I do not own The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton does :)

It was Monday, and as always, everybody was tired in school. Tired kids meant grouchy kids, and grouchy kids resulted in fights. Usually between greasers and socs; the rest just stayed out of their way.

Ponyboy hated fighting with socs; he didn't like to hurt people, and Darry would ground him. Well, that was if Ponyboy himself had picked the fight, but Darry was always grouchy on Mondays too, so if Pony got attacked, Darry would probably blame him.

But Ponyboy just had to get involved when a few certain socs were picking on his best friend: Johnny Cade.

Two-Bit and Steve had detention (as usual), so the only fellow greaser who could help Johnny was Ponyboy. The thirteen-year-old greaser knew that Darry would much rather have him save Johnny and get into trouble than just let Johnny take the beating. Or so he thought.

"Hey, why don't you leave him alone?!" Pony called, stomping up to the curly-haired soc. As always, the soc laughed at Pony for his small height and underdeveloped body; everybody thought he was childish when trying to be threatening.

"And why would I do that, greaser?" the soc taunted, twisting Johnny's right arm behind his back. Johnny winced and tried to stop the tears from spilling down his flushed cheeks.

Ponyboy was beginning to get angry now – how dare anybody treat his best friend that way? Didn't Johnny already suffer enough?

"I mean it, soc, if you don't let him go…I'll-I'll kill you!" Pony shouted, attempting to size up to his opponent but failing.

The soc laughed even louder and pushed Johnny towards a row of lockers, and then turned his attention to Ponyboy. He leaned down, so only the auburn youth could hear him.

"If you think you can take me, bring it," he whispered, leaning back so he was standing at his original height.

"Oh leave them alone; they're just kids!" a girl shouted. By now, Ponyboy and the soc had an audience, who were eager to see the outcome of the quarrel. Some were chanting 'fight' while others were begging for them to stop and just leave it.

The soc folded his arms and stared down at Ponyboy, who was glaring up at him. The boy was scared, but he wasn't about to back down now; everybody would think he was a wimp!

Bending down again, the soc whispered to Ponyboy:

"I bet if I put you in your place, everyone will be happy, including your greaser-friends. And even if you do win the fight, who's gonna be proud of you? Your dead parents?" he asked.

Ponyboy felt his blood boil, and his breathing got faster. But he didn't attack the soc; he was going to keep his cool.

"What about your brother, ya know – the stupid pretty boy?" the soc continued, smirking at the color Ponyboy's face was turning. "What about your other brother – the deadbeat?"

This was all too much for Ponyboy. The boy jumped on the soc, sending both of them flying to the floor. Gasps were heard from all of the students who were watching, but that quickly turned into shouts and chants.

Nobody, including the soc or Ponyboy himself, expected the young greaser to go so wild. He was like a lion pouncing on a deer; he was out of control.

The students started walking away when loud footsteps started approaching the scene. The soc tried to warn Ponyboy; not because he didn't want Ponyboy to get in trouble, but because he didn't want to be blamed for what had happened.

The principal, Mr Ryans, cleared his throat to get both boys' attention. Ponyboy acted like he couldn't hear the principal, and continued to attack the soc.

"He won't get off me!" the soc yelled, striving to push his attacker off him. Ponyboy however, was ruthless.

"Mr Curtis, if you do not stop fighting, then I will have to remove you by force," Mr Ryans threatened, tapping his foot impatiently.

After a few moments, Ponyboy's struggles got weaker until he stopped fighting with the soc altogether. He was pushed off the soc onto the ground, but he couldn't be bothered picking himself up.

"Go get Mathews," Mr Ryans said to Miss Hunter, the school secretary. She left, passing Johnny Cade who was still standing at the row of lockers that he had been pushed into.

Mr Ryans turned around and saw the boy, and then beckoned him over to where he was standing.

"I suppose Greg stared the fight?" he questioned, looking straight into Johnny's black eyes. Johnny nodded; ignoring the glare he was getting from Greg, the soc. Greg the soc? The name amused Johnny.

Ponyboy continued to lie on the ground; he didn't want to get up now because he knew he'd be taken to the principal's office and then Miss Hunter would phone Darry who would not be happy.

A few minutes passed, and Miss Hunter returned with Two-Bit Mathews at her side.

"You're one of Curtis's good friends; tell him to get up," Mr Ryans ordered, crossing his arms.

Two-Bit stared at Pony helplessly – he got pulled out of class to comfort his friend?

"Hey Pony, come on, get up," he tried, getting down on his knees and shaking his little friend's shoulders. Pony flinched and stayed on the ground, pushing Two-Bit's arm away.

Johnny looked at Mr Ryans, who gave him a look which said: 'Why don't you try?' making the tanned greaser sigh. He got down on the other side of Pony and then lay down to whisper to him.

"Hey Pony, please get up. I'll tell Darry that it wasn't your fault, okay?" he pleaded, looking at the side of his friend's head desperately, as if Ponyboy could see him.

