Chapter Eight

"Are you sure you wanted to come to school today? I mean, it's only Tuesday, you oughta take some more time off." Susie asked me as I sat turned around to face her.

I had English first period with Susie, and luckily enough she sat just behind me in Mrs. James class. She had assigned us a creative writing piece for the period, and I immediately decided to do it at home as my head soon developed a dull throb.

Most of my cuts had scabbed over except for the gash near my temple, which was still a bright sort of red. The smaller bruises I had were yellow now and were practically gone, while the ones I had on my face and my ribs had turned into a mixture of black and blue. On Monday night, I was horrified with the thought of going to school with bruises on my face. All the socs in my advanced classes thought I was a greaser that hung out with the wrong crowd, and the bruises didn't exactly help my case. None of the guys seemed to really care about it when I brought it up; I guess to them bruises were something to show off. Why couldn't they understand it was different for girls? Luckily, Susie swung by and gave me some concealer she stole from Ms. Matthews. I had never used it before, but it seemed to work just fine, and for that I was grateful.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." I lied, my body felt like one big bruise and my headache was bound to be tenfold by the end of the day.

I continued, "Besides, I can't stand staying at home and having Two-Bit or Steve watch over me—heck! Even Dally watched over me yesterday while my brothers were working!" I didn't lie this time. It had only been four days since the night I jumped, but I was getting stir crazy in that house. And the fact that everybody had suddenly started treating me like a little girl didn't help. Nobody wanted to wrestle with me anymore either! Not until I was healed up, anyway.

Susie let out a grin and chuckled, "It's been the same with me, Keith'll never let me go anywhere without him—we're practically conjoined twins at this point." She huffed and leaned back in her seat. Her bruises had mostly faded and she didn't have to cover it up with makeup anymore. I wasn't so lucky.

I let out a lazy grin, "Yeah, I guess this is what's gonna happen if we're gonna get jumped. Just can't seem to stay outta trouble, can we?" I gave a faux sigh as Susie guffawed.

"Yeah right! Like we're goin' 'round Tulsa disturbing' the peace and runnin' away from the fuzz every night! We sure ain't Dally."

I shrugged my shoulders and leaned forward onto her desk, "I dunno, I think that time I gave Mr. Thomas a buck fifty instead of two bucks comes close, don't it?" I quipped, and she promptly hit my good shoulder and laughed.

We chatted and giggled the period away and as the bell rang we promptly packed our blank pieces of paper into our bags.

I sat through a dreadful math lesson by Mr. Hendrix. It went by slowly, but I did notice some of the guys turn around to look at me and smirk to themselves before returning back to the blackboard. I froze as I realized something. Josh Lenard was a popular soc, and he probably had dozens of friends. I didn't exactly put it against him to twist Friday night's story into something more suggestive than it actually was. I grimaced at the thought.

Soon enough math was over and the bell rang for lunch. Students hastily packed away their supplies and left the class.

I made my way out of class and flinched as a strong arm wrapped around my neck into a headlock.

"What's goin' on, you little tyke?" I looked up and felt a large grin paint my face as I saw Two-Bit's familiar face grin wolfishly at me. He quickly let me go as I flattened my hair down. These days, only Two-Bit 'wrestled' with me, but I didn't exactly consider several second headlock wrestling.

"Nothin' much," I responded as I waved hello to Susie who was beside Two-Bit, "Whatcha guys doin' here?" I glanced at Steve and Johnny standing against the lockers.

I nearly never saw the guys during lunch; they were always out harassing some soc or hanging out with some rough looking greasers. That wasn't exactly me and Susie's type of scene.

I heard Susie grumble as she linked arms with me and we started down the hall, "Since yesterday they've been pickin' me up for lunch, and you too now," She furrowed her brows with frustration, "barely lets me outta their sight!" She shouted and I heard some of the guys laugh behind us.

I groaned and ran a hand down my face. I hated being treated like a little kid! I couldn't leave the house without someone stuck to my side, and now school too? Next thing I know I won't be able to cross the street without holding someone's hand!

Still, a betrayal pang of sweet relief hit my chest as I heard the guys talk and laugh behind us. The reassurance I felt with the guys near us was what I hated even more—it made me feel like maybe I was a baby. Even if I was sure the socs wouldn't dare touch us in school, I was still a bit scared. I hated it; besides, Susie had a switchblade now for Pete's sake!

