is what has to happen when you don't cooperate. Let's start again. Quit resisting your treatment." What was he, a mad scientist? He was still smiling, but seeming pissed off by the sound of his less-optimistic voice. Not that it should be optimistic.

So instead, he bit the guy's hand in retaliation.

The person above him yelped rather loudly, which would have been funny if not for the situation he was trapped in. He ripped his hands off Pony's mouth and he started screaming again immediately. After a second or two, the maniacs above him came to their senses and instead started beating him senseless. They kicked his ribs and legs, and the one on his chest punched him in the face over and over, the blade still in hand. This caused it to knick at his face, leaving small, but stinging, cuts behind. He could feel his nose begin to bleed and his head was bouncing off the concrete thanks to the blows he was taking. And it was hard to scream when you were getting hammered.

He just wanted to go home. He was expecting a nice night, having no homework, and excited because Darry was making his favorite meal for dinner because of his good test scores. He probably won't even want to eat anymore after this.

But suddenly, shouting could be heard from above them and the figures around him stumbled off, hastily. The world was dizzy above him and someone was helping him sit up all too fast. Soda?

His voice was slightly muffled, through the dizziness and pain Pony wasn't able to concentrate.

"-Are you okay?" His voice filtered in through the ringing in his ears. He seemed worried beyond belief, his hands gentle on his shoulders and his eyebrows furrowed in concern. He nodded, confused at the sudden change of environment.

"Jeez, you're bleeding badly. Here," Soda worried, pressing a handkerchief to Pony's nose and pressing it, trying to stop the bleeding. Luckily, it didn't feel broken.

Darry came trotting back, Steve behind him. I guess they were the ones home. Pony cursed himself, wishing more than ever he had just called home. Or better yet, fighting back against the Socs.

"Are you okay?" Darry asked him, his voice hard and his eyes angry. His knuckles were slightly busted and shaking.

"Mhm," He said simply, nodding and wincing when doing so.

Suddenly he looked awfully worried and his hand rubbed the back of his head.

"Why didn't you just get a ride home?" Steve asked, standing above Darry and looking down at them.

"Two-Bit was supposed to pick me up. Mind your business." Pony told him, rolling his eyes at his smug question.

"That moron," Darry could be heard muttering under his breath. "You know what, it doesn't matter right now. Let's just go home, okay?"

Pony nodded and Soda helped him stand, although he was more weary than expected and stumbled slightly.

Darry took notice of this and instead just picked him up, with one arm under his knees and the other supporting his back. The warm embrace of his brother made him all the more tired and Darry realized it.

"Just go to sleep, buddy. We'll be home when you wake."

And so he did. This was enough for one day.

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A/N: Sorry the end is a little awkward I finished this at nearly 1 in the morning lol