The new outsider

Chapter 20: The Challenge

Jess was sitting, alone, on the bench by the lot. She pulled her jacket closer to her to try and block out the cold. It didn't do any good, the cold wasn't from the air, it came from her thoughts. Even though she knew the gang was just around the corner, waiting, she was still nervous.
She had only been there for a few minutes when Evan's car pulled up. Five Falcons got out of the car, including Evan and Benj. They were smiling, which made Jess feel sick. The were coming closer to her, she kept hoping the greasers would get there.

"Hey Baby. Miss me?" Benj asked.

She just clenched her jaw and glared. They were getting too close but she sighed with relief when she saw her friends come around the corner. Darry was in the lead, looking tougher then usual. Dally was on his right, Soda on his left.

Dally had his fists jammed in his pockets and the only thought in his head was getting to Jess before they did. She stood up from the bench and jogged over to them. The Falcons did not look happy too see the Greasers.

"These your friends?" Evan asked.

Dally reponded by putting his arm around Jessica's shoulders. It helped her nerves, she was safe now.

"Your not just gonna leave her alone are you?" Darry asked, his voice cold and angry.

"Nope, she is my sister and I am not leaving here without her." Evan responded.

"We challenge you to a rumble. A skin fight, no blades." Darry explained. "If we win you leave and never come back, if you win, Jessica goes with you."

"We accept your challenge." Evan said, holding his hand out for Darry to shake.

The shook hands and stepped back to rejoin their gangs.

"When?" Evan asked.

"Tomorrow night, 11 o'clock." Darry replied.

"You gonna be fighting too, baby girl?" Benj sneered at her. "Wait, I forgot, you get your new friends to do all of the dirty work for you."

The Falcons turned to go and what Jessica did next, she didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the anger she had been holding inside of her. Maybe it was the confidence she got from having the Greasers with her.

She got her blade out and opened it as fast as she could. She threw it and it landed with a thud in the front tire of Evan's car. The blade was two inches in Evan's car's front tire. Evan looked at it in amazement. He yanked it from his tire, big mistake, the hissing sound of air escaping from the tire could be heard.

"Bye Ev, see you at the fight." Jessica said.

"You little..." Evan shouted a few names at her "We are gonna pound your friends into the ground. We are gonna have another outfit with us, you wait and see."

The Greasers left the Falcons. As soon as they got around the corner Dally spoke up.

"Good job, Little-J." Dally said smiling down at her.

"What was he talking about another outfit coming?" Darry asked as they walked home.

"I am guess he is gonna get his allied gang to come down here. The Thunders. About a dozen of them." Jess replied, letting Dally wrap his arm around her, she was still a little unsteady.

"How good are they at fighting?" Darry asked.

"There alright, I don't remember them much, I do remember that they have a difficult time keeping their hands to themselves." Jessica remarked laughing.

"So we got 8 of us, KJ would fight with us and probably bring three or four friends, so we for 13." Pony said.

"Tim said he would fight with us, and his outfit." Jessica said.

"So the teams should be even." Pony said shrugging as they entered the house.

"Are they gonna stick to the rules?" Soda asked.

"Probably not." Jessica replied.

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