Drowning

Bexley made her way down to the lot, knowing that Johnny and Ponyboy would be there. The air was becoming colder, making her shiver. She didn't bother to grab her coat. But she couldn't give up on her search for her friend and little brother. Her hands were shaking, but she couldn't tell if it was from panic or if it was from being cold.

She didn't see them at the lot, which made her panic even more. 'They gotta be at the park… I gotta find him…' she thought, going to the park. She saw them sitting in the jungle gym while smoking. "Ponyboy! Johnny!" she shouted as she ran over to them. Both of them saw her coming and they sat up even more.

They climbed down from the jungle gym to join her. "There you are! God, you scared us half to death!" she exclaimed. Ponyboy frowned and he looked away from his sister. "You saw what happened back there. Darry doesn't want me around," he said tearfully. He was trying to hide his tears.

"Pony… he didn't mean it," she assured her little brother. She was still shaking so Johnny gave her a smoke. She lit it and took a drag from it. "He does care about you, Pony," she said, holding the cigarette in her fingers. "No, he doesn't, Bex. He doesn't want me around," he scowled, not believing a word she said.

"Okay, look. Just cool down and come back to the house. I can head back home and tell them what's going on," Bexley offered as she took another drag of her cigarette. "Alright," he replied with a nod. However, before Bexley could walk, they saw a car's headlights illuminating the unlit park.

They all looked up at the rumbling car, seeing that it's the same blue mustang from earlier. "Oh, no, look who's coming," Ponyboy said to them. "This is our territory," Bexley said to them. "I think they're looking for us," Johnny softly said as the car pulled up in front of them.

"Should we make a run for it?" Johnny asked, putting his cigarette out under his shoe. "Stay cool," Ponyboy told them. Six socs stepped out of the car, stumbling around as they got out. "Well, well, well," Bob chuckled, having a flask in his hand. Bexley grabbed her little brother's hand a bit tightly.

They were outnumbered, six against three. "What do we have here?" Bob said again, his words slurred. "They're drunk…" Ponyboy whispered, wishing he had that broken bottle in his grasp. Johnny was as white as a sheet when they got closer. The smell of alcohol was all over them, which made them choke.

If Darry and Soda were here, they would be even almost. "It's the guy with the rings, man!" Johnny exclaimed in a hushed voice, recognizing Bob as the guy who beat him up. "Huh, aren't these the two greasers and the broad that… tried picking up on our girls?" Bob asked, glaring at them.

"Y-You guys are in our territory so you guys better watch it!" Johnny shouted, trying to be confident. Randy glared at him and warned dangerously, "Nup, pal. You better watch it," "The next time you pick up a girl, pick one up like her. A greasy broad," Bob said, pointing at Bexley harshly.

Bexley glared at Bob, fire in her eyes. "This is how you bastards get your kicks? Beatin' kids up? It's no wonder that your own girlfriends don't want to hang around you," she told him, crossing her arms. "You better shut your mouth, grease bitch," he scowled. The six socs stared at them, their eyes smoldering. "You know what Greasers are? White garbage with long greasy hair," Bob scowled, chucking his drink at them.

It was common for Greasers to get cussed from any soc they see. They could feel their blood starting to boil over - Ponyboy spoke up this time. "You know what a soc is?" he said. "What?" Bob asked. "You guys are white trash with mustangs and madras," he told them. He couldn't think of anything else bad to call them so he spat at them.

The looks on their faces changed when Ponyboy said that. How dare he call them that? Ponyboy, Johnny, and Bexley took off in a hefty sprint. "Get them!" Bob shouted to his friends. "Run, you guys! Run!" Ponyboy shouted as he was grabbed by the back of the collar of his shirt. Johnny was pushed to the ground to his front. A soc grabbed Bexley by wrapping an arm around her neck.

She saw three socs picking Ponyboy up and they brought him to the fountain. "Let him go! LET HIM GO!" she shouted, fighting to get loose from her captor. "Shut the hell up!" another soc shouted as he punched her in the abdomen, making her double over in pain. After a hefty punch across the face, blood flew down her nose.

"Bexley! Johnny!" Ponyboy shouted as the socs tried dunking him in the fountain. He was fighting to get loose from their grasp. "Pony!" Bexley shouted, kicking at the socs. She kicked one in the stomach, knocking him back a couple of steps. "You little bitch!" the soc shouted as he slapped her very hard across the face.

The socs that were beating on Johnny told him to stay down so they could help drown Ponyboy. "You son of a bitch!" Bexley shouted, adrenaline kicking in to protect her baby brother. She was tossed down to the ground, making her roll a few times. When she tried getting up, there was a sharp blow to her chest. It knocked the wind out of her.

"Bitches stay down," that soc shouted, kicking her in the face. She cried out when the pain kicked in. The other socs were holding Ponyboy down in the fountain, bringing him up after a few seconds. Ponyboy gasped for air, getting drenched from the freezing water.

"Let's give this greaser a drink," Bob laughed, taking the flask of alcohol and he was dunking it onto Ponyboy's face, "Here, have a drink, pal!" Bexley saw this and she got to her feet. She charged at Bob, knocking him into the water. "This little- Grab her!" Bob shouted as he grabbed Bexley and he threw her to the side. Two socs grabbed her and proceeded to beat her until she couldn't stand up anymore. "P-Pony…" she gasped, her body aching.

Johnny took his knife out of his back pocket and he opened the blade. He then stood up from the ground and he charged at Bob, stabbing him in the neck. When he did that, Bob dropped dead on the ground. The others dropped Ponyboy and took off running in a panic.