Free ✔

FOUR

Except for the glares from Cherry and Marcia, they didn't say a word to any of the boys during the car ride. After they got to their homes, they slammed the car door and left without a word.

Joseph scowled. "Those stupid Greasers."

Robert felt like he messed his life up.

First his parents despite him, then he started drinking, and now his girlfriend preferred Greasers over her own boyfriend.

Hours passed and all Robert did was drink with his friends.

Randy was driving like a maniac and when he finally parked, they got out of the car and walked to the nearby park.

Robert sighed and took another gulp.

He really wanted to prove to Cherry that he was worth it.

That he was stronger.

That he was better than those Greasers.

Robert didn't realize that he was growling until David started to look at him weird.

"Woah there, Bob. What's got you so mad?"

"I can't believe Cherry picked those Greasers over us," Robert spat, saying "Greasers" as if it was venomous.

"Well," David said. "Look over there, that Pony and Johnny punks are coming, let's take it out on them."

Robert shook his head. "We can't do that."

Kevin laughed. "They were with your girl, Bob. It's their fault that now Cherry and you aren't talking."

Robert, now so drunk that he could barely think properly, nodded.

"Aye Randy, start circling those Greasers. We're having fun tonight."

Robert and his friends walked towards the Greasers with smirks on their faces.

"Hey whatta ya know?" Robert said, "here's the little Greasers that picked up our girls. Hey, Greasers."

"You're outta your territory," the Greaser named Johnny warned. "You'd better watch it."

Randy cursed and they stepped closer to them.

"You know what a Greaser is?" Robert smiled. "White trash with long hair."

He saw the colour in Pony's face drain.

"You know what a Soc is?" Pony fought back with a shaky voice. "White trash with Mustangs and madras."

Then Pony had the nerve to spit at them.

Robert smiled, shaking his head. "You could use a bath, Greater. And a good wirjubg over. And we've got all night to do it. Give the kid a bath, David."

Pony ducked and tried to run for it but David grabbed him by the arm and twisted it behind his back.

Robert's smile faded when David shoved his face in the fountain.

The other Socs were trying to grab at Johnny but Robert knew that Pony couldn't live much longer if he didn't get oxygen.

"David! Let me hold him down!" Robert shouted, trying to distract David.

David smiled. "I'mma go get a kick outta the Johnny boy."

Robert quickly ran to Pony and gripped his neck, just as he was about to pull him up, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

He looked down.

He's been impaled.

Shouts from his friends were fading as they ran away.

Robert has never been so horrified in his entire life.

He doubled up and fell as he saw Pony falling to the ground, gasping for air.

He smiled to himself softly to himself.

At least Pony was alive.

The blood was leaking and his life was running out.

But at least he knew he wouldn't bother anyone anymore.

His parents wouldn't have to worry about taking care of him, they wouldn't have to care about saving up money for his university, and they wouldn't have to worry about him wandering around the streets.

His girlfriend wouldn't have to stress about Robert drinking too much, she wouldn't have to worry about him going out with other girls, and she wouldn't have to take care of him.

As consciousness slowly slipped away, he saw all of his most adored memories.

His 10th birthday when he got his favourite pair of shoes.

When he got accepted into the gang.

Randy and him pranking Randy's older brother.

Cherry saying yes to him on their first date.

Straight A's on his report card.

And now, the most recent memory, Pony and Johnny's relieved face when they knew they were safe.

Robert might not have been the nicest, the most responsible, or the most trustworthy, but at least he knew his family was safe.

And no, not family as in just his parents.

His family as in everyone who he cared about.

Even the Greasers.

He wished that he could've had the time to tell the Greasers that he was sorry, that he didn't mean any of the things he said, and that it was a huge mistake that he jumped them.

That he didn't want to do it.

He didn't want to hurt people.

Not on purpose.

He knew what he started was wrong tonight.

He did deserve a slap in the face.

Robert suddenly felt like he was falling.

He smiled inwardly. This was his time.

This was his time to rest.

To get away from the stress and pressure permanently.

To be free.

To fly to wherever he wanted.

To be free.

To be happy and not worry.

To be free.

To not feel like you have ten thousand tons of bricks on your shoulders.

But most importantly...

He was finally free.