From Weakness to Strength

The Fountain

They stopped after a while and Ponyboy started to cry. 
"Take it easy, Pony. It'll be alright, man. Just cool it a minute." said Johnny.
Darla couldn't say anything because she was having trouble breathing. 
"Got a cigarette, Johnny? I'm scared, man." Pony sniffled. 
"Don't be man, you're scaring me." Johnny replied, handing Pony a cigarette. "What happened?" Darla asked.
"Darry hit me!"
"What?!" Darla asked in disbelief. "I swear, we got along just fine till mom and dad died now he can't stand me!"

"He was probably just worried about you, Pone." Darla said. 
"How would you know? You don't have siblings!"
"-No, but I know what it means for someone to be worried about you. It usually means to uncontrolled anger which can sometimes lead to uncontrolled violence."
"At least no one ever hit you!"
"PONYBOY! YOU WERE THERE WHEN I WAS!" Darla yelled. 

There was a silence. "Aw jeez, I'm sorry, I forgot. This was all new to me that's all." Pony said, rubbing his head in embarrassment. 
"No problem. We all just need to cool off somehow." Darla replied. "Yeah, lets walk to the park, then maybe I'll cool off enough to go home." said Pony. "Yeah, all right." said Johnny.

The three started walking. "Aint you about to freeze to death?" Johnny asked as they were walking. "You aint a woofin'." Pony replied.

They heard an engine behind them, Pony started to walk faster towards the jungle gym. "Pony!" said Johnny trying to catch up with Pony. "Pony, got a light? I found this butt, man." said Johnny as he picked up a cigarette butt of the ground. "Yeah, here ya go, Johnny." Ponyboy replied, giving Johnny the lighter. 

The blue mustang from earlier drove in. "Uh-oh. Look what's coming. This is our territory," said Pony. "I bet they're looking for us." Johnny said. "What do we do?" asked Darla. "Should we split?" asked Johnny. "Stay cool." Pony replied as the car doors opened.

"Well, well, well." said Bob the soc. "What do ya guys know?"
"They're drunk." Pony mumbled. 
"It's that guy with the rings, man." Johnny said.

"Aren't these the greasers who -uh, tried to pick up on our women?" asked Bob.
"Hey, you're out your territory, now. You guys better watch it." said Johnny.
"No pal, you better watch it."
"Wow, Randyy nice come back." said Darla sarcastically. 

"Hey, how 'bout since they picked up on our women, let's pick on theirs." said Bob, walking towards Darla, taking a drink out of his flask. Then he grabbed one of Darla's legs, groping her and pulled her off the jungle gym. 

Johnny clenched his fist and Pony gave Bob and evil eye. "You better let her go." said Johnny as both him and Ponyboy lowered themselves off the top of the jungle gym. "Back off, pal. It's our turn." said Bob. "Do you guys no what greasers are? White trash with long, greasy hair." he said, stroking Darla's Ponytail. He then threw some of his alcohol on Pony.
"Do you know what a soc is?" Pony threw back. "What?" Bob challenged. "White trash with mustangs and madras." 

Pony then spat on Bob, causing Bob to throw Darla to the ground with a hard grunt. The socs started chasing after Pony and Johnny. Darla got up and ran after them. "Johnny, run!" yelled Pony. A soc made Johnny fall. 

The other 3 Socs had Ponyboy against the fountain. "Johnny! Darla!" Pony yelled. The soc that had Johnny kicked him further to the ground. "Stay down, Pal." The soc threatened. "Stay away from Johnnycake!" Darla yelled as she ran at the soc. She grabbed the soc's arm, put it behins his back and kicked his lower back. The soc fell on his face. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that." the soc mumbled. 

Darla went to help Johnny up, but was hit on the back of the head, turned around, got punched in the lip, and passed out on the ground.

Johnny got so mad, he took out his switchblade and snuck over to the Bob who was drowning Ponyboy in the fountain. He stabbed Bob several times until he wasn't moving then took an unconscious Ponyboy out from the water.

Darla woke up, her head pounding and bleeding. The boys were over at the spinning gym. Pony was wet and both of them were shaking, "What happened?" Darla asked, holding her head. "Johnny killed a soc." said Pony. "You really did kill him, huh Johnny?" Pony shook. Darla looked towards the fountain where a dead body had laid.
"-Yeah. I had to." said Johnny as he leaned to the grass and cleaned his bloody blade with the grass. "They were drowning you. They might've killed you. They beat Darla up." 
"What happened to the other guys?" Darla asked. "They all ran when I stabbed him." Johnny replied.

"We need to see Dally. He'll know what to do." Darla said.