- Ponyboy Curtis, the narrator, introduces himself and his four best friends or \"greasers\" Johnny, Dally, Two-Bit, and Steve Randle.
- The characters are introduced while walking home from the movies when they're are jumped by a group of Socs (short for Socials) who are wealthy kids from the west side of town.
- The greasers are outnumbered and outmatched, but they manage to escape unharmed.
- The Socs, on the other hand, are left humiliated and angry, and they vow to get revenge.
Chapter 2
- Ponyboy and Johnny walk through their typical nightly route where they discuss the ongoing social divide between the Socs and the greasers.
- While walking back home, Johnny suddenly remembers he left his switchblade home and they turn back to retrieve it.
- They decide to stroll in the park before heading home.
- Ponyboy lays down in the grass and falls asleep.
- When he wakes up, Johnny is gone.
- Ponyboy finds Johnny sitting in a very agitated and scared state by the fountain.
- Johnny tells him that he was sitting on a bench when a group of Socs started taunting him, especially one whose name is mentioned to be Bob, began grabbing and harassing him.
- Johnny claims he feared for his life and stabbed Bob who fell backward and hit his head on the concrete curb, killing him.
- Scared and not knowing what else to do, Ponyboy tells Johnny to run away with him.
Chapter 3
- Ponyboy and Johnny decide to run away to live by the river outside of town until they decide it is safe to return.
- They get supplies from the local grocery store and stop by Ponyboy's house for a blanket and some books to take with them.
- While getting the blanket, Ponyboy's oldest brother, Darry, catches him trying to sneak out and demands to know where he is going.
- Ponyboy breaks down and tells Darry about what happened with Bob.
- Darry is worried and upset but says he can't go with Ponyboy because it will look like he's running away from the law.
- Darry tells Ponyboy he needs to turn himself and Johnny into the police, but Ponyboy refuses.
- Ponyboy and Johnny leave Ponyboy's house and head for the river.