The End is Only the Beginning

Chapter 8-The Dream

Then suddenly I was walking down the street at night, it was silent. I had no idea where I was, but I soon heard a set of footsteps behind me so I quickened my pace. I turned a corner and felt a heavy weight fall on top of me. I realized I was being jumped as the person turned me over onto my back and started to slug me. Blood was covering his fist and I felt a warm liquid all over my nose. I felt a sharp pain flood throughout my body. They had broken my nose, I tried to scream and fight. But it was like I didn't have a voice, my body weighed me down. I tried to kick but it was impossible, finally the person their hood down. It was Ponyboy, and he had a smile on his face. He started to laugh hysterically and slug me more and more. What hurt more was that it was Ponyboy who had jumped me. He betrayed me, he promised he would never hurt me. But he did.

I woke up in the middle of the night breathing fast and I felt my hair plastered on my forehead from the sweat. It felt so real, I still felt my nose pulsing in pain, I didn't want to wake up Ponyboy so I quietly got out of bed to go get water in the kitchen. As I walked into the kitchen I felt the cold floorboards touch my feet as I walked. When I reached the kitchen I saw a dim light on and Darry was sitting under it. He looked stressed out, and had multiple papers in front of him.

I whispered in a low voice, "Hey Darry, why are you awake?" I grabbed a cup from the cupboard and went over to the sink to fill it with water.

He looked up at me and with a tired voice said, "The better question is, why are you awake?"

I started to fill up my cup with water, "Oh I um... couldn't sleep." I lied. I hated lying to Darry but I knew he was already worried about Sodapop and I didn't need him to worry about me.

He looked at me with suspicion in his eyes, "I can tell when your lying , what's wrong?"

"I just had a nightmare... about the Socs," I hated to tell people my problems because I had grown up thinking that I was annoying if I told people my problems.

His eyes widened, "What happened in the nightmare?" He looked almost scared but I had no idea why.

"Well... I was walking down the street, and I got jumped by a Soc. But after the Soc beat me up I saw that it was Ponyboy." I said and I immediately regretted it.

His eyes widened more, "Has Ponyboy hurt you at all?" He asked me in a calm controlled voice, it was hard to believe that a second ago he sounded tired.

"No, not at all. In fact he has been the one making sure I don't get hurt." I told Darry before taking a sip of water, while leaning up against the counter.

Darry relaxed a little bit before saying, "Ok good. If he ever does hurt you, tell me and I will hurt him right back." I smiled a little bit.

I took another sip of water, "Darry is Soda gonna be ok?" I needed to know if he would be alright, he was one of my only friends.

He looked down for a second and then back at me, "You can't tell Pony this but I'm not sure. I don't know a lot right now, I don't even know why he would be hanging out with a Soc."

Before thinking I blurted out, "He is dating Cherry Valance." I instantly knew I messed up, not only did Darry get visibly mad but I had also told Sodapop's secret. I messed up big time. "He what?! He's dating a Soc? I swear to god that kid is gonna be the death of me!" When he yelled I jumped a little, Darry had never yelled at me or around me. He no longer mad but looked worried.

"Oh Grace I'm sorry, I forgot." He apologized, I knew he was talking about my mom.

"It's alright Darry, I know you didn't mean to. But what's so wrong with Soda dating a Soc?" I asked while I put my cup into the sink.

"There is a rumble coming up and now the Socs will be even more mad. That means that there will probably be weapons." Darry responded.

"There's gonna be a rumble? Oh shit, we always get destroyed when there's weapon!" I said getting more worried by the second.

"Yeah so there is no way that you, Pony, or Soda will be fighting." He said, stacking his into a pile and putting them away.

"Alright why don't you try and go to sleep. Its already 1 in the morning." He said before yawing.

"Ok goodnight Darry," I turned around but was stopped when I heard his voice again.

"Hey what happened to your wrist?" He asked and I froze.

"Oh I ran into a door today... must've got cut." I said to fast, luckily he already turned the light off so he wouldn't see the cuts that lined my whole left arm.

"Oh ok, just be more careful." He then walked into his room and shut the door. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I walked back to bed and immedietly put on my flannel, but then I noticed Ponyboy staring at me. He smiled softly and got up to hug me. "What are you doing in here?" I asked, hugging him back.

"I heard you and Darry talking and I hope you know I will never ever hurt you. Do you want me to stay here with you?" He questioned.

"You don't have to... but I guess you can if you want," I giggled. Ponyboy grabbed my hand and walked my to the bed. We laid down but he never let go of my hand, I loved it. He kissed my forehead and fell asleep facing me. After a few minutes I also fell asleep. I never did find out why Darry was awake that night, or what those papers were. All I found out was that there would be a rumble and that we would lose no doubt. Someone would get hurt... or maybe even die. And last time there was a rumble some kid from Shepard's gang died.