Running from The Past

A Chance

"Ponyboy!" I hollered after him as we walked out of the school. I saw him turn around in confusion as I ran up to him.

"It is Ponyboy right?" I asked as I held my books close to my chest.

"Uh yeah. I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"

"Clara Violet Kennady. Not like the President Kennedy though" I laughed a little bit shaking his hand. "I'm new here and Mr.Davis said we had a test coming up soon in History, and I was wondering if I could borrow your notes sometime?"

"I'm not busy today, you can probably come over. As long as you don't mind being seen with a greaser." He put his head down a little ashamed on that last part.

"I don't mind at all. I really don't know what a greaser is anyway." I laughed as he looked up at me in shock.

"You really are new here, aren't you?" He laughed a little bit as well.

"PONY!" I saw a guy in a Mickey Mouse shirt run over to us. "Where have you been kid?"

"I was talking to Clara," He nodded over to me. "she's new here and needs help getting caught up."

"Hi, I'm Two-Bit." He smiled eyeing me up and down.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled back at him.

"We're about to head over to the DX, if you wanna join us?" Two-Bit asked.

"I guess." I shrugged my shoulders as we started walking off the school grounds.

"So where ya from?" Two-Bit asked.

"I'm from Georgia. I just moved here to live with my mom." I said smoothing out my yellow dress as we walked down the sidewalk.

"Hey Pony!" I heard someone shout as we walked into the gas station.

"Hey Soda," Pony walked out into the garage and stood above a guy under a car as I followed slowly behind. "This is Clara, she's new here."

  The boy under the car came out from underneath and stood up. He had a chiseled jaw line and piercing blue eyes. He seemed to be about 17, with a big white smile.

"Hi," He whipped off his greasy hands. "I'm Sodapop, Pony's older brother." He smiled as I shook his hand.

"Does Pony have a new friend?" I heard someone shout as they walked into the garage.

"Clara, this is Steve." Pony rolled his eyes as another boy walked in with dark brown hair and a bird tattoo.

"Nice to meet ya, Clara." Steve smiled and nodded his head.

"Same to you"

"We're gonna grab a Pepsi, and head back to the house." Pony notified Soda as we walked into the garage and grabbed us both a Pepsi after he asked if I wanted one.

"Oh yeah the hospital called today." Soda came in with a big smile.

"Is he awake?" Pony's eyes widened in suspense.

"Just about an hour ago." Soda smiled as Pony ran and gave him a hug.

"When can we go see him?" Pony asked in excitement.

"Darry said we can go see him after dinner." He smiled widely. They talked a little bit more, than we headed out.

"Who we're you guys talking about?" I took a sip of my Pepsi as we walked into his neighborhood.

"My buddy Dallas," He took a sip of his Pepsi as well. "He was in a coma for about three weeks ago."

"What happened?"

"He got shot." Pony shivered a little bit when he said 'Shot'.

"Oh," I slowed down my pace. "I'm sorry that happened."

"Nah, it's fine now. I'm just glad he's okay." He replied opening up the front gate to his house as we walked up the front porch and went inside.

"Darry! I'm home!" He shouted as we walked in.

"How was school?" A tall muscular man came out to greet us.

"It was fine. This is Clara, she's new."

"Hi, I'm Darry, Pony's oldest brother." He smiled and shook my hand.

"Hi" I smiled nicely as I followed Pony to the kitchen table.

"Are your parents home?" I asked as we started to take out our school work.

"They died about a year ago." He said not looking up from his homework.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I felt bad now that I asked.

"Nah, It's fine."

  Their house was tiny, but nice. Knowing that it was only the three of them living together explained a lot though. Both my parents were alive, just divorced. Pony explained to me that here, I'd be known as a Soc and that's why all the guys looked at me weird at first (besides the fact that they were checking me out). He told me about how greasers and Socs don't really get along, and that he was known as a greaser. We studied for about an hour when everyone I met started to come over. I called my mom to let her know I was at a friends house and that I was okay. Darry invited me to stay for dinner with all of them. I accepted, since I didn't have any friends here and I saw a chance to make some.