Nothing Gold Can Stay - Curtis Sister

chapter 4

In case you didn't know, the Socs are the ones that drive cars like that. We could run, but they'd catch up to us in a second, so it was useless.

Johnny's grip on my arm tightened, and his eyes were as wide as dinner plates. He'd gotten caught by them one day, beaten to a pulp. Johnny didn't like fighting, and Johnny hated the Socs.

The car stopped right in front of us, and six of them jumped out. They're always outnumberin' us. It ain't fair.

"Hey greasers." one of them said menacingly. The best thing you can do when they're like that is to just look unfazed. I glanced over at Pony and he was already breaking that rule. His fists were balled up, and his jaw was squared. He was always tryin' to look tougher, but I wish he'd listened to Darry's advice, cos he certainly wasn't using his head. Two-Bit looked like he was calm, but I knew that he was about to jump them.

"Aw," another said, turning towards me and Johnny. "I remember you." His voice was sickeningly sweet, and it made me feel sick. "This your girlfriend?" He was shaking now, and he opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"Answer me." he said, voice hardening. I could tell Johnny was tryin' his hardest, but it wasn't his fault he couldn't speak. Suddenly, they moved, faster than they could've. Two of 'em grabbed Johnny, got him down on the ground. 

"Hey!" I yelled, tryin' to pull them off of him. Two of them grabbed me and pushed me down too, and I tried real hard to get free. Pony and Two Bit jumped into action, but the other two guys held them back. For a minute there, I didn't know what would happen. I was yellin', just tryin' to hear myself and get the Socs away from Johnny. They punched me a couple of times, and I had to stop. 

Suddenly, they ran away, and I lay there, head spinning. I was trying to regain the balance to stand up. 

I saw Two-Bit and Pony standin' over Johnny and me, but when I tried to sit up, the world turned upside down, and I had to lay down again. I could turn my head though, and saw Johnny.

He didn't look too bad- not at all like that day in the lot, but seemed to be in the same position that I was. 

Two-Bit came up behind me and lifted me up, putting my arm around his shoulder for support. Pony did the same with Johnny, and we all caught our breath.

"I hate the Socs." Johnny said quietly, which was out of character for him. We all just nodded and began to make our way home.