We were walking to Two-Bit's house to get his car so we could drive the girls home. We just started to walk when a blue mustang drove by us. We knew it was the Socs, and we were lucky they didn't see us, especially because we were with their girls. While we were walking Cherry asked me to tell her about Darry, so I guess I just sort of stated the obvious. He's big and handsome, and likes to play football. She wanted me to tell her more, and something deeper. I always feel that Darry hates me, and that he doesn't love me, he just loves Sodapop, so that's pretty much what I told her. Two-Bit got really mad at me for saying those things, and he slapped me hard. I said some pretty nasty things to Johnny too, but as soon as I said them I wished I hadn't. We were just talking it out when we saw the blue mustang again, driving by more slowly now. I glanced over at Johnny, who was starting to tremble as the car stopped, and the two Socs that were sitting in the front got out. I notices that Johnny was staring at the dark haired Soc's hand, which had thee rings on them. When Johnny got attacked, it was by a Soc with lots of rings, and I think that it might have been the same guy.
Cherry thought that it would be best for her and Marcia to let the Socs give them a ride home, or things might not go so well. Cherry also thought that it would be best for us to not hang out anymore. That one really stung. I really like Cherry. She seems like the one person on this earth that understands me, and can actually relate to me. Other than Soda of course. And as if that moment couldn't have hurt more, she told me something that made me want to die. She told me, and I quote, "I could fall in love with Dallas Winston. I hope I never see him again, or I will." I was completely devastated. I couldn't move for a few minutes, I was too busy going over and over the exact words she spoke last in my head, trying to make sense of them. Is she really going to fall in love with Dally the next time she sees him? Wow. It was hard for me to imagine them together. I really like Cherry, and I think I know her well enough to trust her judgement. But Dally? Dallas Winston? I couldn't believe it. Maybe I didn't understand what she said. She probably said something else. Right?
Anyways, Two-Bit left to go play poker or something, and get drunk. I wasn't really listening, my mind was on other things. Me and Johnny went to the empty lot to watch the stars, and we talked for a while. I must have fallen asleep because the last thing I remembered was watching the stars, and then all of a sudden Johnny was nudging me to wake up. I quickly ran home, dreading what Darry was going to say to me. It must have been around 2:00 a.m, and I was supposed to be home by 12:00a.m. Like i had predicted, Darry started yelling at me, saying the usual, but this time it got too out of hand, and he hit me. He hit me hard. Darry had never hurt me before. He would have never done anything like that a year ago. This just wasn't like him. I didn't know what to do. I was scared and angry. I ran out of the house, tears streaming down my cheeks. I ran all the way to the lot, and told Johnny that we were going to run away. We ran for several blocks, then stopped to catch our breaths. It wasn't until a few minutes later I realized that running away might not have been the best idea I've ever had. I was tired and cold, and wanted to go to bed. I decided that I would go home and just not talk to Darry. Johnny seemed to be fine with that, so we began to walk back.
