Well, here we go. This idea was originally conceived as extra credit for my English teacher due to the fascination I developed with this book and movie. But I guess I figured it'd be fun to put it on here. It is supposed to take place before and during the book, but don't worry, my original character won't be everywhere with everybody. I'm playing this by ear, but I'm assuring you that Tess is not a Sue, and I'll work hard to make this story as enjoyable as possible.
DISCLAIMER: The Outsiders goes to the awesome S.E. Hinton (I really would love to publish a book at the age she did) and all "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" references...well, you know, I don't know who wrote it, but it goes to them. Frank Loesser? I think. Anyway, I'm only owning Tess and Christina in this chapter.
In my life, I never expected to leave my hometown.
However, I did. The beautiful town of San Francisco, California; I did end up leaving.
I'm not in the kind of mood to tell my story of what life was like back there. Needless to say, I had a tight-knit group of friends; no matter what had happened, we were always there by each other's side, ready to listen and solve any problem that stood in their way. My favorite factor of life was having a friend, someone that I could lean on, someone I could turn to whenever I needed them.
There is no possible way to keep in touch with my friends except for writing letters, and that is time-consuming. I am most definitely not what one would consider an "indoor person." My hobbies include outdoors, outdoors, and even more outdoors. I'll sprint outside at any occasion; the sun's rays can be beating down on my face, or the rain can be permeating my clothes. So I suppose we'll end up forgetting about each other completely and I'll resort to finding some new friends. I'm going to be honest and admit that I'd like some boy-friends. By boy-friends, I mean friends that are boys, and not boyfriends... No, I do not want a boyfriend. It's disgusting. You might as well teach me how to barf whenever I want to.
I believe that I won't be so fortunate when it comes to climate in Oklahoma though. That's the state we moved to. It's the state that I am actually living in as of now. Our house is what I'd very much like to refer to as miniscule. When you first enter, you'll be in the den, and ahead of you is the kitchen, with the bedrooms to the right and the living room to the left. It seems quite complicated, but if you happened to be in my shoes, it wouldn't be.
I heave an exaggerated sigh as I stand up straight from slouching down on the couch. What's happened has happened; I am now in Tulsa with no hopes of ever speaking to my friends again. I'm alone, until I can find some that I would consider "perfect."
My ten-year-old sister, Christina, isn't excited being here either. Surprisingly, for siblings, we get along very well; if we're going to quarrel, it's not a big deal. It's something that happens, and then we just forget about it as if it never happened.
"School starts tomorrow," I remind myself, trailing down the hallway to my bedroom, which is completely bare with the exception of my new added bookshelf. It's not very large, but it's not too much of a problem for me, since I have just the right amount of literature to fit it. I have the strangest habit of reading my books repeatedly.
"But I don't want to go," I moan, dropping to the floor and sitting cross-legged. I'm doing it again... Talking to myself is another habit I don't think I'll ever grow out of.
"Yes you do, because you're going to find some great girls and they're gonna love you and..." The positive side of me begins ticking off the pros of what might happen at school tomorrow, but I've seen enough at my old school to know nothing goes right for the new kids on their first day there.
For starters, we have, whom my friends and I dubbed, "The Queen Bees," and they were a group of girls who supposedly ruled our school, but my friends and I knew they didn't. Of course, they said they were popular and acted snobby and bratty and wore skirts so short they could've gotten expelled, but they didn't, because they had skipped classes every day to apply mascara and blush and whatnot. And maybe they'd gossip about the rest of us "losers" in the grade, and fawn over the Beatles.
Standing up to those girls was easier said than done; my friend, Kathleen, and I, we strode up to their table during lunch once. I was all ready to start getting all up in their faces about how churlish (oh, yes, my former English teacher would be proud) they were always acting towards everyone, but the leader just said, "Get out of here, losers," which didn't intimidate me or Kathleen, but before we could even make a witty comeback, guess who comes over and tells us to get back to our table?! Correct, the lunch monitor.
I don't get it! I'm fifteen. If I want to tell of a couple of girls off, I can, and I will.
But no, some adults don't seem to understand.
And this is where my parents come in.
Yes, my parents love me; but they have to work so often, I don't get in much quality time with them. When I do, I really treasure the memories. Being with my parents is something I don't take for granted, yet I do for plenty of other objects, people, ideas, etcetera. But why would I list those off in my mind when it could take years to do?
I don't notice that Christina is next to me. And by next to me, I mean right next to me, as in her shoulder is touching mine. "What're ya thinking about?"
I can't lie to her; not only is she my sister, she's my best friend. It may seem abnormal that we don't argue too often, but Christina is pretty mature for her age, and, like me, she wants to make something of herself one day. I'm not sure what I would want to be.
"School tomorrow. I can see it now...I'll be shunned by everyone." And I almost can; but my mind is feeling foggy.
Christina pulls me to my feet. "Chin up. You'll be perfectly fine tomorrow! Don't you ever think that you worry a little too much, Tess?"