Pony exhaled heavily, taking in what Johnny had said. When Darry was mad, it was almost impossible to change his mind, but then again this was Johnny he would be dealing with, and everybody listened to Johnny.

The boy took his friend's advice and stood up, following his principal who had beckoned him to follow. Greg was walking alongside Ponyboy, and the two glared at each other the entire way to the office. Johnny decided to join them so he could be ready when Darry arrived at the school to tell him what had happened.

The youngest greaser, Ponyboy, chewed on his fingernails in the school office. What if Darry was really angry? Like, what if he never forgave Pony? Though these thoughts rushed through his head each time Ponyboy was in trouble, he felt like Darry would be really mad this time.

Two double-doors were pushed open, and in walked Darrel and Sodapop Curtis. Ponyboy gasped; how could he have forgotten that it was Sodapop's day off today?

Darry went to the desk were the secretary was seated at while Sodapop sat next to his little brother. There was an unknown expression on Sodapop's face; it was an angry expression, and Sodapop was never angry.

"Darry's real mad at you," he scowled, turning to look at Ponyboy. Ponyboy turned his gaze away from his big brother, trying to stop the tears from falling from his greenish-gray eyes; now Sodapop was mad at him?

Ponyboy squirmed when Darry walked over to him and Soda. The man bent down to his youngest brother's level, turning Pony's head up to look at him.

"What do you think you were doing, young man?" he scolded, raising his eyebrows. Pony shrugged, looking over at Johnny for help. Johnny, sensing his friends fear, stood up and sat down next to Sodapop.

"It wasn't Pony's fault; that soc over there was picking on me, and Pony helped me," he breathed, smiling at Pony.

"Yes, thank you, Johnny," Sodapop snapped, making Johnny pull back.

Ponyboy looked up at his other brother with anger; why was Sodapop so angry?

"Don't snap at Johnny like that; he ain't lyin'," Pony defended, but all's he got was a glare from both of his brothers.

"Come on, we're leaving," Darry announced, grabbing Pony and pulling him outside.

Sodapop looked at Johnny and his gaze softened; he hadn't meant to act so angry towards his friend.

"Sorry about that Johnny; I was just angry," he apologized, his brown eyes begging for forgiveness. Luckily, Johnny Cade wasn't the type of person who held a grudge, so he nodded and smiled.

"It's okay, Soda. But please don't be too mad at Pony; it really wasn't his fault," Johnny begged.

Sodapop sighed; he wanted to believe Johnny, but since Johnny and Pony were so close he had a feeling that they would lie for each other if either of them were in trouble. Also, Soda decided that he wanted to start being firmer with his little brother; since he felt that he let Ponyboy get away with too much.

The two said goodbye: Johnny went to his English class while Sodapop returned to Darry's truck. Ponyboy was in the back sulking, so Soda got in the passenger seat to avoid any angry glares or teary stares from his baby brother.

Once Darry pulled into the driveway of their house, Ponyboy bolted out of the car. He slammed the front door and rushed into his and Soda's bedroom, locking the door; he didn't want his big brothers to be angry with him.

Unfortunately, Sodapop knew where the spare key was kept, so the door was opened and Ponyboy literally had nowhere else to run. He tried to run out of their bedroom and out to the streets, but Darry caught up and lifted him up.

"Where do you think you're goin', little brother?" he mocked, carrying Pony over to the sofa and sitting him down on it. "You ain't goin' nowhere until you tell us exactly what happened."

"Johnny told you! That soc was picking on him, so I let my temper get the best of me and I hit him," he explained, leaving out the part where Greg called Sodapop a 'stupid pretty boy' and where he called Darry a deadbeat.

"Sounds to me like you're just looking for trouble," Darry frowned, narrowing his eyes at his little brother.

"Well I ain't," Pony spat, feeling tears of frustration threatening to spill; why wouldn't Darry ever listen to him? He took back what he thought about Johnny; obviously none of his brothers listen to the tanned greaser.

"Don't get snippy," Sodapop warned.

Ponyboy wanted to scream; Sodapop was supposed to understand! Why wasn't he on Pony's side?

"You know, one day the state will take you away, and you'll regret all those times you got into stupid fights. I try and I try to make you a better person, and you just throw it back at me!"

"Well it ain't like you're perfect either, Darry!" Pony cried, rubbing his eyes.

"Darry does everything for us, and this is what you give him in return? You're real selfish, Ponyboy, you know that?" Sodapop added, glaring at his little brother.

The brothers didn't really feel this way; they were just annoyed. Darry had been sent home from work, and Sodapop's day off was basically ruined, so the two were grumpy, but Ponyboy didn't know this.

"Look I'm sorry, okay? Next time Johnny's getting beat up, I'll just leave him to get beaten to death, and if you dare say anything, then I'll blame both of you!" Pony shouted, shaking his head.

