Chapter One: Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

Someone once told me that courage "is when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do". Of course, this person was Atticus Finch and it wasn't really talking to me, but that doesn't matter. I believe books and the characters in them can speak to me, to us. They can teach us stuff, about life. Of course, I already knew this about life. It's like getting jumped or something. When you're surrounded, running isn't usually an option. You got 2 choices. You can just stand there and take it quietly, or you can fight. Maybe you are outnumbered three to one, but it don't matter. The first time I got jumped I cried like a baby afterwards. I hate admitting that, but I did. I didn't cry during, though, I fought. I fought every second and hollered for my brothers when I could. Honestly, I was terrified, but I kept going no matter what. I won that time, with help from my friends, but I did. Unfortunately, winning is rare.

Saturday nights is one of my best and worst times of the week. Sometimes the entire gang would do something together like go to a rodeo or movie. Other times there'd be a party to go to. I always favored the movies. They were the worst though because it's when the Socs had free time too. Most rumbles happened these nights, along with the most jumpings. I wasn't nervous this Saturday night though. Two-Bit and Soda-Pop had agreed to come with me on account of they didn't have dates for once. It was awfully hard to focus on the movie though with those two around. Two-Bit kept flirting with all the pretty Soc girls sitting near us and none of them could keep their eyes off Soda. When it came to the movie itself, Soda kept getting distracted by Two-Bit or girls or wanting a snack and would keep asking me what was going on or what he missed.

I was two sentences in to telling him what had just happened when a kid who couldn't have been more than eight ran past where we were sitting. He was screaming at some Soc guy who was doubled over in laughter at the kid's wild behavior. As the boy pushed past us, his arm thrust Soda's drink right in his face. Two-Bit and I were cracking up by the time Soda had jumped to his feet.

"Hey! Watch it!" My brother screamed, dripping of soon to be dry and sticky cola.

The kid paid no attention and continued yelling and cursing something fierce at the older boy who was still laughing. He was definitely a greaser kid, by the actions and the clothes. He wore faded and ripped blue jeans with a dirt stained t-shirt. His curly dark hair was crumple down by a worn out baseball cap that had seen too many heads.

"Jesse!"

Before Soda could say anything more to the kid, a girl ran by him and pulled the boy's arm so that he spun around to face her.

"Jesse, what were you thinking?"

"That's right, girl, you teach that little shit a lesson", the Soc snapped between chuckles.

"You stay out of this!"

"My, my, someone is getting frosted!"

"Get bent. Just shut your trap and mind your own business."

I had very rarely seen or heard a girl talk to a Soc like that before. He stopped laughing instantly and gave her a cold stare. I tensed and thought for sure him and his buddies were going to go after her. The guy looked around at all the people.

"No need to be testy, doll. I'll just see you later."

"Yeah!" the kid hollered after him as he walked away, "You better leave! Get out of here!"

"Jesse! That's enough!"

"Come on, I could take him. He's a punk."

"Oh really, little brother? Well, sorry to spoil your fun but you are not taking anyone on."

"Well geez, I only threw those bottles at him and chased him 'cause he was trying to hurt you and called us greaser trash".

"How many times have I told you that you can't be doing stuff like this? I told you about that language too. If you get in trouble, they take you away, remember?"

The kid kicked an empty bottle in the dirt and shoved his hands in his pockets. They both were quiet for a bit until he finally shook his head 'yes'.

"You could've gotten hurt too, honey. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you is all." She lifted his cap briefly and ruffled his hair before placing it back on, "we cool little man?"

He nodded again and it was then that for the first time the girl realized there was an audience to the conversation. She immediately turned to face us and saw Soda first, his face and hair still dripping. She stifled a giggle and quickly and repeatedly apologized. I could tell by the look in his eyes that Soda went from angry to happy instantly when he took a good look at her. He did that a lot with his spontaneous and wild personality, but this was different. She was a greaser no doubt, but resembled no other greaser girl I had ever met. Her ripped jeans hugged her legs and hips firmly. They were old and ragged but looked brand new on her. Her top also wasn't tiny or so low to make all the guys stare. Her hair was long, almost to her elbows and was a rich dark blonde. Her eyes were something else too. They weren't covered in dark colors like most greaser girls. She wore makeup, but only what she knew she needed. Behind the makeup, they were a foggy green, as if something had grown them older, like she has seen too much for her time. They were full of fire and passion, but also something else buried deep, hurt. She looked no more than 18 until you saw her eyes. I wouldn't have been surprised if she would have told us she was 25. One thing was for sure, she was beautiful. It wasn't long before she could tell I was staring at her too and she shot me a glance. Breaking the silence, she offered to grab Soda some napkins or get him a new drink. Like a school boy, Soda agreed to help her grab napkins but declined the drink. Even though the stand was in eyesight¸ she had Jesse come along beside them. When they returned, Soda was wiping his face, the movie was almost over and I was already planning when to come see it again, alone.

"I haven't seen you around before" Soda started as the girl began to leave, "what's your name?"

She paused and looked him from head to toe.

"Hey, I'm all sticky now. The least you can do is give me your name."

"What's yours?"

This girl was trouble already.

"Soda. Sodapop Curtis. This here is my little brother, Ponyboy, and our friend, Two-Bit."

"This is my little brother, Jesse. He's eight but has the attitude of a sixteen year old. My name's Danny, Danny Hill. We just moved here".

"Danny?" Two-Bit laughed, "Isn't that a boy's name?"

"Oh yeah and your three names sound so usual. I believe you're wearing yours" she stated slyly while turning from Two-Bit to Soda.

Soda blushed for the first time I had ever seen him blush in front of a girl. He was always so confident with women but seemed to be losing his cool with this Danny. I thought he had totally lost it and wasn't going to say a word until he broke into a grin.

"Well, I guess we all got something in common then, huh? Looks like the movie is done. You got a ride home or something?"

"We're just fine walking, thanks."

"Who said anything about a car? Don't got one but we could walk with you. You're new here. It isn't safe to walk these streets alone at night, especially with creeps like that guy from before around"

"I can beat him and his friends up if they come at us" Jesse proclaimed with a big smile.

"I bet you could" Soda approved with a nod "but you can't be too careful. We could back you up"

"I like him" Jesse stated boldly "they can come with".

"Well then," Two-Bit started, "looks like it's a date."

"Come on then," I finally jumped in, "let's split. Darry will blow if me and Soda het home too late again".