| The Outsiders |

You were just walking down the sidewalk, hands shoved in your pockets, bored out of your mind. Normally you weren’t in this neighborhood, but The Dingo sounded good and you didn’t feel like going home yet. You were halfway there, when all of a sudden you heard voices up ahead sharp, mocking, the kind of tone you recognized instantly.

You slowed, squinting down the street. A Mustang was parked crooked at the curb, doors open, a bunch of Socs spilling out like they owned the whole block. And right in front of them, backed up against a brick wall, were Ponyboy and Johnny. Ponyboy looked tense, jaw tight. Johnny looked like he wanted to disappear.

One of the Socs stepped forward, tossing out something nasty at them. The others laughed. Ponyboy didn’t say anything. Johnny flinched instinctively.

You felt your stomach twist. You knew you should just turn the other way, but you couldn't. That wasn't the kind of person you were. So you started walking over without another thought.

---

"Get on the ground and eat it, greaseball! You already eat stuff from the ground anyways!" One of the Socs yelled cruelly, that was Bob Sheldon. He was probably the worst and most arrogant Soc of them all. Which was hard to say because mostly every Soc was like that.

Johnny moved from one foot to the other, keeping his head down like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. While Ponyboy, well he kept his head up, jaw and fists clenched looking like he was gonna try and throw a punch. Which would be stupid because they were both outnumbered.

You finally approached, having picked up a slightly beat‑up wooden baseball bat from an alleyway you passed by walking over. You know, just in case..