Girls Don't Cry | The Outsiders

Eleven

Arnie came back in later on like he promised. It was getting late by that point and I knew the rumble would be starting soon. I told him I was tired and he said okay and left shortly thereafter. He took my book and my clothes with him. Soon after he left, Dally came running into my room.

"You coming?" he said.

"To the rumble? Hell yes," I said, quickly tying my hair up in a bun to keep it out of the way.

"Well, let's go then. It'll be starting soon. If we run, we can make it." I hurriedly slipped my sweatshirt back on and we ran out the hospital, nurses and doctors alike telling us not to run down the hallways. I didn't look too tuff, but I didn't care. My adrenaline was racing and I was ready to fight. I figured I still looked twice as tuff as those socs did.

Dallas drove us to the Curtis' house and then we ran the rest of the way to the vacant lot, stopping only twice and very briefly to catch our breaths. When we got to the lot, we could see all the socs and the greasers getting ready to fight.

"Hold up!" Dally hollered.

"Hold it!" I screamed, too, hoping they'd wait a second before starting so we could get in there, too. Just then, the rumble started and Dally and I basically dove right in. I found one soc just about my size and swung a good punch right at his jaw. He whirled around, bewildered. When he saw who'd punched him, he took a step back and I took the advantage. My fist collided with the side of his face again and I beat him till his cheek was blue and his bottom lip was swollen. Once that guy was down, I moved to help Sodapop.

"I thought we toldja not to join the rumble!" he hollered.

"I thought I toldja I could fight just fine," I said. I felt someone punch the back of my head and I fell forward, Sodapop catching me before I could hit the ground. He pushed me up to my feet and I moved out of the way quicker than what I could even process.

"Nice of you to bring your little girlfriend along, greaser," said one of the socs.

"She can pack a punch better'n you can," Sodapop said.

I got my advantage on another soc, too. Just as Ponyboy jumped on his back to try and take him down, I came up from underneath and kicked him in the shin. I jumped to my feet quickly and punched him right under his chin.

My hand was searing in pain, but I was still having a huge adrenaline rush, so it was easy to ignore it for the most part. One soc didn't mind the idea of hitting a girl and grabbed me from behind, slamming me to the ground and pinning me down. I screamed and kicked and punched at him until Steve came to my rescue and knocked him outta the way.

"Jesus Christ, kid," he said. I about shoved him in a playful manner, but realized we were still in the rumble and we both turned to take down another soc together.

I took to Ponyboy's idea and saddled on Soc and grabbed him around the neck in a tight choke hold. He tried punching at me, but I wasn't letting go. Another soc punched me in the side, knocking the wind out of me, but I held on for dear life. The soc tripped and we both tumbled to the ground and I sat on him and punch him in the side of his face. One other soc football tackled me off his buddy and we both fell to the ground. I was quick to my feet, a lot faster than him, and started slugging him in the face, then. When he was as good as knocked out, I rolled off him and dodged around Darry and a soc rolling in the dirt and helped Dally take one down.

Once he was down, I noticed the socs start to run.

"They're running!" Two-Bit yelled in delight. "Look at the dirty sons of bitches run!"

I grinned as I saw the socs running to get into their fancy cars and drive off like the cowards they are. When I looked around at all my friends, my smile faded. Steve was laying on the ground in the fetal position, Soda talking quietly to him. Two-Bit had blood running down the side of his face. I felt something sticky and warm on the side of my face and knew immediately that it was blood. My right fist was caked in it, but I didn't know what was mine and what wasn't.