Ponyboy happens to be the latter of the two. Although the greasers are portrayed as the rough ones, the socs are cruel and most of the time merciless. Johnny, one of Ponyboy's friends, has a history with them. So when it happens that the two boys are caught by a group of socs, Johnny doesn't hesitate to use force. Ponyboy is struggling underwater, being held down by one of the tormentors, and Johnny doesn't know what to do. So on instinct, he pulls out a switchblade, the one thing that he can think of, and kills the boy. 

Ponyboy is safe, but now the two boys are on the run. They hide for a while with the help of Dally, one of their friends. However, it doesn't last forever. They're staying in an abandoned church when a group of schoolchildren arrive for a picnic. Johnny and Ponyboy had been making a food run, but when they return, the church is ablaze in flames. They head into the fire against their best instincts to save the children, trying to make up for their wrongs. 

The two successfully save the kids, but the incident does more damage than anticipated. Johnny ends up in the hospital fighting for his life. Ponyboy starts getting into trouble, picking fights and letting his grades slip. Eventually, Johnny passes away. Depressed, Ponyboy does even worse than before. Dally dies suddenly, although no one is surprised and they believe it is suicide. He cared about Johnny too much.  

At the end of the book, Ponyboy is set straight by his older brother. He approaches his teacher for an assignment, and she gives him an essay. He decides to write it on the event leading up to and after Johnny's death, and we find out at the end of the book that his essay is the novel itself.