Ok, let me explain what happens in my life.

Something good happens, then something bad happens.

For example, Dally asked me to be his girl, we get jumped; my brother and I go to the park, he dies; my dad gets over his drinking problems, he gets murdered; Ruff Ry comes back, and I hate who she is.

I know, I know. I always say if you get tuff you don't get hurt, but I hate being tuff. I am gonna keep being tuff so I don't get hurt, but I am afraid that someone else will get hurt.

"Hey greaser." said one of the guys.

He was the one that helped Randy hold my against the wall while Bob reopened my scar.

I stayed crouched down next to Dally, not wanting to leave his side. Dally always had his hand in his pocket, ready to wip out his switch. If he would mistake up or move his hand from his pocket, I could use it to at least defend myself. But before I could even finish my thought, Randy had me in a choke hold with a blade to my throught.

"Dally!" I screamed.

For God's sake wake up! They already had his arms pinned down before he could open his eyes. When he did open his eyes, he smashed his arms together knocking the two guys unconscious. Then he did this cool Nina thing where he like jumped up and kicked this guy in the jaw.

That left Randy and Bob standing there grinning like maniacs. Dally turned towards them with his switch ready. Randy moved his hand from my neck to my hair snapping my head back and pressing the blade deeper into my throught. Dally let out a low growl.

"Let her go. Let her go now 'fore both of ya end up dead!"

Randy smirked as he dragged the blade slowly along my throught. I stiffened and let out a high pitched squeak. Bob laughed along with Randy as he walked forward towards Dal. He started talking to him but I couldn't pay attention because Randy was talking in my ear.

"You know, I don't see why even a flirt like Dally would want trash like you. Your eyes are an yellow brown mud color, your hair is greasy and dull. You are and , your and feet are all cut up and dirty, you're so hard to understand and so that even the best therapists can't fix a mess like you."

I couldn't see. I couldn't feel or taste the autumn air. I could only hear the harsh words echoing around in my head.

Trash.

Mud.

Greasy.

Dull.

.

.

Cut.

Dirty.

.

Mess.

The ones bolded are the only ones that bothered me. Because they're true. My mother, father, brother and everyone at school used to call me those things. So it must be true if so many people saw it.

Tears burned in my eyes and I heard Dally yell at Randy to stop hurting me. Bob chuckled and turned to Randy.

"Let her go. We ain't gonna kill her." He mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. (That was still conscious)

He walked up to me and trailed a finger along the cut on my neck. It stung bad and I winced. He patted my cheek and whispered, "See you at school."

They released me and drove off. I fell to my knees and stared at the ground. Dally ran over to me and tried to hug me. I pushed him away and stood up. Bob said he would see me in school. But I don't go to school here. Unless... Oh no!

I ran to the house, with Dally running behind me. I burst through the door and ran to the kitchen where Darry was nervously pacing back and forth.

"Darry!"

He turned towards me with relief and anger on his face.

"Where in the world have you been? Do you have any idea how late it is? No you don't, it's 3 in the morning!"

By this point Pony and Soda have woken up and stumbled in. Soda came up and ruffled my hair.

"Hey kiddo. That's a nice lookin cut you got there. Dallas didn't give it to you right?"

He yawned, he was only half asleep. Pony on the other hand had merely walked into the kitchen and fallen back asleep in a stool. I shook my head at Soda and turned back to Darry.

"Look Darry, me and Dal were walking in the park when we fell asleep. We wake up the socs hunting me surrounded us and cut my neck. Dally knocked all of the other baits unconscious except for Randy and Bob. They said they weren't gonna kill me so I ran back here to ask you a very important question!"

"Well wait a minute where is Dally?"

Right when he said that Dally barged through the door.

"There he is. Now Darry, did you enroll me in Ponyboy's school?"

"Yeah. I had to kid. Or else the government wouldn't let me be your

guardian."

Tears.of frustration welled up only eyes again. Darry started to say something but I cut him off.

"Just leave me alone, Darrel."

He and Dally hesitated in the door way of the kitchen.

"Leave me alone!"

With that they both ran to the living room, leaving Ponyboy passed out in the stool.

About a half an hour later I heard the kitchen door open. I was about to yell at whoever it was to go away when I realized it was little Johnny. He sat down next to Ponyboy and Pony stirred awake.

"Hey Johnny," we both said.

"Hey. Y'all mind if I stay here?"

I shake my head.

"Parents fightin again?"

He nods. I look out the kitchen wind for a couple minutes, and when I turn back around both of em are sleeping. They look so innocent, so fragile, I have to save them. I have to be brave for them. I will do whatever it takes. Whatever it takes.