From Weakness to Strength

The Accused is Almost Abused

Before the rumble, everyone was wrestling each other for practice. Bella was watching and laughing at them.

"Hey, it's almost sundown, man." said Dallas wrestling Steve and Soda at the same time. "Give it a minute, Dal." said johnny who was being wrestled by Ponyboy. Darry was wrestling Two-Bit.

"LET'S GO!" yelled Darry. And all of a sudden, the boys broke from their wrestles and made it for the door. "Come on!" said Johnny as he took Bella's hand. 

As they made to the front gate, Darry did a flip over the mailbox. "Wow, can you teach me how to do that?" asked Bella. "Sure kid." said Darry. 

"Come on, little darlin'" said Sodapop who was signalling for Darla to go on his back. She did so and she was having the best time being with her friends.

They got to the lot and another group of boys from Ponyboy's age to Darry's age were there. "Hey look, it's Tim and Curly! said Ponyboy.

"Yeah, they agreed to join the rumble." replied Darry.  They walked up to the other gang, "Hey Tim." said Darry. "Hey Darryl." Tim Replied. "Hi Curly." said Ponyboy. "Hey Pony." said Curly. Curly got a glance at at Bella and smirked. Bella didn't notice. She was too nervous to notice.

"This the kid?" Tim asked. "Yep." said Darry. "Doesn't look like what I saw from the papers."Time said looking at Bella. "We've disguised her!' said Johnny. "Good job, guys. Sorry about your parents kid." 

"I am too. It wasn't a fair fight you know. The man showed up with a gun and my dad never owned a gun in his life." 

"That aint fair for a fight! Let's give these Socs a piece of our mind and a piece of my fists!" said Dallas angrily. The other boys cheered in reply. Bella felt special now that she had a lot or people on her side, even if they were hoods. Hell, she would even be one for them.

Then all of a sudden, teenage boys yelled from the other side of the road. "Hey Grease balls! We're here!" 

Fancy looking boys on bicycles and a car or two pulled up at the other side of the lot. "Hey, kid. Get on top of this car. They won't hurt you if you're their." said Darry. Bella obeyed immediately.

One of the boys came up. He had red hair and was wearing a madras and khaki pants. "Give us the girl and we won't have to fight." said the boy. Bella noticed him as Daniel Chase, Elaine's older brother who was about Dallas's age. "Isn't that what we're fighting for?" said Steve.

"Let's make a fair deal." said Dallas. "Oh yeah?" said Daniel impatiently. "Whoever wins, gets the girl as their prize."

"-WHAT?" Bella asked fearfully, "Deal." said Daniel. "How could you?" Yelled Bella. "Shut your trap, kid!' said Daniel. "Don't yell at her like that!" said Darry as he charged at Daniel.

Then the ruble really began. The boys ran at each other with kicks and punches. Poor Johnny and Ponyboy were getting beaten up pretty good by their Socs. Dallas stood up for them and beat them off.

Bella gasped at everyone's immediate reactions. Blood was flying everywhere and there was sure to be bruises caused. 

The violence raised a level and Socs started to run at the car to try to get to Bella. Bella tried to back up. Greasers were fighting them off as best as they could.

Just then, someone grabbed her waist from behind and  covered her mouth to block her from screaming. She was taken from the car and away from the rumble. Bella screamed, but her mouth was covered. "Shut your trap kid! I'm about to get the money reward for turning you in and I won't have you ruin that! Now you're coming with me."
"-No, she's not!" came a voice and someone ran at Daniel, knocking Bella out of Daniel's clutches, causing Bella to fall to the ground. 

Bella looked behind her to see that it was Dallas who saved her. "Y-You saved me?" Bella asked. "I'm not going to let anyone touch you, man!" Dallas replied. Then all of a sudden Bella got up and gave Dallas a big hug. 

this made Dallas surprised and it gave him a weird feeling in his stomach. "hey, don't embarrass me, man." 

Bella let go, feeling embarrassed. "How 'bout a noogie, kid?"
"Why?" Bella asked. "Because.it's.Fun!" and Dallas gave Bella a quick noogie before he let her on his back and took her back to the car. 

He let her up and she saw that the Socs were running away. Dallas came up with her and he yelled at the top of his lungs  "THE PRIZE IS OURS!" and he held Bella's arm up in victory.

The lot of Greasers filled with cheers and yelps. Then the gang went to Bella and Dallas. 

"we were worried about you, kid." said Darry. "You disappeared after a couple of  minutes." 
"Daniel Chase decided to cheat and try to take me away for some cash reward." said Bella. "But, Dallas saved me."

"Good going, Dal." said Johnny, who looked more beat up than any of the other guys. He had a bleeding lip, a black eye, a bruise on his cheek, and was bleeding from both nostrils of his nose. Everyone else had one or the other. 

"Why did you guys make me the prize? That really scared me." said Bella.

 "We made the prize something we knew the would never be able to have." said Dallas. "Something worth fighting for." said Sodapop.
"Something of value to us." said Two-Bit
"Something that we would never let go of." said Steve.
"Someone who can make our days brighter than the sun." said Ponyboy.
"Someone who is one of us and has stolen our hearts." said Johnny.

"Guys, you're embarrassing me." Bella blushed. "What are friends for?" said Sodapop. Everyone agreed. "What now?" Ponyboy asked.

"Let's start a bonfire and cause some trouble." said Steve. Everybody cheered in agreement. "That better have been a joke Steve." said Darry.

Tim Shepard's gang left after saying goodbye and shaking hands with Bella. Curly gave her a wink. 

The Boys gathered some wood and started a fire. Sodapop went to go get drinks for everybody.

Dallas lit the fire and Sodapop came back with a pack of coke. he passed them out to everyone.

"What if the Socs try to turn me in even if you did win?" Bella asked. "If they did that, then some of us would be in jail for manslaughter." said Dallas. 

"Would you protect me, no matter what and always?" Bell asked.
"OF COURSE!" Echoed the boys. 

"Will you always be my best friends?" Bella asked as she stared into the fire. 

"Always"