"What a joy this is gonna be." I dully said, and Susie grumbled curses under her breath.

I was about to tell Susie what had happened in math class when I felt the words lodge in my throat along with my breath. Blood drained out of my face as I stared Josh right in the eyes as he grinned maliciously back at me from the other side of the hall. His lip was split and his face was decorated with several bruises, but not worse than my own.

I felt the world stop for a moment as we locked eyes. My heart sank to my stomach, and the cuts and bruises I had suddenly stung like I just got them. Josh was big; he was tall and muscular just like Darry. Yet, why did it make Darry seem like a friendly bear and Josh something horrifying?

His eyes were a venomous green as he looked over my figure. Even though I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt this time, the look in his eyes made me feel like I might as well be nude. I shuddered in horror at the thought and felt my stomach lurch.

He suddenly took a threatening step forward and I felt Friday night's events replay in my head. He was going to hurt me and Susie again.

I felt my hands shake as I stumbled backwards. Someone's hands reached for my face and pulled my eyes away from Josh.

"Pony!" Susie's voice shouted as her big grey eyes looked at me.

She gave a glance to the side and I felt her hands shake as she averted her eyes back to me, "C'mon, let's go." She hastily made to pull me away.

"What's cookin'?" I heard Two-Bit say behind me and I violently flinched in response. Two-Bit's voice was deep just like them, but it didn't have the anger nor the sleaziness theirs had. I looked up and locked eyes with his confused ones and as soon as I did his eyes turned stormy.

I was suddenly aware of the uncomfortable tears on my waterline as I hastily wiped them on my hands, "It's nothin'" I said, but the waver in my voice didn't help much.

I heard the guys grumble about something behind me as Susie rubbed my back soothingly. Suddenly, one of the guys' hands pulled my shoulder and spun me around to face them.

"What is goin' on-" I faced Steve's mean face as he started before the words died on his tongue. His features suddenly hardened and his jaw clenched. He raised his head and looked around the hall before his eyes locked on Josh's group.

He averted his attention back to me and I involuntarily flinched at the pure anger in his face, "Is it 'em socs?" He asked, and I realized with a jolt that none of the guys knew exactly who jumped us. Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally had seen them, but I wasn't sure if they remembered their faces or not.

Two-Bit widened his eyes and I saw him look at Josh as a realization entered his eyes.

"N-no." I answered. I didn't want Steve and the guys rumbling in the halls for goodness sake. Still, a certain resolution crossed his face and I knew he knew.

I looked past Steve and saw Johnny's pale face as he looked at Josh's group.

Steve suddenly let me go and he started for Josh's group. He didn't waste time in punching the living daylights out of one of the socs and the girls around them quickly dispersed with screams.

All the greaser guys in the hall stayed behind and helped the gang out, even if they weren't sure what they were fighting for.

"Bro what the actual fu-!" One of the socs started but Two-Bit quickly shut him up with a sock to his jaw. I felt my breath hitch as Johnny also fought against a soc. Susie gripped my arm with a tight grasp as her wide grey eyes looked at the brawl.

"Don't you touch the girls again," Steve shouted as he busted a soc's nose with his fist, "Ya hear me?" He yelled as he dropped the bloodied soc to the ground and kicked him in his side.

I desperately wanted to yell at the guys to cut it out, but fear greatly overtook that as I squeezed my eyes shut. Sounds of fists slamming against flesh and groans of pain echoed through my ears, and I wished my hands would stop shaking so I could press them against my ears.

"Hey, y'all stop fighting right now!" My eyes flew open as I heard teachers run over to the brawl and pull the guys off of each other.

A whimper left me as I saw blood drip out of Johnny's nose as he stumbled backwards into the lockers. Steve was being restrained by one of the teacher's, and while he was pretty cooperative I could tell he could still fight against a guy or two to blow off some steam. Two-Bit looked over his bloodied knuckles with mild interest as some teachers yelled at him.

Slowly but surely, the socs got up and stumbled over to the nurse's office with some of the greaser guys in tow.

A couple of teachers were ushering the guys over to the principal's office, but before they got taken away from us Steve grumbled something out to me through a busted lip.

"If someone ever touches you again, you tell me, savvy?" He didn't wait for a reply as he stalked off with the other guys.

