A/N: Okay, starting at a clean slate again. I'm sorry to all the people who really liked my two other stories (that I've deleted much to my hesitation). The first one wasn't going anywhere and the second one got a flame. I looked up some writing tips and I'm going to try them out on the story. If you've noticed all the main characters have the same appearance. Well, that's because they're based on my appearance. I try to be honest.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.
Annie sat at the bus stop, completely oblivious to her surroundings. She was trying to get her lighter to light since she was desperate for a cigarette. Having no success with her lighter she pulled out the emergency pack of matches that had been nestled in her threadbare jean jacket pocket.
She knew she shouldn't smoke, but she'd been doing it for 7 years now. Why stop? The nicotine wasn't the addicting part about them. It was the feeling of relaxation she got. Over the years she'd lost the ability to produce that feeling without the drug. Oh well, there was always tomorrow to try quitting.
The bus pulled up in front of her, the doors opening in the welcoming manner they always had. She climbed the steps casually, like always and took a seat. Her hometown started to become a blur as the bus's speed increased. So much for Derby, Connecticut. The town of all hopes and dreams…yeah right.
Her eyes caught sight of her piss-poor apartment building as she sped past on the bus taking her to change. Spending half her life here she figured she'd spare it a second glance. It wasn't the building's fault she'd failed to achieve her goals here. If anything it had supported her. Not like anyone else had tried.
She thumped her back to the seat, making one of her many dark curls fall into her hazel eyes. Carelessly she blew it out of her line of vision, set her head back, and decided randomly to think in Pig Latin. Bringing back some old faded memories of Ronni, the little girl who used to be her sister.
No, she still is your sister. Just because that car accident…she could even finish her thought. Switching back to her random Pig Latin sentences, she closed her eyes and decided to catch up on a few minutes of much needed sleep.
"Last stop! Frankfort, Kentucky!" the overweight bus driver called out. It jolted Annie awake and in time for her to catch 'Frankfort, Kentucky.'
Halfway there, she thought to herself as she stood up with he several other bus occupants. Watching them, she was glad she had no personal belongings besides the clothes on her back and the two packs of cigarettes in her pockets along with her lighter and matches. She'd take care of that once she reached her destination.
As she planned she used the remainder of her money to pay for the other half of the ride. Now she had nothing. Once she arrived she'd get a job and take care of the money issue. If she couldn't get a job and a place to sleep the first night, 24 hours on the streets wasn't going to kill her. People who's made mistakes like her had done it. So she could. Her independence equaled her freedom and strength.
The other bus ride was just as uneventful as the first. She slept the whole way until the bus came to a halt and the driver, this time bald as the palm of your hand, yelled "Last stop! Tulsa, Oklahoma!"
That was the end of her trip. Now to start her life.