Chapter One

Author's Note: Wee! Two "Outsiders" fanfiction stories, well, this makes two. I got the idea for this one after thinking about "The Outsiders" yet again. I realized that now would be a good time to type this one up, while I'm writing it. Just a heads up, it's gonna be slightly sad, people. I am going to have an idea for another Newsies fanfic. soon, but right now, I don't have any ideas so I'm just going to work on this one and my other two in progress. So here we go!

There was too much work for me, too much pain and sorrow, but happiness as well. I, Ponyboy, didn't know what would happen. I am 15 years old, and if my best friend, Johnny Cade, were still alive, he'd be 17. Johnny. I hadn't thought much about him recently. His last words to me had been: "Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold..." and yet, I didn't know how to do so. This was work, real, hard work, for me.

Darry was home when I got there everyday. He didn't assist me with my homework, just told me to do it. Sodapop had gone into a business in Dallas, Texas, but he sent ho letters to me. Two-Bit and Steve dropped by every once in a while. I visited Johnny's grave as much as I could, once a week, but didn't dwell much on it. Dally's grave was in the same area. The police had buried him there. We hadn't gotten any say in where he was buried, unlike Johnny.

Life hadn't been normal after that, at least, for me. I had gone to school soon enough, and people had actually come up and talked to me. Even a few Socs. A girl, a few girls, talked to me as well. But not about the weather or normal things. No. About Johnny. I remember walking into school that day...(flashback)

The bell rang. In I went, and suddenly, there is a girl in front of me. A Soc girl, that is. Several. They smile sadly.

"'We're sorry to here about your friend. You two were real heros.'" one is saying.

"'It ain't nothin'.'" I say, holding back some tears. In my mind, I am thinking, "And Dally. Dally too. He helped us." But I know that they aren't going to mention him.

"'Sure it is. You're a hero. You two ought to have been recognized.'" replies another.

"'We're greasers. They ain't gonna recognize us.'"

"'Of course they will, if you tell them what happened.'" another is saying.

"'Thanks, I gotta go.'" I say, running. I do not need these reminders about Johnny or Dally. But next thing I know, a boy comes up to me. He's a middle class, non-grease, non-soc boy.

"'I heard about your problems. I'm sorry for you.'" he is saying. I can't stand this.

"'It's okay, thank you.'" I say, and am walking away from him. The boy doesn't get the note that I don't want to talk, but he isn't following me.

What I would do to not have this happen. A greaser ain't going to put up with this. Not this one... And on these remarks went. It was bad. I cried, when I got home. Darry and Soda heard me, and walked in.

"'Pony, what's-oh. They bugged ya, didn't they?'" Soda asked.

"'Yeah, sure. That's the word."'I said, trying to appear tough. Darry shook his head and Soda came over and put his hand on my shoulder.

"'Don't let them get to you. I know...I know this is a bad time. But you have to do this, go to school." said Darry, and left the room. Soda stayed with me.

That was one of those days where nothing was better. I stopped crying eventually. And now, a year or so later, this all comes back into my mind. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm having trouble "Staying gold". There was no way out of it. My grades were good, I hadn't gotten injured badly. But the problem was finance, Darry's job, and life without Soda. Darry's job payed nicely, but not much. I couldn't get a job. Darry didn't want em ending up in one of the horrible places nearby.

It was afternoon. Darry had bought food at some place and was heating it up. I was outside sitting on the porch. I had sat here with Johnny. Why. Why had I started thinking about him so much? It didn't make sense. Not at all. As I sat there, endorsed in my own thoughts. I saw a car pull up. Two-Bit and Steve jumped out. They smiled when they saw me.

"Hey Pony!" called Two-Bit, looking at me the way he always did. Steve nodded and flashed me a grin.

"Where's Darry?" he asked in return of my nod.

"Inside." I replied, and in they went.

I heard shouts of greeting from Darry, Steve, and Two-Bit. Clearly they had come just to be there, as always. I smiled to myself. They were obviously going to be here for a while. I went inside, and almost ran into Darry.

"Whoa, Pony, slow down, where are you going?" he asked me.

"Nowhere in particular." I answered, and slowed down as ordered.

"Good." replied Darry. Two-Bit turned up suddenly.

"Hey, uh, Ponyboy, you been down to the ...the graveyard much?" he asked.

"Yeah. Well, sorta. Why?"

"'Cause there's cleaning needed in Johnny's area, and Dally's too."

"Alright. I'll go down there today. By the way, you heard from Soda lately?"

"Nah, he ain't written much."

"He sent us a letter last week." I replied.

"Alright then, I'll call him." said Two-Bit, and I knew he had his mind made up.

"He's coming tomorrow." Darry spoke. "Told me on the phone."

"That's good. I need to see him." Steve said, and I wondered why.

They went on talking and I left the house. I was going to graveyard, in search of friends. I know that it sounds strange. But I have friends there. Johnny and Dally.

Author's Note: There is chapter one for you. I hope you enjoyed it, and I am begging you to review, review, review, review, please, thank you!