Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders. S.E Hilton does.

Darry was the first brother to wake up the next morning. Ponyboy had fallen asleep in their embrace last night and he decided to stay by his side that night with Soda. He didn't know if it did anything to calm him down, but what his brother had admitted the previous night still was bothering him. He didn't think Darry would be able to save him if Lynch somehow managed to take him. All he could do was just keep him and Johnny close until this frenzy blew over. Darry left his brother's room and peeked into the living room where Johnny was fast asleep on the couch with Dally snoring in the armchair.

'Don't know what you did Dally but it worked.' Darry thought to himself as he went into the kitchen to start breakfast. Just as he was starting to cook the bacon, Ponyboy walked in.

"Mornin' Pony." Darry said.

"Morning." He said back and sat down at the table.

"Hey, head up today okay? Getting yourself all psyched out isn't doing anyone any favors; especially your school work."

"Yeah, and thanks for staying with me last night. I felt a lot better. And Darry? I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it."

"About me protecting you? Ponyboy, if you don't feel safe then I need to know so I can fix it." Ponyboy sighed and nodded his head.

"Thanks Darry, for everything." He said showing a small grin.

"Anytime little buddy." Darry said and the front door opened and slammed shut signaling who was at the door.

"You guys had a sleepover and didn't invite me? Aw man that hurts." Two-bit said putting his hand on his chest. This woke up Johnny who rubbed his eyes and got up off the couch. Slowly he went to the door and looked out to see if anyone was watching him or the house. When he didn't see anyone he went back and sat on the couch.

"Aw cheer up Johnny. That guy has to have a death wish to walk in here. I know what will cheer you up!" Two-bit said and turned on the T.V where Mickey Mouse appeared.

"Maybe for you." Dally said who Two-Bit had woken up. "Anymore nightmares Johnnycake?"

"Just one. This one wasn't that bad but it still scared me some."

"Alright. I'll stay nearby at night alright?"

"Okay."

"You boys should start getting ready for school." Darry said still in the kitchen directed towards Johnny and Ponyboy.

"Who the hell wants to go to school with a murderer on the loose?" Two-Bit asked.

"You keep your trap shut and focus on the mouse Mathews!" Dally said glaring at him and Two-bit for once actually did as he was told. That's when Steve walked in wearing his DX shirt and his hair all greased up as always. Since Steve worked part-time at the DX, he would just go straight there after school to start his shift.

"Hey Soda!" Steve shouted while looking for his best friend. The bedroom door had been left open slightly and Steve saw Soda still passed out. He tip toed over and stating hitting him with Ponyboy's pillow. Soda fired back after he was startled awake and a pillow war was on. Very quickly it was over and Soda got out of bed to change into his work clothes. Ponyboy did the same but got his clothes and changed into the bathroom so he could grease up his blonde hair the best he could. It was a little longer but still had ways to go before it reached the length it was before it was cut in Windrexville.

"Come on and eat so we can get out of here." Darry shouted to everyone as he set the plates down on the counter. Everyone came in and got a plate of food and went back to the living room. "Dal you picking up Johnny today?" He asked.

"Yeah I'll be there."

"Good, you can come back here or do whatever if you want."

"We'll see how I'm feeling." As soon as everyone was finished and all the dishes were in the sink waiting to be washed by Soda and Ponyboy, everyone except Dally got into Darry's truck to be taken to work or school. Dally had left as soon as he was done his food to who knows where. All that mattered is he would be at Tulsa High School at two-thirty. Just like the previous day, Johnny and Ponyboy sat up front with Darry while everyone else was in the back. After dropping off Soda at work everyone else was dropped off at school.

"Five-thirty, alright Ponyboy?" Darry asked and Pony nodded as he and Johnny started walking towards the front door. As he was walking up the steps into the school, he couldn't help but notice a man leaning on his black car. The man had jet black hair and wore a pair of dark sunglasses. He also had on a tan trench coat and had a pleasant smile on his face. Most people seeing the man probably didn't think anything of it due to men dropping off kids at school all the time. But something just didn't feel right with Ponyboy.