"Maybe I should just let you get put in a boys' home; then you can get into as many fights as you like, and Soda won't get taken away from me," Darry hollered.

This struck something deep within Ponyboy. Soda won't get taken away from me. Did Darry only care about Soda? This angered Ponyboy a lot now, and he couldn't stop himself from yelling his next words:

"Well you know what?! Maybe you should just let me be put in a boys' home! You two won't care as long as you're with each other; all's I do is just get in the way. And why would I want to live with you anyway; a stupid high school dropout and a deadbeat guardian? I'd rather be dead!"

The next few minutes were filled with nothing but silence. Darry had winced after his little brother had called him a deadbeat and Soda felt like crying when he had been called a stupid high school dropout. The kids were right; if his little brother was saying it, then everyone must have known he was dumb.

"Guys…" Pony let his words fade.

Another few minutes passed, and Soda almost started crying so Darry rubbed his back for comfort. Pony decided to say something again but Darry wouldn't let him.

"Don't talk to us anymore; no brother of ours will speak to us like that," Darry stated, and Pony felt like crying.

"Please; I'm really sorry," he croaked, but Darry shook his head.

"Can you hear something, Soda?" he asked, looking into Soda's eyes. Sodapop shook his head.

"Nah, and if there is something there, I bet it's nothing important," Sodapop said, and the two got up and walked off.

Ponyboy was left in the living room feeling…alone.

XXX

"Go back to your own room," Sodapop ordered when Pony tried to climb in next to him.

"But this is my-" the boy started, only to be cut off by his brother.

"No, this is your old room. Go back to your one," he yelled, pushing Pony out of the bed.

Pony fell onto the floor and whimpered, but Sodapop turned away.

"Stop bothering your brother, Ponyboy," Darry warned, standing by the door.

"He ain't my brother," Sodapop snapped, turning over.

The youngest Curtis got up and let out a small cry before walking to his old room. He hated his old room; it was dark, cold and lonely – just like his dreams.

He had trouble falling asleep that night; he didn't have Soda's arm to chase away the nightmares and images that flashed through his mind.

Ponyboy looked up, only to see that he was in an unfamiliar place. This place scared him; it looked a lot like the cemetery where his parents had been buried, only this time it as dark and gloomy.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of gold. His mother's hair was gold…

The boy smiled and turned around, only to be greeted with a horrifying sight. His mother was there, but only the very ends of her hair were shining gold; the rest was either dark or red; the darkness of her hair was due to the mud that she had fallen in, and the red was due to the blood that was rushing from a cut on her scalp.

Her husband, Darrel, was next to her. His brown hair was also covered in blood, and a large piece of glass was sticking out of his temple. Various pieces of glass were sticking out of various parts of his body; the damage was from the windscreen of Darrel's car which had crashed into a grave.

"Remember son, safe driving!" Darrel laughed as blood poured from his mouth and onto his black suit.

"Do not talk to that boy; he isn't our son," Shannon, Ponyboy's mother, ordered.

Ponyboy was confused; why was his mom saying that he wasn't her son?

"Mom, I am your son. I'm Ponyboy!" the boy shouted, but she shook her head.

"Nope; Darry's a deadbeat, Soda's a stupid high school dropout, and your father and I are dead. You were very mean to your brothers, so we don't want you as our son. Besides, Sodapop said that you're not his brother anymore, and Darry thinks the same," Shannon spat, and then she disappeared into the car which was crashed into the grave.

Darrel looked at his son and gave him a bloody smile. Ponyboy winced at the blood dripping from his father's teeth and the blood that gushed from his red tongue.

"I still love you, son. Come and give daddy a hug," he grinned, walking towards his son.

Ponyboy gasped and cried before running away, but he didn't get far before he felt a hand drop on his shoulder. When he looked up, his dad was grinning down at him.

"My boy…" Darrel slurred, lifting Pony into his arms.

Ponyboy screamed.

Gasping for air, the youngest Curtis woke up. He exhaled heavily when he realized that it was just a nightmare. A horrible, horrible nightmare.

He sniffled when he realized that Sodapop wasn't next to him; usually if Pony had a nightmare then Sodapop would hold him and assure him that everything was okay. But now Sodapop hated him, and he would probably never speak to Pony again. After all, he had said that Pony wasn't his brother anymore.

But seeing his parents in that state scared Pony beyond anything; they looked so real, and his mother had said that she hated him. Darrel wanted to give Pony a hug, but Pony was scared of him; Darrel was dead.

Ponyboy whimpered; he could at least try to get his brothers' attention. He heard a sigh from Darry's room, and a groan from Soda's, and then he heard floorboards creaking. His brothers were awake, so they would come to him, wouldn't they?

"Sodapop! Darry!" the little boy called, drawing his knees to his chest.

Ponyboy was wrong; Sodapop and Darry never came for him.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this so far! This is probably going to be a three-shot, since I came up with the idea but didn't want to make it too long. Please tell me what you thought :)