A/N : This is my first fanfic so I'm sure it will be a little rough. Sorry in advance for any errors. I have the next chapter ready but i'd like to see some reviews first before i put it up just to see if anyone likes it.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders, only the characters you do not recognize.

I was tired and had no ambition to go anywhere but on my bed, in my room. I knew Jacob would be around soon, he could barely spend ten minutes without knowing where I was and what it was that I was doing. I suppose I should feel grateful that I have someone that cares so much about me. All of my friends are jealous. Jacob is quite handsome and his family has a ton of money. My own mother can't tell me enough how lucky I am to have a nice boy like that. I'm sure she has different reasons for being happy about me being tied to that family though. Sometimes, however, I just need time to myself. Every day I feel like I'm being smothered; like the world could come crashing down on top of me any second. At times I feel alone and even find myself questioning why it is that I try at all. Everyone thinks I lead a perfect, privileged life, but I couldn't even begin to tell you how wrong they really are.

"By mother, bye father," I called from the doorway, hoping desperately for a quick escape. Luckily my wish was granted as neither responded.

It was eight and I was headed towards the drive-in with Jacob and a few of his friends. He had called earlier and after I had told him my plans of having a nice quiet night at home he went on a total rampage. Not having the energy to fight, I gave in and told him I'd be ready around eight. As Jacob sped around the turns I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach. It was obvious that he had been drinking.

"Jacob, maybe you should slow down a bit?" I half questioned, half suggested. I didn't want him to feel like I was telling him what to do. He hated that. He and his buddies laughed a little.

"Don't worry, babe, I've always got control." No kidding, I thought. It was always his way or no way. By the time we rolled into the drive-in it was packed. Kids from all over town were mingled together, which could only mean one thing, tension. The Drive-in was the only place in all of Tulsa that was considered neutral ground. Both the west side and east side kids, the Socs and Greasers gathered here. It was no means a truce; it was just an understanding – no fighting while on drive-in property. I didn't mean you couldn't take it outside, which seemed to happen without a doubt every single night. I, Jacob and the rest of our friends are all from the west side. It's nice, I guess, clean and huge mansions litter the landscape. But beyond that, it's nothing special. The rules are strict and if you want to belong you have no choice but to conform. Sports scholarships and new business ventures are something to brag about, but domestic abuse and adultery were never spoken aloud. These sinful things happened more often that you could see on the surface. My distaste for the girls who spent hours at the mirror or hundreds on clothes couldn't be any greater, but there was no chance I could voice my opinion. Heck, I've been guilty of some of these things in my seventeen years of life. This was the life I was born into therefore I had no choice but to live it.

There were so many people in the Drive-in that night I lost sight of Jacob only two minutes after entering. He probably won't even notice I'm gone, until he feels like sticking his tongue down someone's throat. I decided to grab a coke and find somewhere to sit before the show started. Being alone I found myself feeling a little nervous. I accidently bumped into some boy and he spilled his drink. If I hadn't darted through the crowd before he could see me I'm sure I would have had trouble. It was hard to find a boy in all of Tulsa that was truly respectful to women, or at least I haven't found any. The Soc boys were just pigheaded and dominant, and the Greaser boys were only after one thing. After waiting in the line for more than twenty minutes I realized that finding a seat would be nearly impossible as the show had already started. I stumbled around in the dark until I saw the bright red glow of the exit sign. I was going to have to walk home as it was unlikely that I'd ever find Jacob in this mess. Unfortunately I realized my mistake too late.

"Hey there babe, what you doin walking all by your lonesome," I didn't recognize the voice but I was more than certain that these boys were from the east end. I could see about four outlines in the dark, all on the rather large side.

"Walking home, if you'll just let me through," Thinking it was best if I didn't show any fear, "It's a mighty fine night out." I tried to pretend that they didn't frighten me but my hands had begun to tremble.

"It sure is, and your looking mighty fine as well," the one that was doing the talking began to advance toward me, and my heart felt like it was going to bead right out of my chest. I turned to run but was stopped by a chain link fence. I knew it wasn't safe on the streets this late at night and terror started to creep into my mind. So I screamed as loud as I could.

"Help! Help somebody he-"but I was cut off by a large hand covering my mouth and nose. My air was cut off and in my panic I bit down hard on my attacker's hand. He swore and let go but before I had the chance to run I was knocked to the ground by one hard punch to the stomach. I could feel vomit rising up my throat. Someone above me grabbed my hands and another grabbed my feet. I kicked as hard as I could but it was no use. The one doing the talking was now on top of me, ripping away my blouse so only my bra was covering me. Tears were streaming down my face and when I yelled for help again I was momentarily blinded by a smack to the face.