"What's wrong?" Johnny asked.

"Nothing. Just my imagination running off again."

Break*Break*Break

Ponyboy walked into his first period Science class and noticed that his teacher Mrs. James hadn't shown up yet. Figuring she was just running late, he sat at his desk and pulled out his book. Five minutes after class was supposed to start, Principle Drake walked into the classroom. Ponyboy looked up from his book and saw the man with the tan trench coat he saw earlier walk into his classroom behind Principle Drake. His eyes started going wide as the man went over to his teacher's desk, took off his coat as well as pocketing his glasses, and hung his coat on the coat rack. Now the man was wearing a red blazer with long khakis.

"Ladies and gentleman I apologize for the wait but I have just received word that Mrs. James has gotten into a very bad car accident and will be out for the next few weeks. She's in surgery as we speak and hopefully we'll have word of her condition in the next day or two. In the meantime I would like to introduce to you Mr. Even Glass; your substitute for the time being. I expect you to treat him with as much respect as you would if Mrs. James were here. Thank you and Mr. Glass you may take over." The principle explained and left the classroom. Alerts started going off in Ponyboy's head because something just didn't seem right.

"Alright ladies and gentleman, now I've been given our schedule and we are going continue as normal. But before we get started I want to first get to know you all a bit more. I want everyone to take out a piece of paper and write a little bit about yourself." He then went up to the chalkboard and started writing what he wanted. "I want your name, I want you to tell me about your family and who lives with you, and also tell me at least three things you like to do. Now I know this isn't really an assignment but I will give out ten bonus points for everyone who doesn't just write one sentence. Go into some details because that's what I'm going to be looking for when we do our lab write-ups. Now get to it." He said and everyone got out a piece of paper and started writing. Ponyboy thought it was weird how a sub was asking students to write things about themselves in the middle of the year. But he wanted to get some of the bonus points that were promised so he hesitantly started writing.

My name is Ponyboy Michael Curtis, (yes that really is my name.) My father really liked unique names so I think that's why I was named Ponyboy and my older brother is named Sodapop. I live with my two older brothers named Darrel or 'Darry' for short who is twenty and Sodapop is sixteen but will be seventeen in a couple of weeks. It's just us but we have a few buddies who like to hang out at our house. I really like reading books; my favorite being 'Gone with the Wind.' I also like to draw and go to the movies whenever I get the chance even if Darry doesn't always like that I do that all the time. I get good grades in school and I'm even on the track team. Life's not always been perfect for us but as long the gang and I stick together then we can get past anything that comes our way.

After this, Ponyboy stopped writing not wanting to tell everything about him to the man he didn't quite trust yet. Once everyone had finished and turned in their short essay, the day continued like any other.

Break*Break*Break

Dally meanwhile had gone to Buck's bar to see if he could pick up any more information about Lynch. There he saw Tim Sheppard sitting there with a pretty girl. Tim and Dally were frienemies. One day they could be best buddies and another they could be bitter enemies. Dally normally wouldn't go to Tim Sheppard for help but at this point he was desperate for some new information. He went over to Tim's booth and sat down.

"Hey Dal, how's it going?" Tim asked.

"Alright. How it going with your gang?"

"Nothing special besides beating up a few Socs here and there; the usual stuff."

"I hate to take time away from your pretty friend but I wanted to talk to you; privately." Dally said motioning the brunette with Tim.

"Go get me another beer." Tim told her and she left to get another beer as requested. "Alright what do you want?"

"You know about that serial killer the radio was talking about? The one spotted by the high school yesterday?"

"Yeah. Radio said he liked killin' kids."

"Well do you know anything about him? What he does to his victims? Why he murders kids? I've got a buddy of mine that may be on the list Lynch is looking for."

"Oh yeah, the quiet one that hangs around with Ponyboy right? I don't know too much about him, but gimme a couple of days to talk with some buddies of mine. I might be able to get some information out of them."

"Thanks Sheppard."

"No problem." Tim said and Dally got up and left the bar.

Now the suspense is starting to kick in. Like I said, we're just waiting for Lynch to strike his next target whoever that will be.

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