Taking the Last Punch

Chapter 2:

I woke up to someone shaking me crazy. "Darry? What you doing home?" I ask. "Taking care of you. Take a bath then put on pajamas." He directed me. "But I'm already in bed!" I groan. "I know, how come you don't have your pajamas on?" He asked. I look down and I'm still wearing my clothes from today. "Because Two told me to go to bed." I say getting up.

Darry handed me my towel and went to the bathroom. I filled the tub with warm water and soaked in it for awhile. Once I was done I drained the water and brushed me teeth.

I went to my room and got pajamas on then came out to the gang.

I hugged Soda goodnight and he kissed me on the forehead, I hugged Darry tonight and he kissed me in the forehead, I hugged Pony goodnight and I kissed him on the forehead. "Do I get a kiss?" Dally said making a puckered up face. I kissed him on the cheek and I went to bed.

It's not weird kissing my family like that, it's just like when you go see relatives. I hug and kiss mine before leaving Christmas.

I felt Pony come in the room a bit later.

I woke up early this morning, it was still dark outside. I put on my jeans and a Micky mouse shirt. I went to the kitchen and at cereal for breakfast. I sat in the living room and watched tv until everyone else was up. Everyone got up around 9 and the rest of the gang was here by 11 which was just Two and Dally because everyone went to work.

"Sweets, you're going to Cathy's today." Ponyboy said and I smiled. I love going to Cathy's house, she's really nice. She's also the same age as Johnny.

She french braids my hair when I'm over there because nobody else can.

I don't really play with her other siblings but they are cool too. She also has a brother named M&M I don't even know his real name, he eats a lot of M&Ms though it's like every time I see him he has an open bag of M&Ms.

"When they picking me up?" I ask. "At 12 at the DX." Pony says and I nod. They have a bunch of younger siblings.

Time past and we just sat there watching the TV. "We should probably start walking to the DX." Johnny spoke up. I put on my denim jacket that have the sleeves of a sweatshirt. Two-Bit helped me tie my converse. We left for the DX. When we got there I sat behind the counter swinging my legs. "Hey Sweets." Soda said walking out from the garage. "Hey Pepsi-Cola." I said.

Cathy walked in and she talked to Ponyboy a bit before we left. We drove to her house. "What's for lunch?" I ask as we park in the drive way. "Grilled cheese." She replied.

We went inside to see a whole bunch of little kids running around. I covered M&Ms hair in pony tails while Cathy made lunch.

We ate then we played house. "Do you know why I came over today?" I asked as Cathy french braided my hair. "Pony said they wanted to go see a movie." She said finishing the braid.

"Do you like Pony?" I asked. "Why do you think that?" I lean back almost falling on her lap and say, "I can see it in your eyes." Then I go back up. "Maybe a little, but don't tell anyone!" She said. I did the motion where you pretend to zip your lips and lock them throwing the invisible keys to the side.

It was getting dark out, maybe around 8 o'clock? I'm so unbelievably hungry.

"What's for dinner?" I ask trying to braid one of Cathy's sisters hair. "My mom is making it so I have no idea." She said turning on the tv. We watched cartoons for awhile.

The front door opened, Cathy's parents walked in. "Oh, hi Sweetheart." Cathy's mom exclaimed. She calls me Sweetheart instead of Sweet Pea. She went to the kitchen and turned on the oven to boil water. "What time is Suzan here till?" Cathy's dad asked sitting at the table reading news paper. "10." Cathy answered. "Can you stop with the M&Ms?" Cathy's dad yelled at M&M. They don't call him M&M for nothing. I'm not too sure of his real name, I used to think it was. Soon after dinner was served, it was spaghetti. I ate mine pretty fast like the rest of the kids then we watched a movie the movie ended. It wasn't a really good movie, it was one of the older ones. Cathy's mom looked at her watch, "Oh dear, we better get Sweets home." She said grabbing my jacket. She helped me put it on then I put on my shoes. I hugged Cathy and we left. We got to my house and I ran inside and jumped onto the couch. "Come on, get ready for bed. You've been staying up too late." Darry said. "But Pony isn't even home yet!" I whined. "Yeah and he's twice your age." I hang my head back walking to my room. I change into pajamas, brush my teeth, and sleep.

I wake up to Darry yelling at Ponyboy then a door slams. I don't want to get in the middle of this so I won't bother asking. I do wonder what happened though.

I woke up, alone in the bed. I'm used to waking up to Pony sleeping gracefully. He wasn't there. Why wasn't he here?

I walk out to go to the kitchen. Darry's sitting with his fingers intertwined underneath his chin. "Where's Pony?" I ask sitting next to him. He was silent and I need answers. "Where is he, Darry?" I ask worried. "I don't know. I know that a Soc was killed last night though." He said worried. "It wasn't Pony! Pony wouldn't swat a fly!" I cry. He puts his hands through his hair. "Lets go see Soda, I don't think he knows about the death." Darry said getting up.

"Go get dressed." He told me. I walked to my room and put on my denim shorts with a pink tank top. I went back out and Darry handed me my jacket and I tied my converse and we left. We drove there because Darry dropped them off earlier so we had the car.

We went in to the DX. Darry went in to the back as I sat behind the counter swinging my legs.

I heard them talking in the garage. "You don't think it was Pony?" Darry asked. "No, I couldn't have been Pon!" Soda said. "If you ask me, that kid was holding something back." Steve said. "No. Pony is a good kid so don't even joke like that." Soda said the least bit angered.

Darry walked out of the garage. "Go get my wallet from the car, will ya?" He asked.

I hoped off the chair walking out the door. A nice car had pulled up and socs where getting out, what where they doing on this side of town? "Aye ain't that the one kids sister?" One asked. Everyone seems to know me because I'm the only kid that hangs with the gang my brothers are in. "Yeah, that's the girl!" They went after me. I tired running but I'm no match to captains of the football team. One pined me against the wall of the DX station. He punched me in the stomach, it hit me hard with pain, "Darry!" I tell then one of them cover my mouth. They actually lifted me off the ground. My feet weren't touching the ground as I dangled with my back against the wall. He hit me against in the stomach again. I get sick my the stomach I feel the tears fall down my face. Ons was standing on the side and didn't look to feel too got for this. I felt the blade of a knife slide down my leg splitting the skin open as the blood falls.

I get dizzy and it goes dark I hear yelling in the background and I feel myself being carried then loose all awareness.