"There's no one coming for you, you little bitch, it's just me and you all night long," His words were so damn familiar that I couldn't believe this was my life. His hands were covering my body and his tongue was deep in my mouth. Suddenly I began to feel angry, outraged, why did they ever think that they could do such a thing to me, I had never done anything to them. So the next time the greaser stuck his slimy tongue in my mouth I bit down as hard as I could. I tasted blood instantaneously. He pulled himself off me so fast I thought that I might have a chance to make it out alright, but as he sank to the ground still in shock of his injured tongue I began to feel the full pressure of the others that were holding me down. I couple kicks to the stomach and punches to the head later I began to drift out of consciousness, but not before I hard the sweetest sound of someone coming to my rescue.

"Hey! Get the hell off her."

Soda's POV

Me, Steve, Johnny and my baby brother Ponyboy were on our way home from the show when we heard a blood curdling scream. We ran around the corner to find some Brumly boy bent over with blood spilling out of his mouth. I expected to see one of Shepards boy's as I remembered hearing how a couple of them had ruffled some feathers with Brumly, but to my surprise I found a young looking girl, sprawled on the pavement, with her shirt wide open and a bunch of boys beating on her. Her hair was blonde and wavy, and she was dressed in a classy white blouse and red skirt. Blood and tears were streaming down her face and she looked rather close passing out.

"Do something Soda," Pony muttered behind me. I agreed, something had to be done. No girl deserved a beating like this.

"Hey, get the hell off her," I yelled as the four of us approached the scene.

"That little bitch went and bit half my tongue off," an enraged looking boy spat out, blood still seeping from his mouth. I ran over to the girl and ripped one of the boys away. Steve grabbed the other. Ponyboy and Johnny stood just behind us, ready to jump in if needed. It was four to three so I guess the boys decided they had little chance and took off down the alley.

"If I ever see this bitch again I'm gonna kill her," as the last boy rounded the corner he looked back and mumbled slowly, his words slurring together.

"I think she passed out..or got knocked out." Steve thought out loud. He was right, her eyes were closed and her breathing was heavy. It wasn't sure what we were supposed to do but figured we couldn't leave her there, all pathetic looking, those boys might be coming back and she would for surely be toast then.

"Maybe we should take her to the hospital?" Pony suggested.

"No." Pony did get straight A's in school but sometimes I wondered if he had any common sense at all. "We can't because how's it going to look if we bring this beat up girl in there-"

"They'll lock us all up in the cooler," Steve added. He gave Pony a solid, are you stupid look.

"Well, then what are we gonna do with her?" Soda asked the group. Everyone was quiet for a few seconds before Johnny spoke up.

"Maybe we should take her to Bucks; Dally will know what to do, give her a bed or something." It was better than nothing but I wasn't so sure it was a good idea; Dally could be pretty unpredictable at times. Steve agreed.

"You really think he's gonna want some beat up Soc in his room, he just got out of the cooler, he aint looking for that kind of action," Steve said with a smirk. "But hey I don't want to be here all night, let's get a move on." So we headed down the street towards Buck's with the girl nestled in my arms.

"What the fuck did you boys get yourselves into tonight? Bucks gonna snap if he sees you with that mess in here." Dallas Winston was not your ordinary greaser, he was a lot deeper, and a lot more misunderstood that most. His short years alive had hardened him and at times it seemed like his heart was frozen, apparently being in jail since the tender age of ten did that to a person.

"God damn Dally, you really think we'd do this to a girl. Some boy's from the Brumly gang were beatin on up on her. She nearly bit off one of the guys tongue and boy was he bent out of shape, we had to do something." I explained. I had wondered myself why we had helped this Soc, but then again a girl was a girl and they didn't need no boys beatin up on them. Although if it was one of our girls that were lying on ground I'm sure no Soc would even get within five feet.

"So why'd you fools bring her here- ooh oh, you thought she could stay here, didn't you? That just what I need, a Soc chick all bent out of shape, layin in my bed. No thank-you."

"Come on Dal. She's gonna be hurtin something awful tomorrow, and she aint got nobody else to help her. Just let her sleep in your bed the night and she'll be gone in the morning." Johnny pleaded, he always had a way with Dallas, some kind of connection betweem the boys. Everyone held their breath as Dally let Johnny's word sink in. I sighed with relief when Dal's eyes flickered and softened just the tiniest bit.

"Whatever, put her down on the bed over there, don't expect me to walk her home or anything though. Now I'm gonna have to sleep on the god damn hard floor thanks to this broad and you fools" He grumbled.

"Thanks Dal," Soda muttered quickly after receiving an impatient glare from Steve, leaving the mysterious girl all alone with Dallas Winston.