My real name is Tessa. Tessa Emerson. But most refer to me as Tess. It's not a very common name, which I like, because then I don't have anyone for somebody to confuse me with. I bet I'm the only Tess in this town. However, I don't presume that matters, because name would never matter. Not in this town, I'm assuming.
"Maybe, but so do you," I point out to her, and she knows I am perfectly right. Christina's face whitens slightly and she nods quickly.
"Well, you know Mom and Dad said we could go out for awhile. It's seven. We don't have to go to bed 'till nine." Her composure regained, she brings this message forward with much more ease.
I think about this for a moment. I'd much rather be out there than cooped up in here, so I eagerly exit the room. Just as I'm about to welcome myself into the fresh night air, I notice Christina isn't there. "Hurry up, slow-poke!" I call teasingly. "We haven't got all night, ya know!"
"I hate yooou," she mock-whines, swaggering over to me. She has this trademark 'cool' walk that she usually likes to exhibit for others just to entertain them, or to make fun of others who think they are cool, but are, truly, idiots.
I throw the door open and skip out onto the porch step, taking in the coolness of the atmosphere around me. It's more than perfection, and, if I wasn't just a 'decent' singer, I would burst into song. Possibly one from from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
I've heard that there's going to be a MOVIE based on the musical set for release next year, and I am very much looking forward to going to go see it!
"Well, been a long day, huh," Christina brings up; we start down the path to the sidewalk, and I giggle. I know what she's up to.
"Been a long day," I agree absent-mindedly, yet still I'm sure I have a clue as to what she's doing...
"Say...where are you having dinner tonight, Miss Emerson?"
Aha! I knew it now! With nothing better to do other than pacing slowly down the sidewalk, I decide to go along with this act.
"It depends." I smirk, but I pay attention to my surroundings. Who knows? It's possible this town could be dangerous in a sense. It wasn't that San Francisco just so happened to be very dangerous; in fact, whenever I would tend to hang out with Kathleen, we felt...protected. As if no one or nothing could ever harm us. And that's just another factor added to my mental list of why I hadn't wanted to move to Oklahoma.
Before I completely fade out of the real world, I add, "It depends on where I'm having dinner."
"Okay, Tess, go, sing Smitty's part now!" Christina and I come to a halt at the edge of the sidewalk. I shake my head immediately; as I have said before, I am a decent singer. Christina praises me often; however, I don't believe I'm that good. I enjoy writing songs in my spare time, as it's almost like writing a diary. I get to vent out and release all of my feeling and no one can even complain that I am, since I'm doing so on a piece of paper.
"...Well, here it is five PM." I have no choice but to oblige, and I sing the beginning softly so only she, and no one else, can hear. My eyes dart to my hand so others will think I'm busy checking the time. "The finish of a long day's work... And there they are both of them; the secretary-"
"Tess." Christina, all of a sudden, panics and grabs my arm tightly. My singing fades until it is no longer but a mouthing of the word "clerk." "Stranger danger."
Rolling my eyes, I tug my arm right out of her firm grip. "Yes, yes, we don't know anyone in this town. I know that, Christina."
"No, I mean, look at that one!" she whispers gesticulating straight ahead. I follow her hand motions the street diagonal from ours, and, from what I see, I dive into the bushes behind us. It is on someone's property, but I'm just as panicked as Christina is, and, in fact, she follows suit.
I can see it all happen through the slits of the leaves; a girl and a boy are up to nothing but shouting offensive names to others who pass them by on the street across from them.
No, they aren't saying it to everyone, but they are insulting a great amount of boys that pass by them, and a few girls who, I believed, beared resemblance to clowns with all of the makeup plastered over their faces. I could make out that one word they were putting out there for everybody to hear.
"What's a greaser, Tess?" Christina says out of the blue; I feel as if she's read my mind, because deep down, I am wondering the exact same thing.
I crawl over to the other side of her and peer through, eyeing the couple; they haul their drink at yet another male passing by, and he's avoiding eye contact with them. Fortunately, the drink misses him, and the girl who attempted the throw frowns. "Missed that jerk," I can hear her mutter. "I'll get him eventually."
"Baby, baby," the boy coos, pecking her on the cheek. "Don't worry about him... He's a greaser; they're all that way. You got someone better now."
She reddens, but she's not angry any longer. "Aw, I love you."
"We have to go," I quietly advise Christina.
"We-we're not greasers, are we Tess?" she timidly wants to know as we subtly crawl through the bushes until we're on the sidewalk again.
"I have no idea; I don't even know what they are." And that's all I can say, because it's true.
However, I have come to one conclusion: Inferring from what I've just seen...Tulsa is dangerous.
So, there you have it. Now, here's the thing: this chapter was kind of just an introduction to the story. It will get better, and the characters will be introduced eventually. No worries. Due to being swamped with schoolwork on weekdays, I won't be able to update very often. Or maybe I will. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Reviews. If you liked this story, go ahead and review! Also, if you think there's anyway I can improve this, go ahead and give me some constructive criticism. I'm okay with that. But if you DIDN'T like this story, then there's no need to flame me. Don't like it, then don't read it. It's really that simple.
Anyway, peace out!