AN: So this is my first "The Outsiders" fic and I am so excited about this. The title for this is taken from John Keats "Ode to a Nightingale" (one of my favorite poems). If you haven't read it and are interested you can find it on which has tons and tons and tons of goodies for your eager consumption of poetry. Also this starts a good bit before the events that happen in The Outsiders.

Disclaimer: I am doing this once for the entire fic: I own nothing except my OC Elle Keats.

Enjoy!

Playlist:

Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc-Wake Me Up

Chapter 1

'What the hell?' she thought, feeling someone or something poke her side.

The young woman felt a hand grasp her upper arm and jostle her. She opened her eyes and immediately registered that there was a throbbing at the back of her head. Her eyes squinted as the harsh sunlight met her eyes. Her eyes widened when the sunlight dimmed and she could make out a figure kneeled over her.

There were two figures. Two young boys, definitely younger than her, were watching her with concerned looks. She watched as they exchanged a look and pulled herself up on her elbows.

"Hey, hey are you okay?" the youngest looking boy asked as the other boy reached out a hand as if to steady her but then pulled it back, not quite sure what to do.

"Um…" she paused, looking between the two. "I think so? Where am I?"

The boys exchanged another worried glance as she remembered the night before. It had definitely been night and she had definitely not been on the ground. Had she?

She closed her eyes, trying to remember. She'd just moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and was headed to a new friend from school's house to spend the night and study for the class they had together.

"You're in the lot," the younger boy told her.

"The lot?" She looked around at the bare area, noticing the trash and the junk.

"Yeah, you must've passed out here. Where do you live?"

She sat up and realized that the straps to her dark green backpack were still around her shoulders and the straps of her small beige purse were still on her right arm.

"I don't…I was walking to a friend's house…I…" She stopped, not continuing.

"Hey, I'm Ponyboy," one boy introduced himself. "And this here's Johnny. We'll help ya get back home 'cause you don't look too good."

Her eyes widened. "Po…Ponyboy? Johnny?"

"Uh, yeah," Ponyboy said, brows furrowing.

She didn't answer. She was dreaming, because Ponyboy and Johnny looked an awful lot like the actors from The Outsiders film and they had the same names?

"You said this is the lot?" she asked.

Ponyboy glanced at Johnny again before answering her. "Okay, hey look why don't you come back to my place until you feel better all right? Then Johnny and me, we'll help you."

"Yeah, sure we will!" Johnny piped up, the first thing he'd said to her.

"Okay, thank you." She was still not sure what was going on and decided to just go with it for now.

They helped her up and walked on either side of her in silence until they neared a row of houses.

"There's my place," Ponyboy pointed. "Come on, Darry won't mind."

She stopped just short of the sidewalk. "Da…Darry?"

"Uh, yeah. He's my big brother. Don't worry he's okay. He won't mind I promise."

It wasn't him minding that she was worried about, it was just Darry himself. When she first read The Outsiders Darry had quickly become her favorite and then when she saw the movie she thought Patrick Swayze was the perfect choice and his portrayal made her love the character even more. She nodded and followed them through the metal gate and into the house.

"Hey, Soda, Darry you home? I need your help!"

A guy who looked ridiculously like Patrick Swayze quickly came out of the kitchen. "Pony what's…?" He stopped mid-sentence, not expecting to see a girl standing in between his brother and Johnny.

"Uh, this is…What's your name?"

"Emma."

"This is Emma. Johnny and I just found her passed out in the lot."

"Yeah but she's kinda confused," Johnny added.

Darry stared at the girl. She didn't look like she was from around here and she definitely wasn't a greaser girl or a soc. She wore tight, dark skinny jeans; scuffed up high-top Chucks; a white V-neck tee and a lightweight army green jacket that went to her thighs. Her straight, dark brown hair just brushed her shoulders. Her eyes were brown, wide, and, he could clearly see, fearful.

"You okay?" he asked her, stepping closer.

Her eyes met his and her answer caught in her throat. Gosh he was gorgeous. She shook her head. "Is this a joke?"

"What?" he asked, taken aback.

"This is a joke right? You guys aren't real. I mean you can't be here. I mean…I mean this isn't possible."

"What's not possible?" Ponyboy asked.

"You…all three of you…this place…you…you're not…" she started taking in short breaths and backing away from all of them.

"Hey now it's okay," Darry said calmly. "We can help you." He took a few steps towards her and she came to a stop, her backpack hitting a wall.

"This isn't…" She was panicking the hell out and she couldn't stop it, couldn't get a decent breath. She felt her head start to feel light and the edges of her vision became blurry and grey.

She shook her head as unwanted tears escaped from her eyes and her chest felt like it was tightening. Her vision continued to grow fuzzier and darker as she gasped for breath. She absently dropped her purse and waved her hands out in front of her, trying desperately to stop the panic attack, to in some way get some air, to regain some control.

She could barely make any of the guys out now. She knew she was going to pass out and she couldn't prevent it as she closed her eyes and her now unconscious body careened towards the carpet.

Darry shot forward, arms out, and caught her easily before she could hit the floor. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and carried her to the couch where he set her down gently.

"Pony," Darry started, taking charge. "I'll get this backpack off of her." He felt her forehead, "You get her a damp rag and some pain pills for when she wakes up. She's burning up. Johnny can you find me a blanket please?"

Johnny and Pony nodded and quickly left the room as Darry pulled the straps of her bag from her arms and sat her limp form up long enough to pull it off. He set it on the floor next to the couch. When Pony came back in with the rag he kneeled down next to the couch and folded the rag, placing it on her forehead.

"Tell me exactly what happened."