Chapter One: "Rumors"

As I entered the house I could hear the guys across the street in the lot. I finally got Darry to agree to play football with us in the lot. I just left the game. Out of our gang, a total of nine of us, two of us are girls. Soda and I are twins. Although my brothers had original names I didn't. My name is Kylie Starr Elizabeth Curtis, but everyone calls my Kylie. I don't act like the girls around our neighborhood, the greaser girls. They wear a shit load of makeup and skimpy outfits. I wear jeans and tank tops. I need a belt for my pants. I'm a regular toothpick who could kill someone in an instant.

Now back to what I was doing in the house on a Friday night. I walked into the kitchen to grab my schoolbooks. I sat down on the couch in the living room and began my homework. I'm a senior, I skipped a grade somewhere along the lines, I think. Or am I really seventeen. Oh well. I looked out the window to see the boys jumping around like asses. I began laughing.

I finally got into my English novel when the door opened and slammed shut. I didn't bother looking up. I felt someone looking at me. I looked up and saw Soda staring at me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"You." He answered, like always.

"What? Am I cute or something?" I asked a little nerved. I looked at the clock and noticed it was late. I got up and moved to the door. I yelled out of the door, "Boys time to come in. Darry you have work in the morning. Steve you and Soda do too. Let's move it."

I turned around and jumped three feet in the air.

"I know I have work." Darry said smiling at me. I pushed him away and went back to the couch. I heard the door open again. "Don't you dare come near me stinking like that." I said.

"Hi." Dally said sitting next to me.

"Later Dallas, I have homework to do. And boys drink water, not beer, because I'm refusing to call an ambulance tonight." I said reading my book again.

Sure I have a crush on Dally but I was tired and cranky. I did want the weekend free from homework. I knew none of them, but Johnny and Pony, had gotten water. I looked around the room. Pony had his head in a book too. Johnny was to my right, so I was trapped between him and Dally.

"You sleeping here tonight?" I asked Johnny. He simply nodded. "You know the drill you have my room. Pony you have the other bed in there tonight. I'm on the couch. Darry, I'm fine with it."

Darry went to bed as did Pony, Soda and Johnny. Steve went home and I eventually kicked Two-Bit out. Dally was the only one left. I never make him leave. There was a soft knock on the door. I answered and was greeted by Tim Shepard.

"Yes Tim?" I asked.

I was the one who kept peace between his outfit and mine. I bounced between the two, and Tim and I dated years ago. Also we saved each other's lives. Those are two stories left in a closet. I think. I stepped onto the porch for the conversation.

"Rumor has it a bunch of greaser girls are fixing to get you jumped." Tim said. He looked out for me, and I for him and his brother.

"You serious?" I asked.

A week after my parents funeral I was jumped. I got cut from my left temple down to my chin. The Shepard gang chased them off. I didn't remember anything for two days. After that I took off for eight months. When I returned I was wearing extremely short skirt, a revealing top, and leather jacket. I had my shoes off. I was on the porch when the gang showed up. Darry had a head gasket on me; I shrugged him off and started mothering the gang. That one jumped out of the closet there.

"Yes. I've managed to trace it to Sara Jacobs and her brothers." Tim said.

"Thanks." I answered and he left. I stood there for a few moments before returning to the house.