I stared at Steve's broad back as he walked away, and I turned to see Susie's wide eyes look at me back.

I glanced at the clock and noticed we only had several minutes before class started.

Susie quickly pulled me to the bathroom and wiped some tears away from my eyes. I didn't even notice I was crying.

"C'mon Pone, it's gonna be alright." She whispered as she pulled me into her embrace and I let a few tears leak. My hands trembled as my bleary eyes looked at them. Why did Josh have such a strong effect on me?

The rest of the day was spent in a mindless daze as I sat in classes with my brain fuzzed over. My headache had tripled in pain and I couldn't bring myself to try and understand what my teachers were saying. My ribs were still throbbing in pain and I hadn't eaten anything during lunch, but the way my stomach was churning I doubted I would have been able to keep it down.

As the final bell rang and students rushed out of the classroom I started for my locker. I realized with a groan that I had track practice today. Darry had told me that I could skip practice if I wasn't feeling up to it this morning. The milk I was drinking nearly spilt out of my mouth as he said that.

I knew this act was going to stop once I healed up and some time passed. This behaviour didn't start because he suddenly understood how much pressure I felt from his expectations, despite that being how I felt in the kitchen that night. He was doing this because he thought I was a big baby and how I sobbed in his arms that night reinforced that idea. He thought that since small little Pony couldn't protect herself he needed to do it for me. He was doing this because he felt bad for me, not because he understood me. That fact angered me like nothing else. It's like Darry doesn't even try to understand where I come from; not like Soda does.

I knew it was dumb to go to practice, but I was desperate for some sort of normalcy—heck!—some part of me wanted Darry to tell me to get my butt to track practice even if I had a splitting headache. At least back then I was treated like a proper teenager and not a five year old.

As I walked out of class a voice interrupted my thoughts, "Hey, Pony."

I turned my head and felt a genuine smile press my lips, "Hiya, Johnnycakes."

Johnny was a friend. A real friend. I was nearly as close to him as I was Susie, but he had a toughness to him that I didn't exactly share. Once, he shared with me how he felt he was too soft, and I nearly blew my lid when I heard that. His softness was what was so special about Johnny Cade, and besides, I thought he was plenty tough already.

He pushed himself off of the lockers he was leaning on and shoved his hands in his pockets. I held back a grimace as I looked at the new shiner he adorned. I just wish Steve had kept his stupid rage to himself.

"You headin' to the track?" Johnny asked with an incredulous tone, and I shrugged in response.

"Beats gettin' babysat at home," I started, and I felt a rage build up in my chest at the thought, "I mean, don't you think it's gettin' out of hand? I'm fourteen now!" I shouted in the emptying halls as we walked towards the back field.

A piece of his greased fringe fell onto his forehead as kicked a gum wrapper on the ground, "You ain't no baby, that's for sure," He quietly started, and I felt a newfound appreciation for Johnny burst in my chest, "But I dunno, I think the guys just wanna make sure your safe. You gave all of us a scare lookin' like that." He gestured to my face.

I snorted, "Glad to know my looks scare, that's sure to get the boys comin' to me." I joked, and I saw a slight smile press his lips.

We chatted the rest of the walk to the track. I liked talking with Johnny. It was different than chatting with Susie; maybe it was because he was a guy, or maybe it was because he was older. I wasn't sure, but we understood each other on a level even Soda didn't.

I waved goodbye to him as he left me at the track. I think he mentioned that one of the guys would pick me up after practice.

Soon enough, Coach Williams rounded us up and we did several exercises for an hour. By the end of it, I was delirious. I had already chugged a bottle and a half of water and I could barely lift my head without the pounding getting worse. Not to mention the incessant throb of my ribs doubled every time I took a breath in.

I thanked the Lord when Coach Williams yelled out the last set of the day, but groaned when I heard it was a 400 meter sprint.

I heaved my heavy body up from the bench and got into position with the other girls; I decided I might as well give it my all since it was the last one. A whistle blew and I shot off. Soon, I was more than halfway done, and my ribs sure were paying the price. I winced at the pain everytime I sucked a desperate breath of air in.

I huffed as I ran the last 100 meters of the 400 meter sprint. I looked ahead and focused on the trees swaying in the summer air as my legs cycled back and forth.

