~Alice's POV~
"They're talking about me, I just know it." I think and pace back and forth.
I look back through the window and see Soda and one of the big guys from earlier before what looks like yelling at the Socs. Another steps forward and pulls out a gun. Two-Bit flicks out a switch blade and holds it up to one of the Socs. Someone says something and the Socs get back in the car. Johnny runs back and greets me at the door.
"Johnny, what's wrong?" I ask. "You didn't tell me you were a Soc." he says and walks over to the counter. "Wait, you mean I'm one of those guys?" I ask and walk over to him. "Yeah, one of them. You live on the west side of the train tracks. Why didn't you tell me?" he asks. "Does it really matter? Greaser or Soc I'm still a person. We just live on different sides of the railroad that's all." I say and he shakes his head. "It would've been nice to know." "I didn't even know-." I'm cut off by the guys coming inside.
"So, Pony, who is this?" Soda asks. "That's Alice. A friend from school and those Socs jumped her and gave her that haircut." Ponyboy says and stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Oh, I see. Sorry I'm being rude. I'm Sodapop, yes that is my real name. This is Darry my older brother, Pony is my younger bro. This is Dally and Steve and you know Two-Bit and Johnny." Soda says. I nod and smile. Pony whispers something to Darry and he nods. Pony walks over to me. "Come on, let me show you my house where you can crash anytime you need to. You too Johnny." We walk to the door and head out.
By the time we get to the house the sun is setting. Pony tells me that the front door is always unlocked if I need to come in and if I need anything just ask him. Pony smiles and goes outside. I follow him and he just looks at the sunset. When the sun disappears he turns to me. "You like watching sunsets?" he asks. "Yeah, where I used to live you could watch the sunset and it looked like it was going into the ocean. Really pretty and it was so colorful." I say. "Wow, sounds pretty I'm jealous." Pony giggles and Johnny appears in the doorway. He looks shy and timid. "Umm, I should be getting home, I'll see you tomorrow?" I ask. "Yeah, like I said come here whenever you want. No school tomorrow so come around 1pm?" Pony asks and I nod. Johnny and I start to walk home and then we come to the train tracks. Johnny nods and turns to walk away. "Johnny, wait." I say and grab his shoulder. He turns and puts a questioning look on. I kiss his cheek and he smiles. "Thanks for the walk home." I say and cross the tracks.
I get home and it's dark and the porch light is on. "What am I going to tell my mom? I'll tell her I met some friends and we hung out." I say to myself and walk inside.
I put my backpack down on the kitchen table and sit on the couch. I hear footsteps fumble down stairs and I know it's my stepdad. I turn and he's holding a beer in his hand. "Oh no, he's drunk." I think and stand up. "Wh-Where have you b-been?" he slurs and stumbles toward me. "I met some friends and was hanging out with them. Where's my mother?" I ask. Then my mom comes up from downstairs. "Hey sweetie where have you been and what happened to your hair?" she asks. Before I could answer my stepdad steps in. "She was sleeping around as usual. We need to take better care of her sweetie." he says acting as sober as he can. My mom gasps. "No that's not true. He's drunk!" I say. "No I'm not." "Alice, why would your father lie to me?" my mom asks. "He's not my father!" I yell. "I'm the only father you got." he slurs and turns to my mother. "Mom, why do you believe him?!" I ask close to tears. "Alice," she starts to say. "NO MOM HE IS LYING! HE IS DRUNK AND TRYING TO MAKE YOU HATE ME!" I yell.
Everything slows down. My stepfather turns around so fast and slaps me. Full force across the face, and it stings. I fall to the ground and get right back up before anyone can say anything, and take out the door tears forming in my eyes.
I run across the train tracks and past the gas station. I see Pony's house and run inside. When I do Darry is sitting in the armchair. "Hey Alice, what happened?"
I tell Darry about everything and he comforts me. "It's okay, you can stay here as long as you want." as he says that Ponyboy comes out from another room. I look at him, cheeks still red and tear stained. "I heard everything you'll be safe now." he says and sits down next to me.
..............................................................................
I walk down the street with my hands stuffed in my pockets.As I walk past the movie theater I see Pony come out. I try and scream 'Pony' but some Socs pull up and start to yell stuff at him. They are in red Corvair, it wasn't the boys who jumped me. Pony started to walk a little faster. I didn't want to get jumped again so I hang back, following. They chase him down a street and get really close to him. "PONY!" I scream and he turns around. But it's too late. The Socs have him down in a second. They say something and pull out a switch. Pony screams and I run. I run down an alley way and right into the gang. I'm out of breath so I pant. "Woah, Alice, what's wrong?" Soda asks and grabs my shoulders. "Pony," I pant. "He needs help." I gasp. "Where is he?" Darry asks firmly. "Down the alley." I say and they all run past me. I jog behind them as they chase the Socs back to their car. I jog over to Pony and kneel next to him and Darry. "You okay?" Darry asks him. He just simply nods and turns his head away. I reach out a touch his cheek where it looks like someone punched him. He winces at my touch and notice the cut on his neck. Soda jogs over and kneels with us. "Did they pull a blade on you?" he asks and Pony looks at him as he pulls out a handkerchief and places it on the cut. "Yeah." Pony's voice was shaky and choked up. He turns away again but Soda moves his head to look at us. "Easy Pony, they ain't gonna hurt you no more." Pony smiles and looks at me. We stand up and start to walk back to Ponyboy's house.
"You guys wanna go to the Nightly Double tonight?" Dally asks. "Yeah I'll go and Pony will to. And maybe Alice, if you want." Johnny says. I nod my head and smile at his offer. "Maybe I'll swing by to, if I'm not to drunk." Two-Bit laughs. I shake my head. Soda and Darry go inside and Steve leaves. Two-Bit walks to his car and drives off. Dirt from the driveway kicks up from his tires. Ponyboy, Johnny and I sit on the porch and Dally walks over and leans against the post. He ruffles Johnny's hair and smiles at him.
"I haven't learned your story, secret Soc." Dally smirks at me. "The name's Alice and I know about you Dallas Winston. You are like poison and have a big enough record at the police station that it could wrap around this town. Twice." I say and put my hand up to block the suns rays.
Dallas Winston. Dallas. Winston. It rolls off the tongue with a poisonous taste. Toughest grease stain in the town to get out. He stains the town and the streets of New York almost like the grease in his hair. Dangerous, violent and wreck less. But I feel there's more to that. Behind that leatherjacket, hatred for the world and grease, he's another lost soul. Looking for something, one thing, someone to love. I don't want to be that thing, but at the same time I do. I want to see the caring side of Dallas. Dallas Winston. Dallas. Winston. But even if I do, does it matter?
"Huh, you're smart and snappy. I like that. So I hope see that spice at the movies. I'm the kid your parents warned you about." Dally says and ruffles Johnny's hair before hopping over the fence.
He walks away from the house with a weed resting on the corner of his mouth. I swear I see the smoke coming from its lit end. He looks so relaxed yet so tensed. He acts as if he don't have a problem in the world, but really the world is his problem. He seems to take control over the street. The sun shinning off his leather shoulders and grease stained hair. Dallas Winston. Dallas. Winston. He's the kind of poison that can kill, but also can save a life. Dallas Winston, the pretty slick poison. I wonder if he knows he's poison. If he does, Does it matter?