"C'mon Curtis!" I heard Coach Williams yell from the sidelines. I felt pride bubble its way into my chest. Coach Williams never does that for anyone else.

I felt a smile paint my face as the end line came up. I was first.

I pushed my legs harder despite the dull ache I felt in my muscles. As I crossed the finish line I grinned and started to slow down when I felt a harsh shove.

I stumbled and the momentum from my sprint had my balance off centered as I crashed onto the track. I reached my arms out to catch myself as my legs wobbled and fell beneath me. I bit back a whine that was stuck in my throat as I landed right on my bruised knees.

Sweat dripped from my forehead onto the track as I quickly got myself up despite my wobbly legs. I pressed my hands to my eyes as black spots overtook my vision.

I turned around and nearly rolled my eyes as I saw Stacy Fields standing behind me with a prideful sort of look on her face. She hadn't liked me from the first day we met, but that feeling had just intensified as Coach Williams started to favour me more openly. I also had a feeling that her friend Jessica Dunner had told her all sorts of lousy things about me; whenever I saw Stacy in the halls with her boyfriend she always got a wild look in her eye and held him closer to her.

"Might want to practice how to stick your landings. Although, your grease probably doesn't make that easy, huh?" She quietly quipped, and I heard some of the other soc girls giggle off to the side.

I huffed. Sure, I was a greaser but I didn't actually use grease like the guys do.

"Yeah? Well, you might wanna practice doin' somethin' better with your time than somethin' a five year old would enjoy." I snarked back. Her eye twitched and I could tell she didn't like that a mere greaser was talking back to her.

She was about to sneer back when Coach Williams came up behind me, "Had a bit of a fall there, huh Curtis?" He said as he patted my back and handed me a water bottle. I nodded and uncapped the bottle.

I gave Stacy an air blown kiss before I downed the water. Before I came, Stacy had been the top female athlete in track, and boy did Coach Willams dig that. Now though? With times like mine it's safe to say I took that place from Stacy. Glory, did she hate that.

She flipped me off and mouthed some words I thought I'd never hear from a soc's mouth and stalked off. I shrugged and took another swig of water.

"Don't think 'bout it, it don't matter if your gettin times like yours, Curtis. Good job." Coach Williams laid a hand on my shoulder as I chugged my water.

I felt sweat drip down my forehead as a gush of summer air hit me. The fabric from my t-shirt rubbed uncomfortably against my ribs as I squeezed back a wince.

"You keep this up into senior year and you'll have dozens of colleges tryna sign you up." Coach Willams told me as I set down my water bottle and wiped my sweat. I sent him an enthusiastic smile and nodded my head. Gosh, would I love to go to college one day.

He sent me a smile and patted me one last time on the back before heading off.

I heaved a sigh and let my body sink down onto the bench and let my brain relax. It had been four days since I jumped, and even though I didn't go to school yesterday my body was still so tired. And with track practice on top of this; it didn't exactly help heal anything. My body was practically one big bruise by now.

I hissed as I gingerly rubbed my ribs. They still hurt like hell, and I'm sure with how violently I heaved on Saturday didn't help much.

I flushed my knees with some of the water, and grimaced as they stung. Dirt had settled itself into the wounds since Stacy pushed me into the ground.

As soon as I noticed the sun beginning to set I pulled myself up and started to walk back home. I whined as the headache doubled in pain as I stood up. I wasn't surprised as I noticed Steve's truck still in the parking lot as he and Two-Bit leaned on it smoking a stick.

As soon as they noticed me they perked up and I instantly became aware of their new wounds. I grimaced as I looked at their bruised cheeks and bandaged knuckles. I couldn't help the pang of guilt I felt; I knew I hadn't started the fight but I felt like I had indirectly made it happen in the first place.

"Took you long enough, you little bastard." Steve grumbled as he jumped into the front seat as Two-Bit took shotgun. I heaved my tired body and my bag into the backseat and felt my eyelids go heavy, despite the old cushioning in Steve's truck.

Two-Bit guffawed about something the whole ride home as Steve quipped in once and a while.

Steve had rolled down the windows and the soft summer breeze kissed my exposed skin. Suddenly, the cuts and bruises that had been throbbing all day vanished along with my incessant headache and I quickly fell asleep to the sound of Two-Bit's loud voice.